When it pleased God…
—Galatians 1:15
{CHAMBERS} “As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him—
to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will
happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we
be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had
never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way,
but do look for Him. […] Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that
His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state
of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.”
{ELGIN} Do you expect for God
to show up, personally, for you? What does
that look like in your mind? A burning
bush? The Shekinah glory as a cloud or
pillar of fire? Or a still small voice? (1 Kings 19:11-13) “And he [the Lord] said,
“Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed
by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the
rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an
earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a
fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and
stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and
said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
If you are looking for God to show up .. He is already here. When we gather to worship, we don’t have to
ask the Lord to show up. His Spirit is
in each believer. People may not be willing
to admit it, but they would really prefer that God show up in the wind or
earthquake or fire.
I was on staff with Promise
Keepers for a time. I attended the PK Pastor’s
conference in 1995 in Atlanta. There were
about 40,000 ministers in the Georgia Dome.
As we all prayed in silence, I peeked.
I confess it! I was wondering how
God would show himself in this glorious event. Perhaps the roof would open and
God’s Shekinah Glory would once again appear.
As I looked up, I saw a single dove flying in circles above the crowd. I closed my eyes, opened them again and the
dove was gone. So I thought – get a grip
Charley, you were seeing things. After
the Amen … a man standing next to me said “Hey did you see that Dove flying
over the crowd?” Is it OK if God doesn’t
answer your prayer in the was you would like but He assures you that He is
still sovereign? By the way, ever since,
Doves have been following me around. I
won’t go into details … but it is not my imagination. And I thank God for the reminder. (Jeremiah
29:13) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Have you ever known someone
who was not really interested in you, but in what you could give them? Why are you interested in God? Is He merely a fireman or is He the source of
life? He has already given you the
greatest gift that can be given – eternal life in His Son. He has sealed you with His Spirit. He has blessed you with every spiritual
blessing. (Read Ephesians 1 and 2) That, my friend, is a reason to rejoice no
matter what comes your way in this life.
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