Post by mommadee48 on Sept 22, 2022 11:28:57 GMT -5
IN TOUCH, by Charles Stanley, Read, (1SAMUEL 13:5-14).
THE DANGER of DISOBEDIENCE:
WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THINK that disobedience in a small matter really won't affect us too much. Surly God isn't going to be bothered by something so inconsequential, especially if our motives are good. But in reality, we never have good motives for any act of disobedience, and the consequences aren't lessened by our attempt to diminish its size.
King Saul didn't want to go to battle until Samuel was there to offer the burnt sacrifice. But when the prophet didn't arrive on time and the army was beginning to desert, fear made Saul impatient. So, he handled the offering himself, attempting to get God's blessing by disobediently usurping the role of the priest. When confronted by Samuel, the King tried to justify his actions.
When Saul saw as a small, necessary disobedience, God viewed as a serious act of rebellion. As a result, Saul's Kingdom would end, and the Lord would one day appoint someone else to Israel's throne.
Are there any "small disobediences" in your life that you're trying to justify?
It could be something you've done or perhaps something you've refused to do. The only solution for any act of disobedience is to confess and repent.
NEXT:
SAYING YES (WHEN WE WANT to SAY NO). READ: (JONAH 3-4).
THE BOOK OF JONAH DOESN'T END the way we might expect. From the belly of a fish, Jonah recommitted himself to the Lord's purpose. But later, he admitted he didn't want the job---and the Lord chastised his selfishness. You see, Jonah was sent to the Ninevites, who were a threat to the Jewish people. The reluctant prophet was afraid that if these enemies repented, his merciful God would not destroy them. Jonah confessed he wanted to see the Ninevites wiped out: "Therefore in order to forestall [their salvation] to Tarshish" (JONAH NASB 1995).
Sometimes we resist God's will because we dislike the probable outcome of obedience. Or like Jonah, we focus on our own desires and comfort and lose sight of what's really important. But our feelings about what might happen are not a reason to resist God's plan. If the Lord calls us to act, He will take care of the results. Our job is to obey.
What selfish desire is keeping you from obeying the Lord?
Maybe you are too angry with your spouse to work on your marriage or too hurt to welcome back a repentant friend. But Christians are not to be ruled by feelings. Obedience is what's required, and its blessings may surprise you.
NEXT:
HOW to HOLD ON, READ: (PSALM 37:5-7).
JOB KNEW TROUBLE AND TEMTPTATION, but he boldly claimed, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (JOB 13:15). He had lost his children, his fortune, and his health, but he didn't abandon his faith. He was determined to hold on because he trusted God.
Unlike Job, we have Scripture, in which God reveals His nature and promises. His Word tells us that our Father is always good, always just, always faithful, and always trustworthy. When we focus on honoring and following Him, we find a consistent peace that carries us through everything.
Life is challenging, so we can easily get distracted and allow circumstances to dictate our emotions. But if we operate that way, then when life is good, we're happy; when times are tough, we're frustrated; and when hardship pours in, we're miserable. On the other hand, unwavering commitment to the Lord is a cornerstone of of faith. When we are situated on that foundation, we can focus solely upon God.
In order to hold on to the Lord through any trial or temptation, commit to trust and follow Him all of your days. Lay claim to His promises: The unchanging Lord and Savior is committed to caring for you in all circumstances and will never leave or forsake you (HEBREWS 13:5,8; 1PETER 5:7).
NEXT:
WALKING THROUGH DARK VALLEYS, READ: (GENESIS 37:18-28).
WHEN HE WAS JUST A TEENAGER, Joseph lost almost everything. His family, his position as the favored son, his home, and his freedom were abruptly taken from him. But he didn't lose his faith in the Lord.
Life is like that at times for all of us. Changes in health or financials, the death of a loved one, or abandonment by a friend can bring us into a dark season. We don't understand why God allows the trial or lets the pain continue. Joseph probably wondered the same things, but he managed to hold fast to his faith.
One of the keys to walking through a valley is to embrace the reality of God's presence with us. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live permanently within us and seals us as belonging to God forever. Because of Him, we are never apart from the Lord. No circumstance, suffering, or loss can separate us from Him or His love (ROMANS 8:35, 38-39).
Take a few minutes each day and reflect on Jesus' promise to be with us always (MATTHEW 28:20). The result will be that this truth becomes planted deep within your soul to sustain you in hard times.
NEXT:
MEETING with GOD, by DAVID WILKERSON; READ: (MATTHEW 26:39).
BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER (NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL).
JESUS prayed a "breakthrough prayer" at Gethsemane.
I think of Christ's breakthrough prayer as the "ultimate prayer". By ultimate I mean the end of a series. By this point, everything had been tried and this was the ultimate, or final, prayer, the one that would move mountains and shake hell. It was simply: "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (MATTHEW 26:39).
JESUS gets up from pleading and says, in essence, "I have prayed, wept, fasted, done everything. Now, Father, I unload My soul to YOU, in total trust. Your will be done."
Have You ever presented this "ultimate prayer" to the Lord over a situation?
1) I have prayed, fasted, and interceded over this matter.
2)I have asked, knocked, sought and believed.
3)Yet what is happening now is not what I want.
4)I don't think I can handle it.
THE PLACE of REST;
Then you add, "but YOU are the Almighty God, and I cast everything into Your hands. Now, Father, do what You want to do, when You choose to do it. I rest in Your promises to me."
This is the rest that remains for God's people today, the rest referred to in Hebrews 4. It is to come into the blessed promise of the New Covenant, in which God declares to us, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My child."
Beloved, until you pray this ultimate prayer, you cannot move your mountain. But when you do, God will open your eyes to something amazing and you will no longer miss the answer to your prayer when it comes.
BE BLESSING AND BE BLESSED. AMEN.
THE DANGER of DISOBEDIENCE:
WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THINK that disobedience in a small matter really won't affect us too much. Surly God isn't going to be bothered by something so inconsequential, especially if our motives are good. But in reality, we never have good motives for any act of disobedience, and the consequences aren't lessened by our attempt to diminish its size.
King Saul didn't want to go to battle until Samuel was there to offer the burnt sacrifice. But when the prophet didn't arrive on time and the army was beginning to desert, fear made Saul impatient. So, he handled the offering himself, attempting to get God's blessing by disobediently usurping the role of the priest. When confronted by Samuel, the King tried to justify his actions.
When Saul saw as a small, necessary disobedience, God viewed as a serious act of rebellion. As a result, Saul's Kingdom would end, and the Lord would one day appoint someone else to Israel's throne.
Are there any "small disobediences" in your life that you're trying to justify?
It could be something you've done or perhaps something you've refused to do. The only solution for any act of disobedience is to confess and repent.
NEXT:
SAYING YES (WHEN WE WANT to SAY NO). READ: (JONAH 3-4).
THE BOOK OF JONAH DOESN'T END the way we might expect. From the belly of a fish, Jonah recommitted himself to the Lord's purpose. But later, he admitted he didn't want the job---and the Lord chastised his selfishness. You see, Jonah was sent to the Ninevites, who were a threat to the Jewish people. The reluctant prophet was afraid that if these enemies repented, his merciful God would not destroy them. Jonah confessed he wanted to see the Ninevites wiped out: "Therefore in order to forestall [their salvation] to Tarshish" (JONAH NASB 1995).
Sometimes we resist God's will because we dislike the probable outcome of obedience. Or like Jonah, we focus on our own desires and comfort and lose sight of what's really important. But our feelings about what might happen are not a reason to resist God's plan. If the Lord calls us to act, He will take care of the results. Our job is to obey.
What selfish desire is keeping you from obeying the Lord?
Maybe you are too angry with your spouse to work on your marriage or too hurt to welcome back a repentant friend. But Christians are not to be ruled by feelings. Obedience is what's required, and its blessings may surprise you.
NEXT:
HOW to HOLD ON, READ: (PSALM 37:5-7).
JOB KNEW TROUBLE AND TEMTPTATION, but he boldly claimed, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (JOB 13:15). He had lost his children, his fortune, and his health, but he didn't abandon his faith. He was determined to hold on because he trusted God.
Unlike Job, we have Scripture, in which God reveals His nature and promises. His Word tells us that our Father is always good, always just, always faithful, and always trustworthy. When we focus on honoring and following Him, we find a consistent peace that carries us through everything.
Life is challenging, so we can easily get distracted and allow circumstances to dictate our emotions. But if we operate that way, then when life is good, we're happy; when times are tough, we're frustrated; and when hardship pours in, we're miserable. On the other hand, unwavering commitment to the Lord is a cornerstone of of faith. When we are situated on that foundation, we can focus solely upon God.
In order to hold on to the Lord through any trial or temptation, commit to trust and follow Him all of your days. Lay claim to His promises: The unchanging Lord and Savior is committed to caring for you in all circumstances and will never leave or forsake you (HEBREWS 13:5,8; 1PETER 5:7).
NEXT:
WALKING THROUGH DARK VALLEYS, READ: (GENESIS 37:18-28).
WHEN HE WAS JUST A TEENAGER, Joseph lost almost everything. His family, his position as the favored son, his home, and his freedom were abruptly taken from him. But he didn't lose his faith in the Lord.
Life is like that at times for all of us. Changes in health or financials, the death of a loved one, or abandonment by a friend can bring us into a dark season. We don't understand why God allows the trial or lets the pain continue. Joseph probably wondered the same things, but he managed to hold fast to his faith.
One of the keys to walking through a valley is to embrace the reality of God's presence with us. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live permanently within us and seals us as belonging to God forever. Because of Him, we are never apart from the Lord. No circumstance, suffering, or loss can separate us from Him or His love (ROMANS 8:35, 38-39).
Take a few minutes each day and reflect on Jesus' promise to be with us always (MATTHEW 28:20). The result will be that this truth becomes planted deep within your soul to sustain you in hard times.
NEXT:
MEETING with GOD, by DAVID WILKERSON; READ: (MATTHEW 26:39).
BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER (NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL).
JESUS prayed a "breakthrough prayer" at Gethsemane.
I think of Christ's breakthrough prayer as the "ultimate prayer". By ultimate I mean the end of a series. By this point, everything had been tried and this was the ultimate, or final, prayer, the one that would move mountains and shake hell. It was simply: "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (MATTHEW 26:39).
JESUS gets up from pleading and says, in essence, "I have prayed, wept, fasted, done everything. Now, Father, I unload My soul to YOU, in total trust. Your will be done."
Have You ever presented this "ultimate prayer" to the Lord over a situation?
1) I have prayed, fasted, and interceded over this matter.
2)I have asked, knocked, sought and believed.
3)Yet what is happening now is not what I want.
4)I don't think I can handle it.
THE PLACE of REST;
Then you add, "but YOU are the Almighty God, and I cast everything into Your hands. Now, Father, do what You want to do, when You choose to do it. I rest in Your promises to me."
This is the rest that remains for God's people today, the rest referred to in Hebrews 4. It is to come into the blessed promise of the New Covenant, in which God declares to us, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My child."
Beloved, until you pray this ultimate prayer, you cannot move your mountain. But when you do, God will open your eyes to something amazing and you will no longer miss the answer to your prayer when it comes.
BE BLESSING AND BE BLESSED. AMEN.