God has blessed me with friends that love to share the gospel and we love to dig deeper in His Word. Often someone comes up with a question or two about the bible or God or heaven. We put the option for our College and Career class to come up with questions they have about those things. We have ended up having some very interesting conversations in that class.
This past week I heard several questions and the discussions were great. I love to talk about the scriptures and God's character.
One of the questions today, (some of you may have read it on my facebook page 'Ginger Sanders') was "How do we know for sure if it was God we heard speaking? It has not come to past and it has been a long time."
Several times we have all wondered, "Is this what I want or is this really God speaking?" Is it truely His Will for us or we just hoping that He wants us to have that new job/house/car or whatever it is we are wanting. How do we know?
When we are in a close and right relationship with Christ, I think He does speak to us. I think there needs to be several factors in play to enable this. We must be ready to hear and receive what He is saying is the first. We must stay in His Word and be in prayer about all things.
Second, we know that He speaks through His Word, through His teachings and examples and all the scriptures. We also know that our relationship with other Christians is important, to aid and encourage us along in life. He uses other Christians and often speaks through them. It is easier to live a faith filled lifestyle, when surrounded by others that are like minded.
Third, I believe it is important for Christians to grow in Him, to be nurtured in their Christian walk. We must start living the walk. Christians should actively seek opportunities to tell others about
what they are learning from and about God. By sharing your thoughts
about God, the internal becomes external, and the lessons learned in
private become part of an outward lifestyle that is changing toward
God’s purposes.This helps us and others grow more in Him as we seek answers about Him.
God does not want to be a mystery to us, but to be our Father. We cannot comprehend all He is, but we can continue to learn.
Ecclesiastes 8:17 ' then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on
under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can
discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot
really comprehend it.'
Ecclesiastes 11:5 ' As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a
mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of
all things.'
Let us not grow weary in learning about Him! Let's think more about Him and learn together! Yearn for Him and His Word!
I welcome all comments!!
Blessings,
gs
This weekend we had some friends come by to spend the night, as they were driving through our town. We all had met several years ago on a disaster site while serving with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. However, due to life changes and God's calling them into another ministry, we had not seen each other in quite some time.
When the doorbell rang and they entered our home, it was as if time evaporated. The friendship did not have to be renewed, it was 'the leap' that existed!
Let me stop right there and explain what I am talking about. I am sure several of you have experienced 'the leap' and was not even aware of it. After you read this today, may you never wonder anymore (if you ever did!) about it and be more sensitive to it in your life.
Luke 1:39-45 "
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby 'leaped' in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
This is exactly 'the leap' of the Spirit inside us that I am talking about and it causes the Holy Spirit to be filled. Personally, I think when Christian brothers and sisters come together in one accord, the Spirit of God recognizes and connects in some spiritual way.
There surely has been a time in your life where you have reconnected with an old church buddy or christian brother or sister and it seems you pick by up right where you left off years ago. This is the connection here that I speak of....'the leap' inside us.
This scripture of Elizabeth and Mary is more than just a stop by, spend the night, hello and goodbye visit. Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting and was filled with the Holy Spirit and the baby inside her womb leaped (probably for joy!) Then Elizabeth responded that she was honored that the 'mother of her Lord' would come to visit. Do you see the walls of communication tumbling down here? There was a revealing of the Christ Child and Elizabeth knew it!
When our guests came through our door, the revealing of the Spirit told the story. Here is a man and woman of God, coming to rest and renew in our home. There was no expectation from them, just the Spirit of God renewing and revealing Himself.
Can we make sure we are open to the Spirits call? Can we be aware when another brother or sister in Christ is present? Do they recognize us and are filled with the Spirit? How can this happen?
First let me share this, so no one is confused: The moment you received Christ, the Holy Spirit not only came to indwell
you, but He imparted to you spiritual life, causing you to be born anew
as a child of God. The Holy Spirit also baptized you into the body of
Christ. In I Corinthians 12:13, Paul explains, "We were all baptized by
one Spirit into one body."
Now to continue.....how can we be filled with the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit-Filled Life is an obedient and abiding life. It can be experienced daily as you:
- Love God with all of your heart
- Spend time daily in prayer and Bible study
- Obey God's commands
- Witness for Christ
Let us begin today and when we meet, we will know because of 'the leap!'
Blessings,
gs
