SOME. – The most dangerous word in the english language.
The Holy Spirit is not an inanimate idol. He is the communicator of vision and intention to all life for all life. We need to become envisioned. No one is left out of His loop.
Job 34:14 For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.
God wants to be in communion with you and He does that like any other relationship by listening and by speaking. He has the utmost intention to speak. When God cannot be heard, He sends a message by a more “Attentive” method. Fire, flood, plague, drought, prophet…
The Spirit of God speaks, and is not limited to –
Dreams, Visions, Signs, Wonders, Intuition, Audible Voices, Strangers, Prompts, Wise Counsel, Clarity, Coincidence, Donkeys!
Isaiah 55:9 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Read 1 Kings 19 . Wind, Earthquake, Fire…Now are you listening Elijah?
The story of Elijah tells us that resources clearly aren’t enough – God wants to give you a clear instruction, purpose and a meaning. Even accomplishing great feats, past success and reputation does not necessarily constitute being in the vision and the will of God, but because God is gracious he will give direction and detail. His Spirit speaks detail. It’s not a guessing game. Relying on the previous model is no guarantee because we get lazy and stop seeking Him.
Isaiah 30:31 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Provision with no vision creates confusion and erosion. Do you believe God has given you what you have just because?
Haggai 1:6 “You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.
God knows we need a vision, a direction, a mission, and a mandate.
We need to where we are going.
We need to know how to get there.
We need to know why we are going.
We need to know who has sent us.
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there is no vision, people perish; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
Proverbs 29:18 NIV
Where there is no revelation (Vision) , people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
Where there is no vision, people perish; who perishes?
The people who have lost their vision, or the people who the vision was going to lead them to?
Where there is no vision, people perish but where there is no people, the vision perishes.
Read Exodus 32: 7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt. They reverted to the familiar and well entrenched practices of Egypt. Muscle memory of safe captivity. The Road to Emmaus – The comfort of the comfortable – Back to bath.
Don’t Panic. This is Chess, not Chequers – the long game.
Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
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Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth for those as keep his
covenant and his testimonies.
Judges 5:6 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.Byways = winding, devious, crooked.
Highways = well trodden.
“Show me your highways of righteousness, direct me to the heart of God.”
God wants to give you a purpose and a meaning so you stay off the byway. He wants is to keep out eyes on the road because He knows we are prone to wander off. Highways = well trodden, straight, caravans.
Read Psalm 23.
His Holy Spirit, the one who brings you into all truth and knowledge, wants to speak clearly so you can be ; Led to Stillness – Led to Restfulness – Led to Truth – Led to Mission – Led to the Table – Led to Resource, Led to Presence.
I wonder if our churches have declined because we have not been led to the least and the dead? Left to our own devices we stray towards the likeable, comfortable and familiar – so we must be constantly reminded of our position and our mission and direction.
Matthew 25:45 He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
John 5:35 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
God is taking us SOMEWHERE – We should ask for directions.
SOMEWHERE – Where do I find my vision?
Judges 5:6 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. Deborah is speaking in metaphor for the moral disarray of the Hebrew nation.
Proverbs 29:18 NIV
Where there is no revelation (Vision) , people cast off restraint (Perish); but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
You must first start with the belief that God wants to take you. SOMEWHERE and that he has a specific set of plans for your life which are available to you through “His Spirit who will lead (not instruct) you into all truth”.The LORD will guide you always. He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen (provide and prepare) your frame. You will be like well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11
VAST – Jesus could have elected to enable and release the armies of Heaven. But instead He chose to enlist you, uniquely gifted, in His mission.
Some to All. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Jesus spend his time convincing you He is good, you have access to His Spirit of Power and you can do it.
Who historically did God call? – THE WRONG
Unqualified, blotted their copy book, moral failures, power corrupted, rough, uneducated, uncultured, but willing to try a better way. In Gods economy your past bears no impact on your future.
SOME – The most dangerous word in the english language.
So have you decided which group in your mind you sit in?
This is why the battle ground for your soul is in your mind.
90% of your actions are based on your internal conversations about yourself.
God stuck with those who tried and failed.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me or I can do some things some of the time?
PROIVISION
Elijah was despondent, afraid and depressed
1 KINGS 19: All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
God delivered the means sovereignly from His mercy.
PROIVISION – God delivered the means sovereignly from His creation. .
1 KINGS 17: Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.
PROIVISION – God delivered the means through others.
KINGS 17: Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.
FRIGHTENED
God prepared Elijah for a journey that had no immediate success or purpose other than to come back to hear the mission and the meaning.
God stuck with those who tried and failed.
Judges 3:31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.
BRING IT
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
Size is immaterial in a kingdom where the least is considered the greatest.
MISSION CLARITY – Stick to the simple plan.
Isiah 61.
To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. To proclaim good news to the poor. To bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the captives Release from darkness for the prisoners, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God,
John. 13:34
A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you, and by this action all men will know you are my disciples.
Who Can I Love?
This is the mission. This is the mystery.
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