The first quarter of the year is past. We are now in the second quarter. The Lord set a trajectory for you and I and for his Church for this year, the question is are we still on the path he assigned for us?
If everyone gets confused about God's assignment for your life, the most important thing is that you do not get confused. However, it is still possible to get ourselves in a muddle but the goal is to get back on track quickly with the enablement of his Spirit.
Are you confused about what God wants you to do?
Then, go back and remember what the Lord told you at the beginning - before any confusion set in.
What instructions did he gave to you?
Also, what stage in your walk with him are you? Now, if you are a new Christian, you might need more time to grow but, if you are at the stage where the Lord has made you a teacher or leader, rise up to your call!
In Judges 6:12, the angel (messenger) of God Almighty (who was the Lord himself) said to Gideon,
"... The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
Gideon however reduced the impact of those words by changing 'the Lord is with thee' to "...if the Lord be with us..." followed by a string of complaints. He couldn't see himself in God’s words.
Then in verse 14, the Lord looked at him, and said, "...Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"
Yet again, he belittled himself saying, "... my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." Like God wasn't already aware of that before he called him!
Despite this, the Lord was gracious to him and said in verse 16: "Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man." But still Gideon thought so little of himself (and little also of God's integrity!) that he further requested a sign. Our God is patient and he graciously consented giving him a sign. Only then did Gideon believe.
Humility is not being less of what the Lord called us to be, that in fact is pride. Pride is elevating the facts of our situation or our mental view of ourselves above what God has said. Truth is the words of God. Truth is Jesus. Humility therefore is finding your identity in Christ and accepting that the Lord - who knows you better than yourself - is right in his assessment of you and your ability. Why? Because it really is not your ability but his own ability at work in you by his Holy spirit! So, if God calls you a mighty man of valour, believe him! Because humility is trusting in his ability and wisdom pronounced on us!
''With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.'' 2 Samuel 22:30
Now, to gain clarity, recollect God's words and prophesies spoken over your life or work.
When you were filled with his spirit and clear in your spirit what did he tell you? Did you write it down? Then go back to it. Meditate on it in his presence, find out it's place in the Scriptures and then let the Holyspirit refresh you again to mount up with wings as eagles.
Whether we have made mistakes or are lagging is not the most important issue; what matters most is - are you in the boat you got on with him at the start of the journey - to his destination?. If you are not in the boat he called you into, then you are sailing in a different direction.
Where are you?
No human can answer that question for us because when God calls us, it isn't a conference call. So ask yourself:
What has God called you to do?
How has he told you to do it?
After Gideon accepted God's opinion of him and his direction for his life, he built an altar to the Lord there and called it "The Lord Is Peace". Judges 6:24 NIV
Peace is found being in God’s perfect purpose for our lives - nowhere else. And no one knows where that is but God and, if you ask him, - you.
Do you have an unrelenting Godly nudge to serve God in your profession, your local church or denomination or to the body of Christ as a whole? Or are you called to expand your vision and reach? The time is short, so what do you have clarity about? What is it that you consistently feel the spirit of Jesus drawing your heart towards? - That it is you are called to, so fulfil it. Your peace, fulfilment and eternal reward lies in there.
The other question I am asked by the Lord, and I believe we should ask ourselves is, are we doing it according to his plan and instructions?
God sends people, opportunities and resources to aid us in the path that HE called us to. The things and people that He sends will lead us there . As Eli guided Samuel to follow God's voice for his life, the voices God sends will guide you in fulfilling His direction for your life; and just as God brought all the resources Gideon needed in ways he did not expect, the right provision is supplied only in His path for us. [1 Samuel 3: 9- 10, Judges 7:7]
As we (and I) have now located and gained clarity on his direction, we must walk strictly in that path. Why strictly? Because it is easy to get derailed or create confusion for ourselves and those to whom we are called. Choose places and do things that are in line with Jesus direction. The right environment can only progress his vision for our lives.
In the parable of the bags of gold (Matthew 25:14), they were each given different amounts according to their capacity. The seed for the harvest required of them was what was given to them - it was not the same quantity for everyone. We have sufficient anointing (the ability of the Holy spirit) for what the Lord has given us as individuals, or as his Church, to do. Are you fulfilling it according to the capacity given to you or that given to someone else? You might start small, but being about your father's business is about being faithful to what he assigned to YOU in particular and to us as the body of Christ.
Are you on the right path? The only limit that can hold us back is the one we place on ourselves or anything that goes against the word of God. Never limit yourself.
If the Yahweh calls and gives you ministry and even goes as far as changing your name as he did for Abraham (and me - Deborah) or has given several other witnessing signs as he has to us his Church, then you and I have no excuse. It is time for us all to run. It is time to rise above distractions, stop the detours, focus on Jesus Christ and fulfil his call. For we must work the works of him that sent us, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [John 9:4.]
The judgement seat of Christ is a judgement of rewards. Those of us who believe have escaped eternal death and hell but we are called to serve the Lord with our new life but only in the way he directs us. It is never too late to follow God's direction. I am called to the body of Christ so I resolve to serve the Lord wholeheartedly beyond denomination, in that which He called me to, how about you?
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:14)
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"Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 KJV
"So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." Matthew 25:25-26, 28-29 NIV
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