SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
Oftentimes, the Word of God comes to us as spiritual instructions. Proverbs 4:13 says, “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”
When an instruction of the Spirit is given, not only is it important that those instructions be understood, they must also be acted upon. Any form of resistance or disobedience is what God refers to as “witchcraft.” The Bible says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” (1 Samuel 15:23).
An example is King Saul. God instructed Saul to destroy the Amalekites and everything they had, including their animals, but he ignored the instruction. He didn’t destroy their sheep and oxen, because according to him, “…the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:21).
That wasn’t the instruction. The instruction was clear: destroy everything. God didn’t say, “Preserve the choice animals for a sacrifice unto me.” It’s important that you follow God’s Word and His instructions to the letter. Do things His way, and you’ll always be a success. Saul lost the kingship over Israel forever, by choosing his own way and harkening to the voice of the people against God’s specific instruction (Read entire account in 1 Samuel 15:1-23).
Be wise. Even when God’s instructions are contrary to your human reasoning, be like Peter: act on them. When the Lord Jesus asked Peter to cast his net into the sea after a fruitless fishing expedition (Luke 5), even though the instruction was contrary to Peter’s reasoning, he obeyed and got a miracle for it. God’s instructions may come to you in the most unexpected way, follow them, because therein lies your promotion.
INVEST YOUR TIME IN SPIRITUAL THINGS
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Time is an asset, which you must learn to invest wisely. Investing your time wisely means investing your time in spiritual things. Moses had this on his mind when he prayed to the Lord to “…Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalms 90:12). Each day you live is an opportunity to accomplish so much, but the question is: How well do you schedule your day?
When you wake up in the morning, don’t just roll off your bed and stumble blindly into the day. Spend quality time first to fellowship with the Holy Spirit in prayer and in the Word. Ask Him to guide you as you schedule your activities for the day and prioritize your activities. Ask Him to help you save time, and you’d discover how much you’re able to accomplish for the Kingdom on a daily basis. Then, you’ll become more productive, effective and progressive.
Remember that life’s got no extra time; so make every day count by doing only those things that’ll advance the Kingdom of God, and improve your life. There’re people who have desired for a long time to read the entire Bible in one year but haven’t been able to achieve this. Some start bu tdon’t complete it. “I usually don’t have enough time,” they lament, trying to exonerate themselves, but that’s not a good enough excuse. Time is a fixed asset; it’s only twenty-four hours in one day; so we have to prioritize.
If you were wishing to have more time to study God’s Word, the truth is, you may never get it. What you need is to create the time to study the Word, and schedule your prayer times as well, because your whole future depends on it. Proverbs 1:32 says, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them….” The simple are those who ignore truth; they ignore revelation and never take spiritual things seriously. They know it’s important to pray, but they’re too busy to do so. God calls them the simple, and He says their complacent attitude shall make them victims in life.
Don’t be like the simple, who would rather do other things than spend time on spiritual matters. Choose always to be spiritually alert so that when the “evil day” comes, it’ll meet you well prepared and you’ll know what to do!
UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH BEHIND HIS INSTRUCTIONS
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Proverbs 4:13).
It’s important that you understand the spirituality of divine instructions. Divine instructions are for your life; so always take them seriously. A lack of understanding
of spiritual truth and yielding to a fit of anger led to Moses’ grievous mistake that cost him leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land.
In Numbers 20:8, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the children of Israel to drink. But when Moses got to the rock, instead of talking to
the rock as God had said, he struck the rock with his rod. Water came out all right, but God was displeased with him.
A previous instruction to Moses in Exodus 17:6 was for him to strike the rock for it to bring forth water, which he did and water came out. But this time, the rock wasn’t
to be smitten a second time, because that rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). Christ was to be smitten only once; after that, you talk to Him for whatever you want.
Even though Moses acted in disobedience by striking the rock twice, water still came out. But it didn’t produce the result God wanted. That tells us something: It's not about the result you want, it’s about what's right in the sight of God. Is the Father pleased?
These things we read in the Scriptures are for our learning (Romans 15:4). Practise spiritual understanding, spiritual wisdom, and walking in the Spirit. That's your
call. Only if we live this way can we please the Lord in all things. Understand the truth behind His instructions and do them. Hallelujah!
𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐆𝐎𝐃'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃
As a Christian, it’s important how you think and what you think about.
You’re not of this world; therefore, you shouldn’t think like an ordinary person.
Don’t say, “I’m American, or I’m Australian, as a result, there’s a way I think.” No!
When you’re born again, you cease to be of your earthly nativity, because your spirit is recreated. You should therefore only think the Word way.
God’s Word must form the basis for the kind of thoughts you process and allow.
Now that you’re in Christ, you have a new culture: the Christ culture. Until this becomes a reality in your spirit, you’ll live like an ordinary person and not experience the sublime blessings of life in Christ.
The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You’re of a new lineage and heritage.
Refuse to be described by any earthly culture or affiliation.
If you must be identified as Zulu, Afrikaans, American, British, German, French, Nigerian, etc., let it be because you want to win those of such descent to Christ.
That’s how the Apostle Paul puts it. He said, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law” (1 Corinthians 9:20 NASB).
Romans 12:2 NIV says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
Romans 12:2 NASB “...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
As you meditate on the Word, your mind is programmed to think accordingly. You’ll begin to talk differently and act in line with your confessions of faith.
The Word of God is the only material that can energise you for success, position you for greatness, and sustain you in the transcendent life.
DON'T LOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOUR
_"Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we {and} you have labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win {and} receive back a perfect reward [in full]" (2 John 1:8 AMP)._
Some people's spiritual fervour wanes with time and that's sad as it doesn't have to be so. You shouldn't lose your enthusiasm for the things of God. John said, "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which have wrought, but that we receive a full reward" (2 John 1:8). Don't lose that, which you've gained over the years, rather ensure that your life remains balanced on the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit dwells in you and He'll teach you: _"...Christ has blessed you with the Holy Spirit. Now the Spirit stays in you, and you don't need any teachers. The Spirit is truthful and teaches you everything. So stay one in your heart with Christ, just as the Spirit has taught you to do"_ (1 John 2:27). He can unveil the Word to your spirit and instruct you on every affair of life. When it comes to doing the Word, never procrastinate! You must learn to put the Word He unveils or reveals to you to work immediately.
Some 'old Christians' - those who have been born again for a long time---who have lost the fire of the Holy Spirit in their lives usually think every other person is like them. They may even laugh at you for doing all those things they used to do, but it shouldn't be that way. Keep your excitement in Christ and continue to delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).
Get excited about Jesus; be excited about the Holy Ghost; be excited about reaching souls for Jesus Christ; be excited about God's Word; be excited about going to church; be excited about praising God. Oh, don't you ever give up on these things!
𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓!
𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚 whose physical appearance showed no special features. There was nothing physically striking about him that pointed to him as God's choice of a king-elect.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐝
Though his actions weren't always perfect, David's heart was perfect towards God (Acts 13:22). He served God with a loyal heart.
𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞.
This was the virtue Saul lacked that made God rejected him as king over Israel. Another king, Amaziah, did all the right things but still didn't get God's approval because of his wrong attitude (2 Chronicles 25:2).
So in your relationship with the Lord, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬! Your attitude to God and service in His kingdom must reflect wholehearted devotion and unfeigned loyalty.
It's time to examine yourself and ensure your words match your actions, and that your actions match the thoughts of your heart in your service to the Lord. Who are you? How do you do your work for the Lord? These are very important questions you must answer for yourself.
Only the works we do with a sincere and loyal heart will be accepted when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ; the rest will be burnt because they have no significance before the God. (1 Corinthians 3:13).
There are Christians who haven't pledged their allegiance to Christ but have lived only for themselves. But praise God, the Church is rising I'm glory and God is purging her of all these.
So, honestly examine yourself I'm the light of God's Word today, and pray to God to help you make changes where necessary.