Acceptably

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV

Brothers and sisters, let’s make time this week to prayerfully read the Bible. Seek the knowledge Holy Spirit has for us. Jesus is healer, teacher, the Messiah, and He is a fierce king against the nations of the earth (which we have seen throughout human history the past 2,000 years related to Him rewarding and exalting certain nations and casting them down when they neglect His moral laws and abuse His people) see the stern language He uses in the New Testament when it comes to His people falling away from His kingdom and commands.

Ephesians 5:15-17 TPT So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for His purposes. And don’t live foolishly for then you will have discernment to fully understand God’s will.

Holy Spirit is our Counsellor and inner guide to help us obey Jesus and know what He is calling us to do. Without Holy Spirit, we will probably end up living in religious debates and theological discussions that are disconnected from daily obedience and love for God!  This place is not our forever home! 

God reminds us of that every time we turn first to our own thoughts, needs and problem solving, our words, choices, actions become personal tools we in the flesh think are acceptable to His plan- but whoa!   A life of faith-filled obedience to Jesus and His Word is not the path of least resistance. Following Jesus, listening to His Word, obeying Holy Spirit’s promptings, requires constant vigilance. It means actually doing what that small still voice we know is Him wants us to do- and it also means putting on the brakes when we know the check in our Spirit is God’s hand on our shoulder pausing the momentum we’ve allowed ourselves to be swept up in. 

We can easily “run ahead” of God’s timing and counsel in our lives through selfish ambition or pride, or fear and false humility- and forget to daily practice forgiveness, grace, solitude and sacrificial love. And I’m learning too that we can all too easily run away from God’s will - even though we believe, claim we are “doing” in the name of Jesus- when our eyes shift off of Jesus onto the label ministry, or what WE declare are the needs of people, or thriving on our reputation and people pleasing, and we become distracted, slightly off course.  Off kilter. The enemy lives for that moment when a God fearing person serves others in the name of God without ever having God’s approval or permission to do the thing we are doing. 

2 John 8-9  TPT Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Jesus must be our life’s focus. His teaching is our road map for living now and salvation eternal, Holy Spirit is here taking us with Him. We have the promise of the Trinity - God Jesus Holy Spirit as we continue in this path. He is waiting for us to seek Him, to trust Him, He is with us. 

Doubting God, relying on ourselves, can get in the way of His work in us and through us and leave room for the enemy to stand shouting in our faces.  With that in mind, we ask Holy Spirit to join with us each day as we:

Diligently obey the voice of the Lord our God;

Repent before we engage in battle;

Know that God is on our side when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour;

Carry the cross from a position of victory;

Praise our way through;

Take up God’s armor;

Pray always and be watchful.

Breaking the power of vicious circles is often a matter of making better choices, but when it’s a demonic cycle we need to identify the imaginations and wrong thought patterns that are allowing wicked spirits to wreak havoc on our lives and absolutely call out to Jesus in prayer, in song, with praise and faith.