Clear Direction

This morning I was really moved by this sermon! I pray it encourages you as it has me! Blessings to you all,

Tonya

1-9-13. Charles Stanley

http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio

Having Clear Direction (pt.1)

How can I be sure I'm making the right decision ??

Ps 25:12

 What man is he that feareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

How do we have clear guidance?

1.  Clear the pathway... God has to get us ready to hear his discernment ...

**Clear it of sin ( sin fragments our thinking, confuses us) 

**Clear it of strong desires (submissive neutrality, to a place where no matter what we want we need to submit our wants unto him) a pure heart and clear direction go together ... 

^Repent and submit^

2. Exercise  patience...refuse to rush in ahead of Gods timing...

Back off 

Psalm 27:14 KJV

[14] Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord .

 

It takes a great deal of strength to wait 

Psalm 25:3 KJV

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

You will never be ashamed waiting upon the Lord.  

And when he says MOVE, move!!  When the direction is so clear yet we have fear, we can still move with confidence!! 

The stronger my desire the harder it is. To wait... 

3. Be alert to pressure... 

Exterior (people will tell you how you ought to think and what you should do...this is unreliable...people will tell what THEY want for your lives and it has nothing to do with how God wants it to go...

*Godly advice is different 

 You have to be extremely careful! 

It can be one person or many...not listening to everyone's opinion...you better sift all the advice you get through the word of God...you may have to make a decision that goes against what others think

Circumstances...time never runs out on God...no matter what the circumstances, do not step in to something because of the pressure of your circumstances 

Internal pressure... Fears, anxieties, attitudes, exaggerated feelings (should oughts musts)  ... Be careful you don't listen to the wrong voices ... 

http://ht.salemweb.net/zcast/love-worth-finding/2013/12-16/379868/love-worth-finding_2013-12-16_is-there-anything-too-_20131203114457.mp3?type=streaming

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.  (Psalm 78:18,41)

 We limit The Lord by having a spirit of unwillingness and with our attitudes of unconcern or indifference.  Just look at the church of Laodocia (rev 20) so many of us are lukewarm Christians who are full of preconceived ideas and unreasonable ways that bind the precious nail scarred hands from bringing us the peace and joy of His full blessings! Our Iack repentance and sin separate us from His presence. (is 59:1-2). Unbelief that he can and will do all that He has promised limits the Holy Spirit from manifesting fully in our walk with Him! 

"We are creatures of time , God lives in eternity" his thoughts and techniques are different than ours...there is no problem he can't handle and no promise he will not keep...if he is asking you to wait, then wait! If he is calling you to move, then move!  He is mighty!! There is no prayer he can not answer, no problem too big, and no promise he will not keep...trust Him!! 

Best. Birthday. Cards. Ever.

I'll not ever forget the sermon my Pastor preached the night before my 40th birthday two years ago. It was entitled, "Being at the Mercy of the Water" the passage of scripture was from Ezekiel 47:1-12. He talked about how the water is like unto the Holy Spirit and how we can be ankle deep, waist deep or swimming in the water of the Holy Spirit. 

For your life to change and be used of God you have to get down in the water, be at the mercy of the flowing Holy Ghost...let it move you and wash over you.

when water is just around your ankles, it doesn't control your movement yet...but as you wade out a little farther, that is when you start to tell the difference. The ebb and flow of the water begins to push you. Today, on my birthday as I read His word and think about how different my life is...why wouldn't I want to go swimming? My savior walks on the water!!! 

Last year on the service before my Bday...

The next year on 12-8-12, my Pastor asked us...

"Do you have any room for Jesus?"

During His ministry even His own received Him not... The Romans didn't have room for Him; but there was a small band of common folk who were there and that little group was who He built His church upon! 

The world has no room for Him...

There is all kinds of room for pleasure, lies, anything that doesn't pertain to the truth, even other religions that are false... but it has not tolerance for His truth! 

They compromise!

They Substitute ceremonies and rituals for Jesus! He wants your heart not your sacrifice...he wants you to have personal faith.

There is only one place that God wants... It's the throne in your heart! Where your treasure is there is your heart also! 

When he in the throne there then He renews your mind and works things out in your life unto service with Him...he changes your mind and your heart

There is a lack of fear of God and the peace that it brings

If you have no room for Him you have too many affairs of this world! 

The cares of the world will fill you up...

The pleasures of the world pull you away too...

These crowd out Jesus!

Sin keeps your from making room for Him in your heart and life!

Will you make room for Him in your heart?

Wow! As a woman of God, that stirred my spirit to convict my soul to draw closer to Him and be careful of what I "crowd" Him out with! 

Now, again this year, was another sermon that was exactly what I needed...

From Isaiah 40:28... With patience we wait upon The Lord

Why we wait is just as important as how we wait..because we trust in who God is and what He can do!

It is good to wait...Lamentations 3:22-26 (25.26) 

Blessed are those who wait on Him...Is. 30:18

Those that wait upon him shall not be ashamed...Is. 49:28

Those that wait will be honored...Prov. 27:18

He will save those that wait upon him ...Prov 20:22

We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation...Is 25:9

Always remember who is asking you to wait...be confident that God will do everything He says He will do!! 

Could NOT have been a better message to my soul ...I'm so thankful I have a Heavenly Father who longs to talk with me and sends me the best Birthday. Cards. Ever.

yes and amen!

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. " (Psalm 42:11)

This morning I awoke with such a heavy heart and I wasn't quite sure why...so, when I read this verse, I truly identified with the psalmist when he cried with frustration,  "why art thou cast down O my soul?" I understood what it meant to have a disquieted spirit within me. As I began to pray about why, I thought about how often I pray about something yet I really do not let it go.  I may wipe my tears and wash my face but I am still feeling just as defeated as when I uttered my first plea for help.

 I know that He can do anything, yet I am still  unsettled about receiving an answer from Him...I cry out the same prayer as David did and I am so broken and a little peeved at myself because I have no peace...whyyyyyy? Well, David knew the answer and it's right here at the end of this verse...because I am not hiding myself in Him, I don't leave my burden surrendered at the Cross. 

Oh that I would grab hold of these truths:  He is our hope, praise Him in the midst of your battle, praise Him even when the answer isn't coming as swiftly as you want it to, believe that He is your God and "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." (Ps 45:5) 

Know that He IS the health to our countenance, smiling as your tears stream down your face, because you have complete confidence in His promise,  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee : because he trusteth in thee." (Is. 26:3).

 He is our God, His promises are YES and AMEN! I may not know His exact plan for my life is, but oh to just trust in His perfect way, leaving my future up to Him for real is where peace lies...saying with all confidence and trust, "you WILL do abundantly more than I could ever think or ask ... It's a fact!" 

Boldness of a Lion

My lovely little lions...

Pray hard with bold confidence, believing all things are possible with God...

Hezekiah knew what is was to go boldly to The Lord and pray hard, pleading for Him to intervene...

 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord , Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. I beseech thee, O Lord , remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

 (I Kings 20:1-2)

Hannah knew what it was like to long for something and to confidently place her hopes and dreams in the hands of the Father and be at peace about it...

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord , and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad" (I Samuel 1:10-11,18)

 And they both knew what it was like for Him to do not only what they asked but for Him to go above and beyond their prayers...

Hezekiah..."Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord , the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee...And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." (I Kings 5b, 6)

Hannah..." And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord , and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. ... Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying , Because I have asked him of the Lord ..For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before The Lord." (I Samuel 1:19-20, 2:21)

The goodness of The Lord is there for us every minute of every day...and just like I told the kids today, we can take anything to Him and He understands, pray hard and be ever trusting that He hears you and will answer in His time and in His will...we can be confident that His promise to bring good to us is a fact!! So, roar like a lion in the face of the enemy, for the God that lives inside of you is greater than anyone or anything and He is listening and waiting to give you more than you could possibly imagine...He is just that good!!

" And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  If ye shall ask ANY thing in my name, I will do it."  (John 14:13, Hebrew 4:16, John 14:14)

Jonah 2:8

My morning verse was Jonah 2:8-9 KJVA

"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. "

At first I wasn't quite sure what the Lord might wanna say to me today, but the more I thought about it  the truth for me became clearer...
When you trust in your own foolish ways and thoughts, you are turning away the free gift of God's mercy...
So often I get discouraged because I don't trust God completely. Somehow I equate what He is  capable and willing to do with what man might do. Soooo wrong...it's a lie that robs me... Just because man may not forgive or because a feat is impossible for man to do does NOT mean this holds true for the Lord ...it's actually the complete opposite...the bible tells me so... "with God, all things are possible" 
Leaning unto my own understanding leaves me feeling frustrated and defeated...but wow, when I realize He is Holy and perfect, and He's all I need and that His mercy is my own, my heart and spirit then find peace... 
I love my verse for today...He's so awesome!! :-)

Sunday School Lesson ... Puppets of Purpose :)

Story Passage used this week.

Mark 6:17-28 KJV

Last week we talked about being Ambassadors for Christ; how Daniel and his three friends, even with threat of death, didn't give in to what everyone else was doing...they stayed true to God! They represented Him with all their  hearts! Loving Him always ! 

Today we are gonna talk about another man whose name was King Herod.  He didn't listen to the right way of things...he gave in to peer pressure. And afterwards felt sorry.

Have you ever done that? Done something you knew was wrong but someone else told ya it was ok and when you did it you felt so sorry for it?? That is peer pressure and the bible tells us to not worry what the world thinks of us, only what God cares is what's important. 

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

So listen for His voice to tell you what is good and right to do. He speaks to us in our spirit. We can always trust His word, the Bible, to tell us what is pleasing to Him for us to do! 

Let's talk now a minute about King Herod, and his story...

John the Baptist was Jesus's  cousin.  He had been preaching and teaching that Jesus was on His way and that He was the Savior of the world! He always told it like it was...he taught and stood for what was right.  Now, the bible in Mark 6:20 said King Herod liked listening to John preach.

"For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly."

But King Herod's wife did not because she knew when John had told them that she and Herod were living sinfully, he was speaking the truth because they were.   John was put in prison for telling the truth and because Herod wanted to please his wife...(even if it was wrong.)  Eventually, he did something even worse.  You see, Queen Herodious wanted John the Baptist dead and because she knew she couldn't do it herself, she had her daughter to ask this request of King Herod, knowing he wouldn't deny her.  He wasn't a man who was known for doing what was right ...he gave way to the outside ways of the world....he gave way to peer pressure.  Even though he knew John was a godly man and gladly listened to his teachings, he still had him killed, all because he was being pleasing to the queen and her daughter. 

"And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.  (Mark 6:27)

The bible says in verse that Herod was so so sorry for giving in to her request...

"And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her."  (Mark 6:26)

Bad things  happen when we are so easily led astray from the right ways of God...other folks can suffer too when we do wrong and give in to the world.  Just look at what happened to John because Herod wasn't able to stand up for right. 

God wants us to listen and live for Him! 

When we love him how? With all our hearts our mind our soul and our strength...

 we will stop and think the next time someone tries to persuade us to do something that is wrong and against God's will. We don't want to be puppets to the world ...we wanna be willing servants  of Christ, PUPPETS OF PURPOSE...instruments of His peace...his hand leading us and his truth speaking through our lives! Truly being those loving Ambassadors for Him!   We will glorify God when we do what He tells us and not what the world tells us!  Jesus says "...and I,  if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)

So let's be those puppets of purpose, living lives of praise and honor to Him, always telling others about what he did for them, how he came and died on the cross so that we all might be saved and have eternal life! How it is AWESOME to have a heart that belongs to Jesus! 

"Be ye followers of God..." (Eph. 5:1a)