I need more of my God and less of this world

After the resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples on a few occasions.  How blessed they were to see him in the flesh and hear from him.  They don’t recognise him though in the way they did before, his appearance has changed, yet in their hearts they still know it is him.

John 21:12 – Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord.

I suppose this got me to question whether I always recognise when God is talking to me.  Sometimes it’s clear and other times I question, was that me or was that God?  God can appear and talk to us in many different ways.  I believe that it’s important for me to recognise that so I remain open to hearing from him at any time, in any place and in any circumstance.

SURROUNDED

Surrounded by persuasive voices, voices that shout, voices that whisper, condemning, accusing, voices that whine and voices that whimper, strong words, weak words, meaningful and meaningless, as I listen my head’s a mess, I need more of my God and less of this world, more truth, less lies, more love, less despising, praise is rising in my soul, the Lord is close to all who call, discovering his ways nourishes my soul, they bring me joy, I stand strong and beautiful in his presence, no longer oppressed, the voices that drowned out my joy silenced forever as I hear directly from my heavenly Father, I’d rather spend one day in his presence than a thousand elsewhere, I know that he is near, I know he hears my cry, I wonder, do I hear every word he speaks to me, do I allow him to release me from the chains of humanity, do I believe consistently, do I seek him as desperately as my need to breathe, Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me, fill me with a new found ability to hear you in my time of need, to hear you in my time of plenty, knowing your words are never empty, never condemning, never accusing but always words of love, words of wooing, words of a God who is forever pursuing.

What will it take for you to hear me?

A group of us were looking at Ephesians 1 last night and I still had it in my head about people hearing the gospel but not responding.  I think the truth of God’s word being veiled to some takes a long time to understand.  Reading about Moses and Pharaoh this morning it struck me even more how often people saw signs and wonders yet chose to ignore that this was from God. Even those who saw Jesus after he was raised from the dead didn’t all believe.

• Ephesians 1:9 – he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ
• Ephesians 1:13 – And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
• Ephesians 1:17 – I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

What will it take for you to hear me?  What will it take for your eyes to see the beauty of the King?  What will it take for you to see that God is offering you freedom, he doesn’t force his opinions on you, free to choose, free to listen, free to hear, your fears and insecurities revealed when you appeal against the truth, when you deny the words that say he laid down his life for you, for that is love, real love that cannot be denied, Jesus laid down his life and even then the scoffers and mockers didn’t truly believe, asking to see his scars, to see his wounds, and even though the risen Saviour appeared in the room after his resurrection, many still chose to reject him, what will it take for you to elect him King of your heart, to elevate him, to set him apart, to worship the Lord who gives you his word, included in Christ as soon as you hear the message of truth and believe, you will receive salvation, marked with a seal, ransomed, healed and forgiven, risen again with Christ, living in the light, what will it take for you to hear him?  What will it take for you to receive him?

Speak life, speak of God’s sacrifice

We ask for ears to hear, we often pray for others to hear, but if we are not prepared to step out of our comfort zone and talk naturally about God who is going to hear?  If we say nothing there is nothing to hear.  A good lesson for us and as a word of encouragement I learnt yesterday that by asking someone if I could pray for them I could bring a smile where before there was sadness, I can offer hope where before there was none.  So by offering to pray I wasn’t preaching but I am sure God can use the still, small voice contained in that gesture for his eternal glory.

Romans 10:17 – The Message – The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.

MOUTHS TO SPEAK

God gave us mouths so we could speak, speak now, speak love, speak encouragement not discouragement, speak positives, not negatives, speak life, speak of God’s sacrifice, his love, his grace, share the message, spread the joy, don’t be shy or coy, enjoy the pleasure of spreading his message, enjoy the opportunity to reach out to your community, to bring unity where there is disunity, harmony where there is disharmony, fervently seek to spread his word, don’t be absurd and keep your mouth shut instead be prepared to shout from the rooftops of Jesus your personal friend and how he came to mend the broken, to heal the sick, to set the prisoner free, to relieve you from poverty and dismay, so offer to pray for your fellow man, hold out your hand in friendship, help those living in fear to hear with their ears and feel with their heart that there is new life they can have a fresh start.

Jesus is speaking in my ear

Psalm 34:19

19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Do you hear that?  Do you hear what I hear?  Jesus speaking in my ear, you may have troubles but I will deliver you, you may feel low but I will lift you, you may have burdens but I will cast them aside, I am Lord of all, I deliver you from evil, I deliver you from all that can harm you and all that afflicts you, I am King of Kings, I reign over all, I reign over your life and I ask you to turn your eyes to me without turning back, tune your ears to my voice, rejoice in your salvation and know that I am Emmanuel, know that God is with me, loves me and wants me, wants me to be his child, to be his adopted daughter, to light up the world for the Light of the World, do you hear what I hear, Jesus speaking in my ear, Jesus ever present, ever near, Jesus loving Lamb of God speaks to me and all because he knows my every thought, understands my moods and sees my every move, he removed my sin and welcomed me in, he sees into my heart and when words are insufficient he just listens to the thoughts that go unsaid and paves the way ahead so that I can live my life in the security that Jesus walks each path with me, do you hear what I hear?  Because I hear his voice I know he is near.