Living By Faith and Not Feelings

Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. —1 Samuel 3:15

 Do you think that the idea of hearing God speak is a little too mystical for you?  Hearing God speak is not hearing an audible voice .. something that can be recorded.  God speaks to the heart which is realized in the mind and always challenges the will.  It may be an impression … it may be  a crisis in your life … it will always be consistent with the nature and character and purposes of God.  Don’t ever become content with where you are in your spiritual growth.  Don’t ever say to God, I have come this far but I will go no farther.  I don’t want to change any more than I have.  I don’t want to give up any more of the world than I have.  I am fine right where I am.  

I was talking with a young man the other day who told me that he just didn’t feel like praying.  We don’t do the right thing because we feel like it .. we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.  If your faith and practice is based on feelings, you are in trouble from the start.  Listen. If  I did  or did not do things because of how I felt at the time, my life would very likely be very different.  If you say, I don’t feel like going to work .. and then don’t … well, it’s a free country.  You can make that choice.  And your employer can make the choice of firing you.  My point … there are consequences to not doing what you should.  If and when God speaks to you .. you have a choice … but think about this.  The God of the universe has spoken … why on earth or in heaven would you ignore Him? That was a rhetorical question, actually.  You ignore Him because your flesh .. your old nature .. your carnal mind is ruling the day.  You are living in submission to the flesh and not by the Spirit. 

Here are a few verses to consider this morning

"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light” - Ephesians 5:8

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25

 “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;” - Colossians 1:10-11

 “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” - 1 John 2:6

 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:5-11

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone