Not a Formula, But a Flow of Faith.
Joshua had to discover God’s unique way of conquering each of the nations he encountered in Israel. Jericho, for example, had to be taken in a peculiar way; and when they simply assumed that they knew how to take the city of Ai, they lost the battle.
David also won every battle differently, because he waited for the green light of God’s way before venturing into conflict. One time the green light was actually given by the rustling in the tops of the mulberry trees!
We, too, need special wisdom to do the specific will of God. Ministry must be launched in the fullness of time; if the timing is not right, catastrophe can result. Our attitude must also be right. For example, it is God’s Word and specific will for us to forgive those who trespass against us. But the way some of us go about it negates its effectiveness: “I want you to forgive me for my honest mistake, and I forgive you for your dumb actions and immature attitude and pray that you will never be that stupid again.”
Our action must also be according to God’s often unusual plan. Many times His way is not practical human reasoning; it is not the way a natural man would do it. Because God’s way is a walk of faith, not by sight, we cannot depend on natural knowledge. We must have divine revelation.
Some people are called to preach and prophesy. But they try to do it by imitating someone else rather than by seeking God’s specific way for them. Some Christians receive personal prophecies about great financial prosperity, but they never fulfill it because they never find out God’s way to do it. Still, others find God’s way, but after they start acting according to it, they gradually revert back to their old ways, losing God’s anointing upon His will for their lives.
Once the Word has given approval, and the will has been revealed, the way must be waited for until it is made known. We must pray the prayer of the “man after God’s own heart,” David: “Teach me thy way, O Lord” (Ps. 27:11a, emphasis added). God said that He showed His acts to Israel, but He made known His ways to Moses; so we must be like Moses.
God has not only a time for every work under Heaven but also a right way for it to be accomplished. So the key to successful Christian endeavors is to find His way to fulfill His will with the authority of His Word. With all three traffic lights green, we can proceed at full speed to obey God.
We, too, need special wisdom to do the specific will of God. Ministry must be launched in the fullness of time; if the timing is not right, catastrophe can result. Our attitude must also be right. For example, it is God’s Word and specific will for us to forgive those who trespass against us. But the way some of us go about it negates its effectiveness: “I want you to forgive me for my honest mistake, and I forgive you for your dumb actions and immature attitude and pray that you will never be that stupid again.”
Our action must also be according to God’s often unusual plan. Many times His way is not practical human reasoning; it is not the way a natural man would do it. Because God’s way is a walk of faith, not by sight, we cannot depend on natural knowledge. We must have divine revelation.
Some people are called to preach and prophesy. But they try to do it by imitating someone else rather than by seeking God’s specific way for them. Some Christians receive personal prophecies about great financial prosperity, but they never fulfill it because they never find out God’s way to do it. Still, others find God’s way, but after they start acting according to it, they gradually revert back to their old ways, losing God’s anointing upon His will for their lives.
Once the Word has given approval, and the will has been revealed, the way must be waited for until it is made known. We must pray the prayer of the “man after God’s own heart,” David: “Teach me thy way, O Lord” (Ps. 27:11a, emphasis added). God said that He showed His acts to Israel, but He made known His ways to Moses; so we must be like Moses.
God has not only a time for every work under Heaven but also a right way for it to be accomplished. So the key to successful Christian endeavors is to find His way to fulfill His will with the authority of His Word. With all three traffic lights green, we can proceed at full speed to obey God.
