The Map, The Guide and You in the Journey of Life
Life is journey, with ups and downs, twists and turns and many unpredictable occurrences. We have all in one way or the other found a method to navigate through life to the best of our knowledge, but have we been as effective as we should? Are there mistakes we could have avoided ? This post will highlight the most effective way to navigate through life while enjoying the process.
We all have three main destinations in life as Christians:
1. Becoming more and more like Christ. (Rom 8:29)
2. Your God ordained purpose being fulfilled (Psalm 40:7)
3. Making Heaven in the end and spending eternity with God. (Rev 21)
As Christians we are privileged to have a Map we use to navigate through life, to know what to do and what not to do, how to avoid pitfalls, how to know more about these three destinations.
That Map is the Bible
How then do we use the Map?
By studying and obeying it (Joshua 1:8-9)
Joshua 1:8-9 (KJV)
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
And this is what most of us have grown up to know and move with, which is fantastic. It has saved us from many, granted us success and brought us more peaceful lives.
Obedience to Gods word is great wisdom
But...I'm here to show you that in this generation which is so dark?..The Map alone won't be enough anymore. We need to advance. We need more specific instructions on certain pertinent issues. e.g., is smoking a sin? Is eating unhealthy a sin? Is leaving a marriage where you're being beaten up a sin? Does doing the work of the ministry to the detriment of family a sin? Is artificial insemination to have children while you stay single a sin?
You see the bible wasn't explicit about all issues and now we have issues drawing the lines. And this….This is where we need The Guide.
Who is The Guide? He's the Holy Spirit. Our comforter and friend. Jesus said He will come and lead us into all TRUTH. The grey areas we are unsure of and even places we are sure of He will help us
John 16:13 (KJV)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Now here’s what we do as Christians. We try to use the Holy Spirit the same way we use the Bible and we interchange their roles to suit our imminent ‘needs’.
For example, we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in exams and when we pass? We will now say I am head and not tail therefore I must accept the best job offer that comes my way. We didn't go back to the guide again, we went straight to scriptures and stopped there not caring if the Holy Spirit has other plans.
We are meant to be guided by The Holy Spirit first and foremost. The Bible is meant to be a tool the Holy Spirit uses to explain his leading in a way we will understand better through the stories of the scriptures. That's why if you don't study the Bible, it won’t be easy to be led by the spirit. Just like if you don't read for an exam and say Holy Spirit remind me; that means you will sleep there.
So, study the Bible very well so its easy for the guide to use what you've studied to direct you. But! You can’t say because you know the bible you will relegate the Holy Spirit to only when you want to hear about who to marry
Romans 8:14 (KJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Bible says those who are led by the spirit (through the word) are the sons of God. Many false teachers will use the same bible to deceive many in this generation. If you don't have a strong personal relationship with the Holy Spirit you might be deceived too. He wrote the scriptures through men. Do not think you can box him to a corner or you now know him totally.
Peter felt that way when God told him ‘kill and eat’ in the trance in Acts 10:13, and Peter said never, he can't eat unclean animals (because the scrolls said so) and God said don't call unclean what I call clean. Meaning, we must stay updated to God’s move. God doesn't change but His methods can. For example, just because Moses stretched out his staff to part the red sea doesn't mean when Jesus gets to the red sea he must part it, God just made him walk on the water itself.
Just be rest assured the Holy Spirit can't lead you into sin, never!. But He can lead you into trials to strengthen you, when we get leadings like this we sometimes say it’s Satan suggesting crazy things but check again.
Also add, that using the map (The Bible) without the Holy Spirit will make you religious like the Pharisees and then relying on spirit talking without studying the word can lead to spiritual deceit i.e., being led by evil spirits. So, for balance and precision, study the Word, yield to The Holy Spirit.
I was led not to touch the process for going for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (a One-year service to the nation, as required of all Nigerian graduates) and it was Sokoto (A state in northern Nigeria, far from my location at that time) God carried me to. One year in Sokoto was DIFFICULT. The temperature there hit 43° at times. But in that desert, God trained me spiritually and now I'm reaping the benefits.
If you want to see more of God’s supernatural power at work in your life, learn to obey every leading from the Holy Spirit. The more you obey, the clearer you can hear Him next time.
Another instance is this. I was at a prayer meeting where God told the leader to tell us to clap our hands, no songs, no instruments. We clapped for about 40mins (In my mind, I was already saying which one is this long clap) and all of a sudden we who were about 10 started hearing the claps multiply until it sounded like 100 to 300 people clapping and we could hear them! God sent Angels to join in the clap worship because that was what He wanted at that time nothing else!...and you can be sure the blessings for that meeting came down.
I once heard of a healing minister who said God told him to tell a woman who was lame to push and fall from the altar to get her healing. That sounds ridiculous right ? But he told her and the woman didn't even waste time. She followed the instructions and as she touched the ground her spine and legs all came back fully healthy! She stood and started running round the Church! Some leadings sound strange like spitting in sand and putting on a man’s eye like Jesus did, but that’s just God.
There are many examples of this. Let's not use societal standard and "the way we always do church" to hinder the move and direction of the spirit. Plan your programs but stay sensitive.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Only the Holy Spirit can get us to these three aforementioned destinations without loosing out. So as we study the word (The Map) let's also build our relationship with the Holy Spirit (Our Guide). You should not even start studying until you've asked the Holy Spirit to come open the Word to you.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
As we meditate on the word so we can know more about Christ and out inheritance, we should not forget who The Guide is and let's stick to Him daily as He is the only one who can get us to obey the scriptures as we are meant to all the time.
In conclusion please note: The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the Word, and as a matter of fact, scripture tells us the Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus (The Word). So, anyone who comes to you saying the Spirit led him/her to do something ridiculous, PLEASE firstly weigh it against the Word and then listen to your heart for the voice of the Holy Spirit. God won't tell one person a thing about you and not give you confirmation(s).
We all have three main destinations in life as Christians:
1. Becoming more and more like Christ. (Rom 8:29)
2. Your God ordained purpose being fulfilled (Psalm 40:7)
3. Making Heaven in the end and spending eternity with God. (Rev 21)
As Christians we are privileged to have a Map we use to navigate through life, to know what to do and what not to do, how to avoid pitfalls, how to know more about these three destinations.
That Map is the Bible
How then do we use the Map?
By studying and obeying it (Joshua 1:8-9)
Joshua 1:8-9 (KJV)
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
And this is what most of us have grown up to know and move with, which is fantastic. It has saved us from many, granted us success and brought us more peaceful lives.
Obedience to Gods word is great wisdom
But...I'm here to show you that in this generation which is so dark?..The Map alone won't be enough anymore. We need to advance. We need more specific instructions on certain pertinent issues. e.g., is smoking a sin? Is eating unhealthy a sin? Is leaving a marriage where you're being beaten up a sin? Does doing the work of the ministry to the detriment of family a sin? Is artificial insemination to have children while you stay single a sin?
You see the bible wasn't explicit about all issues and now we have issues drawing the lines. And this….This is where we need The Guide.
Who is The Guide? He's the Holy Spirit. Our comforter and friend. Jesus said He will come and lead us into all TRUTH. The grey areas we are unsure of and even places we are sure of He will help us
John 16:13 (KJV)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Now here’s what we do as Christians. We try to use the Holy Spirit the same way we use the Bible and we interchange their roles to suit our imminent ‘needs’.
For example, we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in exams and when we pass? We will now say I am head and not tail therefore I must accept the best job offer that comes my way. We didn't go back to the guide again, we went straight to scriptures and stopped there not caring if the Holy Spirit has other plans.
We are meant to be guided by The Holy Spirit first and foremost. The Bible is meant to be a tool the Holy Spirit uses to explain his leading in a way we will understand better through the stories of the scriptures. That's why if you don't study the Bible, it won’t be easy to be led by the spirit. Just like if you don't read for an exam and say Holy Spirit remind me; that means you will sleep there.
So, study the Bible very well so its easy for the guide to use what you've studied to direct you. But! You can’t say because you know the bible you will relegate the Holy Spirit to only when you want to hear about who to marry
Romans 8:14 (KJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Bible says those who are led by the spirit (through the word) are the sons of God. Many false teachers will use the same bible to deceive many in this generation. If you don't have a strong personal relationship with the Holy Spirit you might be deceived too. He wrote the scriptures through men. Do not think you can box him to a corner or you now know him totally.
Peter felt that way when God told him ‘kill and eat’ in the trance in Acts 10:13, and Peter said never, he can't eat unclean animals (because the scrolls said so) and God said don't call unclean what I call clean. Meaning, we must stay updated to God’s move. God doesn't change but His methods can. For example, just because Moses stretched out his staff to part the red sea doesn't mean when Jesus gets to the red sea he must part it, God just made him walk on the water itself.
Just be rest assured the Holy Spirit can't lead you into sin, never!. But He can lead you into trials to strengthen you, when we get leadings like this we sometimes say it’s Satan suggesting crazy things but check again.
Also add, that using the map (The Bible) without the Holy Spirit will make you religious like the Pharisees and then relying on spirit talking without studying the word can lead to spiritual deceit i.e., being led by evil spirits. So, for balance and precision, study the Word, yield to The Holy Spirit.
I was led not to touch the process for going for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (a One-year service to the nation, as required of all Nigerian graduates) and it was Sokoto (A state in northern Nigeria, far from my location at that time) God carried me to. One year in Sokoto was DIFFICULT. The temperature there hit 43° at times. But in that desert, God trained me spiritually and now I'm reaping the benefits.
If you want to see more of God’s supernatural power at work in your life, learn to obey every leading from the Holy Spirit. The more you obey, the clearer you can hear Him next time.
Another instance is this. I was at a prayer meeting where God told the leader to tell us to clap our hands, no songs, no instruments. We clapped for about 40mins (In my mind, I was already saying which one is this long clap) and all of a sudden we who were about 10 started hearing the claps multiply until it sounded like 100 to 300 people clapping and we could hear them! God sent Angels to join in the clap worship because that was what He wanted at that time nothing else!...and you can be sure the blessings for that meeting came down.
I once heard of a healing minister who said God told him to tell a woman who was lame to push and fall from the altar to get her healing. That sounds ridiculous right ? But he told her and the woman didn't even waste time. She followed the instructions and as she touched the ground her spine and legs all came back fully healthy! She stood and started running round the Church! Some leadings sound strange like spitting in sand and putting on a man’s eye like Jesus did, but that’s just God.
There are many examples of this. Let's not use societal standard and "the way we always do church" to hinder the move and direction of the spirit. Plan your programs but stay sensitive.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Only the Holy Spirit can get us to these three aforementioned destinations without loosing out. So as we study the word (The Map) let's also build our relationship with the Holy Spirit (Our Guide). You should not even start studying until you've asked the Holy Spirit to come open the Word to you.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
As we meditate on the word so we can know more about Christ and out inheritance, we should not forget who The Guide is and let's stick to Him daily as He is the only one who can get us to obey the scriptures as we are meant to all the time.
In conclusion please note: The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the Word, and as a matter of fact, scripture tells us the Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus (The Word). So, anyone who comes to you saying the Spirit led him/her to do something ridiculous, PLEASE firstly weigh it against the Word and then listen to your heart for the voice of the Holy Spirit. God won't tell one person a thing about you and not give you confirmation(s).
#BeLightBeSalt
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