Divine Direction From The Holy Spirit

"The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,"
Acts 1:1, 2 (NKJV)

Most of the time when you buy some new piece of electronic equipment or something that needs to be put together you also receive a set of instructions.  While you might have some prior knowledge that can help you with your new purchase, you usually need to refer to the instructions to be able to deal correctly with your new item.  You might even take a quick look at the directions you have and think that you don't need them, you are smart enough to figure it out on your own.  But, after running into a couple of difficulties most people will check back with the instructions to get things done right.

In Acts 1:2 it says that Jesus gave commandments to the apostles.  But, Jesus did not just share some random thoughts that He had; it was by the direction of the Holy Spirit that Jesus told His disciples what they needed to hear.  Today God tells us what we need to hear through the Word and by the Holy Spirit.  God is smarter than we are and He always knows what we need ahead of time, even before we know we need it.  Just like a company that produces a certain product knows that people need proper instructions to do things right, God knows we need divine direction to live the right kind of life.

Sometimes we think we can go through life on our own without really paying attention to what God has to say in His Word, just like the person who thinks they are smart enough to figure things out on their own without reading the instructions.  The Bible is filled with divine directions from God that the Holy Spirit will use to help us in life.  God can and will work with us to prepare us for what is to come in our life before we even recognize what is coming.  But it is up to us to be diligent to read and study God's Word and then follow the divine direction that the Holy Spirit gives us for every area of life.

Overcomers Or Underachievers?

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
1 John 5:4, 5 (NKJV)

Everyone will face problems in life; this is an inescapable fact.  But that does not stop some people from trying to do just that, escape from their problems.  Some people try to ignore the problem hoping that it will go away or they just try to endure it rather than do anything about the problem.  Some people look for another person to come to their rescue to save them so that the person with the actual problem does not need to do anything.  But some people deal with challenges head on and when faced with a problem they overcome it; while this is not the easiest way to live it is the best way to live.

In the Book of Revelation we see the phrase "he who overcomes" written to each of the seven churches addressed in chapters 2 and 3.  Along with this it lists the rewards given to those who overcome, but there is no mention of a reward or benefit for those who give up or don't do anything about their problems.  This shows us that we can be overcomers and it also shows us that it is up to us to do something about the challenges and problems we face.  God never planned for His children to go through their lives on earth just trying to hide from and be overcome by their problems.

It is through Jesus that we have overcome the world (John 16:33; Romans 8:37), we are supposed to reign in this life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17), and we are born of God to overcome (1 John 5:4, 5)!  Rather than be an underachiever and live below the standard that God wants us to and even made provision for us to live at we need to be an overcomer by taking advantage of everything that Jesus did.  God's plan has always been for us to put our faith in His Word and the work of Jesus so that we would live a victorious life!

Walking In Love - Love, The Identification Of A Disciple

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:34, 35 (NKJV)

There are some things that are easy to identify because of how they look or sound.  For example, a cow and a chicken look and sound very different; I doubt that anyone has ever gotten those animals mixed up.  Another example would be a small car and a semi-truck, they look and sound very different.  We are able to identify these things because of the distinctive look and sound that they have.  But wouldn't it be strange for a cow to cluck like a chicken and a chicken to moo like a cow?  And imagine the confused looks on people's faces if a small car would drive by sounding like a huge truck.

When Jesus was on the earth He showed love for His disciples, even though they argued about who was the greatest, misunderstood His intentions, and did not always do things the way He wanted them to.  John 13:1 says that Jesus loved His disciples to the end.  Then, in John 13:34, 35, Jesus told His disciples to love each other the way that He had loved them.  Jesus went on to say that people would recognize His disciples because of the love they showed to each other.  The love shown between those who follow Jesus should be an easy way for people to identify who they are.

Jesus performed miracles, did amazing teaching, and had a great prayer life, but Jesus never said these things would be the identifying traits of His disciples.  In this context Jesus was specifically talking about those who followed Him, Jesus was not talking about our relationship to everyone but to fellow believers.  If Christians demonstrated the kind of love that Jesus was talking about a lot of people would be very interested in joining that group to get some of the love.  Our goal should be to walk in love with one another, to love like Jesus loved, and to be the example that Jesus intended us to be.

Dream Big Dreams For God

"Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:... And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind."
Genesis 37:5, 6, 11 (NKJV)

According to the dictionary, a dream can be something that happens when you sleep, an imaginary thought that has no basis in reality, or something a person has wanted to do or be for a long time.  All of these things can be called dreams, but we can't build our life on a dream we had while we were sleeping or on fantasies that will never come true.  But people do have good dreams of a better future and of being someone better than who they are right now.  If someone has no dreams or hope for a brighter future, no desire to do something meaningful with their life, then that person is in a sad condition.

There are dreams that we all can and should have. As Christians we should be inspired through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit to dream big dreams and achieve great things for God.  We can learn something from Joseph and the dreams he had; when he shared his dream not everyone was happy.  It is interesting to notice in the story of Joseph that his brothers hated him for his dream but once he explained his dream they actually envied him!  It is also interesting to see that while at first his father was upset with the dream, Joseph's father kept the matter in mind; he did not just discount the dream.

When we have dreams that are in line with the Word of God some people will be unhappy and even envious, and some will take notice.  We need to be careful who we tell our dreams to and if people don't accept our dream and react negatively we should not allow that to influence us.  We need to be sure our dream is really a godly dream and keep our dream alive by not letting anything push us away from that dream and trusting God to bring it to pass.  The end result of Joseph's dream was that God fulfilled it; God used Joseph to deliver his whole family.  What dreams are you dreaming for God today?

Build On The Rock, Or Face The Consequences

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)

My grandparents lived out in the country by a bay.  The road from my grandparent's home to the town ran along that same bay.  One thing I remember is seeing the foundation of a building that someone made too close to the water.  You could see the concrete blocks, but they were almost completely covered by sand and sometimes even by the water.  At some point the water was not so high and it seemed to someone that this was a good place to build.  Eventually the mistake of choosing this location became obvious and the building was abandoned, it was ruined before it was even finished.

Jesus told a story in Matthew 7 about two men who built houses and faced storms.  One man was wise and did what Jesus said, like a man building a house on a rock, his house withstood the storm.  The other man was foolish and did not do what Jesus said, like a man building a house on sand, this man's house was ruined.  Both men heard what Jesus said but the men responded differently to the words of Jesus, that was the only difference between them.  In the same way that these two men built houses we are building our life.  And just like the two men in the story we too will face storms.

How well we stand in the storms of life depends on the foundation we have built on.  To have a stable and successful building you have to build on the right thing, to have a stable and successful life we must hear and do the right things.  We need to hear the words of Jesus, and the entire Word of God, and we need to do what we have heard.  We need to put into practice in our lives everything we see in God's Word, this is like building a house on a rock.  When we are hearing the Word of God and living a life based on it we will have success and no matter what storm comes we will endure.

God's Word: Not To Be Mixed With Traditions

"For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. But you say, If a man says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban - (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Mark 7:10-13 (NKJV)

There are some things that don't work well together.  For example, some medicines need to be taken with meals and some before eating.  Some chemicals should not be mixed with other chemicals, unless you want to have a dangerous and explosive reaction.  Some plants will only grow and thrive in certain environments and not in others.  The same is true with the Bible, we need to make sure that we take the Bible as our standard of truth and not mix any of our own ideas with the Word of God.  What God has said in His Word will have the greatest effect in our life when we don't mix it with other things.

In Mark 7 Jesus was responding to the Pharisees' criticism about the disciples eating without first ceremonially washing their hands.  Jesus then made the statement about people not helping their parents because of some tradition.  The Pharisees were more concerned about following man-made rules than they were about what was actually right or wrong.  They had put their rules and traditions on the same, or even a higher level, than God's Word and this mixture made God's Word ineffective in their lives.  Jesus did not mix God's Word with man-made traditions and He was successful in helping others.

What we think, do, and say should be based solely on the Word of God.  How do we make sure we do not mix man-made rules and traditions with God's Word?  The solution is simple, spend time reading and studying God's Word to be sure we know what is in it.  If we find that things in our thinking, actions, and speaking do not line up with the Word of God we need to make changes in our life and not try to make an addition to the Bible to help justify why we did not receive the results that the Bible promises.  When we live our life by God's Word, without mixing in anything else, will have success.

Going Too Fast For Conditions

"I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.  Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."
Exodus 23:29, 30 (NKJV)

I was born and raised in Wisconsin and Wisconsin gets a lot of snow in the wintertime. When it snows you have to change how you drive, the roads become slippery and caution is necessary. But sometimes people do not pay attention to the road conditions; they drive too fast and have problems.  This is what is called driving too fast for conditions, someone was going too fast for the conditions they were driving in and that is why they had a problem.  What is true naturally is also true spiritually; natural and spiritual development take time, getting in a hurry can lead to problems.

If we are going too fast, naturally or spiritually, we may miss some things along the way because we pass by them too quickly.  Going too fast could mean that we find ourselves in a situation that we are not ready for or we might not take the time necessary to do something the way it really should be done.  This is the same thing God was talking about in Exodus 23, there is only so much we can handle at a time and if we get going too fast we can end up with problems.  God has a plan and purpose for our life but everything won't come to pass tomorrow.

Some people get in a rush in their relationship with God thinking that they start their life with God one day and become a spiritual giant the next day.  Sometimes we try to move forward too fast and we do not take advantage of everything we are involved in at the moment and we miss an opportunity now we won't have later or we run into problems trying to deal with things we really aren't ready for.  We need to realize that God knows what is best for us and allow Him to work with us and develop us at His pace, that way we will do everything the right way at the right time going exactly the right speed for the condition we are in.

A New Start In A New Year

"Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."
Isaiah 42:9 (NKJV)

People like things that are new.  When someone buys a car they talk about the "new car smell" that their vehicle has.  Even if someone has just bought a car that is not actually new, if it is new to them that new car can bring a sense of excitement that comes with something new, it gives a sense of a new beginning, a fresh start.  The same thing is true when someone moves into a new house or apartment and even when a new phone, computer, or some other electronic device is purchased.  There is something special that people generally feel when a new thing comes into their life.

Today is January 1 and it is a day that brings a sense of hope for a fresh start to people.  Even though today is just another day on the calendar and it is really no different than February 1 or March 1, January 1 can still have a different feel to it for many people.  Some people look back at the previous year with some regrets about things they did not do or things that they may have done and wished that they hadn't.  The idea that we can have a new start or even a second chance for something is what often motivates people when a new year begins. 

In Isaiah 42:9 it talks about things that have come to pass and a new thing being declared.  Everything that happened last year is in the past and we can't change that.  But, we can leave our past behind and God can give us a new start this year.  We all have goals and dreams and no matter which of them did or did not come to pass last year we can have an expectation for a new and better year ahead.  Begin this year with anticipation for a new start in a new year.  Expect that this year will be your best year ever and that God will help you to declare a new beginning!

The Real Story Of Christmas

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  There are many things that make Christmas special, like spending time with family and friends, people giving to one another and showing love, and of course the celebration of Jesus birth.  All of these things are great and worth focusing on.  But it would be nice if people spent more time with family and friends during the whole year.  It would also be nice if people were more loving and giving during the whole year.  And it would be wonderful if people recognized all year long, and not just in December, that Jesus came to the earth to save mankind.

People tend to go to one of two extremes about Christmas.  Some people see it as just a gift giving holiday while others tend to over spiritualize everything about Christmas.  This second group of people will not have a Christmas tree; they dislike anything that is secular and in their eyes takes away from the emphasis being on Jesus.  But is it possible to find a balance between all of the things the world focuses on and the spiritual truth we find in Christmas?  I believe we can enjoy the celebration time with family and friends, and the giving and outpouring of love while still keeping our focus on Jesus. 

The real story of Christmas is that while Jesus came to us as a baby He was and is the Son of God.  All year long it is good to remember that Jesus was more than a baby born in a manger; Jesus is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.  Whatever we need, all year long, Jesus made it available for us!  The real story of Christmas is more than just a story about a baby born sometime in history; the real story of Christmas is that it is a never ending story, a story of good news for all people all year long.

Who Do You Promote?

"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."
Proverbs 27:2 (NKJV)

Some people are very impressed with themselves, you can tell that by the way they talk.  It seems like some people are they own best publicists and they are intent on making a great name for themselves.  But if we are the only one singing our praises, so to speak, then maybe that is a song we should consider not singing.  While we do not seek praise from other people or live by the things other people say about us, we should leave compliments about ourselves to others.  With the things we say and how we act, do we promote ourselves and our agenda or are we promoting others?

It is easy for us to talk about how wonderful we are as a spouse, a friend, or an employer or employee but the question is how others see us.  In this type of situation, what we say about ourselves is not really as important as what others say about us.  If we really are so wonderful then that is something we should be hearing from others and not from ourselves.  Instead of spending time trying to promote and build up ourselves we should be promoting and building up others for the good things that they are doing. 

It is easy to fall into pride and get puffed up with our accomplishments, if we do that then we are focusing too much on ourselves.  We need to be the kind of people who are ready to cheer on, encourage, and promote those around us for what they do.  Certainly no one is perfect and we are all growing and developing but if we are quick to promote and praise others, like our spouse, our children, our friends, our coworkers, our boss, and our pastor, then we will be doing things the right way because we will be promoting and helping others instead of ourselves.

What Reward Are You Looking For?

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."
Hebrews 11:24-26 (NKJV)

Everyone knows that while both gold and silver are valuable, gold is more valuable than silver.  Economy class, business class, and first class seats may all be available on an airplane, but given the choice people would fly in first class instead of either economy or business class.  These are some natural examples of things we deal with in life; there are some things that are good but there are other things that are even better.  Sometimes we have to let go of one thing to be able to get another, sometimes we have to leave the good behind to have the best.

Hebrews 11 tells us that Moses rejected the treasures of Egypt but looked to the reward, which seems like a contradiction.  The treasures of Egypt were a reward but it was not the only kind of reward that was available.  Moses perused one reward while forsaking another.  Moses could have taken the treasures of Egypt and avoided some suffering, but Moses understood that there was a greater reward available to him.  We too have choices about what we will pursue.  What kind of reward are we looking for?  The best things to have may not always be the easiest things to get.

There are times when we will face choices about what we pursue and often the choice comes down to a quicker but not so valuable reward as opposed to a better reward that we will not receive as soon.  This could be compared to someone putting aside immediate gratification to reach a long term goal.  There are some things that may look like a treasure to us, and it may even be a good thing, but is it the best thing?  Is what we are pursuing a truly godly goal that will bring us a true reward?  Keep God's plans and purposes for your life in first place and even if like Moses you leave behind some "treasure" you can be sure you will still reap real rewards, now and in eternity.

What Should You Say?

"Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true, and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."
John 8:25, 26 (NKJV)

Every day we face situations that are less than perfect.  From the everyday circumstances of life to things happening in our family, with our friends, or something we have to deal with on our job it seems that there is always something going on.  What we say in these situations is vitally important.  What we say will help us succeed in life or bring us down to defeat.  We could think of it this way, in every situation we find ourselves in we have a choice about what to say; there are some things we might like to say but there are some things we should say, things we really need to say.

In John 8 we read about the Pharisees asking Jesus to explain to them who He was.  The response that Jesus gives is a great example for us.  Jesus tells the Pharisees two different things.  First, Jesus says that He is exactly who He has always said He was.  Jesus was continually speaking about His identity in relationship to God.  Second, Jesus told the Pharisees that there were many things He had to say but what He would say were the things He heard from God.  In other words, Jesus said He only spoke what God directed Him to speak.

When we find ourselves in a difficult situation the words we have been speaking about ourselves all along will help us or harm us.   When we find ourselves in a difficult situation we need to listen to the direction God will give us by the Holy Spirit and say the things that God guides us to say.  We may be reminded about a verse from the Bible, God may give us a question we can ask to clarify things, or we might have some direction from the Holy Spirit about how to speak positive words into a potentially negative situation.  No matter what you may be dealing with, don't just say anything that comes to mind, say the words that God directs you to say and allow Him to help you win every time!

Enter In With Thanksgiving

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name."
Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)

There are many different methods that can used to access various places.  Some places require you to buy a ticket before you enter.  Some places require you to show a certain form of identification before you can enter.  Some places require you to enter an access code on a security panel before you can get in.  Some places require a special key to enter in.  While there may be different methods that are used to enter a place, the point is that something is necessary before one can enter and the same thing is true with the things of God.

We have access to God today through the blood of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:13, 18), this is the basis for our relationship with God.  But what about our every day fellowship with God and walking in the blessings of God, is there something we can do to make sure we have clear access to all that God has provided for us through Jesus?  By looking at what Psalm 100:4 tells us I believe we have an answer: thanksgiving gives us access.  Being thankful and praising God for who He is and what He has done will keep doors of opportunity and blessing open in our life.

When we are thankful we are focused on the right things.  If we consider all of the good things that God has done for us and how much God loves us it is easy to be thankful and also easy for us to walk by faith.  If we think about what we may not have or what might not be exactly right in our life it means we are more focused on natural things and it is easy to complain and harder to live a life of faith.  By maintaining a lifestyle of thanksgiving we keep ourselves in the place where God can work in our life; let's all make it our goal to be thankful and enter into God's best.

A Firm Foundation To Stand On

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV)

Standing is a fairly simple thing for most people to do.  Unless a person has some medical condition that prevents them from doing so, people learn to stand at a very early age.  But, it is not just standing up on your feet that matters it is also what you are standing on.  If you are standing on a flat, stable surface then standing is easy.  However, if you are on a boat that is being tossed around by waves, or if you are trying to take a stand on some ice or an unstable surface then the simple act of standing becomes a challenge.

The Bible says several things about standing.  We are told we stand by grace (Romans 5:2), we stand against the enemy (Ephesians 6:11), and that we stand by faith (2 Corinthians 1:24).  But the question is, just exactly how do we do this?  If we are to stand by faith in the grace of God against our enemy then we need to be sure that what we are standing on is stable and secure.  Our position of standing is only as good as what we are standing on.  A firm foundation to stand on is built on the Word of God through what we hear and by the words we speak.

By hearing God's Word we build our faith to stand and we strengthen our foundation by a continual process of speaking God's Word.  Then when we face the enemy, when we deal with difficult situations, when we need to appropriate the blessings of God in our life we have a firm foundation to stand on in faith.  Many believers struggle because their foundation is not entirely built from God's Word and when they need to stand strong their foundation is not secure.  Build a firm foundation in your life by filling yourself with the Word of God and speaking His Word every day, in every situation of life.

One Step Leads To Another

"And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.  So they said to Him, Where do You want us to prepare?  And He said to them, Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you will say to the master of the house, "The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."
Luke 22:8-12 (NKJV)

When you are traveling somewhere or you have a goal to reach the main thing is to get to the destination and reach that goal.  All of the steps between where you start and where you end are not as important as the final objective, but those steps are still important.  Without taking the necessary steps to move forward you would never get to where you need to go.  This is a problem area for some people in following God's direction, they want the end result without having to take the steps in between the start and the finish.

In Luke 22 we see Jesus sending Peter and John to a city to find the place to prepare the Passover.  The goal was the place where they could meet, going to the city was a step in the right direction but it was not the only step.  Jesus told them to locate a certain man, but that was not the final step.  The man with the pitcher was only leading Peter and John to the place where they would meet another man who would then take them to their final goal.  But what if Peter and John had skipped a step or two, would they still have gotten the same result?

We will often find that God directs us into one thing that brings us into something else; God gives us one step that leads to another.  This is not to say that we view the things we do or the people we meet as just stepping stones we use to achieve a goal, that is not right at all.  But as God brings us opportunities to take steps in our walk with Him we must realize that God has a plan and He is working to develop us, prepare us, and to direct us into what we need to do and where we need to go.  Follow the steps God gives you, take advantage of the opportunities He brings you to do things, and build relationships with other believers.  Doing these things will benefit us today and help us reach our future goals.