Chapter Two
Obstacles to the Timing of God
Our lives are influenced by our experiences and those around
us. I have met so many people in the streets who have let the
influences and situations around them determine what they became
in life.
Ephesians 5
15 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise,"
16 "Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil."
I remember when I was ministering many years ago in a prison
at Taft, Oklahoma, I asked those in the chapel service to raise
their hand if they were incarcerated because of the influence
that someone else had upon their life. I was astonished when I
saw every single hand go up. I went on to teach them how the world
influences with evil and that we must be able to recognize the
enemy of our souls and purpose to follow Christ at all costs.
I remember a man who I saw sitting in a pew in the chapel service.
As I watched him, I saw water dripping from the ceiling above.
Every few seconds a drop would hit him on his shoulder, but he
just sat there. I was amazed to see that he was not influenced
by this leak, but he listened to what I had to say. As I watched
him, I thought that this is what I am talking about. We are not
to let circumstances, influences, or this world dictate our life
but the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will
visit our life and give us an opportunity to follow Him into eternity,
however, those who choose to allow this world to set the direction
of their life will miss out. The timing that God chooses to deal
with our life may be the last opportunity to choose. The influences
upon our life and our relationship with Christ can determine our
destiny.
Deuteronomy 30
19 " I call heaven and earth to record this day against
you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:
therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"
Oftentimes, we have distractions in the streets when we are witnessing.
Your life, your ministry, and your witness will all be challenged
by this world and the evil that has set itself up against God
and those that are His. We see this confrontation often in the
streets from the evil that is present in the areas we witness.
Depending on how we handle a situation determines if we stay in
the timing of God.
A group of us were walking along a downtown street at night
with Arthur Blessitt's son, Joshua Blessitt, and his cross. A
man stood on the side of the street, yelling blasphemous things
at us, and preaching against all that we stood for. Several of
the youth approached him and tried to witness to him. He continued
on yelling and the ears of all of those with us were hearing the
lies of the enemy. As Joshua and I looked at each other, we both
agreed that we were being distracted to get us out of time with
what God wanted to do. We spoke to those still listening to the
words of this man and said it was time to go and we walked on
down the street to minister to others. We must be sure to not
let the influences of the enemy direct our life or affect our
steps with God. So often we see that if we were out of time with
God even our footsteps would have caused us to miss an opportunity
to witness to someone.
On another night, a team and I were witnessing along the streets
of Los Angeles, California and we were following some ladies who
appeared to have a lifestyle of lesbianism. We followed them for
about a half block hoping that we could speak to them. The Holy
Spirit spoke to me and said, "Who are you following?"
Immediately I stopped and those with me stopped. I knew the voice
of the Holy Spirit and knew we had missed His timing and we were
following the wrong spirit. As we looked along the side of the
street there was a family getting into a station wagon and the
group ministered Christ to them. The family came back to Christ
and we had followed what the Holy Spirit was wanting to do. As
we ministered to those in the station wagon, the girls that we
were following came back and attempted to interrupt our witness.
Indeed we could quickly see that they had intended to disrupt
our witness. They turned up their radio and tried further to disrupt
our witness. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be able
to hear His voice and to allow Him to direct us to others. I have
wondered many times how God can direct the footsteps of all of
us in such a way as to be at the right place. That night it was
such a wonderful feeling to know we were being directed by God.
If we trust our walk with Him, He will keep us in all His ways
and in His footsteps.
John 10
27 "My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me:"
We recognize that we are out of step with the Lord when we see
that people do not stop and talk to us when we witness, when we
receive many bad responses to our witness, when we sense danger,
and when lives are not changed in the streets. We will stop and
pray and wait a short time to continue our witness in the streets
again. Commit your life to prayer and follow His leading in your
life.
Psalms 119
105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path."
Our relationship with Christ and the obedience to the Word is
one of the most important aspects of the timing of God. It is
through our relationship that we enjoy our fellowship with Him.
How can we hear from Him unless we know Him? How can we expect
to be in His will and timing unless we have His influence in our
life? I have noticed during times in my life that I have neglected
my study in the Word, failed to spend quality time in prayer,
and allowed the world to direct my thoughts and time, that I could
not hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Lord does not force
His will upon us but rather allows us to have the choice. We must
purpose to follow Him at all costs, regardless of circumstances
or influences. Follow Him and spend quality time with Christ in
your prayers and study. The ability for us to hear His voice depends
on our availability to Him.
Our walk with God and our ability to allow Him to direct our
lives depends upon our belief in the Word. Throughout our life
we are faced with opportunities to believe the Word for our needs.
Most people try to believe for a miracle in times of tragedy or
desperate times. God would have us walk in faith at all times.
I have noticed that some people base their faith for answered
prayer upon their own experiences rather than the Word of God.
We find ourselves praying and believing for what we understand.
God has so much more for us if we can only believe.
Hebrews 11
1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
Oh, how much we limit our lives when we limit God through belief
in our experiences. The Word of God is the standard for what we
believe. I have seen God do so many things that were seemingly
impossible. I am glad that He does not limit himself to what we
understand. The Lord has a personality and He enjoys seeing His
children blessed.
John 16
23 "And in that day ye shall ask
me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
24 "Hitherto have ye
asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your
joy may be full."
Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Mercy
Street Ministries
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Disclaimer
|
Previous
Page 
Next
Page