Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to step forward.” (Exodus 14:15)
The Holy Spirit calls us to cooperate with him in obedience in order for his power to be unleashed. In the Bible, we see the Holy Spirit as the change agent for Christians. The vehicle to which we become more and more like Christ, but the change does not happen without our active participation, and our willingness to step out in Faith. It also does not happen without a lot of effort on our part! In the New Testament we are told to “make every effort,” to become more like Jesus, although our salvation is not dependent on our effort, our growth is.
The Holy Spirit is unleashed in our lives when we step out in Faith. Joshua stepped out in Faith when he saw the impassible waters of the Jordan river, and it was not until he stepped into the waters that the water receded. We see the Israelites come to a halt before the Red Sea and cry out to the Lord, yet the Lords answer is this, STEP out. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to step forward.” (Exodus 14:15)” Many times, we talk about waiting on God, but God is sometimes waiting on us. Waiting on us to step out in Faith so that his power can can be released.
On the seventh day before God gave the city of Jericho to Joshua and his people, he commanded them to shout in preemptive victory. “…Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.” (Joshua 6:16) They shouted in Faith, that God would give them the city.
Is God asking you to make a bold move of Faith, today?
![I have seen post after post about Christians speaking in love. But, what about Christian’s listening?
[share and save to encourage others]
I still remember my counselor asking me if I listen just to listen or if I listen with a preconceived idea of the right answer?
To be completely honest, I have found myself to do the latter. Before she said that, I rarely listened with a blank mind and heart. Instead, I listened and interjected to lead someone to a conclusion. (Yikes! I hope it’s not just me that has done this)
So, let’s start by doing what this passage instructs us to do and let’s listen to the Word of God with a soft heart and an open mind. Are you seeing the text plainly?
“18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen.” (Luke 8:18)
This phrase jumped out at me. Consider how you listen. We have just been told the parable of the Sower where we hear how the Word of God (the seed) lands on 4 different types of soil.
For a moment, I want you to imagine yourself as each of the types of soil.
The Word is first snatched up by the devil (maybe this is distraction, time-management, or anything else that steals your time away from spending time in Gods presence)
Secondly, you receive the Word with joy but times of testing come and you no-longer ascribe to it.
Thirdly, life gets in the way-business pursuits, lifestyle, money, or pleasures take the place of time spent in his Word.
Lastly, you receive the Word of God-and you hear and understand. One translation says, “15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” HEAR the Word.
You produce a crop because you retain the information.
The hearing of the Word of God is so important. Are you going to the Word to HEAR what God has to say or are you studying it to back-up what you want to say? Let us learn in 2021 to be believers that speak truth in love, but also LISTEN to hear! #chasingsacred](https://www.chasingsacred.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Soooo thought-provoking❣I’ll have to really put on “my thinking cap!”??
Ahhh thanks SO much! I SO appreciate you reading!:)
This was just what I needed to hear ? Thank You my friend…
Thanks SO much for reading, Melissa!