Am I Obedient - A Spirit of Conviction

     Have you ever received a revelation so clear that you knew precisely what you were called to do?  This article was brewing in my mind long before my thoughts organized in into its completion.  I knew I needed to write.  It was like building a complicated puzzle and having all your pieces organized into color and shape.  Am I the only one who does this?  Suddenly, the pieces began to fit together, and I couldn’t wait to see how this article would come to fruition.  The Spirit gave me a gentle nudge, He did not hit me over the head with a two-by-four, but it wasn’t without excitement.  God speaks His wisdom gently into our hearts with His steadfast love.  God knows when we are willing to be used by Him.  I do not know where this article will find you, but if God is hoping to speak to you, I hope your ears will be open to Him.

The Writings on the Wall

     Do you remember the story in the fifth chapter of Daniel, where we learn about the ‘Writing on the Wall?’  This story is of Belshazzar who was the king of Babylon as a successor to his father, King Nebuchadnezzar.  Belshazzar, acting arrogantly, decided to use the golden vessels his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem as wine goblets.  What was he thinking?  Not only did he use them for his personal use, but he also gave drink to his family in them.  It kind of makes you wonder whether baby Belshazzar was using them as a sippy cup.  That is when the hand appeared on his wall. 

     Do you remember the Addam’s family?  The handin Daniel's story reminds me of “Thing,” the disembodied hand, who performs many useful functions for the Addam's family.  How scared must King Belshazzar have been to change colors as Scriptures tell us?  What shade of ‘white as a sheep’ would you be?  Belshazzar could not read the inscription on the wall and called for his magicians and enchanters just as his father had done for dream interpretation.  When none could read the writing on the wall, he was advised to give Daniel a call.

     If you are familiar with this story, you know that God spoke through Daniel to provide the message he intended for the king.  Daniel reminded the king of his father’s indiscretions and now made a case for Belshazzar to be following in his father’s footsteps.  Before the message was revealed, the king had offered to reward Daniel, yet he refused.  He suggested that the king keep the reward for himself or to give it to another.  What man had to offer was of no importance to Daniel.

     The inscription on the wall was MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN and this is what Scriptures reveal it meant:  “Here is what these words mean:  Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:25-28 NIV) 

Seek No Reward

     Even though Daniel did not seek the reward, and he did not bear good news to the king, Belshazzar immediately responded, giving him the reward he had promised.  Because of Daniel’s humility, he must have known that God wished for him to assume the position that was given to him (third in command to all the kingdom).  Daniel, a Judah exile, could be used by God in this position.  If I concluded the story right here, it would be a very good lesson, but with a nudge, I continued to write.

Scriptures Speak

     I have quoted this verse many times frequently, and it happens that my pastor preached on this topic last weekend, and his wife referenced it in our weekly Bible study.  I feel compelled to repeat it. “In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”  (Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV))

     In the story of Daniel, we see God speaking through a finger writing on a wall.  In several previous articles, I’ve been sharing stories from the major prophets who spoke in declarations, “Thus says the Lord God.”  In the book of Isaiah, also a major prophet, we see the foretelling of the New Covenant.  Then in Jeremiah, we read, “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.  “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV))  How gracious is God that what He once wrote on walls with a disembodied hand, He now imparts into our minds and hearts.  He gives us an internal steering system that when we put it into drive, He guides our vehicle.

Other Relevant Examples

  Luke was a traveling companion with the apostle Paul and good friends with a man named Theophilus, who had recently received the Word of God and believed.  Luke wrote the gospel of Luke for this reason, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”  (Luke 1:1-4 (NIV)).   

     John, the beloved disciple of Jesus and youngest of the disciples, wrote in his gospel, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written (so) that you may believe  that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name”  (John 20:30–31 (NIV)).

     The apostle Paul tells a young protege, Timothy who is working at one of his church plants, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)).

     These examples provide excellent reasons why we should be reading ‘the writing on the wall.’  Isaiah, a watchman for God, speaks the Words of God when he says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”  (Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)).    Then in Hebrews 4:12 (NIV), we read, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

     You may think that this is a good spot for a “therefore…” and although you might be right after giving compelling arguments for (1) why Bible stories are so relevant, (2) the Word is still active and breathing, (3) The Word of God is written for our benefit, and (4) God imparts His message into our minds and hearts.  It seems like an excellent place to draw a conclusion; I will ask a question instead.  Where is God asking you to serve Him?

One Another

     In Scriptures we find the phrase “one another” twenty-two times in the teachings of Jesus.  Jesus was training the disciples, but he never avoided a question that would provide a teaching moment.  Do you remember the parable of The Good Samaritan when the young lawyer asked Jesus a question to test Him?  We read, “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”   “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:25-28 (NIV)).  This response was not the end of the story; you can read the rest in Luke 10:25-37.  However, we can see from Jesus message above, one of the keys to God’s Kingdom is love. 

     Jesus reaffirms this message in other passages as He taught his disciples about love.  In John 13:13-15 (NIV), we read, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  Then during the 40-days, Jesus walked with his disciples following His resurrection we see him instructing Peter.  “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15) and “take care of my sheep”( John 21:16).  Do you see that this is also our spiritual assignment?  Lastly, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34 (NIV)).  Then again, in John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”   So here is another question, How is Jesus love displayed through us?

     Please don’t read this question as a rhetorical question that needs no answer.  Grab a piece of paper and begin to write specific ways that you are displaying the love of Jesus the way He commanded those who follow Him.  I am not asking you to do this as evidence but as an examination.  The Bible teaches us that there is visible evidence of our love (see John 13:35) that marks us as a follower of God.  

QUESTIONS

• Where have you seen a need that has not been fulfilled?  
• Has someone brought a need to your attention?  
• Do you discount things that don’t fit with your plans?  
• Is your argument that you wouldn’t be good at that?  Remember God is the equipper (Moses, Gideon).  
• Do you sense that God may be disappointed with your decision?  
• If something comes to mind that you don’t want to write down, is there evidence that you may be withholding your love from someone or something that needs you?

My Recent Journey through Scriptures

     Each day as I read, I make up a short Homily of what I have noticed about the passages that I have read.  The Holy Spirit, as my guide, helps me as I read.  Here are the verses that God highlighted in the past several weeks for me to see.

Our Deeds will be Remembered
     God highlighted a conversation He had with the Spirit in the presences of the apostle John, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.  Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:12–13 (NIV)).

It is Easy to Fall Asleep
     Whether a warning or an awareness, it is easy to fall asleep to what is truly important.  Stay awake!  “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed” (Revelation 16:15 (NIV)).

We have an Advanced Assignment
     If in doubt, God has given us a purpose.  Read Ephesians 2:10 to remind ourselves, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

A Job Description Informs Us of Our Assignment
     Are we aware of how easy it is to lose focus on how God wants us to respond in love?  He says to the prophet Ezekiel about those who have been called to shepherd others, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?  You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.  You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally” (Ezekiel 34:2–4 (NIV)).

We Will Be Held Accountable
     We will be accountable for what we do with our lives.  At the end of time, there will be judgment for all, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him(Jesus) who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:11–12 (NIV)).

Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand

     John the Baptist spoke words of reproach to the religious leaders as they approached him at the Jordan River.  The Bible says, “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:7–9 (NIV)).  This passage isn’t telling us we earn salvation by good works; it reveals that the works of our hands produce evidence of what is in our heart.  Adam and Eve were instructed to be fruitful, and countless times through Scriptures, we are reminded to bear fruit.

The Thoughts of our Hearts are Known
     It is impossible to hide things from God.  At Jesus baby dedication (the purification rite), Simeon ‘who came in the Spirit’ (v. 27) spoke of Jesus role:

To Joseph and Mary, he said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32 (NIV))

And to Mary alone, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34–35 (NIV)).

   
     Now in conclusion, if God is speaking to you, whether you agree or disagree with the direction He is sending you, listen well.  The way you respond is vital.  Has the Spirit of God convicted your spirit?  Will you obey?