What is God's will for your life? Have you ever been asked that question or asked yourself? Acts 20 gives us some insight into the will of God for our lives that I believe is vital. There are four mile markers on the road to finding the will of God:
- Spirit's prompting - "And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem..." verse 22a
- Certain uncertainty - "I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." verse 22b
- Predictable resistance - "I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." verse 23
- Uncommon clarity - "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus Christ has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." verse 24
When vision increases, options decrease, making it easier to discern the will of God.
Reflection ?'s:
What are you experiencing? Uncertainty? Resistance? Clarity?
What is the Holy Spirit prompting you to do?
Everyone has a story to tell. The story of our lives are incredible and are meant to be told to others. This life deals all of us pain, hurt, victory and triumph. The only way you can use all that you have been through as a catalyst to see the greater picture is through Jesus Christ. Let Christ transform you through his grace and mercy today and get a story that you can tell others. So what's your story?
How big is Jesus in your life? I am deeply convinced that the way we live life is a consequence of the size of our God and the problem that most of us have is our God is too small. Gideon, in Judges 6, is more like Barney Fife from Mayberry than a mighty warrior. He lives his life with a little God in his own mind and when that happens to any of us we live in a world without dreams or possibilities. God tells us like He told Gideon to "go in the strength that you have, what I have already given you, and save Israel out of Midian's hands." When we take God at His word what is unthinkable on our own, becomes unstoppable when it's God and you. What's unthinkable, undoable on my own becomes not just doable, but unstoppable when it's God and little Barney Fife. God tells Gideon to slim down his army 4-to-1 then God tells him to slim it down to 13-to-1 and then finally 450-to-1. God has a reason for this. He gives Gideon one more miraculous sign. Finally Gideon has enough courage to move forward just a little bit. Not much more than that and then in a miraculous way God intervenes. The Midianites all take off running in a way that no other could have ever foreseen and Israel is free and then they know. Then they understand who is God because God wants people to know you were not intended to live life in your own strength. "It's my battle," God says. "You don't have to live in fear." Gideon is not the only guy in the Bible who wrestles with fear. Pretty much all the giants do - Abraham does, Moses does, Joshua does, David does, Elijah does, Peter, all the disciples, everybody does.
In fact, the single most common command in the Bible is, "fear not don't be afraid."
I believe that God is saying to you, "I'm bigger than your problems. I am bigger than your failures. I am bigger tan your regrets. I am bigger than your sin and guilt. And if you will let me, if you try me, if you will open the door of your heart, I will come into your life and I will be your forgiver and I will be your strength and I will be your friend." God sees something in you that no one else sees. He is with you mighty warrior!
St. Augustine said,
"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering."
Last Sunday's message took a close look at the miracle of the human body and the amazing God who uniquely created each of us. Psalm 119:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
How does it make you feel to realize that God knows you? Since the end of your days is coming, and you don't know when it will be, how will you live this week like you are dying? Knowing that God has uniquely formed us and ordained our days it should change the way we view ourselves and our lives. There are 3 billion letters in the DNA code in every cell of your body. And no one's DNA is the same. That means God has created you uniquely and there is no one like you and never ever will be anyone like you. Celebrate who you are!
Upcoming Events:
Dec 24
Christmas Eve Service
Jan 04 - Jan 10
Prayer And Fasting
Jan 14
Generations
Jan 20
nurture
Jan 20
nurture
