Spiritual Instructions – Pastor Chris
Sunday, November 26, 2017
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
Oftentimes, the Word of God comes to us as spiritual instructions. Proverbs 4:13 says, “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”
When an instruction of the Spirit is given, not only is it important that those instructions be understood, they must also be acted upon. Any form of resistance or disobedience is what God refers to as “witchcraft.” The Bible says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” (1 Samuel 15:23).
An example is King Saul. God instructed Saul to destroy the Amalekites and everything they had, including their animals, but he ignored the instruction. He didn’t destroy their sheep and oxen, because according to him, “…the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:21).
That wasn’t the instruction. The instruction was clear: destroy everything. God didn’t say, “Preserve the choice animals for a sacrifice unto me.” It’s important that you follow God’s Word and His instructions to the letter. Do things His way, and you’ll always be a success. Saul lost the kingship over Israel forever, by choosing his own way and harkening to the voice of the people against God’s specific instruction (Read entire account in 1 Samuel 15:1-23).
Be wise. Even when God’s instructions are contrary to your human reasoning, be like Peter: act on them. When the Lord Jesus asked Peter to cast his net into the sea after a fruitless fishing expedition (Luke 5), even though the instruction was contrary to Peter’s reasoning, he obeyed and got a miracle for it. God’s instructions may come to you in the most unexpected way, follow them, because therein lies your promotion.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the counsel I receive from your Word, and the divine instruction that comes to me daily by your Spirit. I’m a doer of your Word, not a hearer only; I take fast hold of instruction; my heart is attentive, and I act fast on your Word. Promotions, advancements, significant attainments are evident in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 8:33 Proverbs 8:7-10 Proverbs 10:17
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Peter 5 Ezekiel 35-36
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 15:1-10 1 Chronicles 26
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