What do you think of this statement? The majority of Christians are passively waiting for the Lord to bless them. They go to church with an expectation to maybe have a thrill in worship, hear an encouraging message that would give them hope, hear the wonderful pastor or reverend speaking, see their friends again or do their weekly duty to sooth their conscience. If I make this statement, how right would I be?
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near,” (Isaiah 55:6).
Do we really seek the Lord? When we attend church on Sunday, are we tuned into the Holy Spirit to hear from Him? Maybe He has a word He’d like you to bring to the church. “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church,” (1 Corinthians 14:26) and “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God,” (Colossians 3:16). The Lord wants us to minister one to another and is therefore ready to use us if we’re seeking Him to find out what He has to say. Maybe He wants to do it during the service if the liturgy allows for it, or maybe it’s during the fellowship afterwards. What’s in your heart on Sundays? What’s the real reason why you attend church?
How about during the week? Do we seek the Lord for guidance in how He wants to use us in our daily walk? Do we seek His future will for our lives so we can adjust to His will? Maybe you’re in some kind of ministry and need to know what the Lord wants you to do, or are we satisfied to follow the curriculum of the church? How about your job and opportunities to witness there or even for the housewife or retired person who needs opportunities during your daily walk at the shopping centre, the doctor’s surgery, your social- or hobby club? Do you seek the Lord for His will for your day?
How do we go about seeking the will of the Lord? The Lord speaks to us through His written Word by revealing specific passages to us. Whilst you read a chapter, the Lord will give to certain parts of it special meaning, which will give you answers to your questions or direction in what you should do, providing you’re keen to find it. He also creates opportunities and plants ideas in our minds. These we should test according to His word and then obey.
To children’s church workers the Lord may give a unique story to highlight a message from the Bible and bring revelation to the children. Children also need life and not just history. In church the Lord may give you a passage with a brief revelation that would bless the people or the Lord may give you a prophecy or vision that would encourage the people, such as the one we’ve discussed in our previous message. The Lord is interested in our businesses, our daily jobs and how we live our lives to influence people and if we seek Him, i.e. look out for it, we’ll receive wisdom and revelation.
Whatever we receive from the Lord Himself brings life. “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life,” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Lord, please help me to seek you and the way you want to do things in and through me. Help me not to impress people or to be impressed by people.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts.
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