View Full Version : For thought and meditation
You ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."—James 4:15 (http://harvest.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f108f827aed8d503b5fca9fa&id=94807cde54&e=3dd732485b)The Book of Acts tells the story of Philip and how the Lord was blessing him in Samaria as he preached the gospel. Everything was going well. People were coming to faith. Miracles were taking place.
Then God told him to go to the desert. And not only did God tell him to go to the desert, but He told him to go to Gaza, to a desolate road that was rarely used. And not only did He tell him to go to this rarely used road, but He told him to go at the hottest time of the day. Essentially God said, "Go out to the middle of the desert to a deserted road in the middle of the afternoon, and I will show you what to do next."
Sometimes the will of God doesn't make sense. We may plan to do a certain thing, but God may intervene. He might have another plan. The idea is that we should remember God in our plans, and we should also remember He may change our plans.
Often in his writings, the apostle Paul would refer to the will of God for his life. He told the believers at Ephesus he would return to them for renewed ministry if God willed. And he wrote to the Corinthians that he planned to visit them if the Lord willed. That is important for us to factor into our plans as well. We always should remember, "If the Lord wills."
Sometimes the Lord will lead us to a different place than where we would like to go. But what we must come to recognize is that the will of God is perfect, and we should never be afraid of it.
Pine Baron
12-03-2016, 09:56 AM
Thank you rl. For me, it NEVER goes my way, but amazingly always goes His way.
rl69 ........great lesson ! If you don't mind I'll expand or add .
Divine appointment
GOD works through the holy spirit to guide us . How many times have you had the 'urge' or 'feeling' that you should do something to glorify him and you didn't . I have failed many times . If GOD has appointed you to witness , help , guide , give , etc should we not do it ? GOD will never temp us but we will be tried . Satan and our own nature will provide all the temptation we can bear .
I was thinking of this story of Philip the other day . The followers of Christ were being persecuted in Jerusalem . The disciples had fled .....spreading the Gospel . Philip went to Samaria , The Jews and Samaritans hated each other (an interesting story in itself ). None the less Philip was having unbelievable success , the people were flocking to him to hear the Gospel . GOD told him to stop what he was doing to go talk to a man going back to his home in Ethiopia . A very important man .
Philip didn't just go ....the bible says he left immediately ! Philip had been given an appointment . He didn't know what he was supposed to accomplish but he couldn't wait to get there . But that we could have that level of commitment and conviction .
I'd recommend reading Acts 8 , it's interesting . This is only part of it .
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.27 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-27/)And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-28/)Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-29/)Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-30/)And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-31/)And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-32/)The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-33/)In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-34/)And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-35/)Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-36/)And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-37/)And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-38/)And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-39/)And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 (http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-8-40/)But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Two responses to rl69's post ...............pathetic ! He has been faithful ! Yea , you can get mad , you can try to cover your hindmost through ...BUT ! Have you been honest , done your best . DANG IT ! A man tries .....no one listens . Do what you need do .
Many here have been faithful many other just read not all or lead to post the spirit uses us all deferantly
I've been a sinner all my life .Got a lot of lot of experience at being wrong . yea .
USMC87
12-03-2016, 09:25 PM
Thank you Brothers for taking time to post this thread and give guidance through God's word.
Yes ! I have sinned
me too daily
Anyone doesn't admit it fails . Deal with and comes to reality . Yea .... pretty plain spoken .
Do what YOU need do , think , what are your real feelings/intentions . yep . Honesty , caring .
Hard to figure ....Yea . Hard to deal with reality , truth . I know . yea.
Conviction ! Lets talk about conviction . Putting into words . Standing up . Being what you say . Reality ........?
Ronnie .... you have come so far , so fast ! You have been blessed . You are chosen , you are trying .
Conviction ! Lets talk about conviction . Putting into words . Standing up . Being what you say . Reality ........?
Hard words . I think not , reality .
Believe or not , a choice . be convicted ether way . Fight GOD or accept GOD . Choice ...always choice .
I'm still at a loss ?
Charlie I love your conviction, your fire ,you are defeanetly not lukewarm ( you are my brother and I love you )
as as far as standing up for what I say!I sin daily ,I pray daily ,I try daily ! And in this post you can see one of my faults.( I ) I'm one tough ,mean, bad, SOB and if it needs done I'll do it! Whatever it takes!! no thoughts, or regard for my body. but this is wrong and I know it and I ask Him to show me a deferent way
as for my first response. I'll stand there too. The bible teaches us we have earthly responsibilities.( we should keep them as small as we can ) So if there is only a few responses in a post so be it. People get wrapped up in the season, and in life there is no need for condemnation,when we have no idea what is happing in someone's life
1 corithans 7:32
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Pine Baron
12-04-2016, 09:51 AM
Patience, Everything moves at God's speed, per his will, not according to our time or what WE think is His will.
Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
I agree Pine Baron . Thank you !
Blackwater
12-05-2016, 05:09 PM
Amen, PB. It's the hardest thing for most of us to do, to say those words, "Not my will but thine be done," and really mean it. Yet, when we do, it always works out best for us. No shame for knowing we didn't do what we should. No regrets about "what might have been. No wondering WHY God told us to do something we didn't think we wanted to do. God reveals His purposes to us in due time, IF only we have the simple faith to go with His will instead of our own. When we do that, we're truly free from all regrets and shame, and wind up being SO much more satisfied and peaceful than we ever could if we followed our own will. God knows SO much more about what's to come than we ever could. How could it be any different from the way it is?
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