When God Speaks There Is No Time For What-Abouts

"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening." - 1 Samuel 3:10

A couple points here. First, it took Samuel 3 times to understand that it was God speaking to him and then he needed Eli's help to recognize that it was God. Eli was a high priest of the Jews and the second-to-last judge of Israel. He served as a priest at Shiloh and became Samuel's guardian. Second, when Samuel knew it was God speaking, he responded without hesitation. There was no time for what-abouts.

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." - Luke 5:8-11

So Peter, James and John were fishermen. Their lives, their father's lives were all about the fishing trade. Their future was sure - they would always be fishermen. And then Jesus showed up and called them another life.  Their response? The left everything and followed Jesus. Pretty radical don't you think?

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." - Luke 5:27-28

Levi or Matthew was a tax collector. Not a popular thing to be back then. Then one day he met Jesus and Jesus said "follow me". And Matthew did just that.

Martie and I have been teaching a study called Experiencing God for a number of years. It's author, Dr. Henry Blackaby, suggests that there are 7 Spiritual Realities. The third reality is that God invites us to join us in what He is doing. Just like Samuel, Peter, James, John, Matthew, Paul - the list is quite long. The fourth reality is that God speaks by His Spirit through prayer, the Word, circumstances, and other Christians. Sometime, like Samuel, we are not certain that it is God speaking so others, like Eli, help us know that it is God.

That always leads us to a Crisis of Belief (5) requiring a major adjustment in our lives (6) which can only be released by obedience and faith (7) - like the fishermen. Most often our problem is not hearing God, but in obeying God. We come up with all kinds of "What abouts". We can think of a lot of "good" reasons why we should not go or at least wait for a better time.

"Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family. Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. " - Luke 9:59-62

" he [Jesus] said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26-27

Obedience and the adjustments that will be required when God speaks can seem to be unreasonable - even unrealistic. Taking up our cross means we must be willing to sacrifice what our flesh wants in favor of what the Spirit requires of us. Abandoning what the world says is "good" for what God says is better.

".... I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2

Do you really want to Experience God in your life? Are your ready to lay down your "nets" for good? I do hope so!

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 

Recognizing Temptation

"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16

The temptation to sin is like the tick of the clock. It is constant. It is pervasive. Ever present - 24/7/365. We are presented by the opportunity to sin at every turn. It is not our Spiritual nature that is tempted but our old nature, our flesh. Temptation can be summed up in three ways. the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life

Jesus, the man, was tempted - since the Son of God cannot be tempted.

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" - James 1:13

While in the wilderness Jesus was tempted in the same way we are.

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil." - Luke 4:1-2

Lust of the Flesh - Satisfy What The Body Craves

"He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone." - Luke 4:3-4

Lust of the Eyes - Love The Things Of The World More Than God

"The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." - Luke 4:5-8

Pride of Life - We Can Do What We Want Because We Are Children Of God

"The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test." - Luke 4:9-12

I recall Pastor E.V. Hill preaching on Jesus being tempted. He said that each time Satan tempted Jesus - Jesus "hit him" [Pastor Hill's words] with the Word of God. At its root, temptation is a false promise - a lie. The Word of God is Truth. But unless you are ready for it, it is difficult to remember that when your emotions are saying "go" but the Spirit is saying "no"!

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." - Psalm 119:9-15

Pretty simple - but not easy. It requires being intentional in seeking God and His Truth. Living a sanctified life in a sinful world and becoming spiritual mature is not a one and done the day we are born again. It is a process. 

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