Please ignore the formatting errors….it changes every time I try to edit. 🙂
October 2010, World Race Training Camp with V-Squad
All 50ish of us are gathered around the campfire.
We’ve known each other all of about a week, if that.
I listen,
As one after another people begin sharing their hearts, their pasts, their fears.
When suddenly another voice enters my thoughts..
“Have everyone lay hands on Joe and pray for his cancer to be healed.”
But then everyone would have to move…
And what if nothing happens?
Then he and everyone else would just be disappointed and lose faith.
No thanks.
Then I hear Lindsey speak up
“I feel like we all need to gather around Joe and pray for his healing.”
Odd coincidence.
So we do.
And He is healed.
Whoah.
“Sing ‘Healer’.”
Oh heeeeck no!
That’d be weird.
Not to mention that’s my greatest fear.
Um..no thanks.
Then I hear Bekah speak up
“This is embarrassing, but I feel like I’m supposed to sing this song…”
She proceeds to sing “Healer”.
Interesting.
Others continue to share…
“Encourage the men.”
Oh they’re fine.
What if they question my motives?
I’m not having any of those guys think I’m interested in them.
No thank you.
Then I hear Shida speak up
“I just want to encourage you men….”
She proceeds to bring the men in our group to tears as she exhorts and encourages them.
Again?!
This is bizarre.
My jaw drops in amazement.
Is that You, God?
A few more people share.
Our squad leaders begin to bring the night to a close.
“Share your revelation about Blood Diamond.”
But they’re moving on to something else..
It’s too late.
My heart is beating out of my chest.
But what if it doesn’t make sense?
Bethany’s about to close us in prayer..
Interrupting her would be rude.
And terribly awkward..
Is that really You, God?
“Share your revelation about Blood Diamond.”
Okay Okay!!!
Then I hear my own voice speak up
“I’m sorry Bethany, I have GOT to share something…”
I proceeded to share the revelation.*
We were all encouraged to walk in our true identities.
And I finally recognized and heeded the voice of my Shepherd.
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This event occurred at a time when I had just finished reading through the Gospels, encountering story after story of the supernatural lifestyle of Jesus.
Jesus the Son, sent as an exact representation of the Father; the tangible image of an invisible God.
I saw that as a believer in Jesus, I was charged towalk as He did, doing what He did and even greater things than that;
I was charged to be His ambassador, His representative; a tangible image of an invisible God.
Far cry from my day to day life.
I mean, I loved well. I served well. I studied well.
But I did none of those things to a God-sized degree.
As I moved past the Gospels and into the lives and letters of Christ’s devoted followers, I saw the transformation.
Average…Flaky…Cowardly…Hasty…Self-centered men
transformed into
Supernatural…Bold…Powerful…Fearless…Selfless witnesses.
Living their daily lives as Christ’s ambassadors, walking as He did and doing even greater things than He.
How?? I wondered.
____________________________
Jesus knew their (and our) insufficiency, their extreme inability to complete the task as He did.
So He sent them (and us, as believers in Him) the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Helper, Advocate, Comforter, Intercessor, Spirit of Truth.
To allow us to speak the Word with boldness.
To make us powerful witnesses.
To teach us all things and reveal the thoughts and mysteries of God to us.
To remind us of Truth He has spoken and guide us into that Truth.
To convict us and the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
To disclose what the Father is saying and what is to come.
To glorify Jesus and testify about Him.
That blew my mind!
That the Spirit that carries out the will of God on earth today dwells within ME.
And we could work TOGETHER to testify to the world that Jesus is who He says He is.
So I began to fervently ask God to help me recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit.
To help me identify when I was hearing His voice.
To give me the faith and courage to act on what I thought He was saying.
___________________________________________
This campfire story came back around as I was preparing to speak to a group of college students last week.
I had been reading through Genesis and Acts and was reminded of how exciting and full of purpose life is when we are truly walking with God daily.
When we are listening, trusting and obeying because we love Him and we love others.
I realized that since the beginning God has been and will continue to be speaking to and guiding His people.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
[Take just ten minutes and read Acts 8-10]
Three stories:
1. 1. Phillip & the Ethiopian Eunuch
2. 2. The conversion of Saul
3. Peter & the Gentiles
Note each time God speaks.
Each time someone obeys what He says.
Pay attention to the outcome of each of these stories.
Salvation.
God’s plan was to reconcile the lost to Himself.
So he spoke to His followers and led them,
In order to carry out His plan.
They weren’t given reasons why,
They weren’t given the details,
Or even insight into the outcome.
They were merely to listen for His voice and follow Him.
They did.
And salvation ensued.
____________________________________
So, here’s my challenge for us today:
Pay attention to ‘feelings’, ‘nudges’, ‘intuition’.
e.g. That sudden urge to buy a stranger’s meal…the gut feeling you shouldn’t be alone with that woman…that nudge to pray for your friend…the feeling you should speak up…that nudge to reach out to your neighbors…
Pay attention to recurring themes.
e.g. You were reading the Word this morning and came across something about ‘honoring your parents’. During your lunch break you read your devotional for the day and it was about ‘honoring your parents’. Your friend calls and tells you she’s been praying for your relationship with your parents. You get in the car only to hear a song about ‘honoring your parents’…
Pay attention to ‘fleeting’ thoughts.
e.g. Go talk to Jane…Call Sam…This scripture reminds me of Pastor Phil…Peter should read this book…I wonder if the Brown’s have enough groceries for the week?…What if we had a group of high schoolers over for dinner?…Those workers could probably use some water…
Pay attention when scripture pops into your head.
e.g. You just gave a huge donation to a charity and as that fact is about to come up in conversation you’re reminded of the verse “when you give, don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing, so that your giving will be done in secret”…You and your spouse had a little tiff over dinner; you’re frustrated and unwilling to let it go. You lie down in your bed determined to remain silent, when you remember the verse “do not let the sun go down on your anger”…
Go.
Do it.
Speak up.
Pray.
Call them.
Flee.
Reach out.
You’ll hear The Voice.
And you may question who it belongs to…
Is it your own imagination?
Was it just a silly thought?
Are you crazy?
Well, how else can we find out?
Unless for once, we courageously act on it.
And see what happens.
There’s a great chance that God is desiring to carry out His will,
and the Holy Spirit is letting you in on it.
There’s a great chance that you’re being invited to play a part in a much bigger story,
With a glorious outcome.
_______________________________
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE BLOOD DIAMOND REVELATION
*http://vanessaoneal.theworldrace.org/?filename=blood-diamond*
Great book on this subject: “Is That Really You, God?” by Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM
Scriptures from this blog:
Jn. 14-16, 1 Jn. 2:6, 2 Cor. 5:20, Heb. 1:3, Col. 1:15, Jn. 17:1-5, Lk. 19:10, 1 Cor. 2:10-16, Rom. 8:27, Acts 8-10, Acts 4:31, Mk. 13:11, Eph. 6:19
[Also, I’d love to hear testimonies of what God does as you begin to step out in this…comment on here, send me a facebook message, call me…] 🙂
