There are two extremes we must avoid in the important matter of seeking God's will. One is to be so frightened at making a mistake that we make no decision at all. The other is to make impulsive decisions and rush ahead without taking time to wait on the Lord.
After we have done all we can to determine the leading of the Lord, we must decide and act and leave the rest to the Lord.
If we are in some way out of His will, He will so work that we will finally have His guidance. The important thing is that we sincerely want to do His will.
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.
After all, He guides us "for His name's sake" and its His reputation that's at stake. If you're really sincere in knowing God's will, pray for guidance. He may lead you to scripture.
Fear can destroy you. The right kind of fear can elliminate the wrong kind of fear. The believer who is hidden in Christ should never be afraid.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Man's greatest fear is physical death, but he should be more fearful of spiritual death. The Bible speaks of the sting of death. The Lord Jesus removed the sting of death through his sacrifice on the cross.
Stop fearing what people think, such as: Will they be angry with me or still be my friend? Will they appreciate what I'm doing? We should be more concerned about what God thinks.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Fearing God is to respect who He is. If you love, trust, and obey Him, you have nothing to fear.
... For instance; self pride, incorrect concepts of godliness, love of money or discontentment will hamstring the spiritual journey. A wiser saint will flee those things and pursue the glorious road of righteousness and godliness.
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Faith is the instrument of our justification and the basic principle of the Christian life. Love is it's sustaining force.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Our enemies are the world, the flesh, the devil, principalities and powers, and false teachers.
The warfare is a good fight because its a good cause under a good captain with good results. Our weapon is faith. Our prize is eternal life.
...Is there a special feeling? No, but there are special evidences that appear and they are unmistakably clear. For one thing, when you are abiding in Christ, you produce fruit.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.
Also, you experience the Father's "pruning" so that you will bear more fruit. The believer who is abiding in Christ has his prayers answered.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.
You will experience a deepening love for Christ and for other believers. You also experience joy.
Abiding in Christ demands worship, meditation on God's Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service -- but what a joyful experience it is! Once you have begun to cultivate this deeper communion with Christ, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the careless Christian.
...of any money to the church. I seldom got money, but when I did I gave a dime on a dollar or a nickle for fifty cents. Each spring some of my brothers and sisters and I jumped on a board-sided truck with several others at six a.m. and went to a farm to pick strawberries with Mexicans. I made enough to buy a few firecrackers after giving ten percent to the church.
A few years later I attended a camp meeting where they passed the plate and were unhappy with the collection. After scolding the congregation, they passed it again. God loves a cheerful giver. Giving is a personal matter of worship, and nobody should snatch your tithes and offerings. God wants you to tithe, but he wants you to do it willingly because you love Him.
Malachi 3:8,10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In Tithes and offerings.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
THAT TRUTH IS GREATER THAN ERROR. The glorious deliverance of the church testifies of this truth. The prominence of our own nation and the Bible testifies to this truth.
THAT THE GIFT OF GOD IS GREATER THAN THE PLEASURE OF SIN. The pleasures of sin are alluring, but the gift of God is more alluring.
THAT ETERNITY IS GREATER THAN TIME. Many have anchored their hope in time. The wise have prepared for eternity.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
