Series: Rest in
Our Scripture for this series - Isa. 40:29-31:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope (rest) in the Lord will renew their strength. They soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
God from the beginning of time mandated/demonstrated that we all must rest in Him. We have to connect with Him to get energized!
Sermon topic “Rest in God’s will” – another way to put it “Help! I Need Direction!”
How do we discover the will of God for our lives?
Thesis: To know God’s will for your life comes from you knowing God personally, having an encounter with God like Jacob, Moses and Nehemiah did and then taking step one.
Scripture Texts:
Genesis 28:10-22:
10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
11When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
17He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
18Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
19He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
21so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God
22and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
Genesis 32:22-32:
22That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
29Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Romans 12:1-2:
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 John 5:14-15:
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Introduction:
People around the world are crying out for help. They want answers to their questions. They want insight. So they try physics, speaking with the dead, palm readings and the list could go on. But their questions are not answered. Christians around the world cry out for help. They are going around asking everyone else but the Lord what they should be doing with their life. They run to Prophets time and time again. They ask many church leaders. They seem to ask for direction and insight but rarely seem to discover what God’s plan is for their life.
The questions I hear the most seem to deal with knowing God’s plan for individual lives. Here are the most common ones:
1. How do I know when God is speaking to me?
2. How do I know that God is active in my life?
3. How do I get to the point of trusting His word 100%?
4. How do I know without a shadow of doubt that His promises are 100% accurate?
5. How do I adjust my belief system so it aligns with God and His ways?
6. How do I adjust my character so it aligns with God and His ways?
7. How do I adjust my behavior so it aligns with God and His ways?
8. How do I know the direction God wants me to follow in my life?
9. What do I do when I learn His plan for my life?
10. What do I need to do to experience God working through me?
11. How do I respond when God uses me and I know it?
12. How do I know this is really God?
These questions and areas of concern want to be answered by individuals. So many come to me or they seek out others to answer their questions. The problem that I see however is that the only person who can really answer these questions for the individual is God Himself. I want you to understand this very plainly. No one can answer these questions even if they tell you they can. You cannot answer these questions for yourself only God can do this.
The questions we asked you to ponder this week were:
What do you believe God’s will is for your life?
Where is God’s will taking you?
How have you wrestled with God like Jacob?
We need to recall John 14:26 “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things.” Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is to be our teacher, our guide, our answer person and we must acknowledge Him as so.
Blackaby stated, “The Bible is God’s Word to you. The Holy Spirit honors and uses God’s Word in speaking to you. The Scriptures will be your source of authority for faith and practice. You cannot depend on human traditions, your experience, or the experience of others to be accurate authorities on God’s will and ways. Experience and tradition must always be examined against the teaching of Scripture” (4).
T.S. - Therefore let’s look at God’s word and learn how to discover if the Lord is speaking to you and directing you.
I. The Bible reveals how God involved Himself with individuals.
a. We discover that when God spoke to individuals in the Bible they knew it was God.
i. Jacob’s encounters with God. He is at this point on the run for his life and looking for direction.
1. He receives -The Dream from God
a. He has an encounter with God at night – this awakens Jacob’s eyes and ears to God and His Spiritual realm.
i. Genesis 28:10-22 paint the picture.
ii. This moment in time so impacts Him that he erects an Altar to remember this encounter with God.
1. God is trying to get Jacob’s attention – trying to get Jacob to follow His will for His life not a deceiving manipulative mothers will for her sons life.
a. Yes, it was prophesied that the younger would rule over the older but I don’t believe this was God’s plan. He does not use lies and deception to fulfill His plans.
2. Jacob does not totally get the message – that he must surrender His life and will to God instead he follows his mothers plan for his life. That plan if filled with more deception, manipulation and lies creating hurt and heartache.
a. We must never follow the plan of evil, deceit and manipulation but instead follow the plan of God for our lives.
b. Jacob’s problem is he wanted to control his own life – so did his mother. So they manipulated people and lied.
c. The problem with this mindset is people think they do not need God – but God showed him in a dream that He was in control of this world – not Jacob! He was orchestrating the events of history.
d. How often do we try to handle life on our own without God?
i. We come up with a scheme or manipulative plan only to discover it blows up in our face.
ii. So let me ask: “How well is that going for you?”
2. As we look at the life of Jacob the family events that led to this point in his life and the dysfunctional family he was a part of it makes you wonder. You see all the negative repercussions of this family trying to do things their own way.
a. His own participation in lies, manipulation and deceit set him up later to be manipulated and deceived.
i. His mom puts him up to deception and lies with His own father.
1. Genesis 27
a. He gets the fathers blessing but posing as his brother Esau! This is not real admirable rather it’s repulsive.
ii. He steals Esau blessing by deceit – now we know early in his story Esau sold him his birth right over a bowl of soup. This is not wise on Esau’s part!
1. He tricks his dad and gets the blessing but can I say this was not God’s plan or will – this was the plan of a deceitful mother and lying son.
iii. His trickery gets his brother Esau angry and He flees for his life f– which leads to an encounter with God in a dream. (Which we just talked about and read from Genesis 28).
b. Genesis 29-31:
i. He falls prey to deception and manipulation trying to find a wife and following his mother’s plan – can I remind you of what Scripture says, “What you sow is what you reap! Every time!”
1. Sorry wrong girl – try again!
2. Got you Jacob – now give me another 7 years!
a. 14 years of his life are taken up by Laban’s deceit and trickery – don’t forget he is Jacob’s mothers brother!
ii. Laban is as bad as his mother! Filled with deception and manipulation. Trying to connive and rip off other people to have things the way they think they should be done. In the end he pays for hi manipulative ways too and loses his family and many of his possessions. God never blesses sin – don’t forget that!
1. This in the end causes Jacob to leave Laban and head back home – he sneaks away – Laban chases him down – God warns Laban not to touch him or else – His lies and manipulation cost Laban.
3. The Wrestling Match with God before the family reunion Genesis 32:22-32
a. A change of heart and direction in life – His name is now changed.
i. Genesis 32
1. Heading home to meet angry brother – sends gifts ahead
2. Hears brother is coming to meet him with 400 men – fear for his life.
a. Fear grips his heart!
3. He devises a plan to save himself by putting his midwives and their families in front then Leah’s family in front. He then places Rachel and his family together as the last group.
a. This is a very sad plan!
b. If he is angry he will kill them first and give us a chance to escape – nice father and husband right!
c. He is still scheming like his mother.
4. Verses 9-12: Shows Jacob praying for deliverance. But is he really open to God’s will and plan?
a. Verses 13-23: show that he is still trying to manipulate and control the situation to save himself.
b. Some scholars believe in this prayer he is still trying to manipulate God.
c. It’s almost as if he is saying, “God you promised me and you owe me!”
d. He sticks with his dividing up family in two groups. But then he is alone and God shows up to teach him a lesson and help him to understand his way and will.
5. Verse 24-26: The wrestling match with God over who is in control and who’s will – will be followed.
a. God wins!
i. He does bless him but also injures him to remind him who really is in control.
ii. Jacob is blessed and His eyes are opened to God’s plan and will!
b. His name is changed from “Jacob” which means independence from God to “Israel” which represents dependence on God.
i. He now knew he had a divine encounter with God!
ii. Genesis 33:1-3: We see that instead of letting his family take the heat in it’s groups before they get to him – his heart is changed and he goes out in front of his family to Esau face to face.
1. Amazing how things work out when we surrender to God’s will and plan for our lives.
2. How when we take responsibility and have courage in the Lord things work out better.
3. Esau is glad to see him accepts his offerings of peace and things are looking good for Israel.
b. God once again speaks to Jacob now Israel in Genesis 35 telling him that he needs to return to place were God appeared to him in the dream – the place were he has set up an altar to the Lord called Bethel.
i. He listens to God’s plan
ii. He cleanses his house of all foreign gods of idolatry.
iii. He follows God’s plan and will and goes and erects an altar at El Bethel.
iv. God then appears to him again – reaffirming his name change and his mission for the Lord.
v. He prophecies how a nation will arise out of his offspring and how God will bless them.
vi. He tells him that kings will come from his family line.
vii. He will inherit the land promise to his ancestors and God will be there God.
viii. Israel once again honors God at the altar in Bethel to confirm their covenant agreement together. The pillar and altar was set up as a reminder of the promises and the plan God had for Israel. It also reminded others that God talks to his people and directs their paths onto His will and plan for their lives.
ii. Another Example of a person in the Bible discovering God’s plan and will for their life is Moses. His story unfolds when confronted with the burning bush of God.
1. Exodus 3:1-22; 4:1-18
a. Moses first saw the burning bush and he investigated this unusual sight.
i. When you see a sign go investigate it. Take the time to check it out! It could be God trying to get your attention.
ii. Ortberg states, “He could have looked the other way, as many of us would. He would have just missed the Exodus, the people of Israel, his calling, the reason for his existence. He would have missed knowing God” (20).
b. When he approached God –God spoke out of the bush to him. Moses answered Him “Here I am.” The key to hearing God is acknowledging him.
i. When God calls you need to answer.
c. Then the Lord gave Moses direction on what he was suppose to do. Moses listened so the conversation continued.
i. “Do not come any closer, and take off your shoes.”
ii. Moses obeyed and he took off his shoes.
1. He listened and obeyed.
2. He showed respect and honor to God by taking off his shoes.
iii. God then again confirmed that He was who He said He was.
1. Moses responded by hiding his face.
2. He knew he was unworthy to be in God’s presence.
3. He was afraid to look at him because of his sin condition.
a. He knew he was a sinner and unholy. 1st step in knowing God’s voice intimately is recognizing you sinful condition and being ashamed by it.
4. He had awe and reverence for God
a. A key you must have to be in His presence and to be able to clearly hear his voice.
5. He at this point knew it was God!
a. Why because God lined up with what he knew about God.
iv. Then Moses gets more of the message- more details and the direction God has for his life.
1. Moses responds with humility
a. “Who am I!”
2. God assures Him that He will go with Him and use Him. Moses will not be doing it! God will do it through Him!
v. Moses double checks, is this really God ? If so how will the people know that I’m not a lunatic from the desert.
1. Lord told him what to say.
2. Then he gave him a staff which would be used to do miracles, signs and wonders.
3. It was also a miraculous sign to Moses to confirm once again who was in control of the plan.
iii. Another example is Nehemiah who knew he had heard from God about a specific mission and plan of God for his life.
1. Nehemiah had a heavy burden on his heart to rebuild the city (Neh. 2;1-9).
a. NIV Nehemiah 2:1-10: In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
b. The King saw the heavy heart of Nehemiah.
i. Nehemiah knew God had laid a task on his heart and it showed.
c. Nehemiah prayed to the Lord for direction and insight.
i. Once he was asked what’s a matter he went to the Lord in prayer to receive insight into his burden so he could communicate clearly the vision God laid on his heart to the king.
d. God gave it and Nehemiah shared it with the king.
i. God gave him direction insight and wisdom. He shared what he learned with the king.
e. The king granted his requests
i. Why? I believe because he prayed before he asked.
f. Nehemiah was allowed to go – a miracle IN ITSELF.
b. Epigram: “Never put a question mark where God has put a period.” John Rice
T.S. - God does speak to individuals who have or desire to have a personal relationship with him.
II. The key in knowing God’s voice starts with a relationship with Him personally.
a. You cannot side track this step!
i. Parrot states, “In the midst of my spiritual struggle, a well meaning pastor told me that ‘an atheist does not find God for the same reason a thief does not find a policeman. He is not looking for him’” (166).
ii. Les shared that in his search for an intimate relationship with God that one day on highway 55 in Chicago he had heard and met with God. He stated, “That’s when I realized I didn’t need answers; I wanted a relationship. Just as I didn’t need gifts upon my father’s return, I didn’t need answers from God. I needed to be with God “(167).
b. You have to make the commitment to want a relationship with Him.
i. Which means you want to give up your will to do His will.
1. Jacob had to do this!
2. Moses had to do this!
3. Nehemiah had to do this!
c. Parrot states, “…faith is not so much believing in God, as it is being with God”(167).
i. Les does put things into a balanced perspective when he notes that asking God questions is valid. In essence we need to ask. He states, “We forget that if a question is not seriously asked, one will miss the richness and depth of the answer. In fact the most destructive thing we can do to our relationship with God when it is passing through a period of honest uncertainty is to silence our doubts and repress our questions.”(167).
T.S. - To know God’s voice you must have a relationship with him and spend time with him to know his voice.
III. Another key in knowing God’s voice is learning what it sounds like and what it says.
a. To hear God speak is to know his voice-you only get to know his voice by spending time with Him in prayer and by reading His Word.
i. John 10:2-4: The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
1. Jesus stated, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:26).
2. Illustration: God Told Me About The Peanut
a. Testifying before the senate Agriculture Committee on the value of the peanut, George Washington carver, who was an infant was traded for a broken –down race horse, he said that he got his knowledge of peanuts from the Bible. Asked what the Bible said about peanuts he replied, “The Bible does not teach anything regarding the peanut. But it told me about God, and Gold told me about the peanut.”
b. It’s amazing as you get to know God better he answers and shows others things that are not in the Bible. They will always align with the guidelines laid out in His word though! He will answer a lot of our questions about things in real life.
c. Les states, In the City of God, Augustine expressed a universal human feeling when he said, ‘Oh Lord, thou hast made us for thyself, and we are restless until we find our rest in thee.’ Without an authentic relationship with God, we are left empty and detached. There is in all of us, at the very center of our lives, an aching, a burning in the heart that is deep and insatiable. Most often we try to quench that yearning with a human relationship. We try to fill the gap in our existence with a friend or lover. But no human relationship-no matter how wonderful-can ever complete us “(172,173).
T.S. - When you spend time with God you know his voice and then you have to make the decision to obey his direction.
IV. The next key in knowing God’s plan for your life is to listen to what He tells you to do especially the first step..
a. The Biblical examples shared earlier knew what to do in response to God’s call.
i. Jacob had to wrestle with God and have his hip knocked out until he would listen and obey the voice of God (Genesis 32:22-32).
1. He had to change his ways and do things God’s way! This is revealed in his change of name after this encounter with God and how he would deal with his brother Esau the next day.
a. He had to make and do things right this time.
ii. Moses – Knew he was lead the people out of Egypt but step one was he had to go to Egypt (Exodus 3:1-22)
iii. Nehemiah – Knew he had to rebuild the city so he started with the walls.
b. Whenever God speaks to us there will always come the choice to believe God’s instruction and direction or not. But if you really listen and believe you will obey and do it. Note it almost always comes in increments. We get instruction for step one then we get instruction for step two and so on.
i. Blackaby states:
1. You will have to believe God is who He says He is.
2. You will have to believe God can do what He says He will do.
3. You will have to adjust your thinking in light of this belief.
4. You trust God and then obey.
5. When you obey, God does His work through you and demonstrates that He is who He says He is.
6. Then you will know God by experience.
7. You will know He is who He says He is.
c. When we know we have heard from God and know what he has directed us to do we need to do it. The key to continue hearing from God is the willingness to obey and respond to his instruction.
T.S. - These examples also highlight the 7 realities of experiencing God as noted by Blackaby in Experiencing God pages 33-38. Let’s look at his seven.
V. The seven realities of experiencing God common to the Bible.
a. Reality #1 – God is always at work around you.
i. We need to understand that God is working out His supreme plan for our world.
1. NIV Revelation 1:16: In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
2. NIV John 7:17: If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
b. Reality #2 – God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
i. NIV Romans 5:5: And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1. Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2. NIV 1 John 3:1: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
c. Reality #3 – God invites you to become involved with him in his work.
i. Finney’s Invitation- Charles a young lawyer was sitting in the cities law office in the state of New York. Finney in the office by himself noted that the Lord just started to deal with him. He heard, “Finney, what are you going to do when you finish your course?” “Put out a shingle and practice law.” “Then what?” “Get rich.” “Then what?” “Retire.” “Then what?” “Die.” “Then what?” And the words came thundering, “The judgment!” He at this moment got up and ran into the woods. He prayed all day, toward the end of the day he vowed never to leave until he made his peace with God. He saw himself at the judgment seat of God. For four years he had studied law, and now the vanity of a selfish life, was he going to live for the enjoyment of the things of this world. He could. It was his choice. Finney came out of the woods that evening, after his long struggle, with the mindset of living for the glory of God. He decided to say yeas to God and no to himself. He said from that moment on God took over and filled him with joy and God used him to win over a million people to Jesus. God used a lawyer as a preacher and teacher and he labored for 50 more years impacting a huge multitude. (Church Herald)
1. You see when God speaks to you he will offer you an invitation but it’s your choice to say yes.
d. Reality #4 – God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
i. John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1. It’s important that you know these mediums are how God speaks to us.
2. But, you must also have a love relationship with him
a. What about miraculous signs? Often we Pentecostals seek signs to confirm God’s Word. Instead of doing the one on one time with Him.
i. Jesus condemned the Jewish nation because they did this he called them a generation that was evil and adulterous.
1. Mt. 12:38-39NIV Matthew 12:38-39: Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
ii. Key here is not to seek the sign but seek the giver of signs Jesus! Get to know him. Do not run from prophet to prophet looking for direction. Run to Jesus for direction.
b. Get to know his voice-not others.
c. The key a relationship with HIM!
e. Reality #5 – God’s invitation for you to work with him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
i. Esther 4:12-17:
1. When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.
ii. If God shares a vision to you 90% of the time it will scare you to death. Because only He can accomplish it and you know it!
f. Reality #6 – You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
i. Abraham had to move, I had to move. You may have to move!
ii. Moses had to go to Egypt, I had to come to Amery!
iii. Esther had to risk her life, I had to risk mine (not really -- maybe in Africa!)
iv. This is where a lot of people fail, they do not move.
v. This action point is the hinge pin of doing God’s will for your life.
g. Reality #7 – You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.
i. Experiencing God is what the Christian walk is about.
ii. It’s an awesome experience.
iii. You get to have an encounter with the God who created the Heavens and the Earth.
iv. It’s beyond words
Conclusion: The question is how do I know when God is directing me?
1. It all starts with a personal relationship with Him.
a. It’s a relationship based on love!
2. It takes the willingness to stop what we are doing and listen.
a. This is where most fail – they never stop and listen!
i. Illustration of Chicken with his head cut off ‘God wants me to do something! They run around and around!
3. It’s imperative that we take notice around us and see what God is doing and then become apart it.
a. This is important to realize – God wants you to be apart of what He is already doing. He wants to see if you are committed to serving.
b. Then other doors will open when you are faithful!
4. We need to be assured that when God does direct you He will confirm that it is of Him by three means:
a. By the Bible- It will line up with His standards and His character
b. By other Godly men and women who will confirm what is in your heart.
c. By the confirmation of the Holy Spirit
5. It is also imperative that when you know it’s God show Him respect and reverence.
6. Be assured that the call of God will cause a crisis of belief.
a. It will be scary but realize you are not doing He is!
b. Moses was scared!
c. It will terrify you because you know it’s not going to be done by you.
7. The next step is to obey and pursue His direction.
a. This is an action step.
b. Once we know we then must step out in faith.
8. You will have to make the major changes in your life to accomplish what the Lord wants you to do.
a. You must be willing to sacrifice and change.
9. Once you take the plunge with God you will experience the Lord like never before.
a. You will experience God in a more intimate way when you work with Him.
10. You will be amazed at what the Lord is doing through your life.
