This is a message that was given in our radio broadcast EYE OF THE STORM at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MartusMinistry a couple weeks ago. We cover bible prophecy in the news and other teachings led by the Holy Spirit. The link to that specific broadcast is: http://www.martusministry.org/www.blogtalkradio.com/martusministry/2013/02/27/martus-ministry--eye-of-the-storm. The broadcast is every Tuesday 7-8pm PST. Archives for all broadcasts can be found at our website http://www.MartusMinistry.org
WALKING IN FAITH
Believing that God is with us and will lead us even when we don't see how or don't know what will happen in a situation, but simply doing our best to be obedient and trust in Him is key. I was feeling down and just not in a good mood and attacked the other day. Right in the middle of dealing with that a dear sister in Christ needed prayer. I thought, "how can I be a strong intercessor for her if I am so weak now myself?" "I won't be able to really be a good support to her right now" and I was just getting more and more attacked and down. I knew I had to call her it was getting too late. I called her, was listening to her, and sometime in between I was internally praying for the right words and that the situation with us all be blessed. We continued on for a bit and then we all (my husband Kevin too ) started praying together. It was such a strong anointed time and the God's presence was sooooo tangible! It became one of the most notable prayer sessions with worship and tears and everyone was blessed! I told her I am sooo glad we prayed together, I feel so different too and explained how I had been down. As the popular song goes "He will make a way when there seems to be no way"! Now I was heavily getting attacked that I should not talk to her because I was not strong enough myself. But the fact is that prayer is powerful and simply changes everything. Kevin got a word right before we started praying Proverbs 11:25 "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." I felt not only watered but poured upon drenched in blessing!!
We walk by faith not by sight.
Are we trying to do things on our own or asking God to guide us and lead us in our actions? I have caught myself trying to plan things and then realize that I was leaving God out of the process! We need to ask Him to guide us in everything, little and big. He already has a plan for us and we want to make sure we are following it and not making our own:
James 4:13-16 "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil."
Many times we may think we got something figured out but in God's eyes it is foolishness! We lack true wisdom more often than we may think, which is why we have to be ready and willing to seek God's council:
James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Proverbs 3:6 is one of the most powerful passages of importance as it is instruction for how to allow God to lead our lives.
Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
We have to acknowledge Him by worship/giving thanks, making our requests known, and just constantly remembering His presence and that He is with us and watching us. That is certainly a task for our distracted minds. I know if I go awhile without acknowledging Him in the day I feel convicted and as soon as the realization hits I drop everything and start talking to Him and confessing my distractions. Just communicating our heart is important. That is why we are told to continually pray and give thanks in EVERYTHING:
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Colossians 4:2 "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." ( ESV version there. Usually we use KJV but glean on other translations)
When we are praying we must also remember to pray for others, of course including the brethren:
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Sometimes acknowledging Him is simply being still and knowing He is God:
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
Vast majority of the time, I would say 99% of the time I go into prayer or worship I have no idea what I will say but just trust being led by the spirit Holy Spirit interceding in prayer like I told you about with the sister in Christ we prayed with:
Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
The Holy Spirit helps us pray and even speak! Our speech is important to God! Jesus himself says:
Matthew 12:36-37 " But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
How we speak reveals if we are being led by the Holy Spirit or our own selves, or falling into temptations from the devil, Our speech reflects our heart.
Matthew 15:18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." We can't be led by the Spirit if we are grieving the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:29-30 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
We just have to be obedient and trust in faith, even when a situation is scary, putting ourselves aside and allowing ourselves to be used by God. Occultists/Mediums channel demons many times in disguise parading around as grandmothers or what ever. The high level occultists have faith in that if they conjure up a demon ( whether they know it or not that it is a demon) that they can give messages to people, write music ( most Hollywood music and film totally demonically inspired. See "Hollywoods War on God"), books, and many others things by allowing themselves to be possessed. They are led by the demonic spirit to do MANY things. How much more faith should we as children of the light have faith to be led by the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be a vessel for Him? The true, pure, amazing Spirit of God can speak through us and we can be used in a righteous way for God's Kingdom according to His will.
For example we are told by Yeshua himself:
Matthew 10:17-20 "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
Please see Dan Baumann's testimony on youtube. He was a missionary in Iran and ended up being in court and said that the words that came to him just flowed right out of Him and He even spoke about Jesus in front of them! In his case he was let go...and people ended up getting saved!
I am personally so blessed when I talk to someone and it confirms something to them through scripture or something they have been praying about...and when that happens to me too. It confirms that the Spirit is speaking!
We lack wisdom in so many ways which is why we need help in guiding us. It is in trusting that He will lead us even when we have not a clue what lays ahead and even when what we see seems hopeless... that is real faith. Faith is the evidence of things NOT seen:
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Speaking about Moses:
Hebrews 11:27 "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."
READ ALL OF HEBREWS 11 for amazing biblical examples of faith.
With God all things are possible even when we don't see how something could possibly work out or end up:
Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Even when something is happening that is not to our liking and we feel anxiety about it, that is because of our lack of faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not have anxiety going in the flames ( Book of Daniel Chapters 1-3), nor did so many others in worse situations than ourselves.. because of faith.
Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." "careful" here means anxious/anxiety
Anxiety is the opposite of faith and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). When we have the faith of a child knowing our Heavenly Father is there to guide us in all things, we won't try to figure things out on our own unwise human ways. May we learn to let go of our ways and surrender to God's will! Amen?