Welcome back again to our series of Proverb 3:5-6 and Part 6
Proverbs 3:5-6 TPT
“Trust in the Lord completely,
and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on Him to guide you,
and He will lead you in every decision you make.
Become intimate with Him in whatever you do,
And He will lead you wherever you go”
Today we are going to continue looking at In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, and see what this other step involves so we can live an Abundant life.
Let’s pick up in
John 21:18-19
“Peter, listen, when you were younger you made your own choices and you went where you pleased. But one day when you are old, others will tie you up and escort you where you would not choose to go—and you will spread out your arms.” (Jesus said this to Peter as a prophecy of what kind of death he would die, for the glory of God.) And then he said, “Peter, follow Me!”
Remember when Jesus says FOLLOW ME He means: let Me do a a RADICAL CHANGE in you, to your LIFESTYLE so you SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD above all things. He knows and we know, He has our YES.
So back to the passage in John 21, I believe Jesus was showing Peter this: Peter you know those words you spoke about following Me, choosing Me, even to the death? That you now realise you could not actually do? Well GREAT NEWS Peter, now you can follow Me, and now you will! And because God is so good to confirm prophecy, there was a word from Heaven to prove it.
Wow!! Selah there for a moment as you receive this GREAT NEWS, you son or daughter of God can and will follow Him. So so good!
These 3 words – WILL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, shape the question, invitation and key to activating this goal – Will you Follow Me Peter? Will you acknowledge I am the Messiah? Will you acknowledge I am the Way? Will you acknowledge you will not make it without Me beside you every step of the way?
Did you know the dictionary defines acknowledge as: recognise the importance or quality of, and accept or admit the existence or truth of:
Jesus was saying to Peter do you recognise the importance or quality of Me to your goal? Do you accept or admit the existence, truth of My words, that I am saying?
This is what Jesus was not only saying to Peter in this verse, it also was the entry point to us seeing Peter truly become who he was created to be, and do what the Father created him to do. And why Jesus chose him as one of His disciples.
We are given the same opportunity and invitation! It starts with salvation, and continues into all eternity.
Challenge Time: Grab your journal and space to be with the Lord and write.
1. My first Heart question is ‘Do you really know Him? Do you really deep in your heart, soul, spirit know Him, not about Him or His works, but KNOW HIM?
2. If your answer is no, here is a prayer “Lord Jesus I admit I am a sinner, but You died on the cross for my sins, I ask will You come into my life, and manage my life from this day forward”. Amen
3. Second if you are a believer. Are there areas in your life that you still struggle to acknowledge Him in? Ask Him to show you. Write them down
4. Let’s go one step deeper as David did in Psalm 139:23 (TPT)
God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. Once again write what He says
4. Do you want to acknowledge Him in all your ways?
5. If so allow the Lord to help you in these areas the same way He did with Peter. Here is a prayer for you to pray. Father God I give You …………………(say the first area you have written down), what will You give me in return? Write down what He shows you. Repeat with other areas He has shown you.
6. Choice time are you ready to see these areas in your life change? If yes, say a prayer like Father God I choose today to lay down this area of ……………….(say the area) and instead choose to pick up and believe what You have shown me (say the area). I now declare I will acknowledge You in this area of my life. Thank Jesus Amen (repeat with all areas He has shown you)
7. Wow, you are now a new you! Well done Matt 25:23! Now is a perfect time to give thanks.
Father, thank You for Your leading and direction in this series, and Your Love for us. We thank You for truth that what Your son set free is free indeed, and we are free as new sons and daughters of Yours. We give you all the glory and honour. In Jesus name. Amen.
Craig Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Ministries
