Walk By the Spirit

As we continue our study through the New Testament letter of Galatians, we come to the last half of chapter 5. Paul has been writing to these Christians in the area of Galatia (modern-day Turkey) to confront some false teachings that had crept into their churches. People were coming from Jerusalem saying that along with trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, a person had to observe the Law of Moses if that person wanted to be right with the Lord. If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that there is nothing that we can do in our own strength to make us right before the Lord. We are fully dependent on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and that work is sufficient for all of our needs.

In chapter 5 of this letter, Paul began emphasizing the freedom that a person has in Christ. This freedom is freedom from our trying to work ourselves into a right relationship with God — which cannot be accomplished.

In the passage that we will look at today, Paul encourages Christians to “walk by the Spirit.” This point is a very important truth that Christians must pay attention to. We must recognize that Paul’s words to the Galatians are not merely his thoughts or opinions. These words come from the heart of God by way of the Holy Spirit putting them into Paul’s mind. This is not so much Paul speaking to these people as it is God.

The Need to Walk by the Spirit

In verses 16-18, Paul shows the need that every Christian has to walk by the Spirit.

¹⁶ I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16–18 (CSB)

The word “walk” in verse 16 isn’t just about how you put one foot in front of the other to move about. It is a phrase that points to how a person lives. It is a continual action that lays out a person’s direction in this life.

Whether you realize it or not, something is leading the direction of your life. What directs your life is what determines the destination of your life.

Paul encourages the Galatian Christians (and us today) to walk by the Spirit that lives inside us. The Holy Spirit is not some mystical force that dwells among us. He is the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit lives within everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

John 14:16–17 (CSB)

The guidance of the Holy Spirit is not just for those that some see as “super-Christians.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t just live within missionaries, preachers, and the saints of old. The Holy Spirit lives within each person who trusts in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

One of the reasons the Holy Spirit lives within Christians is to give them new desires so they do not have to submit to the sinful desires of their broken hearts. The Holy Spirit gives the Christian new desires — God’s desires — but He doesn’t force them upon the Christian. This is why Paul tells the Galatians to walk by the Spirit, so they do not carry out the desires of their sinful flesh (v 16).

In verse 17, we get a picture of the battle that takes place within every Christian. It is a battle for the heart. Walking by the Spirit cannot coexist with walking in the flesh. Verse 17 points out that these two things have completely different desires. They are going in opposite directions. Because of that, you cannot walk according to the Spirit and the flesh at the same time.

‌Evidence of Walking by the Spirit

In verses 19-23, Paul contrasts the fruit that comes from our sinful flesh with the fruit the Holy Spirit develops in our lives.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19–21 CSB

The Fruit of the Flesh

Paul lays out a list of fruit that comes from the desires of our sinful flesh. When you look at these things Paul listed, you realize nothing good can come from walking according to our sinful flesh.

Jesus shares in Mark 7 where all of these things come from.

²⁰ And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, ²² adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

Mark 7:20–23 CSB

Our hearts, by nature, are drawn toward sin. This is why we cannot just “trust your gut” or “follow your heart.” If there has not been a spiritual heart transplant that has taken place by us putting our faith in Jesus, then our hearts will lead us down a path where nothing good can come from it.

‌The Fruit of the Spirit​

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Mark 7:20–23 CSB

In verses 22-23, Paul shows the stark contrast between the fruit the Holy Spirit develops in our lives. These nine things that Paul lists can only be produced in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.

It is important to note that Paul mentions this fruit in a singular manner. Each description Paul lists makes up a single fruit the Holy Spirit works in a person’s life. One commentator noted that Paul uses the singular form of fruit to show that they collectively make up what we know as Christlikeness. The new desire that the Holy Spirit brings about in our lives is to reflect Jesus more and more each day. This act will not happen by “trying harder.” It is a work the Holy Spirit does in our lives as we intentionally say no to our flesh and allow Jesus to lead our lives.

‌Three Important Reminders

In verses 24-26, Paul shares with us three important reminders.

‌Our Position

²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24 CSB

When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they are transferred from a kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light.

¹³ He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. ¹⁴ In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13–14 CSB

Our position is no longer one of condemnation. We are placed in a position of victory — Jesus’ victory.

⁶ He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:6 CSB

Though we may still feel the struggle with wanting to sin in our lives, we do not have to give into it any longer. We are positioned with Christ in order to share in His victory over sin.

‌Our Power​

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 CSB

We can walk or live each day with access to a power greater than anything we can muster on our own. We have access to the power of the Holy Spirit to live in victory over sin in our lives. Just because we have access doesn’t mean that we don’t have to do anything. We have to rely on His power fully and, as Paul said, “keep in step with the Spirit.” This means we are prayerfully living each day, leaning on His understanding and leading rather than our own. It means we spend time in the Holy Spirit-inspired Word to learn what direction to go.

‌Our Purpose

²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:26 CSB

We are not given a new position in Christ and His power to overcome sin in our lives to become conceited. Being conceited or arrogant only leads to us taking our eyes off Jesus and putting them on others. We begin to compare ourselves with others to gain validation. That is not our purpose.

Our purpose is to exalt Jesus above everything else and help others come closer to Him.

⁶ He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:6–7 CSB

‌Conclusion‌

It is true that in this life, we face a battle. On one side, we have our flesh seeking to please itself. Doing so causes us to run away from God’s good and perfect plan for our lives. For the Christian, there is another side where the Holy Spirit is trying to lead us into God’s good and perfect plan. Which side will see more growth in our lives? The answer to that question is found in the path we are walking.

Are we living each day intentionally under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Are we taking time to pray and study His Word so that we hear His direction? Or are we just living each day under the guidance of the current of something else — just drifting along, taking whatever comes our way?

Paul shows us in this passage that we will never get where we need to be by just simply drifting along in life. Let us wake up to the reality that we have been given a new position in Christ, the same power that brought Jesus back from the grave, and a purpose to lift Jesus high and see others come to know Him.

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There are many who would like to shape us into a mold that they believe that we should be. It is important that we allow the proper source to show us our identity as Christians, or we may find ourselves living a false life.

The Bible is clear in what our identity looks like as Christ-followers. The New Testament letter of Ephesians is a great place to start as it lays our identity in Christ out plainly in the first chapter.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 (CSB)

One interesting point that you need to know is that verses 3-14 of Ephesians 1 is actually one long run-on sentence in the original language (Greek). While this may make a grammar teacher go nuts, it was more common than you might think in the first century.

As Paul was writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, he gets excited here at the beginning and goes on a righteous praise rant about who God is and what He has done for us.

We are blessed

When we think about the terms “blessed” or “blessing”, our minds can go to different places. One might think of being blessed as having everything going good in his or her life. The sun is shining… no bill collectors harassing you… not fighting with anyone… things are going good. Another person might think about someone who has a lot of stuff (money, possessions, relationships, etc). Some may even think about gathering around a meal and bowing heads for “the blessing.” While these pictures may fill many people’s minds at the hearing of these terms, the Bible speaks about something much more than this.

The Trinity

In Ephesians 1:3, Paul actually dives deep into what should be the proper beliefs of God’s people especially when it comes to our belief about God Himself. In this one verse, Paul touches on what we call the Trinity. The Trinity is the belief that there is one God in three distinct Persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. These three are together the one true God. God does not sometimes appear as Father and at other times as the Son and then again at other times as the Holy Spirit. All three Persons of the Trinity have always been and always will be God.

It is the three Persons of the Trinity that will help us with an outline for this message. As Paul shows that one of the identity markers of a Christ-follower is that we are truly blessed, he also shows us how this blessing comes to be.

The Origin of Blessings

The word blessed appears twice in many translations of Ephesians 1:3. What we should know is that these two terms have the same root but are different words completely.

The first use of blessed is at the very beginning of verse 3. It is an adjective that describes God the Father. This word has the idea of “someone or something being worthy of praise or commendation”^[1]Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 429. Paul says in this verse that God the Father is worthy of all praise. Interestingly, t his word is only used in reference to God in the entire New Testament. No other person is seen worthy to hold this title.

God has proven Himself worthy of all praise. He has made all of creation with either His words or His hands. He holds it all together. He alone is perfect and sinless. While there is no one who has ever fully known all that there is to know about God, the more that you do learn of Him, the more that you see how worthy of all praise that He is. Is it any wonder that Paul in thinking about who God is would go on and on about how awesome our God is?

Because God the Father is worthy of all praise (blessed), we can see that He alone is the source of all blessings. The blessings that we get to experience are an outpouring of what God has and pours on His children. Because God is worthy of all praise, He is able to be the One that gives good gifts to His children.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 (CSB)

Not only is God able and willing to give good gifts, but He is able and willing to meet all of our needs.

And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (CSB)

We are blessed because the God that we worship is worthy of all praise (blessed) Himself. It is out of His blessedness that we find our blessings. This is where the second ‘blessed’ in verse 3 comes in to play. This second blessed is a verb that talks about “provided benefits usually from a divine source”^[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 749.

The Nature of Blessings

Paul continues in verse 3 to tell us about the nature of the blessings that we have as Christ-followers. The blessings that mark us are spiritual in nature. Paul calls them “every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” Some commentators have made note about how there seems to be a contrast with the blessings that are promised to the Jewish people of the Old Testament. As God brought them out of slavery to become His people, He promised to provide for them in material ways (land, food, children, etc). There is nothing inherently wrong about these material things, but one truth about each of them is that they do not last very long on the timeline of eternity.

With these blessings being spiritual in nature, we see the work of God the Holy Spirit coming into play here. It is the Holy Spirit that applies these blessings to the lives of each person who has trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. It is the Holy Spirit that works and unpacks them in our lives.

We may be tempted to think that spiritual blessings are nice, but what about the material things? There is a push in our day to get blessed materially as much as possible. YOLO (You Only Live Once) is the mantra for many. The one who dies with the most toys still dies. When they do, everything that they have spent their lives acquiring becomes the possession of someone else. Ever think about that?

Jesus tells us of a much better blessing that we should be concerned with…

Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19-20 (CSB)

There is nothing sinful about the treasures of this world. The fact is that they are temporal. They cannot last forever. Jesus calls us to pursue those treasures that will last throughout eternity.

Are we seeking the blessing of this world or the blessing that comes from the Father? These spiritual blessings that are ours at the moment of salvation are far better than anything this world could ever promise us.

Paul reminds us of two facts about spiritual blessings:

1. Every spiritual blessing is ours. We may not understand what they are or how they are to work in our lives, but when it comes to possession, they are ours. God doesn’t hold out on us.
2. Every spiritual blessing is protected. Paul says that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. This is the idea of a place where God Himself is the guardian. There is no one who is able to overpower Him and swipe them away. These are blessings that will last for all eternity.

The Sphere of Blessings

As Paul concludes verse 3, he shows us how we got these blessings with two simple words: “in Christ.” Paul uses either the phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” 11 times in the first 14 verses of Ephesians 1. If something is repeated in the Bible, we would do well to pay close attention.

We are not blessed because of anything that we have or haven’t done. It is not something that we have to earn like a child does an allowance or an employee does at his job by doing religious or “right” chores. We are not blessed because we have a worthiness about us. Yes, every person is created in the image of God, but sin has marred that image. It has also deeply affected us. If we were left to ourselves, we would mess everything up every time. We are selfish by nature. We are greedy by nature. We are hateful by nature.

But when we come to Jesus by faith and turn our lives over to His direction, a change takes place.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

We are no longer judged by our doing but by what Christ has done. Our identity as Christ-followers is wrapped up in who He is. We receive these blessings because we are found “in Him.”

I don’t know if the Bible could be any more clear on this issue. If we are found in Christ, then we are marked as blessed. We have been given every spiritual blessing, and they are protected for us by God Himself.

Are you living in this identity? Are you living as one who has received every spiritual blessing from the only One worthy of all praise?

References[+]

References

↑1	Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 429.
↑2	Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 749.

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Teamwork in Ministry

Teamwork.

I think that is one of the best terms to use when it comes to leadership. When we lead as a “Lone Ranger,” it has the tendency to become more about our own agenda. I truly believe that there is so much more that can be accomplished by a good team than any one individual, especially when it comes to ministry.

We can read different verses in the Bible that tell us that about the importance of teamwork (see Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). These are good words that remind us that not one of us has everything that we need to live the Christian life by ourselves. But I wonder do we miss the “other” teamwork that is needed?

When I read Colossians 1:28-29 this morning, something stood out to me like a neon sign…

We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.

While we may think about teamwork as bringing others into the equation with their gifts, talents, and abilities, we may lose sight of the greater team. We were first invited to be part of a team… God’s team – where He is the leader and in control.

For ministry to truly happen as it should, it must be led by the Holy Spirit. The question arises: are we working with the Holy Spirit in the work of ministry, or are we trying to do it all in our own strength?

We need to guard against just doing things – even good things – in our own strength. This is God’s show and His work has to be done in His strength and leading. He has graciously invited us to be part and has said that He would use us. That is the only way that we will see God’s fingerprints on the ministry that is done.

What team are you working with?

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What Sign Is On You?

My family has been walking through the New Testament letter of Romans in our family devotions.  We are taking it a little at a time because this letter is one that is filled with rich theological truths that we need to grasp.

In this morning’s devotion, we looked at Romans 8:1-11.  As we did, these verses seemed to stick out for us…

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2 CSB)

I don’t know if there are any more precious words… “no condemnation for those in Christ”.  As we talked about this as a family, an illustration came out that helped to make these verses come to life for our family.

You may come across a building that has been marked as “condemned.”  You see the sign on it and know that this building is not stable and will be destroyed soon.  It will not be long until it becomes a heap of rubble and taken to the dump.  This building has been deemed useless and good for nothing.

This is what our lives are like apart from Christ.  The sin that is present in our lives has condemned us before God.  While we may seem to be “good” or even “moral” people, the truth is that our sin condemns us.  If something drastic is not done, destruction is what we have to look forward to.

But there may be another sign present on a building.  It tells a very different story.  This sign is one of renovation.  It says that this building is one that is not what it should be, but it is being made new.  Someone has seen the value in it and is doing whatever is needed to make it what it should be.

This is what happens when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ.  That person’s sin is dealt with by the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross of Calvary.  The “condemned” sign that once hung on this life is torn down and replaced with a “renovation” sign.  The Holy Spirit moves in and begins work molding and shaping – renovating – us into the image of Christ.  He fills us with His power to say no to the things that once condemned us and helps us to live the abundant life that God has for us.

There is a sign that hangs on the outer walls of each of our lives.  Which sign is hanging on you today?

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Book Review: Practicing the Power

Spiritual gifts is a topic that has intrigued many throughout the ages. There are various thoughts on how they work, are they still around, when a Christian gets them, and more. As the jacket of the books states, “pastor and author Sam Storms offers practical steps to understanding and exercising spiritual gifts in a way that remains grounded in the Word and centered in the gospel.”

I was interested in seeing what stance this book was going to take on the subject of spiritual gifts. In my experience, spiritual gifts is one of those topics that is very polarizing.  The forward written by Matt Chandler (whom I respect greatly) made me want to see what this book was about. 

The topic of spiritual gifts has interested me for some time. I have heard the arguments about how some spiritual gifts are no longer needed or in use today (cessationist view). I have also heard of those who believe that the gifts are all still in use today among the church (continuationist view). 

Sam Storms is one who holds the continuationist view, but presents his convictions with a strong use of Scripture.  He writes in the conclusion, “The foundation for the experience of spiritual gifts is and always must be inerrant truths articulated in the Bible. Any attempt to move forward apart from the parameters set for us in the [New Testament] will likely lead to experiential excess, theological error, and an unbridled fanaticism that will serve only to bring disgrace on the name of Christ and do damage to those very people you are trying to serve and help” (237).

The manner at which Storms takes the Word of God and uses it as the starting platform and guardrails makes this book and great and reliable tool.  The words and thoughts that are presented in this book are ones that are backed up with Scripture. 

One of the only issues that I had was that there was not equal attention given to the gifts mentioned in the book. I know that to write a full work on each gift would be too much for one book. I even get why Storms chose the gifts that he did in this book. I just didn’t get why three chapters were devoted to “prophecy” and one to the others. 

Recommendation

As for a recommendation, I would highly recommend Practicing the Power by Sam Storms to the Christian that is looking for answers to the question of whether some particular spiritual gifts are still at work today. I believe Storms gives some great insight and uses Scripture to show that you do not have to check solid, grounded in the Word theology at the door to believe that the Holy Spirit is still distributing the gifts that some think are long gone. 

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Empowering of the Holy Spirit Part 2

As we continue looking at the Holy Spirit and the power with which He brings to our lives, we want to look at the power He gives us to live the life that God desires.

When a person comes to faith in Christ, one of the first things that flood their soul is the desire to do what their new King would desire.  The problem is that on their own there is no way for this to happen.  Because of the impact of sin on a person's life, there is no one who can do what God desires on their own.  This is a work of the Holy Spirit within the life of a believer.  He gives us the power to live the life that God desires.

There may be times when we find ourselves in situations where we want to do God's will, but we are not sure what it might be.  The Holy Spirit will give us the direction that we need.  Jesus said in John 14:26 that "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you."

When there are times when we are not sure what to do, we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will keep His deal and help us in our time of need.  Because of His work, we now have the power to live the abundant life that God desires for us.

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Empowered by the Holy Spirit Part 1

The Holy Spirit.

Those three words can raise many thoughts in people's minds.  For some, it can be down right scary.  Maybe they heard the old school teachings of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Ghosts have a way of instilling fear in people.  That is not what should be with the Holy Spirit.  For others, the term brings great joy as they think about the One who has come alongside them and carried them through tough times.  This is a more accurate image.  Sadly, there are those that have a huge question mark in their minds when they hear about the Holy Spirit.  They have not heard much, if anything, about Him.

The Holy Spirit has been cast off into the corner by some denominations of the Christian faith.  It may be that there is nothing in this physical realm to which we can relate Him to.  It is easier to understand the role of the Father because we have one.  The Son is not hard to grasp because many of us are sons or have them.  The Holy Spirit is different.  There is nothing in all of creation like Him, but to not know Him is a great tragedy.

When we look to the Bible, we see that the Holy Spirit is vital to us.  Over the next couple of days, I want to take a look at some of the different ways in which the Holy Spirit brings power to our lives.  The first area of power that will be discussed is the power of salvation.

Salvation takes place when a person is completely saved from their sins.  Romans 3:23 plainly tells us that every human being since the Garden of Eden has been tainted with sin.  This sin separates us from have a relationship with the living God of the universe.  Nothing that we do on our own can ever make that right (Isaiah 64:6).  This is where the Holy Spirit comes in.

This salvation (forgiveness of sins and a new life capable of having a relationship with God) is made available only by the power and work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus talked with a man named Nicodemus in John 3 about what it takes for a person to be right with God.  In verse 5, Jesus says that a person must be born of water and the Spirit to see the Kingdom of God.  This is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  How does this work happen?

First, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of our sin.  John 16:13 says, "When He [the Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment."  The Holy Spirit first shows us what is present in our lives and keeping us from God - our sin.  When we begin to see the sin in our lives for what is really is and what it is doing to us, that is the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit calls us to Jesus.  In John 6:44, Jesus tells us that "no man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day."  The Holy Spirit not only points out the sin in our lives, but He also points us to the only way of forgiveness and true life - Jesus.  No person just wakes up one day on their own and says, "I am going to be a follower of Jesus now."  That decision comes as the Holy Spirit pulls our hearts to our Creator.

If this was the only thing that the Holy Spirit ever did, it would be enough to praise Him.  Because the Holy Spirit has the power to break through any person's sin barrier and show them the way of life, we should get to know Him more... we should love Him more... we should follow His leading.

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Mistaken Identity

I had spent a great deal of time trying to upload an assignment for one of my classes at a local library. I was feeling very frustrated because the assignment would not upload correctly. I was sitting in my car trying to "cool off" before going back to the house when it happened.

A sweet, little, old lady approached my car and reached for the door handle. I lowered my window and asked if I could help her. I believe she was close to a heart attack. She stumbled back and said, "Well, this ain't my car."

All I could do was smile (to keep from laughing). I motioned to the car next to mine that looked similar to mine in color and all. (Side note: do I drive a granny car? Anyways...) This sweet lady walked to her car embarrassed as I begin to think about the many times I had done the same thing.

It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "How often do people mistake you for Jesus?"

The term "Christian" carries the meaning of "little Christ." If we are said to be "little Christs" in this world, how often are we mistaken for Jesus? Our lives should be lived in a way that this could be a common occurrence. I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't happen near as much in my life as it should. It is my prayer though that as I am being molded into the image of Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit that this occurrence will be more frequent.

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Knowing God's Will

Last night, I shared with the students about "Knowing God's Will".  This was a topic that was submitted by one of our students for my final series at First Baptist Church that we are calling "Total Request Live!"  I thought that I would lay out my outline for those who weren't able to be there and anyone else who might be interested.

Many people wonder about what God's will is for their life.  The plan that God has for a person's life should be on the forefront of each and every person alive.  The God of the universe has created each and every one of us with a particular plan in mind. Before we can get down to what that plan is, we must take hold of two important truths.

1. God has a wonderful plan for your life. The Bible shows us that God has a great plan for each person.  Jeremiah 29:11 is often used by many as a "life verse" because it reminds us that God has a great plan to help us and not hurt us. It is a plan that seeks to bless you in a mighty way by the hand of God.


2. God has a unique plan for your life. The plans that God has for you are as unique as you are (Psalm 139:13).  There is not another you in the entire world. There has never been a "you" before, and there will never be another "you" after you're gone. There may be some similarities between God's will for your life and others, but the total plan is totally unique for you.  God isn't about making "cookie-cutter" disciples.  When God created you in your mother's womb, He specifically "knit" you together.  This includes the plans that He has in life for you.

Until we can get a grasp on these two truths, God's will for our life will not mean a whole lot.  When we do allow these truths to seep deep into our hearts, it causes excitement.  The God of the universe has counted us so special that He has created us in a unique way for a unique task.  There are parts of God's will for our life that are specifically for us; no one else will be able to do them as we were created to do them.

The frustration of knowing God's will even in light of these two truths is finding out the specifics.  It would be so easy if God would just drop a big billboard into the sky with all the plans written out for us, wouldn't it?  We know from experience and looking into the sky that hasn't happened.  Does God even want us to know what His plans for our life are?  Of course He does, and He has given us some billboards to point to those specific plans.

The first billboard is His Word.  2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that "all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  Within the pages of the Bible, we have the words of God's heart.  If you want to know what a person says or thinks, then you need to go to them and find out.  Remember when you were in the early days of middle school and would send your friend to the friend of that girl/boy that you liked to find out if they liked you?  Why the waste?  Just go to the person and find out from the source.  So much misunderstanding could be squashed if we would just go to the source.  If we want to know God's plans for our life, then we should go to Him and His Word and let Him reveal it to us.  On the subject of knowing God's will, listen to Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path."  If you are in the dark and looking for a path, you would use a light of some sort to reveal the path.  God's Word (the Bible) is that light for God's children.

The second billboard is the Holy Spirit.  God has placed His Holy Spirit within every believer to guide them along the path God has for them.  Jesus told us in John 14:26, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you." Don't you like open-book tests?  The teacher gives you all the notes and then when test time comes, they let you use the notes and your book!  The answers are laid out there before you.  God doesn't send His children out into the world without the Holy Spirit who has the all the answers.  The guiding of the Holy Spirit may come through prayer, bible study, or other means.  The things that the Holy Spirit will guide us to will always line up perfectly with the words of Scripture.  That is how you know if what you "feel" God has told you or led you is really God.  Does the directions line up with the Word of God?

The third billboard is His servants. God has called some to serve as guides for Christians.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."  God will bring people He has gifted into your life to guide you to His plans for your life.  They may be pastors, youth pastors, Sunday school teachers, school teachers, coaches, bosses, parents, or friends.  It is important that we be praying for these people that they might be in tune with God and sharing His word with us and others.  Again, if these people are truly from God, sent into your life to help direct you towards the plans He has for you, then the directions that they give will line up perfectly with Scripture.

Though we might not see a literal billboard in the sky, God has set up some clear billboards in our life to show us His plans for us.  A key characteristic to each of the billboards is that they point not primarily to the path but to the Path-maker.  Sometimes we can get so focused on the path that we miss God.  God is more concerned with you knowing Him than the plans He has for you.  I wish that I could take each of you out for lunch one-on-one and tell you what God's will is for your life, but I can't.  That position belongs to God and God alone.  The more and better that you know God, the clearer the path becomes that He has for you.

 

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