Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10/22/2021
Do Whatever He Says to Do.
John chapter 2 “It was the third day of a wedding in Canaan”. These festivities usually go on for five days. (That poor groom has to wait two more days).
Jesus and his mom and all the disciples were there. Wow-what a royal flush that was. Back then it was a scandal if you were to run out of wine, but that’s exactly what happened.
Have you ever noticed that wives speak in code? Like you’re sitting in your chair and she comes over with her arms folded across her chest and looks down at your shoes and asks: Are those your shoes? The mother of Jesus came up to Jesus and she was talking in code too. She said, “They have no wine”. And he does something that probably wouldn’t work real effectively at my house. He says, “ WOMAN, it’s not yet my time”.
Mary says, “Do whatever he says to do!”.
So what is the secret to leading your family well? To living a great life and leaving a wonderful legacy? “Do whatever he says”.
Do you want to lead godly kids?
Do you wanna know how to make your marriage work?
Walking in radical generosity before God.
When he says to give,… to do… to go … be obedient!
Let me touch on a sensitive subject. Growing up, I never told my parents what to do. But today they let children figure out who they want to be or think they are when they’re just children. As Christians, we are not called to enable wrong thinking, but to point them to the light of God, to point them to the wisdom and words of Jesus. Who said, learn from me.
There will always be those who want to be inclusive and will be spouting political correctness. They will always be so-called friends saying it’s OK to believe that or be that. I say whose filter is that going through? We have to choose what God’s standard says and not listen to the compromising darkness of the world.
Too many of us choose safety over significance. Don’t wait to be safe. If you’re not willing to do the impractical for God, you’ll never do the impossible.
Noah built a cruise ship in the land of no rain.
Moses met God when he spoke to him through a bush. It made no sense.
We can’t play it safe and still be significant.
Jesus told Peter to throw out a net – he caught a fish – and there was a gold coin in its mouth to pay their taxes. It didn’t make sense. But when God tells us to do something we need to stop playing it safe or running it through the filter of the world. We need to walk in a way that, In God, we can do all things.
We need to own it!
We need to live a life that begs people to ask what is different about us. HOW?
1. Get close to God. Those in close proximity saw his power and walked in it.
You are responsible for getting as close to God as you want to. But? No buts! Read that again, You are responsible for getting as close to God as you want to. Watch what happens. We speak to the mountains and God will answer. Pray for courage to walk boldly by the power of His Holy Spirit. He WILL change you. Give of yourself generously. Get closer to God.
National surveys say the average man spends 145mins. a day on some sort of electronics and or social media. The average male spends one minute a day in prayer. The average pastor spent an average of five minutes in prayer! Really?
There is a difference between acting like a Christian versus being one. Get closer to God. Be the first one to come and serve God and the last to leave. The first to give him the fruit of your praise.
2. Let your children see the model. No, it’s not perfection but progression. James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. … 10 humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”. WOW, get closer to God. He is bringing it. He offers more peace, more power, more wisdom.
What is so critical that you can’t get up earlier and make time for your Bible reading plan and prayer. Those in close proximity to Jesus saw miracles and many were also the instrument God used to give one.
Ps 1: 1-2 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law, he meditates day and night.
James calls us as sinners to clean our hands. He calls us double-minded people: trying to serve both self and God. James pleads with us to purify our hearts and draw near to God. I pray today you will begin. I would like to pick up on the second portion of this teaching next week.
** There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do – Passion Lyric Video
————————————————————
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI8ji2EjGE4
Some excerpts are taken from Pastor Mike Ash on Growing Spiritually at Grace Man Event