Which Do I Choose?
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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Two farmers both of which have 10 acres to plow in preparation for sowing their seed. One uses a tractor and is done in less than one day and next day plants his seed and spends the rest of the season preparing for the harvest. The other has a fork and it takes him all season just to plow the ten acres. When the season is over he has nothing to show for his work because he did not get the plowing and planting done by the end of the season. The two farmers represent us in the ministry, lay people, etc. Either we are prepared and reap a harvest or we spend all of our time working and never get the harvest because we spent all of our time working. If you go forth without actually hearing from God (and I mean actually hearing His voice) and being guided by Him you are the one with the fork. To know if this is you, just take account of your works and how much time you spend spinning your wheels and never seeming to finish. How many of you have all the correct tools needed to do the work and the funds to meet all your needs? Philippians 4 19. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. So many people misunderstanding this verse. They think it is saying that MY God, not Yours, but My God shall supply all YOUR NEED, according to HIS RICHES. Why did Paul say MY GOD and not YOUR GOD, or OUR GOD? It’s because he was not sure at what level they were in their growth. However, he was absolutely sure where he was and what God would do for him. Satan has stolen so much from us. When I discovered that the first thing he stole was my relationship with God; that I was to actually have a real relationship one where He talks and I listen; and that I could actually hear His voice and be guided by it; I decided to help everyone that would listen to learn that they basically needed to shut up and listen to God. We spend so much time praying and talking to Him when we should be quiet, listen, and learn. Three of the worst lies Satan has told are:
These three work against the knowledge of God. To believe faith and/or spirit are not for us today is saying that we can not be saved.
Ephesians 2
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
More and more believe if they do not work that their faith is dead, but that is a lie. What the Bible says is, "Faith without works is dead." It means that our faith will work and from it, not works of our own hands, the results manifest. Yes, we will work with our own hands, not of our will, but by the direction, in faith, and of the Spirit.
Matthew 7
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
How then do we know we are saved?
Romans 8
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
This can only happen when we are listening to and hear from God. Those who believe He hears their prayers, but He can not talk to us, are limiting God.
Philippians 4
The key is in Christ. The verse does not say, "I can do all things through Jesus, or the Son of God," but through Christ.
Until you know and understand the difference between Jesus, Son of God, and Christ you are not even part of the church much less Christ. You are merely saved and have the greatest chance of falling away.
Mark 4
9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14. The sower soweth the word.
15. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
First of all in verse 20 where it says fold, in the Greek it means percent. So what is the difference? Fold means many times more than the 100%, where percent means only a part, up to 100%.
There are four groups in the passage about the sower of the word. Group one is the lost because they can never keep the word long enough to even be saved. Group two is those who are just saved; they have about 30% not enough to have roots, but enough to be dangerous. Group three is saved and part of the church. They have the greatest chance of all to weather any storm that comes their way. No guarantee, but out of the three groups so far they have the best chance. Group four is saved, part of the church, and growing in Christ. Since they are in Christ they have 100% of the word. If they ever did fall away they never could return.
The problem is we believe what man says especially if the man has a big following, but that is the last reason we should listen to anyone. The only way we can be 100% sure of what we read, see, or hear is true is if we ask God and He tells us.
Remember the way to destruction is wide and the way to God is narrow. If so many are on the wide and so few on the narrow, how can we be sure anyone is correct? Only one way, by asking God. Anyone who believes God sent His Son to die and not then talk to those of which such a great sacrifice was made is being misled or is of the enemy.
What if I told you that unforgiving and judging are two of the best and most successful tools Satan has to keep us from God? It is true; once we shed judging then forgiveness comes in to replace it. When that happens we see for the first time how Satan had us chasing our own tail by judging others.
Many people think that not judging is so hard. Is it really or is it that we have been told that so many times and having tried so much with no success that we believe a lie? I have noticed that the more I let go of judging and allow God His way in me the more forgiveness grows in me.
Luke 23
34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus, while on the cross, was a man. Yes, He is Christ, Son of God, etc, but He was a man. Otherwise it was God that paid the price and that would not have helped us. Only a man could pay the price. Even after all they did to Him, for Him to say, "Forgive them for they know not what they do" is more than just awesome; it is a revelation we all need on not judging.
As I have dwelt on what Jesus said on the cross and allowed God His way in me I have had a revelation about what it means for each of us. When we realize that those who are not of Christ, who are lost, or just saved are, in comparison, as far as maturity, knowledge and wisdom are concerned, more like a retarded child of about six years old.
Below is the definition from the dictionary of the word Retarded.
v. re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards
v. tr.
v. intr.
n.
So they are delayed, hindered in progress, and/or impeded in growth.
Think about it - if you saw a six-year-old who was retarded and you knew it, would you judge him or her? If you did, what scale or basis would you use to judge them? While we are talking about what scale or basis we would judge them by, what scale or basis do we have to use to judge anyone? If you think about yourself, you are not perfect and you have done things and said things that have hurt others. In order to judge we must say we are better because we are judging them based on us who we are. Do we have the right or ability to do that?
Once you get it deep into you (which can only be done with God's help) that others who do not act according to your scale or basis of how they should act only do so for one of two reasons: (1) Lack of knowledge (2) Lack of relationship with God. In so many words this means you are blessed to know that it is wrong and you would not do it, but that does not make you a judge. Once you have judged then you have lowered yourself as well, in some cases lower than the one who is being judged.
Is it really so hard not to judge? Yes, it is on our own, but not when we have His help.
John 15
16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The problem is we are asking for things in the physical and concerned with what is on the outside (of the flesh) than what is on the inside (of the soul).
Matthew 7
7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
How many verses do you need to see that say whatsoever you ask for is yours? Why do we not get it? It is simple - we ask wrongly. We ask for what does not matter Vs what does matter.
Mark 11
23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
It is better to get the inside right before being concerned about what is on the outside.
If your appearance hindered you most of your life and you knew of a surgery that would improve your looks, but at the same time you have need of surgery to correct a congenital heart defect that could eventually shorten your life, which would you choose? Most would opt for the looks over that they can not see that might in time kill them. They are more concerned about the moment and what is perceived over that which is unseen.
We have to get right with God in all areas before we should ever consider the rest. Too many start off right but are not patient and return to their old ways - those of the flesh Vs the Spirit.
You have a choice to shut up and listen daily until you actually hear His voice and be dedicated. If it takes, weeks, months or longer you will not sway. Of course you can invest that time in works or things you enjoy. The choice is yours but you never will know until you try. I wonder how many were with in a day or less of getting whatever they were standing for in faith or hearing from God, but stopped trying too soon.
Take the time and reflect on how many lies you know you have heard in your life, then multiply that by 1000 and you still would not even be close to all the lies you have heard. Realize that for every lie you have heard it has built a wall between you and God and has to be removed in order to be able to hear from Him. The walls vary in size and thickness depending on how long we spent thinking about the lie and how deep we allowed it to get into us. Some even became part of us. We believed them accepted them and even passed them on. How many have we told ourselves? Now realize how old you are, how long you have been exposed to lies. Multiply the lies, by a thousand to get how many you really have heard or seen. Then multiply 24 hours-a-day times 365 days-a-year times how many years old you are.
For instance:
24 hours times 365 days=8760
I am 53 years old, so 53 X 8760=464,280
Now let's just say I know of 1000 lies in my life that I have heard, helped along, or told. So 1,000 times 464,280 = 464,280.000 walls I have for God to get through to me.
No one would be able to live long enough to get through that many walls. You are right no person, but for God all things are possible. I am proof of that.
Mark 10
There are still walls in me, but they are coming down. I know because everyday I can feel His presence a little better. Daily I hear Him better and constantly which was not the case in the beginning.
We can do all things as long as they are of faith, in the Spirit, and of God. If we try mixing in works, the world, or the flesh they drain the Spirit, faith, etc from us.
The one and only thing you should do, no matter who you are or what you do, is to make sure your relationship with God is growing, that you are hearing from Him and He is first, meaning with your time daily.
Can you truly afford to think that I am wrong and not be 100% sure first before you do anything else as far as hearing from God?
Here is how we hear from God:
1. We have a desire to hear from Him.
2. We ask for His help.
3. We find a place that is free of distractions and that is quiet.
4. We go to this place daily and spend at least 30 minutes there.
5. We sit quietly not thinking or doing anything.
6. For most they will fall asleep since the body is trained to go to sleep if we are still, and quiet for a few minutes. So what you have to do is retrain the body not to fall asleep at this time.
7. We do this daily for as long as it takes until we hear. For most it is 6 months, but there have been a few that took only a few weeks, and a few that took longer. It depends on how many walls there are in you.
8. When you hear you ask one question "Did Jesus Christ come in the flesh?" If you hear, "no" tell Satan to go to Hell. If you hear, "yes" you listen, and in time ask questions.
9. You allow this to grow in you, from 30 minutes a day, to hours a day until you are hearing constantly.
God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.
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