Pathway 4

COMMISSIONED

“Everything has already been decided.  It was known long ago what each person would be.  So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.”  Ecclesiastes 6:10 (NLT)

“Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger then he is.” Ecclesiastes 6:10 (NKJV)

Look at the word “named”.  It stuck out to me so I looked it up in the concordance.

Named: to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow.

Since then I have been shown examples of God appointing people.

Joshua 3:7, Samuel 3, Esther 4:14, Haggai 2:23, Matthew 28:19, Acts 26:16 

Being commissioned by God is an order from God.  It is a command from God.  It is your destiny and path, which one should walk and was created for….”such a time as this.” 

It is not the easiest path but the more we trust God the more peace we have.   We also see the path in which God has for us in no chance or accident.  Think of all the people God appoints and commissions for his work to be done. 

“And now God is building you, as living stones into his spiritual temple.  What’s more you are God’s holy priests, who offer spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

What sacrifices does God require? Immediately, the Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse….

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

"People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.   The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices." Proverbs 21:2-3

Do what is right; do justly, which comes from trusting in God in all situations.  Love mercy – do what is good and kind, love good then evil.  Remember you too are in need of mercy everyday from God to get you through the day in a godly manner or fashion.  So don’t try to get even or revenge or try to justify yourself in some fleshly manner.  Know you can't do right and love mercy without seeking and humbling yourself before God.  We only become ignorant and prideful when we don't humble ourselves before God but... understanding what is right, loving mercy and walking humbly with your God shows maturity and wisdom in Christ Jesus.  In order for all three to come into action, Jesus must be our Lord and Savior and we must put our trust in him not just in the mind but the heart as well.

POWER

“God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect.”  2 Samuel 22:33

When a person steps into that role or position God has for them they receive power and wisdom from God for that role and/or position.  Again we should not approach and live in this role in an arrogant manner but take the same position as Christ.  Though he was God he took the humble position of a slave. (Philippians 2:7)

Power comes through a humble trusting faith not religious thinking that is empowered by fleshly desires, pride and arrogance.

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

The Spirit cannot work unless we give him an open, relaxed, and still mind and heart.  We are not looking at ourselves or anyone else or even the circumstances but God to give us the strength and power to walk and do what he wants us to do in every instance of our lives.

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT HAPPENS
I had a wonderful dream where I could play the piano.  Now playing this piano gave me much joy.  I could play anything tune from memory and with no sheet music and even make the music sound better then it had originally been arranged.  I was a prodigy of sorts hammering and tickling the keys in a dazzling manner as if I was a master BUT when I started to think how I was doing this in my own understanding, I began to lose my special ability to play the piano in such a supernatural spectacular way.

We do that when we take ourselves out of the Holy Spirit’s hands or flow.  We try to understand “the how”…  and in doing so we drift from the anointing flow and get all tripped up in ourselves.  It's like we switch the tracks when we do this. 

Times with a great moves of God, we try to reproduce the same wonderful results only to be disappointed because we tried to do whatever it was in our own understanding.  Not understanding God doesn’t do the same exact thing the same way all the time.  God doesn’t fit into some box in our thinking and if he did our faith would become quite boring.    

We also lose our special ability or anointing to do the assigned task because we try to control the movements of God.  God needs to guide and direct us on an issue or topic and our focus in which the flow is directed.  In the Holy Spirit flow, God directs the topic and the His word and builds upon it.   It’s not the man’s doing.  The man is only the willing vessel in which God works through- so it is God who receives the glory not us.

In the same thought, God needs to work the same way in our daily lives as we partner with him do to what is good and what he requires of us.

God can take a man who thinks of himself inadequate and make that humble obedient soul skilled in the task he (God) wants the man to perform or carry out.  That happens only with trust and turning over the reins of one’s life to God.  It is putting away and getting rid of any assumptions and understandings of yourself and trusting God.  Trusting God I believe starts and is ignited with a heart that is thankful and is retrospective.   The heart that thinks about all God has done, shown you, continues to do and promises to do.  There it builds a path which God can move and work.

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

FAMILIARITY
We can have plenty of biblical knowledge and education but it is powerless without God guiding and directing it.  When we try do things in our own strength and understanding- it only leads to a religious routine.   Religious routine makes a rut in our lives.  It makes us feel comfortable and then we don’t even seek God for direction.    Religious routine doesn’t allow the Spirit to work, which is vital to our faith and relationship with the Lord.

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19

The way in which we see, understand and perceive can stifle the Holy Spirit- causing us to not do justly, not love mercy and not walk humble before God.

 God wants us to find comfort in HIM not religious routine. 

“We can make our own plans but the Lord gives the right answer.”  Proverbs 16:1

What would happen if your world you knew changed instantly and you had just depended on the routines of life and the shallow truths of your faith?   I say shallow truths in the sense that even though God’s truths were great you never allowed them to sprout, mature and root deeply in Christ Jesus because you found comfort in routine and/or religion not a life of faith in Christ Jesus and not the path God had set up or ordained for you.

We have a false sense of security or lack true security when our faith is based on religious ideals, routines and our own understanding.  We lack security when we think we have to earn salvation in some way.   It’s only when the trials and challenges (the fires of life) come and we see our faith is weak and need a true genuine trust in God.  That we can do nothing good without God.

A sound mind comes when those seeds of faith are challenged with the fires of life and are allowed grow and dive deeper into the rich living nourishment of Jesus Christ.   Challenges help us see our need for Jesus and where the source of our strength needs to come from. 

Of course someone could always take the easier path but again what would their faith look like when disaster came or tragedy struck?  Would anyone be able to tell the difference between them and someone who wasn't a Christian? 

If someone took the easier path and Jesus Christ showed up would they shy away from him?  If the Holy Spirit manifested himself -would they shy away from him?  Of course they would.  The truth would be right there before them and they could not deny their relationship was weak at best.

Given the same questions how would we answer, how would we measure our relationship with God? Weak or strong? Chaff or wheat?  A stiff necked goat or a sheep? Ashamed of Christ Jesus or not ashamed of Christ Jesus?

What do your actions say?  Do you demand on God and trust God to do what is right?  Do you depend on God to do what is good, kind and merciful?  Do you walk humbly with God seeking his counsel and guidance?  What is the Holy Spirit telling you right now? Are you truly walking the path God wants for you?

Jesus says “If anyone acknowledges me publically here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven.  But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32-33

Remember Jesus telling the story of the farmer scattering seed in Matthew 13?  In the shallow comfort of familiarity in God’s word we lack confidence and trust and wilt under the pressures of life.

Familiarity brings lack of passion or even displaced passion.   We can be passionate in a religious manner instead of where the passion should really count which is our first love- Jesus Christ.  We can be passionate about the things of this world that will not matter a month or even a year from now.

Jesus says “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And Honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”  Matthew 15:8 (NKJV)

Familiarity brings attachment or a firm grasp on life and the things of this life, which can be easily be taken away.  Routine as mentioned brings a false sense security, that we are in control, that we know how things should be and be carried out or be done BUT when we do this we only shut the door on God in our life and where we gather in a body of believers. 

In familiarity we may even think “this is the way" or “that is the way" things should be done in other people’s lives – where we force our opinions on them and try to manipulate and control others with our perspective confusing and jerking them around from what God is trying to do in their life.  That is why it is better to stay out of the affairs of others and focus on our own path Jesus Christ is taking us on.  Live it don’t just say it.  

How easy we forget our life is not our own but in God’s hands.

We lack spiritual sight, strength, power and depth in our faith because we have allowed this world and prince of this world who is Satan to steal the word from our minds before it can take root in our hearts – assurance comes with heart felt meditation and exercise in trusting in Jesus Christ.  Faith is not just some surface thing or bible trivia we pick up and memorize from a Sunday sermon but God’s word lived in and drawn up and nourished in the Holy Spirit.  It is a path empowered in purpose created by God just for you and I to share with the world.

Satan comes to steal the word from people with the affairs of this life and we don't live out the word because our own desires not to want to suffer and sacrifice our lives for purpose of the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

“But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.  Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!  For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household.  And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those ho never obeyed God’s Good News?  And also, if the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to the godless sinners? So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to God who created you, for he will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:16-19 NLT 

Through familiarity, the church in America has gotten lazy and has even fallen away from God’s powerful truth and principles.   I believe God is creating clean hearts and renewing a right mind and heart within the body of Christ.   God is calling willing participants that he can equip and live their purpose he has planned of them.   We need to follow his Spirit and do what pleases Him not what makes us or people feel comfortable.   Jesus, the Master of the house of God will be coming back, and he will see what we have done with his word and promises and gifts.  Thank God for the experiences some of us are facing now.

TROUBLE & CHALLENGES

How do you and I react to trouble?

Do you and I seek God for refuge and strength in troubling times?  What is our initial reaction?  What do we turn to first?  What do you do when trouble comes?

Persecution of the church did not just spread the gospel but has always focused the church on where their true refuge and strength comes from – which is God. 

Their circumstances and trails were so deep that their relationship with the Lord also deepened.   With the fiery challenges in life came anticipation of God’s help, comfort, strength, refuge, and encouragement. 

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure.  And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.  And this expectation will not disappoint us.   For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:3-5

They knew God’s help was present in trouble.  They only had to seek God and trust God to receive it.  Trouble and circumstances brought them to genuine faith.

“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, just must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.  For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.  You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2

The only thing that mattered in their life was God.   They had suffered to a point that all the worthless desires and affairs of this life had been burned away.  The only thing that made them satisfied was doing the will of God.  

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad- because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.  Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of the God will come upon you.  If you suffer however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.  But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.  Praise God for the privilege of being called by his wonderful name!” 1 Peter 4:12-16

Trouble brought with it genuine faith and intention to focus and trust and seek God.  Spiritual eyes were opened wide for the Lord’s work to be done and they knew no matter what happened to them – God loved them and this love filled them with peace that encouraged them on in the faith.   They didn’t just know what the word of their faith said but lived within it and the Spirit of God flowed regardless of their trials and circumstances.

This life of faith, this path is definitely one less taken but their is no question when one of genuine faith takes their last breath that they will be with their Lord, who they trusted and have grown to know with every experience in this life.  The Lord, through his faithful love, gave them: strength, encouragement, peace, quiet wisdom, and direction.  And through this real and living love of Christ they were able to touch other people’s lives as well so they might come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

"God saved you by his special favor when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Ephesians 2:8-10

You and I have two paths before us.  One path that is ordained for us, made specifically for us, to give us a life we never expected or imagined, a life full of guidance and assurance, a life with meaning and purpose that includes a life changing building partnership with God.  And then we have another path.  A path filled with our own desires, filled with manipulation, intimidation, pride, lack of self-control, misplaced hope and trust that will mean nothing in the end if we stay on it.

 Knowing this, what path are you going to take?