How can you tell?

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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on May 29, 2012 at 4:28pm

Choco

    I believe there are guidelines we can apply.  How does it line up to the Word of God?  Is Jesus Glorified?  If, I do this or that, how does it fit in the way the Spirit has been leading me?  Do I have that, "Peace that passes all understanding?"  And, we can have that Peace even when we are not comfortable.  We will step out of our personal "comfort zone."  It is our spirit, not body or mind that we experience that kind of Peace.  The more we do this, the better we are at knowing.  In my thinking, the less we depend on our own strengths, the more we find we are operating in Faith.  "Not my will, but Yours Lord.."  We humble our own abilities and depend on His.  Now He may use our strengths, but it seems a lot of the time, we are in a place our flesh is not so confident in.  It is a good thing to Trust God.  We never forget, the Word of God.  The desire that Jesus be Glorified, tops our list.  You can also ask the Spirit for confirmation.  Not so much "testing" but know that God knows your heart.  

Remember, the more you do these things, the better you become.  The more time in His Word and Prayer, the better.  "Seek and you will find..."  Trust this helped.

Lord Bless

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on May 29, 2012 at 7:02pm

Choco,

 

I usually examine a few things before responding positively or negatively.

 

1) Does this align with the Word of God? (Is Scripture OK with this?)

2) Does this bring glory to God?

3) Do I have peace regarding this?

4) Do I have passion for this?

5) What gifts are required? Do I have those gifts or will God need to gift me to accomplish the task?

6) Why do I want to do this?

 

When I felt called into the ministry I wrestled with that call for 6 months before telling the Lord I would follow Him if He opened the door. I struggled with numbers 3 and 5. God gave me peace and I trust gifted me beyond what I felt I already possessed to accomplish the task. This is only one approach, but it is the approach that works for me.

 

I hope ot helps a little.

 

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on May 31, 2012 at 4:00pm

Sometimes even though it is for God's glory doesn't necessarily mean we are the people suited for that purpose.

Absolutely!!!

 

I guess, if we have a passion for something then that is where God can use us most. 

Our passions usually, not always, align with our gifts.

 

But what of those who, although empathise/sympathise with various situations, don't actually have any dreams, ambitions or burning desires for anything yet or would like to do something if there life circumstances were different?

The passion I speak of, or how I use it, has to do with our heart beat. The thing sthat drives us. We can see a starving child on TV and be moved to give, but that does nto mean we have passion for that type of ministry. I beleive that there is a ministry, or ministries, that align wit our gifts and desires (maybe not even known to us yet) that catch our sul and just ignite us. We tend to jump all in in such cases, where as we tend to dabble a little here and there if it is not a driving passion.

 

Hope that maes sense as I rambled a little. If not, please say so and I will try to reword it.

 

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Delton on May 29, 2012 at 8:42pm

Choco, I feel for you but maybe something that happened to me several years ago will help. I asked a question in Sundays Bible class. No one could answer the question so I was asked to get a sermon on the subject and deliver it before the whole congregation the next Sunday.

I asked for two weeks to study and it was agreed upon that I would present the lesson the second Sunday. The next two weeks were the most stressful time I have ever spent, before or after. I sought the advice from preachers that had been preaching for 40 years and some more, to no avail.

I did more praying those two weeks than I had ever done. Saturday evening I was no closer to the answer than when I started. I went into my closet and God and I had a good long talk. The following is a short version.  I told Him I was convinced he was the one responsible for this load being laid upon me and He knew I wasn’t qualified to teach this subject. Since it was his idea I would do the best I could to teach the lesson but my best would be to go to the platform on Sunday morning and after I get on the platform he would have to take over because I didn’t have anything to say.

Then I thanked Him and told Him how much I loved him and tomorrow I would go to the end of the world and jump off if he would lead me but tonight I am going to get a good night sleep, and I did and boy did I need it after the past two weeks.

I am not going to lie to you and tell you I wasn’t nervous the next morning as I drove to the Church building because I really was..

When the announcer announced I would be bring the lesson and turned the service over to me I was still shaking as I walked to the platform. As soon as I laid my Bible on the pulpit my nerves settled down and all I can say is, God started speaking. The normal sermon is about 30 to 45 minutes long but God talked for about an hour and a half.

Of all the sermons, I have preached, before or after, I received more comments, some good and some bad, on that sermon.

I said all that to say this, do not rely on your ability but on Gods ability but don’t expect too much from God without you doing your best. Your best may not be worth two cents but put it with Gods best and you can do anything by faith.

How can you know what you receive is of God? Satan will never lead you to do anything good and God will never lead you to do something bad.

 

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Permalink Reply by airwalker on May 30, 2012 at 4:16pm

I really didn't want to reply... The way to know is the unction. I would describe what the unction feels like, but then you wouldn't get they joy of building it into your relationship with God. I guess my only suggestion would be to tell the co-ordinator everything and see what happens.

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