Welcome back to the last part of this series, where we looked at this point “Relevance will draw you near but make sure it does not become a distraction, but is the real revelation and direction that I intended it for, that DISCERNMENT is essential always but now for times we are in more than ever, and it is one of the Gifts that the Body of Christ seems to be lacking in. We suggested some ways to develop discernment, the KEY is it all comes from Intimacy with God, that we are in the secret place, listening, hearing, worshipping the Lord.
Let’s continue and funny enough the second thing we need to develop is:
LISTENING, spend time invested in simply Listening to God, for it’s in the listening He will release His will and plan to you, and this will be vital for this next season. Also be listening to those around you as it was with Naomi in the story we looked at today. Remember Ruth was an outsider, didn’t know the language and layout of the land, BUT that wasn’t relevant to God, what was Relevant is she hungered for Relationship with her Mother in Law and that came to being in Relationship with God, as her God.
Don’t you love how God works, it leads us to the third thing we need and it is one most of us don’t like and actually try to do away with it, it is to:
Expect the unexpected and then EMBRACE it! Always WEIGH these unexpected (new) things on the Character of God – not what He is but who He is, the bottom line He is A father who loves you.
Yes He is a Father who loves you His child, His beloved child. If you’re needing to soak in truth of this, read 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatian 5:22-23, and selah there as the words of love fill you with Love, Life and Promise.
Along with expecting the unexpected and welcoming it, it is time to draw the line in the sand that the Lord and His Word are your Compass.Not the news, what your eyes see, what your fears say, no the Lord and His Word have the final say to direct and guide your life, His name Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is the compass we can trust and lean on. He is given to us by Jesus, remember Jesus words “I am going but I am not leaving you alone, I am leaving you the helper, the guide, Holy Spirit, who will lead, teach and remind you of what I said and the Father said”
Here’s a few examples:
Read Numbers 13, and note of verses 27-29, where we have The spies entering the Promised Land the first time vs Joshua and Caleb entering in v30
Many pilots having crashed through not looking and believing their gauges, and instead they tried to use their own horizon gauge or compass. Also many divers and hikers, never made it out alive for they followed their head for the way of direction, instead of trusting their compass.
Even the best can be fooled by this simple and foolish decision to trust in yourself rather than Holy Spirit. Are you?
Romans 2:4 (TPT) “Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take Him for granted and despise Him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding He has been to you? Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?
Lastly we Take account of what He has done in the day, week or year! We slow down to remember, write down and give thanks. Sometimes the smallest things are not as small as you think, see, contemplate, know or dream. Like a mustard see, that grows into a large tree that provides shade etc. We see the Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast in Mathew 13: 31-32
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
So let’s conclude with my question from the start of this series – what do you have in your hand? What do you have beside you? And Have you given thanks for who, and what you have been blessed with?
What a perfect invitation you have to do so and pray from your heart to Father God for all that He has revealed to you, for you, and through you, His beloved son or daughter.
Craig and Winnie Patten. Itinerate Pastors/Apostolic Leaders. Encounter Ministries
