Tuesday, April 2, 2019

You Cannot Do Anything For God Without God

He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.— John 7:38

God will never call you to do anything where there are not obstacles that are too high for you to overcome on your own.  Our purpose is to bring glory to God not to ourselves. Before we left Alabama for Texas, I was drawing out money from our savings account to take with us on our trip where we believe God is calling us to help.  I was talking to the teller at the bank.  I told her I wanted $20’s so they would be easier to change out and if someone needed money, I would prefer to give them a $20 and not a $100.  (Although if the Spirit prompted me to give them more, I would.)  While we were in Haiti I always carried Haitian money in my shirt pocket for just such an encounter. Anyway, she thanked me for Martie and I going to Texas but I told her to give thanks to God for calling us to go.  The only thing we can take credit for is saying “Yes” to God.  Martie and I were facing a number of obstacles to our going.  God knew that.  He was not surprised.  We were and are still trusting Him to overcome the obstacles that come our way, to make the way for us.  Where God guides, God provides.

Listen there is a BIG difference between walking by faith knowing God has called you and going and doing something based upon the emotion of the moment. You cannot do anything for God without God.  Very often we lose sight of the fact that what we do in the “physical” has a “spiritual” context. The problem is that often we do something we think is spiritual in the power of the flesh and not by faith – the spiritual. If you are a Christian then your spiritual nature is preeminent and your physical nature is the means by which the spiritual is demonstrated to the world.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 If we did not sense that God was with us, we would not have left the house for Texas, or Haiti, or Mississippi.  And neither should you.  But, if it is God then don’t worry about the obstacles, but trust in God’s sovereignty and power.  Like Jesus said to the disciples in the boat after they roused Him from his sleep and He calmed the storm … “Where  is  your faith?”  Are you trembling at the sight of the obstacles before you?  Do you fear what might happen if you cross your River Jordan raging at flood stage only to face the giants in the land? Do your fears that you will be on your own challenge your faith in God and His providence?  You will not experience God’s blessings  without first deciding in your heart to obey His revealed will for your life.  The River Jordan did not back up until they stepped into the water.  So come on in .. the water’s fine and God is faithful! (Bondye Fidel) Be Jesus Strong!

[We] can do all things through Christ who gives [us] strength. – Philippians 4:13

No comments: