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POC777
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United States
January 13 2004
8728 Posts
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I updated and revision my upcoming book(LORD willing) A Heart Burning On Fire for God: 31 Days of Devotion.
Here a sample of what you'll read in the book:[i/]
Day 1
Inquiring of the LORD
2 Samuel 5:19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand."
David in this pa**age speaks to the LORD and asks Him if it is good to attack the Philistines, He told David yes, go for it because He was going to fight His battle for him, David was not alone God was with him. However, there is more to this pa**age, "David inquired of the LORD", David knew that God would deliver him from this army into his hand and boy did he did.
The word 'inquire' means to seek to learn by asking. David seeks the LORD, learns to "go for it" and asks Him for the entire army.
Is like we inquire of the LORD and ask Him for our unsaved loved ones to come to Christ, new job, a new home or car whatever we need.
One thing that is notice in this verse is "I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand". The word doubt means uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something.
At times we all doubt but God doesn't doubt only imperfect people do!
You might heard people you talk to after you said something say "I doubt it" so and so. But God tells David in this pa**age "doubtless" in other words, God didn't doubt David will defeat the Philistines He already knew he would defeat them because He was with Him.
You see God is omniscience so he knows the past, present and future--he already knows what is going to happen tomorrow while we wait for tomorrow. We want to have it our way, Burger King's motto is "Have it your way" not the LORD's way. But the LORD tells us "Have it my way" and His way is perfect it always is, never failed once and should be followed.
In James 1:2-5, James teaches whenever we go through any trial and don't know what to do, to go ask God for wisdom to know what to do next. Jesus in Matthew 7, tells "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.
In James 1:6, he tells us when we ask God for wisdom to not doubt like when sea tosses the waves back and forth because He will give us the wisdom every time during that trial because He will always give it to us.
Doubting is a sin and shouldn't be in the life of the Christian including doubting God or the things of God!
In the Old Testament, Levitical priests had two stones called Urim and Thummim. One was black and the other white indicating yes or no for determine God's will and will carry them in a pouch on their chest. The stones protected Israel from God's judgment. Each time they wanted to inquire of the LORD, for a decision, war, will put their hand in the pouch and either pull out the white or black stone.
It's not like the eight-ball you shake, ask a question and magically gives you the answer. The stones were special! There is a reason why David calls Him in the Psalms "My Deliverer" and "My Salvation”.
God delivered a huge army to him and saved him from being killed in action.
This means he will become victorious overcoming anything in his life and David did conquered armies. In Romans 8:37: we are told "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”. We are not weaklings but warriors of the LORD, conquering every obstacle as He fights our battles. The battle starts on our knees—prayer!
Maybe today you need to be delivered from something that is keep bothering you. Are you worried, discouraged, depressed, or afraid of something? Maybe you need to change that attitude of yours or even a sin you have not confessed. Stop doubting!
Examples of God's will
In 1 Kings 19:9-13, the prophet Elijah was running for his life because of a woman named Jezebel wanted his head. So he hid in a cave and God told him what he was doing in the cave and not to move. All of sudden a tornado came and cuts a huge rock in half, there was an earthquake and the ground cracked, and then a fire and burned everything in its path. After the fire Elijah could hear a "small still voice". Isn't that wonderful that God speak to us very softly and tenderly? That's how God spoke to David and Elijah. When we seek God's face we'll hear Him even when we go through suffering.
New believers might not hear God's voice at first because they need to grow in their Christian life. His voice becomes more clear as we grow in the Word and prayer! God wants us to inquire of Him to know what His will is for our lives.
It was God's will for the army of the Philistines to be delivered into David's hand.
It was God's will for Elijah to go through trials and be persecuted by a pagan woman named Jezebel, go into a cave, experience supernatural events and then hear God's small still voice.
You might say I don't have the stones or even God speaks to me like David and Elijah and what exactly is God's will for my life?
My will or God's will be done?
Know this: God speaks to us but is different for each Christian--based on spiritual maturity. As we grow in the faith, it might take years for us be attentive to Him. He is not 'silent', 'mute' or hidden within the clouds like most people a**ume, He speaks to us today and that is through His Word, people and circumstances.
The basic explanation to know if its God's will is the following:
Read and verse the following verses and you will notice each one reveals God's will in different ways(Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 5:18; Colossians 1:9; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 10:16; 1 John 2:15-17 etc.)
1. God's will is confirmed with a verse or chapter from the Bible.
How exactly can we know God wants us to get employed in a job, go into full-time ministry, enroll in a college, go to Bible College or , enlist in the military, marry that special someone, travel as a missionary to a foreign land?
The Word of God is the foundation of every Christian must build their lives upon.
It always begins with His Word so when we inquire of the LORD, like David did, we will hear God's small still voice clearly and the Spirit will bring us to a certain verse(s) in the Bible.
LORD, what you want to do?
One day on 107.9 KWAVE, I heard a pastor say that if God called or wanted to do something, the Spirit will give him a verse from the Bible. How true is that? That very verse will speak to the very problem(s) or situation(s) we face and will know its God's will and proceed and so be blessed. David in the Psalms tells God will "what is Your will for my life?". Christians also tell God "LORD, what is Your will for my life?"
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before going through suffering by evil men and then to the cross said "Not my will but Your will be done" that should very well be our attitude towards God. Saying "LORD, what do You want me to do use me for your glory in peoples lives so You could bring them to Christ". God knows exactly what we need & want and protect us from danger, deception, greed, sin or keep us from pride.
His Word is His will for our will to be conformed to His will!
2. God's will is confirmed by circumstances.
Now that we know that by His Word know whether or not is His will, sometimes people, finances, sin, death of loved one and loss could become roadblocks where wants us to be or not be at. These roadblocks are the main problem today why Christians make errors, failures, get into debt, make bad mistakes, hurt themselves as well as other things that offend the LORD. If they were to take the time (you guess it) and inquire of the LORD and wait upon Him, repent of sin, not be worry or depressed too quickly during any circumstance will know His will.
I still remember sitting on my recliner pleading and crying to the LORD because I wanted to enlist in the Marines. I went to a place to enlist, spoke to a Marine sarge, watched a movie and even took the exam. The only problem was I didn't have my G.E.D at that time and got a low score so I couldn't go. But I wanted to go to the Marines so badly, I want to the library and began studying ASVAB very much. I did so for about a week but when I went home my mother told not to go but to help my father renovate our home to get a refinance loan. I obeyed and for the next four years or so, with my father and brother demolished walls, wooden panels, put up drywall, plastered, painted, installed new windows and constructed a master bedroom and a small room. The LORD didn't allow me to go but stay with my family to help them--it was His will!
This could be seen also in Paul and Silas ministry in Acts 16, the Spirit forbid and avoided them from entering into Asia to preach the Gospel.
Founder of GFA Pastor K.P said if the Spirit never forbid Paul from entering Asia, Asia would've first to hear the Gospel and the Word of God would've spread. Not quite, why? The Spirit protected them from people in that region and wouldn't receive the Word of God. Their ministry might been fruitless and would've gone home earlier to be with the LORD.
Hinduism has been around for thousands of years. It is Asia's main religion and caste system. Hindu radicals (like jihad Muslims) don't take anything too lightly and are very protective of their religion. Anyone who teaches anything contrary to their teachings would be persecuted, beaten to death, tortured, burned alive and killed--it is happening today and that's the truth.
See www.gfa.com and www.persecution.com!
They hate Christianity and can't stand us because of the preaching of Jesus finished work on the cross for their salvation and liberation, illumination from Hinduism. Any family member who is Hindu decides to become Christian is now considered their enemy including of the state, will abandon them and even refuse to a**ociate with them on the street! Now I’m not saying every Hindu is evil, no…no, I’ve meet some very generous and kind Hindus online or personally. Sure, we disagree over doctrinal Hindu issues but I have never debated or even argued with one. All I do is tell them about Jesus and ask them questions about Him.
I respect them!
God protected Paul and Silas from these people which might be one of the reasons why the Spirit forbid them from entering Asia.
One night the LORD gave Paul the apostle a vision of people in Macedonia who never heard the Word of God, hungered and will receive the Word of God and wanted them there. From there on Paul and Silas ministry brought fruit and added in numbers to the Kingdom of God. He spoke to a group of woman during a Jewish Sabbath and a woman named Lydia and came to Christ, delivered a young woman from a demonic spirit of divination and came to Christ. They were persecuted, beaten, put in chains in prison only for driving out the demon and putting out of business those who made money from her. In prison after the LORD send an earthquake that open the prison doors brought salvation to an officer and his family household.
All this and more because the Spirit allow them to enter the city of Macedonia to preach the Gospel and not Asia, it isn’t amazing how God works in a Christian’s life?
Now when I inquire of the LORD, I ask Him to close all doors that aren't His will and open a door that is His will. Time and time again, He has heard every prayer and who knows what would've happened to me or my family if I never desired to pray that way.
Whether strange or not things that happen in our lives is God's will!
3. God's will is confirmed when the Spirit repeats the same message.
God will use anything or anyone to get our attention to do His will or when we are out of His will. This is seen in the Book of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet of God who disliked the people from a city called Nineveh (in modern Iraq today) because they were wicked and vile. He fled the city and aboard on a ship with pagans. Even the pagans found out he was out of God’s will after the LORD caused a storm. The unbelievers were afraid of the waves so he was thrown overboard. God provided a whale to swallow him alive. He remained three days and three nights in its belly and after praying was spit out.
Later, he preached judgment and repentance for forty days and the people repented. The king made a decree and everyone both people and animals fasted. God changed his mind and decided not to destroy them. It was God’s will for Jonah to preach in the city for the people to change their lifestyle and come to God, but he decided to run away from God’s will like at times we do.
Take this moment now to search deeply your heart and ask yourself this question:
Recently, have I run away from God’s will?
This could be true because about four years ago, I was in habitual sin and blinded by its deception--I was involved in a sexual immoral relationship with an unbeliever. I didn't repent and backslid for months and continued on. But God got my attention when my family one by one told me I was in sin and to leave the woman. One evening, during church service and God repeated the same message that I was in sin through a teaching on Proverbs 9. Finally, after seven people confirmation from God, right there I knew then, I was out of God's will, needed to repent and confess my sin to be cleansed and leave the woman for good. I did and ever since my walk with the LORD has been satisfying, refreshing and fulfilling.
When God tells us the same message in different ways through different people that is His will!
By learning these three things we will know God's will!
But sometimes we listen to the wrong voices and make the wrong choices which is tragic and God wants us to avoid it. Whenever you're tempted to do something on your own, listen to the words "And David inquired of the LORD" put your name in place of David's and inquire of the LORD today.
Seek him while He may be found says the Psalter. When was the last time you ever got on your knees and started to seek the LORD, seriously? What is holding you back and why not start today? Seek the LORD and He will reveal to you amazing things you never heard or seen before(see Jeremiah 33:3)
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If God is higher than angels and angels higher than Man is then God is higher than both angels and Man - Son of the Most High
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Topic: A sample from my devotional book
