September 30, 2010
It seemed right.
David decides to bring the Ark of the Lord back to them. He talked it over before the people, and it "seemed right." David didn't inquire of God what HE wanted done. So they did what they thought right, and they danced and sang with all their strength. The problem is they were doing a right thing in the wrong way. The end result was disastrous.
When David was being attacked by the Philistines, he inquired of the LORD. "Should I go? Will you give victory?" And the LORD responded, "Go, I will hand them over to you," and the LORD provided the victory. Later, the Philistines attacked again, and David again inquired of the LORD. This time God tells him not to attack from the front, but instead to go around back and when he hears marching in the trees to attack because, "I God, will have gone out before you to defeat them." David did as God said and the victory was won.
What a difference. Try to do things—even good things—in your own power and things get messed up. Inquire of God what He wants done and He gives clear direction. When we obey, the victory is ours. It may seem right, but it doesn't matter if it seems right in hundreds of people's eyes. The only person that matters is God. The rest of the world may think you're nuts, but if God says do it—then do it! If he says don't—then don't.
Addendum: 6/16/16 ~ Because of "the storm" and the absurd things I have been accused of, I should probably explain what I meant (and mean) when I talk about following what God instructs you to do.
First and foremost, the Holy Spirit would NEVER guide you to do something that goes against God's written word. NEVER. Whenever you feel as if God is directing you to take a specific action, the first thing you must do is to carefully measure those thoughts and/or feelings against God's clear values—His own words. Jesus' words are very clear. We are to love others as ourselves and we are NEVER to seek harm against another. The Holy Spirit would NEVER guide you to do something to harm another person physically or otherwise. NEVER. The Old Testament is full of graphic descriptions of when people were held accountable with their lives, but that was prior to the coming of Christ, the Lamb of God. Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus tell us that we should be the instruments to hold another person accountable. Vengeance is the LORD's, not ours. To claim God told you to do something contrary to Jesus' words is you effectively deciding to become your own god by defying Jesus' authority as Sovereign Lord.
In addition to making sure everything you feel you are being led to do lines up with God's Word, you should also seek wise counsel from other believers. Only after you are sure it is God's directing you by confirming it agrees with His Word, and after it has also been confirmed by other believers, should you proceed with following His direction.
Finally, there is no comparison between someone with mental illness who is hearing "voices" telling them to do something, which is obviously not from God, and the decisions made by someone who lives their lives surrendered to the King of kings and Lord of lords. The latter understands it is ALL about HIM and would NEVER support actions or behaviors that go against HIS word.
Next Entry: I Chronicles 15:1 – 17:27
It seemed right.
David decides to bring the Ark of the Lord back to them. He talked it over before the people, and it "seemed right." David didn't inquire of God what HE wanted done. So they did what they thought right, and they danced and sang with all their strength. The problem is they were doing a right thing in the wrong way. The end result was disastrous.
When David was being attacked by the Philistines, he inquired of the LORD. "Should I go? Will you give victory?" And the LORD responded, "Go, I will hand them over to you," and the LORD provided the victory. Later, the Philistines attacked again, and David again inquired of the LORD. This time God tells him not to attack from the front, but instead to go around back and when he hears marching in the trees to attack because, "I God, will have gone out before you to defeat them." David did as God said and the victory was won.
What a difference. Try to do things—even good things—in your own power and things get messed up. Inquire of God what He wants done and He gives clear direction. When we obey, the victory is ours. It may seem right, but it doesn't matter if it seems right in hundreds of people's eyes. The only person that matters is God. The rest of the world may think you're nuts, but if God says do it—then do it! If he says don't—then don't.
Addendum: 6/16/16 ~ Because of "the storm" and the absurd things I have been accused of, I should probably explain what I meant (and mean) when I talk about following what God instructs you to do.
First and foremost, the Holy Spirit would NEVER guide you to do something that goes against God's written word. NEVER. Whenever you feel as if God is directing you to take a specific action, the first thing you must do is to carefully measure those thoughts and/or feelings against God's clear values—His own words. Jesus' words are very clear. We are to love others as ourselves and we are NEVER to seek harm against another. The Holy Spirit would NEVER guide you to do something to harm another person physically or otherwise. NEVER. The Old Testament is full of graphic descriptions of when people were held accountable with their lives, but that was prior to the coming of Christ, the Lamb of God. Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus tell us that we should be the instruments to hold another person accountable. Vengeance is the LORD's, not ours. To claim God told you to do something contrary to Jesus' words is you effectively deciding to become your own god by defying Jesus' authority as Sovereign Lord.
In addition to making sure everything you feel you are being led to do lines up with God's Word, you should also seek wise counsel from other believers. Only after you are sure it is God's directing you by confirming it agrees with His Word, and after it has also been confirmed by other believers, should you proceed with following His direction.
Finally, there is no comparison between someone with mental illness who is hearing "voices" telling them to do something, which is obviously not from God, and the decisions made by someone who lives their lives surrendered to the King of kings and Lord of lords. The latter understands it is ALL about HIM and would NEVER support actions or behaviors that go against HIS word.
Next Entry: I Chronicles 15:1 – 17:27
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