Determining God's Will for Your Life....

How do I know what God wants me to do? What is HIS plan for my life? These are questions I often hear from folk as they stress over their lives and what they are supposed to be doing. It is not uncommon to struggle with these types of questions when young but how about when we get a bit older?

It is a fallacy to think that only the young wrestle with God's plan and direction. I have found through many years of ministry that young and old alike have these same questions.

How are we supposed to determine direction? What are some good methods of finding out God's plan and then lining up with it? Some may say we should seek wise counsel. Good idea and I do recommend it. Others say we are to get up today and go with the flow......mmmmm well I do believe we should go with the flow in life but not as the determiner of God's plans and purposes for us.

Our answer is found in a familiar passage in Romans.....

12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


This is from the NLT which I believe has got it right. Notice the last part of this passage. It defines the way we discern God's will for our life.

First it is not by copying the worlds way of doing things. So often when we seek the counsel of others it is twisted because of their worldly prospective. Even well intentioned friends and family can often give worldly advice. We must be careful to determine God's will by godly methods. If your counselors give advise not based upon scripture then be careful. We open ourselves up to all types of error when we stray from the authority of God's word.

Secondly, we must allow our "earthy" thinking to be changed via the wisdom that only comes for the ONE who alone is Wisdom, God Himself. Only by carefully searching and praying through His word can we be sure the direction we are getting is from HIM! Simply to fall back into what we do well, or what we have always done is dangerous and so deceptive. It may feel right but be dead wrong. We must purpose that HIS word will guide us and then let HIM direct us.

Thirdly, note here that then we can LEARN to KNOW God's will. We always want spirituality to come quickly and usually easily. Yet often times God makes it a process. A process of study, meditation (thinking it through after careful study) and application will enable all of us to HEAR from heaven.

Sadly, too many want the easy way out. We either look for some "sign" to give us direction, or well intentioned friend to show us the way, or even go with what feels right only to discover we have been dead wrong. God has given us clear direction to find clear direction. We just have to PERSONALLY search, PERSONALLY pray and PERSONALLY determine what HE has to say to us. But it will not be without us first giving ourselves to HIM for HIM to have HIS way.

This is the rub. Do we really want what HE wants? Are we really willing to present our lives to HIM for HIS absolute control?

As one dear man I was speaking with from another church asked me, what do you think I should do regarding God's direction for my life? My response is this, God has saved you, sealed you and as a Loving Father has welcomed you in to HIS family. He more than anyone wants you to know HIS will. Have you asked HIM? In prayer have you said, Father, show me what you want me to do? Direct me as I search your word for clear direction for my life.

I will close with this...... If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5...

Blessings

Bruce

Keep It Simple...........

For years I have noticed an event that happens in the lives of certain people that has always intrigued me. It is with those who like to drive 4 wheel drive vehicles. Not just your typical trucks but those who buy them and then proceed to jack them up higher, put on super sized tires and suspension upgrades. Now don't get me wrong, I too love to go off roading and mud slinging with the best of them. But one thing I have noticed which has always baffled me.....Have you ever noticed how many of them have for sale signs in them. A bunch.

Think of this, they buy this nice truck. They really like the way it looks, drives and handles. Then they begin to "mess" with it. Got to have some alleged upgrades. After they finish their "upgrades" they notice that the gas mileage has dropped from marginal to bad. The hassle factor enters as they crawl in and out of their new "beast" of the road to the point where they can drop their gym membership because of the work out they get just going for groceries. And the handling.....yep it will crawl over the rocks of the road but to head to work day by day simply becomes a fight to the point of exhaustion.

Before it is completely done they have become dissatisfied and want to sell their precious treasure that has become the beast from the who knows where.

What started as a simple exercise of liberty has now robbed them of the pleasure of what they once saw as their blessing.

Today's verse is a bit like that....

2 Corinthians 11:3....But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

As I look around christianity today, I can see this. It is no longer about Sin, Death, Christ, Life and Salvation. It has become so much more. In fact there are mega churches today where their leaders (albeit false teachers) have stated publically they will not preach on sin as it is not popular. Ten's of thousands line up to receive from their pulpiteer a message from god. Can I simply say that they are receiving a message but it is not from the GOD of the bible.

The arch enemy of Christ and christianity has no doubt sown these seeds of deception. His one goal is to keep people from coming to a knowledge of the truth, regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ. When technology, popularity, style of music, worship style, attire, frequency of services, and on and on become the main event then we are deceived. These things of themselves are not wrong but when they are elevated to a place beyond preference and surpass the beauty and wonder of Christ, His message (aka His Word), His Spirit and simple obedience to HIM in EVERY area of life there IS a problem.

Then before you know it church has become more of a popularity contest, a place where what I think I want/need is more important that hearing from Heaven and we are then ready to put the for sale sign in the window cause it is no longer going like it used to. We blame many things and many people, but we only need to look in the mirror cause we got what we wanted only to find it wasn't what we needed.

Instead of forsaking that which is crucial to our survival how about we just get back to where it all began...the Cross, Christ and loving and living for HIM!

Now that is simple!

Blessings
Bruce

The Beauty of the Church!!!

Today more than ever we are seeing an all out assault on the church of Jesus Christ! From both inside and outside of the body of Christ we see it. Outwardly the enemy of our soul (and ultimately life itself) is waging a strategic conflict and inwardly he is using a more deceptive tatic. My purpose today is not to deal with either but to think through the reality of the "church."

For many their thoughts when the term church is used immediately runs to a building or some facility that they have attended. This is often the case in life as when we say hospital we often think of the facility rather than what the hospital truly is! A building can no more make a church than it can actually make a hospital.

The church of Christ, by that I mean all of those who have been saved by HIS grace and not of their own efforts in any way, is a living, breathing body of believers in Jesus Christ who are indwelt by HIS Spirit and exist to fulfill HIS purpose in this world. This purpose is clearly defined in HIS word the Bible and is a major component in HIS work, in and through HIS church on earth today.

But again my purpose is not to focus on that part of HIS perfect plan but to focus a bit on the beauty of HIS church. This may again puzzle some of you as you have never perhaps thought of the church being beautiful. Unless, however, it was describing some facility of some sort. This is not in any way what I am proposing. HIS church is HIS body made up of PEOPLE, human beings who have encountered HIM, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the Savior of the world.

This week for me has been a continuation of the journey since HIS call came to my life some 25+ years ago. It continues to be a journey and a classroom both at the same time. HE leads me and teaches me all at once. Sound like you??? It should, that is how HE works. That is the essence of what Romans 8:28 communicates. But in my personal journey sometimes I am overwhelmed at HIS love and mercy to HIS church. Today is one of those wonderful moments where HE is refreshing me by allowing me the privilege of being where HE is at work......deeply and lovingly in lives.

This is the place of pain and healing. You know you can't have one without the other don't you? We try to shortcut the process but HE will not let it happen. NO SHORTCUTS!!! We must walk the valley's as well as the mountaintops. They are all on HIS map for our journey! The church of Christ is made up of journey men and women. People on the journey with God.

We miss the beauty of HIS work when we try and make it such a formal show and fail to realize that HE has made it a beautiful tapesty of lives interwoven by journey's of grace. We run from the very beauty of what HE has planned and purposed for us to be.......a body of Christ. Healers of hearts by engaging our Christ healed (and being healed) hearts with the hearts of others who too are on the journey to find healing for their own lives/marriages and families.

Our Scripture today is found in Acts 20:35-38....
Paul is leaving the Ephesian church behind and he has admonished them and instructed them in the grace of the Lord Jesus. He is ending his exhortation and we see some powerful glimpses as to what the early church was really like..... They knelt together, prayed together.....wept together, hugged each other and gave out those holy kisses and grieved at the departing of their brother in the Lord. This shows us something of what it really was..........Intimate, personal, engaging, honest, open, real.........WOW!!!

Does that sound like the way you engage your church??? What I have learned through the years is that people get out of "church" what they put into church! I have learned that you often have a nucleus of those who are willing to plug in and be real. To be intimate, personal, engaging, honest, open and real is who they are and what they pracitice. Others sadly have chosen another route. It is one of safety, one of comfort and ease. I call them the "fringe folk." They drop in for a service and some are even faithful at that. But they rarely engage, get personal or intimate regarding their lives and sadly miss the real beauty of Christ's church.

Their opinion of HIS church has been twisted and perverted by their own unwillingness to be open with others and quite honestly even HIM. This often happens because of some past hurt or event that still today haunts them and untimately hinders them from God's best for them. I love and live to be where HE is calling people to come to HIM for not only salvation but also for the beauty of HIS intimacy. The wonder of HIS grace being lavished not only in but also on all those who believe.

It is NEVER without risk however. We cannot have the power of HIS grace without risking by being open with others. We WILL encounter pain!!!! This is part of the fall and also part of how we are freed from the baggage of the past. If we dare to come out by faith we can experience HIS healing and the helping of others (AKA the church of Christ). If we choose to stay on the fringe we will only be warmed by the fires of grace. It may feel good for a season but little actual work of Christ will be done. I CHOOSE HONESTY, OPENNESS, INTIMACY for the glory of Christ! Anything else is a cheap substitute.

Lately, HE has brought individual after individual and family after family across my path. Many are engaging HIM via HIS word and HIS workers (the CHURCH). I see HIS beauty being reflected in lives changed, transformed and healed by the Masters touch. HIS CHURCH IS ALIVE AND WELL my brothers and sisters. Look around you and see the Beauty of the Lord!

SO how is your church???? Maybe it's time to get real with HIM, others and ultimately with yourself and engage HIS church so HIS work can be done. But remember HIS work starts first IN us before HE will work through us!!!

BLessings
Bruce

WHY???..........WHY??????

Being the father of several grown children (in body only sometimes :) I still remember those growing up years. Some I remember and immediately curl up into a fetal position while others I just chuckle in amusement.

If you have children perhaps you will be blessed with one of those "special" ones who questions everything. We had one! He questioned everything! I mean everything!!!! He would even question the question he had just asked if I repeated it back to him. Just because it was coming from my wife or I.

I am old enough now to understand that questioning is a good thing, most times. IN regards to growing up it definitely is. I personally believe we often ask questions because we are trying to find stability. We are trying to uncover the basic meanings so we can find our footing in life. Not everyone will see this and that is ok, I just simplify things a bit!

I believe people often ask the WHY question to God also. Why am I here? Why did this happen to me? Why are things the way they are in my life?? I could go on and on. Today's treasure from HIS word is found in Romans 9. I would encourage you to read it all. It will help you understand the context of Pauls writing.

He was showing the distinction between the Jew and the Gentile and God's work in each of them. As he explained God's dealings with them he ultimately came to the conclusion (and a good one I might add) that God will do as HE pleases. The Jews were blinded by the fact that God was not working according to their plan and they had actually missed their own Messiah. When I think of this I am amazed, how about you? Their preconceived ideas regarding how God would come and work was actually hindering them from seeing HIM and participating in HIS work.

The verse that lit my fire this morning was found in verse 17....

For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."

This quotation was from Exodus chapter 9 and was God speaking to Pharaoh.....the Head of Egypt, the lead dog on the wagon, the big Gahuna, you getting the picture?? He had been allowed to be where he was because God was working out HIS plan. For Egypt as well as for Israel.

As I reflected on this today, is this not true of all of us??? Especially the believer in Jesus Christ! Has not God raised us up for the very same purpose????

1) To show HIS power in (and thru) us!!! Should not our lives be a living demonstration of HIS power. Now let me remind you that in order for that to happen HE must get us to a place where we cannot handle it in the energy of our flesh. We must be unable to handle it ourselves. Then and only then will HIS power be fully demonstrated.

2) Next is the purpose explained......For HIS name be declared to all the earth. We do not exist to eat, drink and be happy but we exist to give GOD glory. This is the fullness of life itself. To allow our great Creator and Redeemer to not only save us but to also be glorified through our very existence. HE wants others to hear about HIM through those who have experienced HIS power!!! AKA.....US!!!

So now back to our original discussion>>>>>>WHY?

One of two reasons.....For HIS power to be demonstrated in and through your life and circumstances. And for HIS name to be proclaimed throughout your whole land.

Is this true in you? Have you come to the place where you simply say, not my will but thine be done? Where you understand that HE never does anything less than the very best, especially when we do not understand! Join with HIM and you can sing!

I will close with a phone call I received this week. It was a christian who had been told that a layoff was coming and that some would lose their jobs that day. They called me for prayer and counsel. During my discussion with them, I reminded them that God was their provider not their employer. God only used the employer to supply for them and if HE chose a different path for their provision then we should trust HIM in that. Ultimately we can sing in struggles because we understand the greater work that is going on. Our God is God. Nothing escapes HIM nor catches HIM by surprise.

The sooner we learn that HE is the ANSWER to the why question, the sooner we can learn to sing HIS song!

Are you warming up the instruments yet???

Blessings
Bruce