Is there a price to pay when we get out ahead of where we are supposed to be? I mean, especially when we are talking of the will of God. If there is, just how costly is it? Let's take a look at an example in the Word of God and see if we can gain some understanding.
Moses. Yep, that's right. I love to read about Moses. He inspires me, challenges me and encourages me. He mostly encourages me by being real. He debates with God. His anger flared. He hesitated. He stood in the gap. He met with God...and he met with God...and he met with God. He was real. And God continued to use him. In fact, God continued to use him...even though he stepped out of God's will and jumped the gun!
Look back in Gen. 15:13 with me. God prophesied to Abram that his descendants were going to be enslaved for 400 years. Now look at Ex.12:40 What happened?! It says here that they were enslaved for 430 years! How can that be? You see, the fulfillment of prophecy is contingent upon the actions and obedience of the person.
Moses knew the will of God for his life (Acts 7:25) that he was to deliver them from this bondage of slavery, but...he decided when it was time. He jumped the gun by 10 years! What was the result of this decision? Moses spent the next 40 years in the desert herding sheep and the children of God had to wait an additional 30 years to be set free! Whew! I don't know about you, but, I need to take a few moments to let that digest.
There's a lot we can learn here. I don't know what is first or which is worse. That as a result of my getting out in front of God, jumping out of His perfect will, and designing my own...I find myself floundering around in a "just okay" area rather than the best place...which is the center of His will. That place that is the safest, most enjoyable and contented place to be in all the world. I know...I've experienced both. I guarantee you the best is the latter of the two.
And don't forget that it cost him 40 years. It causes me to wonder, in waiting the 10 years, if Moses might have been more confident in facing Pharaoh rather than arguing with God that he wasn't good with speech and who would believe him and so on. Because he would have stepped right from his position in the household of Pharaoh where he had been groomed well. I think he would have carried himself better than as one stepping off the plains smelling like sheep and wouldn't have felt like he needed a side-kick for support. After all, it was Moses God had called. Just a thought.
Something else that jumps out to us when we totally miss God's timing and plan...is that it affects others. In this case, severely. These people were slaves. The Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard labor. They were beaten and killed in order to keep them in line. That's a steep price.
Do you see the will of God for your life and yet wonder...when God when? Let me caution you to think deeply before jumping out and bringing it on on your own. Besides, do you really want to wait an extra year or 5 or 10 or...for it to come to pass. And we must consider how it will touch the lives that are close around us. What will it cost them?
Take the time to discover how God wants to accomplish His will through you. You can't speed up the things of God...but, you certainly can delay them! You haven't messed anything up so bad that God can't turn it around. We serve a Mighty God! One Who is Sovereign! If you humble yourself and ask for His leading, He'll get you back on track...today!
Thursday
Wednesday
Flowing in the Anointing
Anointing is the power of God. As the Hand of God was upon Moses he parted the Red Sea, brought water from a rock, quail from the sky and manna from Heaven. The power of God brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down flat as the horns blew of the mighty marching army of Joshua. Goliath fell from the anointing of God upon David. Jesus came among sinners and healed the blind, deaf and raised them from the dead...all as He saw His Father doing. And Jesus says that we, in Christ, can do...say, "Can do"...all that He did. Why? Because that same power, anointing, that was with Him here on earth comes upon us just when we need it to accomplish our Father's business.
The anointing is the "infused ability to perform work on behalf of another." It's "infused" into us when we need it. God doesn't just give it to us to make us feel good. It is given on the behalf of another. When you go to where the needs are--you will have the anointing to fill the needs!
The anointing is two-fold. To "perform work"= it is not my work to be done. God doesn't waste the anointing of building kingdoms of men. He builds His work. Here's the key: find out what God wants done and get involved.
The second part to that is "on the behalf of another". Find someone in need--then seek to meet their need. A Kingdom principle is...as it is given out, it is given back. You go and pray for those who are sick, you will also be receiving health back to you and your household. You sow into someone's financial need, you will find that you will not lack. You give someone your time and lend an ear to give them emotional stability, you will see that your life is full of peace.
It takes faith to step out. When we hear something it comes from produced information (info someone has provided to us). Information produces understanding, understanding produces trust. Trust is faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known. What is the will of God for your life? 3 John verse 2. "I will above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
We've talked in the past about, "What you say is what you get". Proverbs 23:7 tells us that as we think so we become. What we dwell on, focus on, camp out on...is what becomes the life around us. Our Father wants us to prosper and be in good health. But He wants us to understand that it is in alignment with how our soul prospers. What is our soul? It is our mind, will and emotions. Do you see the link of these two verses?
Staying in the Word of God will renew our thinking. It will teach us the love of the Father for each us, show us His goodness toward us, instruct us in the best way to go and reveal our position with Him in Christ. All good stuff! It's time we stopped listening to our flesh and turned our attention to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. The flesh presses, but, faith touches.
As you seek God for the power of His anointing to flow through you...be persistent. Look for where He is at work and join Him...on the behalf of another. And watch as the anointing of Almighty God flows through you to touch others and then watch how your life will begin to shine in all directions. Who knows...your face could shine like that of Moses when He descended the mountain with the glory (anointing) of God! Remember...ALL things are possible...to those who believe.
The anointing is the "infused ability to perform work on behalf of another." It's "infused" into us when we need it. God doesn't just give it to us to make us feel good. It is given on the behalf of another. When you go to where the needs are--you will have the anointing to fill the needs!
The anointing is two-fold. To "perform work"= it is not my work to be done. God doesn't waste the anointing of building kingdoms of men. He builds His work. Here's the key: find out what God wants done and get involved.
The second part to that is "on the behalf of another". Find someone in need--then seek to meet their need. A Kingdom principle is...as it is given out, it is given back. You go and pray for those who are sick, you will also be receiving health back to you and your household. You sow into someone's financial need, you will find that you will not lack. You give someone your time and lend an ear to give them emotional stability, you will see that your life is full of peace.
It takes faith to step out. When we hear something it comes from produced information (info someone has provided to us). Information produces understanding, understanding produces trust. Trust is faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known. What is the will of God for your life? 3 John verse 2. "I will above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
We've talked in the past about, "What you say is what you get". Proverbs 23:7 tells us that as we think so we become. What we dwell on, focus on, camp out on...is what becomes the life around us. Our Father wants us to prosper and be in good health. But He wants us to understand that it is in alignment with how our soul prospers. What is our soul? It is our mind, will and emotions. Do you see the link of these two verses?
Staying in the Word of God will renew our thinking. It will teach us the love of the Father for each us, show us His goodness toward us, instruct us in the best way to go and reveal our position with Him in Christ. All good stuff! It's time we stopped listening to our flesh and turned our attention to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. The flesh presses, but, faith touches.
As you seek God for the power of His anointing to flow through you...be persistent. Look for where He is at work and join Him...on the behalf of another. And watch as the anointing of Almighty God flows through you to touch others and then watch how your life will begin to shine in all directions. Who knows...your face could shine like that of Moses when He descended the mountain with the glory (anointing) of God! Remember...ALL things are possible...to those who believe.
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