Be Careful That What You Do Is Based On Faith And Not Flesh

My Utmost For His Highest

Arise from the dead… —Ephesians 5:14

{CHAMBERS} “Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired. […] When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” […] Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.”

{ELGIN} Dr. Henry Blackaby  said “You have heard people say don’t just stand there, do something.  But God says, don’t just do something, stand there.”  It is important that you hear God before you act on His behalf. If your actions are to have the eternal consequence that God intends, then your actions must be based upon faith and not flesh.  There are people who do good things who are not motivated by God to do them.  The consequence may be good, but it is not eternal.  In Matthew 25, the question is asked “Lord when did we see you?”  God will present you with many opportunities to act on His behalf.  You must be watching and listening and then, when the opportunity comes, you must step into it.  The problem is that sometimes, often times, we have already decided how God will use us and when He speaks, we say “That can’t be it because it doesn’t fit with what I have decided God wants me to do.”  (Prov 16:9) “Man makes plans in his heart but God orders his steps.”  Are you seeking God?  Listening for Him to speak?  Are you willing to go when you hear Him even if you don’t understand the what or why or where?  You gotta have faith my friend.