How can I know it's God?

“Risikili” – Part 3 – How can I know it's God?

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know, Read it, study it, know it, live it.

 

In my last post we established that God knew His plan for each of us before we were born and that our enemy/God’s enemy will try to derail the plan if we’re not vigilant. Also we spoke of abundant life and God’s desire that we attain His idea of abundant life, which is far beyond anything we could dream up. 

     

Photo by Margot Pandone

So let’s continue looking at how God’s Word plays a role in this. We need to examine our personal desires in every aspect of life. In order to line up our highest desires with His highest desires for us, we must get to know Him and His nature. By prayerfully reading and studying His Word we get to know God. In reading the four gospels− Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John− we learn about Jesus. In knowing Jesus, we know  God. 

As we know Him better, we begin to recognize His unfailing love for us. As we comprehend this matchless love, we will trust Him more. As we trust Him more, we begin to step out in faith more boldly into the path He designed for us. 

The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble (Proverbs 3:18-19).

If we’re listening, God will speak to us through His Word. Yes, He speaks to us in other ways as well− such through another Christian or by His Own Spirit speaking to our own spirit. But the only way to prove we’ve heard a Word from God and be certain that it really came from God is to see that it lines up with His written Word.  Many people take action on what they thought was a Word from God, to simply later find themselves disillusioned and confused.  

Just today, I heard someone say that he knows a man who says he doesn’t need to read his Bible. He just listens to the Holy Spirit. Whoa! That sounds scary! When we think God is telling us something, we need to prove it against His Word. The Holy Spirit will never tell us anything that does not line us with God’s Word—the Bible.    

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

And another thing− if we want to hear from God, it’s imperative that we pray. We need to talk to Him and listen for Him to talk back to us. 

And remember, as we said last time, Satan does indeed have a plan for each of us and one of the best ways to begin to walk out Satan’s plan is to walk in our own plan.  The road of my own plan will eventually merge right into his.  So many blindly choose this route and then wonder how their life turned out so disappointing. Often they will attribute it to “bad luck.”  Well, luck has nothing to do with it and the word “luck” is not in my Bible.  Bad luck is a commonly used excuse for consequences resulting from not walking in God’s Truth.

 

So how can one know this “Truth,” in order to walk in it?  Since “Truth” and God’s Word are synonymous, the answers are waiting in the pages of His Scriptures.  

“There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group.” Jack Hayford 

Let’s pray these psalms > Lord, I ask that You “Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).  “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5). In Jesus name--- AMEN. 

Photo by Joshua Sortino

I'd rather not remember ...

 

I’d rather not remember …

For today’s post, I’m referring to my notes from a lesson my pastor, Harold Adams, taught last night at our prayer service.  Hence, credit for much of the content goes to him. Thank you, Pastor Hal.

If you’re a follower of Christ, like me you’re probably grateful that all your sins have been forgiven and are separated from you --- as far as the east is from the west.  We were reminded of that great blessing a few days ago as we celebrated Easter.

 

Since those who are redeemed have been washed clean from all sin, why would Paul tell the believers in Ephesus to remember their lives before they came to Christ?  See what he writes in Ephesians 2:1-3, reminding them of their past sinful lives and how they used to conduct themselves in sinful behaviors.

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." 

Personally I don’t like to think about who I was and many of the things I did prior to my decision to live for Jesus.  I have occasions when those memories come up in my mine and I try to purge them as quickly as possible.  But as Paul told the house church in Ephesus, those unpleasant memories can serve a good purpose.  We then see that verse 4 starts out with the glorious two words, “But God.” 

Paul said, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6

As Paul eloquently demonstrated, it is beneficial for us to recall where God has brought us from.  It keeps us humble, renews our gratitude, and reminds us of His amazing grace.     

AND it helps us see unredeemed people in a non-judgmental light.  Before we were saved, we were dead in our trespassed just as they are.  Oh, our sins were not all the same sins, but our nature was the same disobedient nature.  In our own unique ways, we followed after Satan, just like they do.

So when we look at a person who’s not a follower of Christ and are disgusted or angered by their behavior, we should remember that we were once on the same wrong path.  Instead of having contempt for the sinner, we should mourn and grieve for them.  They’re dead men (and women) walking and they don’t even know it---- just like we once were.

The only reason we’re not the same as they is because of, “But God.”  God’s great love for you and me begat His great mercy, which begat His great grace, which begat Jesus’ redemptive work, which begat our salvation.

Just like all other sinners, we were the subjects of God’s wrath.  But because Christ Jesus bore that wrath in our places, we who were dead, have been made alive.  Herein is the most beautiful picture of love and grace.

Let’s ask God to help us see non-Christians through His eyes.  He loves them the same as He loves us and Jesus bore their sins just as He did ours.  He wants them in His family and we should too.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9