Friday, October 14, 2011

Are we in the right position?

Insert from Moving from Grace to Faith to Righteousness
Saved by Grace Captive by Choice Series


Saul persecuted all those that believed that Jesus Christ was the way, but Paul brought the same message to the Gentiles.

I am talking about the same man who had an encounter with JESUS that changed his position.

In Acts 22 Paul gives an account of his encounter with Jesus and at your own leisure I encourage you to read the whole chapter, but what GOD spoke to me today is about our position in him.

Position means (location, posture, situation, arrangement, rank, post, and view)

Acts 22 Message Bible
12-13"And that's when I met Ananias, a man with a sterling reputation in observing our laws—the Jewish community in Damascus is unanimous on that score. He came and put his arm on my shoulder. 'Look up,' he said. I looked, and found myself looking right into his eyes—I could see again!

14-16"Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has handpicked you to be briefed on his plan of action. You've actually seen the Righteous Innocent and heard him speak. You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with God.'

 17-18"Well, it happened just as Ananias said. After I was back in Jerusalem and praying one day in the Temple, lost in the presence of God, I saw him, saw God's Righteous Innocent, and heard him say to me, 'Hurry up! Get out of here as quickly as you can. None of the Jews here in Jerusalem are going to accept what you say about me.'

 19-20"At first I objected: 'Who has better credentials? They all know how obsessed I was with hunting out those who believed in you, beating them up in the meeting places and throwing them in jail. And when your witness Stephen was murdered, I was right there, holding the coats of the murderers and cheering them on. And now they see me totally converted. What better qualification could I have?'

21"But he said, 'Don't argue. Go. I'm sending you on a long journey to outsider non-Jews.'"

Saul was redeemed by Grace, cleansed of all his sins received his instructions and was personally acquainted with Jesus.

(The lack of a personal relationship with GOD will keep us in bondage to sin).

It is amazing to me that Saul said, he was lost in the presence of Yahweh and that he saw and heard Jesus say “Move because they won’t receive you speaking about me.” His location and his posture produced divine revelation.

We have to change in order to take on the likeness of Christ, and we have to submit to the Sovereignty of GOD in all things.

But often, God will use another vessel to speak to us when our antennas are not tuned into his station. You know how we can always see what somebody else needs to change or do, but we are not at the right angle to see what we need to do for ourselves.

And so what was prophesied to us come to pass, because God’s WORD does not return to him in void (Isaiah 55:11), and we will need to be in a position to move with Yahweh and not against him as we did in times past.

Our first response should always be “Yes to his will.” But if we are still in the phase of learning who the Father really is. We still think we know more than GOD, because this is our life, and we like things our way and love this person and see a future in marriage, and want to go to this school, and work at this job. And Yahweh has said NO to all proposals)                 

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ”declares the Lord

In time we regret our WANT once we get it (out of disobedience), and discover guaranteed satisfaction if we do things God’s way.

Proverbs 14:14 (Amplified Bible)
The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights].

When we move on Faith, we move on Yahweh’s timing, and we are not anxious, because when we partner with that spirit out of lack of Trust in the LORD, we set ourselves up for folly.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Today, let us search our hearts to see if we are in our rightful positions to hear from GOD.
Let us search our hearts to see if we are in the right careers, relationships, business deals, churches, homes, and spiritual callings. But most importantly, let us search our hearts about our devotional time, and prayer life.

In him all our ways are perfect, and in him we are guaranteed success.

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

Be Well in Jesus Name!


Agape

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