People have asked me that hard question; "Where is the reality of God? How can I hear from Him? How do you know if it’s Him speaking to you or not? I read the word and nothing jumps out at me etc." Here are a few thoughts that I have put together.
God is Working in You
In a daily reading by Bob Gass, I recently read of how God wants to change us. The message said that God doesn’t want to change our personality but rather change our character, as He’s not looking to produce clones.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who i have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:28-29
New Creatures in Christ
While on one of my walks last week around the large rugby fields at the Vogeltown Park. I was thinking about how we are new creatures in Christ, when a monarch butterfly came and landed at my feet on the grass. It had no need to be there as there were no flowers, just freshly mown grass. I felt this was one of those signs, ‘kiaros’ moments, where the Spirit was trying to tell me something.
You already have it
When God visited Moses at the burning bush, He asked Moses to deliver the Children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt, but Moses replied that he didn’t have what it takes. He implied that he didn’t have it in him.
God then went on to say to Moses, “what is that in your hand?” Moses was holding a staff and God said that with this staff he would be able to do miracles and deliver Israel from their slavery. Moses continued to argue with God that he wouldn’t be able to do it, not realising that he already had the power, and it was close at hand. It was in his hands, so to speak. Funny but this sounds very familiar in relation to us Christians today. Moses told God to send someone else which is often how we think too. “Send the Pastor Lord, as he is equipped and I’m not.”
Beyond Jordan
In my last message I spoke about the Jordan River. It was there that Elisha followed hard after Elijah, for he wanted the double portion of the Prophet’s prophetic power. He could have turned back long before they got there, but hung on until they crossed over the river. Elisha was rewarded for his effort and got what he wanted from God. Elisha had to go beyond the Jordan River to get it and it wasn’t easy.
I found out something else this week as I thought on what had what had happened back then. When John the Baptist appeared on the scene many years later it was in the same spot where Elijah was taken up into heaven in a flaming chariot and where Elisha received the double portion – it was a place called ‘beyond Jordan.’
It says in scripture that John the Baptist began his ministry here in this location. It was the same place on the other side of the Jordan where the 2 prophets had parted each other’s company. Elijah was taken up into heaven in a flaming chariot and Elisha took up his mantel.