(1Timothy 6:6) “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.”
This morning is probably the first time or at least that I can remember when I have had to think about what to pen. I have been pondering the topic for about 20 minutes. Do I stop to listen to that small still voice; do I make time for His direction? My immediate answer would be yes. But then on second thought do I set a specific time aside to listen for it? I know each morning when I write I am mostly lead to pen on any given topic without much premeditated thought, it normally just flows. But do I stop and listen for God the Holy Spirit’s voice with earnest intent?
We could never manipulate our great God, as some suppose! As they chant with their particular formula’s hoping for some miracle, all that type of false reasoning is conceited and puffed up claiming a gift they have never received. Claiming to be healers and yet no one is truly miraculously healed. If one claims to have a healing gift will those he prays for be healed? Did the Lord Jesus ever heal? We know he did! Was it ever a mystery in that sense, no never! When God moves there will be no mistaking His presence and He will ensure that all know that He is behind it. No ifs and buts!
With that said I do not speak about vain imaginations, but do we put time aside to hear God’s voice? We must purpose to listen out for Him. How? “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” The excellency of contentment but not as some account Christianity an advantageous profession for this world. Not as a means of material gain, yet it is undoubtedly true that, though Christianity is the worst trade, it is the best calling in the world. Those that make a trade of it, merely to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed, and find it a sorry trade; but those that mind it as their calling, and make a business of it, will find it a gainful calling, for it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come.
It is with this mind-set that I now again asks the question, do we stop to listen for clear direction from God the Holy Spirit? Is He my guide, teacher, and am I always looking for truth from Him? I would have to conclude that God has ordained that God the Holy spirit will play this role and so it is happening, whether we are aware of it or not. If we have Christ’s Spirit God the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, that is a given!
I am looking to explore this topic not only on the surface per say but let us take this thought a lot deeper. The prophets of old received their gifts from God, and yet they never took then for granted, they mostly seemed to be about God’s business. Do we use what God has truly given us as we should? They looked for an opportunity to glorify God’s name, power and supreme authority. Remember Elijah and how he mocked those who opposed his God. He was so certain of who he was and what God had given him, that it left no room for doubt. The Apostle James has this to say about him; “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:17-20)
I am amazed on how James concludes this chapter; he speaks of this mighty man of God as a prayer warrior and then he tells us to play our part in leading the wandering sinner from death to life. Not many may have received the true gift of healing, but we all have our part to play in reconciliation, preaching the message of hope, the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul’s gospel, that is the true gospel and not a conversion, to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, and not to turn him from one party to another, or merely from one notion and way of thinking to another. “Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” This then must be our focus; this then is what our great God the Holy Spirit is now saying to us as believers; “And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.”” (Luke 21:8): - There will be a lot of what is false now making headway, but God will move amongst the chaos and He will pluck those out of the fire, those whom He has called and chosen from before the foundation of time. And we most certainly have our part to play; God help us to be more diligent as that day approaches.
Where then should we start? There must be many people you have come across in life that seem to be wandering in the wilderness who once walked with us, but now seemed to have lost sight our this great hope; Jesus is soon to return, praise His glorious name! Let us make a concerted effort to call out to them and with God’s help bring them home. What then is our first responsibility in this process? Look how James speaks about this man who prayed for something and it happened, that then is where we must start, we must pray earnestly! Take time to make a list, then set specific time aside and pray and then wait for opportunities to unfold as God grants us the prayers of our hearts.
I did set time aside this morning in listening to God’s direction in and through our great God the Holy Spirit and I truly believe He has spoken.
Although there is much warning about what is false in scripture we must not lose sight of this truth and I will let C.H.Spurgeon teach us…
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit.”
- Eph_4:30
“All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus-how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master’s cause? You cannot without the Spirit-”Without me ye can do nothing.” O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.” (C.H.Spurgeon)
Signing off
Tyrone
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