It's A Heart Problem (Mt. 12:50)

Read Matthew 12:50.

There is much seeking to know God's will.  I don't think delay means He is playing games with us. No, He wants to reveal what we seek.  Perhaps delay is His tool to test our obedience.  It is one thing to know God's will and another to do it.  Those who know but don't do lack intimacy with Jesus.  Why?  Matthew 13:15a sheds light on this.  A dull heart will not hear.  It is not a hearing problem; rather, it is a heart problem.

Hearing First (Gen. 27:22)

Read Genesis 27:22.

Any time you trust feeling over hearing, you're going to be in trouble.  When making major decisions, trust what you hear God is saying.  He will give you insight.  Don't let your senses overrule what your spirit initially receives.

Christmas Dreams (Mt. 1:18-2:23)

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

Five dreams are mentioned.  We're not given every detail of each dream, but we are given the gist.

Since God never changes, He is still a Communicator.  He wants to administrate the affairs of your life, and He wants to communicate direction.  In His own time He will speak to you about the what, how, who, when, where, and why.  He might or might not use a dream, but He will communicate.

When He speaks, obey quickly.  Obedience leaves the communication channel open and clear.

Blameless Yet Barren (Lu. 1:5-7)

Read Luke 1:5-7.

1. Are you disappointed in God?  You have lived for Him and thus far He hasn't granted your heart's desire.
1. Call to repentance and submission
2. Call to surrender your dreams
• If God never answered how you wanted - for whatever reason - would you still serve Him wholeheartedly?
2. Define "blameless".
1. It doesn't mean "sinless."
• You can't earn God's blessing.
• You can disqualify yourself from a blessing or delay one, but you can never earn one.
• God doesn't owe you.
3. Barrenness isn't an excuse for a lack of faith, prayer or effort.
1. Did Zachariah and Elizabeth stop trying to have children?
• Did they stop seeking God about the matter?
4. Character is more important than circumstance.
1. "Blameless" is mentioned before barrenness.
2. Zachariah and Elizabeth didn't allow their circumstance to dictate their relationship with God.
• They stayed true to God in spite of the barrenness.
5. Sometimes, barrenness isn't about inability but timing.
1. Knowing the larger story, we understand God waited until the right time for Elizabeth to give birth.
• The prophecy about the "forerunner" had to be fulfilled.
• John couldn't have been born too early before Jesus and Jesus couldn't have been born before John.
2. God's delay doesn't necessarily mean His denial of your desire.
1. The desire has to be right.
2. The timing has to be right.

The Timing of God's Provision

1.  God provides just in time (Ac. 12:1-10; esp. v. 6).
2.  God provides at the right time (Rom. 5:6; Eccl. 3:1-8,11).
3.  God provides ahead of time (1 Cor. 2:9).
4.  God provides in spite of time (Mt. 14:15ff - evening / late).
5.  God provides in His time (Gal. 4:4).
6.  God provides outside of time (Jer. 1:5).

Observations About God's Will

1. What God permits you to endure in the process is hard to explain sometimes.
2. God is always on time -- His time, not yours -- though never in a hurry.
3. God's rationale and methodology might seem counter-intuitive.
• God chose Ephraim over Manasseh, though Ephraim wasn't the first born.
• God promised a son to Abraham.  Abraham was quite old when this promise was fulfilled.
4. God's so-called silence, that long span when it appears nothing is happening, doesn't mean He is displeased or disinterested.
5. The will of God often involves embracing the lesser opportunity (as man would call it).
6. The will of God can be stalled because of unbelief or disobedience (Num. ch. 13 & 14).
7. The will of God never manifests itself in an atmosphere of pride.

Matthew 1:18-2:23

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

What holds the unit together is the motif of dreams.  The five dreams are proof God was watching out for His investment (His Son, Jesus).  Threats were avoided because they were not in God's plan.

1.  What a comfort it is that God knows and controls every danger and detail of your life!

2.  Wait for revelation and guidance.  God knows how to get through to you.  Don't try to figure things out on your own.  Ask, then wait.

3.  It all starts with righteousness (Mt. 1:19).  Joseph wanted to do what was right, not what was convenient or expedient.  When God sees this intent, it pleases Him.  He always responds to the one who responds properly to Him.

4.  God's directing your affairs doesn't exempt you from a lot of movement, inconvenience, effort and self-denial.  It is always profitable to be obedient, but not always fun.

5.  Can God count on you to do the thing you don't want to do?  You don't have to be enthused in order to be obedient.

Worship And Obey (Jn. 9:31)

God hears the one who worships and obeys Him.  If you think God isn't answering or even listening, here are some questions to ask.

1. Are you a worshiper of God (as revealed in the Bible)? Notice that I didn't ask if you attend the worship service.
2. Do you know God's will and are you doing it?  Read Jn. 13:17; Psa. 143:10.
3. If you don't know God's will, are you seeking it?  Read Jer. 29:13.
4. If you don't know how to seek God's will, are you taking steps to learn?

Get In Jesus' Way (Mk. 6:56)

Intentionally position yourself to be in Jesus' way.  When He passes by, you can reach out and receive from Him.  Where will Jesus be in your life today?  Wherever He is going (whatever is His will for you), that's where you want to be.

Mk. 6:56

Intentionally position yourself to be in Jesus' way.  When He passes by, you can reach out and receive from Him.  Wherever He is going (whatever is His will), that's where you want to be.

First, Seek The Lord (1 Kin. 22:5)

What a timely reminder! God's will must be forefront, not an add-on or after-thought.

1. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

2. Just because there is agreement and partnership doesn't mean it's God's will.

3. Ask God to reveal His will, not to bless your will. God blesses what He authorizes.

4. Prioritizing God's will won't always make you liked or popular.

Mauling of the Man of God (1 Kin. 13:26)

Warning: When you have received the word of the Lord -- that is, you know for certain His will -- and alter or ignore it, you are setting yourself up to be "mauled." In this case, the consequence was that the man of God was mauled by a lion. The verse says God gave him over to it. Rejecting God's word has consequence! It's interesting that 1 Peter 5:8 refers to Satan as a roaring lion. Especially, he enjoys devouring those who ignore, alter or defy God's word.

Authorization Before Implementation (1 Kin. 22:5)

Read 1 Kin. 22:5.

Get God's input before you launch your idea. Just because it seems a good idea doesn't mean it's a "God idea."

For any pursuit to be successful, God must be in it. He blesses what He stresses. When He comes up with it, He follows through with it. He anoints what He appoints.

There isn't enough time left for trial and error. Seek God. He will show you what to do. Don't assume, don't guess. Be ruled by dependence, not selfish ambition.

When Opposition Comes (2 Kin. 2:23-25)

The key word is "when."  It is not a matter of whether you will face opposition.   It is a matter of when you will face it.  Recall what Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12. 
 
^{MT 5:11} "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
^{MT 5:12}
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Today's passage is about a man named Elisha.  He is about to encounter a mob.  Will he cower in fear and dial 911?  Will he respond in rage and display his mastery of martial arts?  Will he keep walking, turn up his iPod and just stare at the ground?

^{2KI 2:23}Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"
^{2KI 2:24}
When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.
^{2KI 2:25}
He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

When opposition comes, it does not mean you did something wrong.  Look what happened before oppposition came.  Elisha had purified the water at Jericho.  That's a good thing, right?  Sometimes opposition comes because you did something right. The goal of the opposition is to divert your focus from God to self.

When opposition comes, it does not mean you deserve it.  What was Elisha doing when opposition came?  He was walking on the Jericho-Bethel Road, minding his own business.  That seems harmless enough, right?  Opposition is a bully that seeks to intimidate, dominate and frustrate.  You don't have to look for opposition. Opposition will look for you.  Ron, isn't that cynical?  If you never have opposition, it is because you're doing nothing worthy of opposition.

When opposition comes, it does not mean you have to defend yourself.  What was the purpose of the young men's assault?  They attacked Elisha's calling and his character.  Expect your opponents to oppose you.  They will attack what you hold dearest and they will attack viciously.  Let God be your Defender.  Notice that Elisha didn't argue with the young men.  God's name was more important than Elisha's reputation.

When opposition comes, it does not mean you should change course.  What was Elisha doing before the opposition came?  He was on his way to Bethel. Did Elisha make it to Bethel?  Yes. He did not get sidetracked by the opposition.  It isn't about whether the opposition has any merit.  It's about whether they can detour you from God's will.  Stay focused on the opportunity, not the opposition.

When opposition comes, act like Elisha – stay focused on what God's called you to do and let Him deal with critical opponents.  Elisha reminds us of Jesus (Isa. 53:7).
　

When God's In It (Gen. ch. 24)

Obviously, God was in Elizer's search.  God is in the matters of life.  When God is in it . . .

• Instruction will be clear, but all the details will not be revealed up front (Gen. 24:1-9).
• You prepare the best you can and then go (Gen. 24:10).
• Expect Him to hear and answer your prayer (Gen. 24:11-21).
• It is okay to ask clarifying questions (Gen. 24:22-25).
• You'll feel the urge to respond in humble worship (Gen. 24:26-27).
• Time is of the essence (Gen. 24:56).  There is no better time to obey than "now."
• What a great story you'll have to share! (Gen. 24:34-48).  God, give me a story!
• Count on some people being against it or attempting to delay it (Gen. 24:54-58).  There will be some opposition.  Someone will tell you outright or suggest, "That can't be the will of God right now!"  Hang in there, though. Day by day, moment by moment God's will shall prevail.
• Expect a surprise (Gen. 24:62-67).  What a surprise for Rebekah!  She saw the groom.  What a surprise for Isaac!  He saw his bride.

Believing in Jesus, Praying in His Name and Doing His Will (Jn. 14:12-14)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 14:1-14.

• Verses 12-14 are a unit. They form one long sentence in the Greek New Testament.

• There is a bias toward action. The word "do" is mentioned 5 times (NASB).

• The key participle is "he who believes" (Jn. 14:12). Specifically, it is "he who believes" in Jesus.

• This believing (in Jesus) will impact two things: works (Jn. 14:12) and prayer (Jn. 14:13-14). Power is released for maximum effectiveness and impact.

• The key qualifier in verses 13-14 is "in My [Jesus'] name." This means asking as Jesus' ambassador (in His authority and by His authorization). This is asking according to God's will (1 Jn. 5:14-15).

• How can you know that what you're asking is God's will (is in Jesus' name)? To pray otherwise is to be frustrated and counterproductive. There are three options: random guess, subjective feeling and objective standard. The third is the best option.

• What is the objective standard for determining God's will? It is one thing to pray, but it is another thing to make a decision based upon that prayer.
1. Submit to God (Mt. 6:10; Jam. 4:6-7a; Ac. 21:10-14).
2. Submit to one another. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the other prophets (1 Cor. 14:29, 32). There is plurality of leadership (Jam. 5:14; 1 Pet 5:1; Prov. 11:14). Invite someone else to help you clarify or verify.
3. Be open to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11), especially the word of wisdom and word of knowledge. See also Jn. 14:26.
4. Line up your inclination with Scripture. Remain in Jesus and His Word (Jn. 15:26). See also Psa. 19:7-11.
5. Pray in the Spirit (Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 14:15).

Righteous Judgment (Jn. 5:30)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 5:24-47.
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Judgment is the process of separating and selecting to arrive at a decision. How can you exercise righteous judgment?

Neutralize your own will. Admit that you do have a preferred outcome. Through prayer, get your personal preferences out of the way (Mt. 26:39).

Emphasize God's will. To do this you must wait for God's will, listen to God's will and execute God's will (Jam. 1:22).

Cultivate a listening ear. Learn to recognize God's voice (1 Sam 3:10). One of the biggest hindrances to righteous judgment is speed. Take your time. Get it right.

Notes on Jeremiah Chapter 24

Read Jeremiah chapter 24.

• Figs are symbolic of prosperity and success.
• The prophet Amos was a keeper of figs (Amos 7:14). He also had a vision about fruit (Amos 8:1-3).
• There are only two kinds of figs. Sorry, but that means no middle category and no mixture. You can't have good-ish bad figs or bad-ish good figs. What you do with the revealed will of God determines which kind of "fig" you are.
• God's will doesn't always consider your preferences. Surely some of the residents were thinking, "How can it be God's will for us to surrender to the enemy and live in exile?" It is clear, however, that was exactly what God wanted.
• Some of what happens to you in life you brought upon yourself through disobedience. In those instances, stop blaming God.
• The baskets of figs were presented before the temple (v. 1). Is your character acceptable to God? He is the fruit inspector. He sees who you are. Does that trouble you at all?
• Character has consequence. Good figs (good character) incur God's favor and promise. He always rewards submission, conformity and obedience. Bad figs (bad character) incur God's displeasure.
• God alone can give you the heart you need to have. Change my heart, O God! He will give you a curious heart (Jer 24:7), a clean heart (Psa 51:10) and a compassionate, compliant heart (Ezek 36:26).

The Third Option (Mt 1:18-25)

Today's reading was Matthew chapters 1 and 2.

1. Joseph believed there were only two options. Either he would publicly disgrace Mary or privately divorce her. Today, we would say he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ever been there?
2. Either option would've left deep emotional scars on Joseph and Mary. Joseph was going to hurt regardless of which option he pursued. There seemed to be no win-win solution.
3. Not choosing was not an option. Not choosing would've strongly suggested Joseph was the child's father. A decision had to be made.
4. God had a third option when Joseph only saw two. God's miraculous intervention came after Joseph prayed hard and thought long. During Joseph's deliberation of the dilemma came God's option three. We're told to ask for God's wisdom (Jam 1:5). Don't be surprised if He sends it in a message, manner, mode, or moment you're least anticipating it.
5. When God reveals His option three, take it.

Lord, whenever I'm set on a decision that doesn't line up with your plan, please do for me what You did for Joseph: interrupt me and instruct me. Doing Your will is more important than protecting my reputation or getting what I want.