WHEN THE LORD SAYS GO IT IS TIME TO MOVE

PROCLAMATION

“Now The Lord had said unto Abram, ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.’ ”  Genesis 12:1 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After God confounded their language and scattered mankind to different parts of the earth, (Genesis 11:3-8) they continued to multiply.  Abram, who would later become known as Abraham and as the father of the faithful, (Genesis 17:5) was born from the lineage of Shem. (Genesis 11:10-26)  Abram and his wife Sarai went with his father from the land of Ur to Harran and settled there. (Genesis 11:31)  It was from there that The Lord God told Abram to leave. (Genesis 12:1)  The Lord told Abram that He would bless him and make him into a great nation.  God said that whoever blesses Abram would be blessed and whoever curses him would be cursed.  All of mankind would be blessed through him. (Genesis 12:2-3)  Abram left Harran and travelled through Canaan, and towards Bethel, to Egypt.  It was in Egypt that Abram lied to Pharaoh and said that his wife Sarai was his sister because he feared for his life. (Genesis 12:10-16)  Sarai was taken to Pharaoh’s palace, but God sent a plague upon Pharaoh and his household and Sarai was returned to Abram before Pharaoh touched her. (Genesis 12:17-20)

 

APPLICATION

When The Lord God tells us to “Go” then it is time for us to go, even when we are not sure exactly where we are going.  When God says that we are to leave a place or a person, then it is time for us to move on.  Sometimes we have to move out of our comfort zone in order to be where God wants us to be.  There are times when we need to leave a job, a city, a relationship, or some people behind, and that includes family.  We need to listen to and obey the voice of God.  He speaks to us with a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) and through His Holy Word.  Where we were yesterday may not be where God wants us to be tomorrow, so it may be time for us to move today.  We all need to make sure that we are where God wants us to be and that we are doing what God wants us to do.

 

WHEN WE RECEIVE CONFLICTING ADVICE PRAY

PROCLAMATION

“Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘I would … set out tonight in pursuit of David.  I would attack him while he is weary and weak …’  But Absalom said, ‘Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.’ … Hushai replied to Absalom, ‘… You know your father and his men are fighters … So I advise you: Let all Israel … be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle …’  Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.’ …” 2 Samuel 17:1-14 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After King David fled from Jerusalem and Absalom had occupied the city, Absalom first sought the advice of Ahithophel, who had been David’s advisor.  Then he sought the advice of Hushai, who had been David’s friend.  Absalom liked the plan proposed by Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:4) until he heard the plan offered by Hushai. (2 Samuel 17:14)  From a military perspective, Hushai’s advice was better than the advice from Ahithophel, but it was also better for David because it gave him more time to prepare for the battle.

APPLICATION

We should be very careful regarding who we listen to or seek advice from.  Almost everyone has an opinion, and advice is readily available everywhere from multiple sources.  However, when the well-respected experts disagree on a matter and offer different advice, we need to give the matter prayerful consideration.  The “good advice” which we receive may very well benefit someone else.  More importantly, good advice is only “good” if we ask the right question.  The right answer to the wrong question may not help us, and it may send us in the wrong direction.  That is why we need to take everything to The Lord in prayer. (Ephesians 6:18)

WHEN THE LORD SAYS GO AND LEAVE IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON

Proclamation:

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your county, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’”  Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After the great flood, The Lord God told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1)  Then God made a covenant with Noah, and all of his descendants after him, that He would never again destroy the earth and all life by the waters of a flood. (Genesis 9:8-11)  Then God set a rainbow in the clouds as a sign and a reminder of the covenant. (Genesis 9:12-16)  Noah’s three sons had children and their children begat other children. (Genesis 10:1-32)  At that time, all of the people on the earth spoke the same language. (Genesis 11:1)  This changed when man decided to build a tower to reach the heavens and God came down and confounded their language, and scattered them to different parts of the earth. (Genesis 11:3-8)  After they were scattered, they continued to multiply. (Genesis 11:10-26)  Abram was born from the lineage of Shem.  Abram and his wife Sarai went with his father from the land of Ur to Harran and settled there. (Genesis 11:31)  It was from there that The Lord God told Abram to leave.

Application:

When The Lord God tells us to “Go” then it is time for us to go, even when we are not sure exactly where we are going.  When He says that we are to leave a place or a person, then it is time for us to move on.  Sometime we have to move out of our comfort zone in order to be where God wants us to be.  There are also times when we need to leave a job, a city, a relationship, or some people behind, and that includes family.  We can still love them but we need to do so from a distance.  We need to listen to and obey the voice of God.  He speaks to us with a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) and through His Holy Word.  Are you listening to Him?  Are you where God wants you to be?  Are you doing what God wants you to do?

DON'T LET THE LORD GOD HAVE TO KNOCK YOU DOWN TO GET YOUR ATTENTION

Proclamation:

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and he heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’  ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.”  Acts 9:3-5 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that Saul was present when they stoned Stephen. (Acts 7:57-58)  After that Saul went from house to house hauling believing men and women to prison. (Acts 8:3)  Then Saul went to the high priest and requested letters authorizing him to arrest any believers he found in Damascus and take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2)  He was on his way to Damascus when The Lord God knocked him to the ground, spoke to him, and blinded him. (Acts 9:3-9)  After three days, The Lord God told Ananias to lay his hands on Saul to restore his sight.  Ananias was reluctant because of Saul’s reputation but did as The Lord God told him and Saul regained his sight. (Acts 9:9-18)

Application:

Saul was a zealous persecutor of believers until he had an encounter with The Lord God on the road to Damascus.  The Lord had to knock him down and blind him in order to get his attention.  He became a believer after that encounter with The Lord.  Like the Apostle Thomas who would not believe that Christ rose from the dead until he saw proof for himself, (John 20:25-29) Saul did not believe until he had a personal experience with The Lord.  Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)  Don’t let The Lord God have to knock you down in order to get your attention.  If we hear His voice, we ought to invite Him into our lives and obey Him. (Revelation 3:20)  Many of us need to turn our lives around and follow Christ.  Believers still sin, but sometimes we get caught up in our sinful ways.  The Lord God has called us to repent, and to follow Him.  He said that if we humble ourselves, and pray, and turn from our wicked ways, He will heal our situation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I WILL LISTEN TO WHAT THE LORD GOD SAYS

Proclamation:
“I will listen to what God The Lord says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants, but let them not turn to folly.”  Psalm 85:8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were thought to be written by the three sons of Korah, Asir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  They were descendants of Levi and thought to be the gate-keepers and musicians in the temple at Jerusalem.  The psalmist begins telling The Lord God that He had forgiven the people of their iniquity and sin in the past, and he asks that The Lord would restore them again. (Psalm 85:4)  He offers a petition to The Lord on behalf of the people, whom he represents, stating that even though they did not listen in the past, they would listen to Him now.  The psalmist knows that God’s Word is the gospel of peace.  Then he prayed that the people would not return to their sinful ways of idolatry, immoral living, self-righteousness, or blatant neglect of Christ and The Word of God.

Application:

Believers know that The Lord God speaks to us through His Word.  His Holy Spirit brings to our mind the remembrance of the things which we read and heard preached from The Word of God. (John 14:26)  The promises that He made to us are contained within His Holy Word.  The problem is with our lack of willingness to read The Word of God and to be obedient to it.  Some people hear the gospel preached but it “goes in one ear and out of the other” without the benefit of affecting anything in their brain as it passed through.  However, hearing and believing The Word of God will change an individual and transform their mind. (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 5:17)  Then they will no longer want to do all of the sinful things that they used to do.  They will not become perfect, but they will change.  The more we listen to what The Word of God says, the more Christ-like we will become, and the more likely we will become a good and faithful servant.

LET US FOLLOW THE WISE COUNSEL OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.”  Psalm 73:23-24 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of the psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Asaph, a Levite who was an outstanding musician in the days of King David who was also appointed minister of music, or choir leader, in the center of worship in Jerusalem.  Even though he had been tempted to sin because he envied the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:3) and was angry with God for allowing them to prosper, (Psalm 73:21-22) The Lord God took him by the hand, like we would do a small child, gave him wise counsel and led him to the sanctuary.

Application:

After going through the temptations, trials, and tribulations of our journey in the wilderness of this world, if we would just follow the guidelines from The Word of God, The Lord will lead us to His sanctuary.  We need not concern ourselves with what others have or are doing, we just need to pray and do that which is right in the sight of The Lord.  Then, after this life is over and we have passed through death, He will receive us into His kingdom to enjoy everlasting joy in His presence for eternity.

I WILL KEEP MY EYES ALWAYS ON THE LORD

Proclamation:

“I will praise The Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I keep my eyes always on The Lord.  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  Psalm 16:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  He begins this psalm with a prayer because he puts his trust in The Lord.  He knows that all he has comes from The Lord. (Psalm 16:5-6)  He knows that it is The Lord who counsels and instructs him as he leads the people of God.  He states that he will keep his focus on The Lord.  He also knows that if he walks God’s way no harm will come to him and for this he praises The Lord.  He is glad and rejoices because he knows that he is safe and secure in the presence of The Lord. (Psalm 16:9-11)

Application:

We know that as believers we are safely in the hands of God and that He is our refuge and our strong tower.  We trust Him to take care of us now and in the future because He has taken care of us in the past.  If we follow His Word and listen to His counsel and instruction we will never go wrong.  We will only sink into sin when we take our focus off of Him.  We should praise God and rejoice for what He has done, is doing, and will do for us.  For we cannot even begin to imagine the good things which The Lord has in store for us in the future. (Isaiah 64:4 and 1 Corinthians 2:9)

THE LORD IS SPEAKING TO US

Proclamation:

 “The boy Samuel ministered before The Lord under Eli ... One night ... The Lord called Samuel.  Samuel answered, "Here I am."  And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."  But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."  So he went and lay down.  Again The Lord called, "Samuel!"  And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."  "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."  Now Samuel did not yet know The Lord: The word of The Lord had not yet been revealed to him.  The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."  Then Eli realized that The Lord was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.'  "So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel!  Samuel!"  Then Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."  1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NIV)

Explanation:
Because he did not yet know The Lord, Samuel did not recognize the voice of The Lord.  When you know The Lord, you know His voice.  Jesus said My sheep know Me and know My voice. (John 10:4 and 14)  When The Lord speaks to us, His voice is described as "a still small voice." (1 Kings 19:12)  Multiple times throughout Deuteronomy the people were told to "hearken unto the voice of The Lord" but frequently they did not listen or obey.

Application:
Years ago, some cartoons would depict a character with a miniature devil standing on one shoulder whispering in one ear, and a miniature angel standing on the other shoulder whispering in the other ear.  The cartoon character knew which was which, but frequently first listened to the devil and got in trouble before he listened to the angel.  Most of us are just like that cartoon character, we hear the voice of The Lord, but we do not listen to it, or obey it.  We need to read our Bible more and listen to the voice of The Lord and obey it.  We should respond as Isaiah did when he heard the voice of The Lord, "Here am I; send me." (Isaiah 6:8)  We should at least respond as Samuel did, “Your servant is listening.”  The Lord is speaking to us, the question is, are we listening to Him?