Show Me Your Ways
From the Pastor’s heart Show me your ways
Luk_10:3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
The ways of the Lord have always carried with them a question mark in our reasoning till we come into realisation of the wisdom of God’s ways when we see the results. Understanding the ways of the Lord require trust before understanding the instructions. If one trusts the Lord’s wisdom implicitly then questions do not arise about His instructions. That is why the word states that obedience is better than sacrifice. When instructions are issued, people usually, work out how much sacrifice one has to make in following the instructions of the Lord before actually following them. There have been instances in the Bible of implicit obedience because those who have followed God in implicit obedience have understood the Lord and have learnt to trust Him. So then, building trust in the Lord will make obeying His instructions easier. I am not saying that one will understand it better but at least one will not question the Lord. When implicit obedience is followed, the Lord delights in His servants and the reward that follows is nothing short of miraculous.
When Abraham was instructed to sacrifice Isaac, he did not hesitate, he proceeded to carry out the instructions immediately. This level of obedience came out of walking with God for 25 years and trusting Him for everything, especially an heir, while believing in the impossible. When God asked Noah to prepare a boat, he did not question God and ask Him how a flood was going to come seeing that no rain was upon the earth at that time. Only a mist went up from the ground to water the earth.
Understanding God’s ways is critical to success. How can one be sure of such ways when the instructions seem quite bizzare? The Lord always backs His instructions up with double confirmation of the word and through dreams, visions, prophecies and impressions in our heart of the truth that cannot be denied. Peace usually follows the acceptance of such instructions. This particular witness of peace manifesting in one’s thinking and demeanour can never be discounted. I have met many who have followed what seemed to be God’s instructions but have had no peace about it. In most cases, I would say the instructions were not from the Lord but things conjured up in one’s own mind. The other witness that you have heard right is in how one’s obedience concludes. It always produces what God asked one to do. Isa 55:10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isa 55:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Can anyone understand forgiveness or death on the cross? What is that way? The woman taken in adultery walks away freed from condemnation of death by stoning because His way was forgiveness. The death on the cross cannot be adequately explained other than to believe it did what it was supposed to. So, when we come to understand why Jesus would send us as lambs amongst wolves, we get a picture like the one at the start if this Teaching letter, about the power of Christ in us. We know that the lamb does not stand a chance against wolves in the natural but Jesus defies very nature to bring in what is supernatural to display His power to principalities and powers in heavenly places. He wants them to know how weak and useless they are against Him even as a lamb. So, when God sent Jesus to us, He sent a lamb. Joh 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
So, if Jesus is the Lamb, are we the wolves? After all, we crucified Him on the cross. Why would Jesus save us when we have treated Him like wolves devouring their prey? This is a mystery and will remain that till we get revelation one day. After saving us, He converts us to lambs and sends us amongst wolves to do what He did. It has been my experience in life to confront people and be confronted by people who have been influenced and in some cases controlled by demonic forces. Human beings become wolves because they are influenced and blinded by the devil to do his dirty work. He is the wolf in sheep’s clothing that works amongst us constantly to break us down to turn us against God and one another. When I realised the power of Christ in me and the ways of the Lord to show His glory and power on earth and save people, I began to understand that it is not by might or power but by His Spirit. To apply such a concept to daily living in a harsh and evil generation would seem impossible but with Christ it is possible. Each confrontation or negative situation one faces while spreading the gospel or just trying to live peacefully as a Christian teaches us the ways of the Lord in overcoming evil. In other words, life and its many twists and turns in themselves teach us the ways of the Lord.
Imagine a weak vessel such as a child destroying the prince of darkness. Jesus came as a child and walked amongst us as a human being in the flesh. The truth is, He was Spirit in the form of flesh. His flesh was made weak for our sakes to the extent of death on the cross. He allowed the wolves to ravage Him and kill Him to show His power of resurrection and bring revelation to forces of darkness that He cannot be destroyed and that He had power over death. By doing this, Jesus imparted to us the same resurrection power by saving us. We cannot be killed in the spirit but our flesh can be destroyed. Yet, we will rise again and live with Jesus forever. This is true understanding when it comes to facing a dark and evil world.
In ministry, one will come across many questions that cannot be adequately answered about God’s ways. Yet, it seems that His ways always produce incredible fruit. If other ways are attempted by us, it ends up in disaster. The world is going its own way and individuals within a world system are going their own way and everyone is lost. Below are some verses that speak of this folly of human endeavour. We must realise before it is true late. There is only one way and that is the way of the Lord.
Isa_53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Key verse)
Pro 1:30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Pro 1:31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Pro_11:5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Pro_12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Pro_20:24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Pro_28:10Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
Isa_65:2I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
Eze_11:21But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
We can see from these important verses that man has chosen his way above God’s way. What we have to examine about our lives is; are we going our own way or have we submitted to hearing God and being led by the Holy Spirit? Many would be surprised to note that much of their lives do not work and years of hardship have been needlessly suffered because they have chosen a path that leads them to do what they want, when they want and whichever way they want. There is no accountability anymore that one can depend on. Unity is dependent on all of us following the common standard prescribed for us in the Bible. Therefore, knowing what the Bible says about walking in God’s ways is critical to well being, survival and fulfilling one’s ministry and destiny.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble
27/11/2016