obedience | Revelations From The Road

The Voice of God

April 15, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given April 14, 2012

A friend Chris spoke yesterday on this topic at a men’s prayer breakfast I attend and I thought I’d elaborate on it here.

God speaks to His people, do you hear Him? “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). The Bible speaks of the, “still, small voice”, (1 Kings 19:12), that God spoke to His prophet Elijah in. Is it too noisy around you to hear it? “Then the Spirit said unto Phillip, go near and join thyself to this chariot.”, (Acts 8:29). Does God speak to us like that today? Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” So, are you hearing Him?

When I was a boy, my brother and I would spend a lot of time playing in the woods behind our house. But we knew where the line was where we could still hear our mother’s voice calling us and we tried not to go over that boundary and be out of her voice range. Do we sometimes get so far off the path with things of this world that we can’t hear God speaking to us? If His voice is still and small, shouldn’t we get in a quiet place and really listen? When Jesus is standing at the door and knocking, (Revelation 3:20), are we watching TV, playing video games, talking on the phone, or arguing and don’t hear Him? The Holy Spirit spoke to me on the way to work recently and said, “Turn off the CD and let’s just talk.” I did and it was great.

And what about knowing His voice? Can we distinguish God’s voice from the devil’s? “My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”, (John 10:27). Are we hearing the deceptive voice of the devil and following it because we don’t know the difference? Are we spending enough time with and talking to Jesus to know His voice? Does God speak to you through His Word as you read it daily? Are you communicating with Him in this way?

I’ve asked a lot of questions here but I want us to think about hearing from God. He has things He wants to tell us but we have to tune in and listen. He’s probably gently calling you right now. Do you hear Him? Leave a comment please.

Do Something!

March 5, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 5, 2012

Have you asked God to do something for you and are still waiting for it to happen? Me too, and there are several reasons why this has happened. Like Joseph, (Genesis 37-41), God may be preparing the way step by step for the culmination of His plan. You may still be in the pit or the prison but God is preparing the palace for you. But He may be waiting for YOU to do something.

Picture a teenage boy coming to his dad and asking, “Dad, can I have the car tonight to go to the ballgame?” To which Dad replies, “Sure Son, but did you take out the trash like I asked?” With head hung low the boy replies, “No Dad but I’ll do it right now.” “Well go do that then you can have the car.” Dad says. Sometimes we are waiting for God to do something for us when He has given us something to do first and our answer from Him is contingent on us doing our part. Why is that? Don’t worry about it. God knows what He’s doing, just do it. If you don’t know what it is you’re supposed to do, ask Him in prayer, then listen.

Do you remember several times when Jesus was performing miracles and helping people that He gave the people a command? To Peter who had asked Jesus if he could come to him on the water, Jesus said, “Come.”, (Matthew 14:29). To the man with the withered hand, He said, “Stretch out your hand.”, (Matthew 12:13). To the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda, He said, “Get up. Take up your mat and walk.” (John 5:8). To the guy who was lowered down to Jesus through the roof He said, “I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home.” (Mark 2:11). To the ten lepers He said, “Go an show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14). To a blind man, after putting spit and mud on his eyes, Jesus said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” (John 9:7). And even Peter at the Gate called Beautiful when he and John encountered the crippled man begging for money, said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up..” (Acts 3:7-8). Do you get the picture?

God wants us to partner with Him to change our lives, the lives of those around us, and the world. Sometimes He does things instantly when it seems we have not done anything first but actually our faith or someone else’s faith has “done” it. “Be ye doers of the word and not hears only,” (James 1:22). Why do we not do what God wants? Fear, doubt, unbelief, not trusting, the unknown. Put all those things aside and do it. What do you need to DO today?

Saved To Serve?

February 28, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 19, 2012

“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2Timothy 2:4). Notice the term, “active service” and “everyday life”. When someone makes a commitment to the military, their lives change; the rules are different, their schedule is different, their food and focus is changed. They do not engage in everyday life anymore, their lives are committed to serving the commanding officer. When we get saved, are we in active service or still entangled in the affairs of everyday life?

In Numbers 18:7 God tells Aaron, “I have given your priest’s office unto you as a gift for service”; the office of the priest is to serve. It says in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race who serve as Priests for The Kingdom, a holy people, a redeemed assembly,” and in Revelation 1:5-6, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Just as Aaron and his family were given the gift to serve, we are now, by the blood of Jesus, to serve as priests.

How many of us are in active service to our Lord and how many are still entangled in everyday life? I’ve heard it said that 10% of the church is serving and 90% are not. What percent of our church is serving? What about you?

Trip Planning

February 19, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 11, 2012

Before we take a trip, say on vacation, we ususlly do some trip planning, right? We reserve a place to stay, get an idea of what to do when we get there, and plan the route. We want to know evrything and plan it all before we leave. We want to see everything ahead, know where we’re going, have the GPS programmed or the Mapquest directions printed off, all before we pull out of the driveway. Isn’t that right? But with Spiritual things, it doesn’t work that way.

The Bible says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). God wants us to trust Him before and as we start out and have faith that He will direct our way. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6). God told Abraham to pick up, leave everything and go to a place He would show him later…and Abraham went without hesitation, (Genesis 12:1). Jesus asked Peter to step out of the boat and come to Him, and Peter did, (Matthew 14:29). These examples and more show that trusting God and what He says always works out whether we know everything about the situation or not. On the other hand, Jesus told the rich, young ruler, (Mattthew 19: 16-22), to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and come follow Him. But the guy had a lot of things and chose not to trust Jesus and step out in faith. What did he miss out on?

But you might say, “But it’s dark Lord, I can’t see where I’m going and I’m afraid.” My grandkids might say that so what does a loving pawpaw do? “Don’t worry kids.” “Come on, I’ll go with you. Give me your hand.” Is God asking you to step out of your comfort zone into the unknown? He’s standing there with His hand out saying, “Come on, I’ll go with you.” Take that first step.

Re-Revelation – Stay On The Path

January 29, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Occasionally I am reminded of a post I did in the past that is still relevant today. My pastor at Zion Family Ministries delivered a message this morning that reminded me that most of us get off the path of righteousness sometimes and need to call out to God for direction. Enjoy this revelation from February 2009: https://roadrevelations.org/?p=245