Does Anyone Really Know Me?

You might ask if anyone really knows who you and if anyone understands you. Yes, there is someone who does.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

This Bible verse is where God called Jeremiah to become a prophet. Jeremiah was reluctant and unsure of his abilities. With these words, the Lord assured Jeremiah that he knew more than he knew himself.

First
"I formed you in the womb." God reminded him that he made him. He knows all our physical strengths and limitations. He knows our abilities and weaknesses.

Second
"I knew you." Knew is past tense as if The Lord already knew him. God is not only All-knowing and All-present but All-aware. Our concept of knowing is something we consider the result of experience, and we think of the experience as history but God created time and is in time all the time. So he could know us by experiencing us before we are born.

Third
"I set you apart." God had a special and unique plan for him. He has a plan for each of us, and it is a plan set apart from the plan for each other person.

Fourth
"I appointed," God has a purpose for each of us. But more than a purpose it is a commission like holding an office in the government. An office granted by decree of the King of Kings.

Fifth
"Prophet to the nations," this was a bigger task than other prophets who were prophets only to Israel, Judea or a particular king. The Lord's plan for him was much bigger than he ever imagined. God's plans for each of us are grand if for no other reason than that they originate from the heart of the Almighty.

IT IS ABOUT GOD
"I" is used in the verse four times; all are statements of God's purposeful actions. No one of us is an accident; we each were individually designed by a loving God who has a plan for each of us.

God knew you before you were ever born. He knows what you are made of and he knows your design for him. He has a purpose that is special for you and that fits how you were made and who you are.

To learn more about how to know God see my other blog post.

(c) Adron 11/12/13

How to Get Spiritual Direction. Acts 16:9

We all want to do good things with our lives and there are many needs around us, but how do we choose where to serve and where to give our time and resources? The Bible gives a little help in Acts 16:9.

"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Acts 16:9. NIV *.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
Paul and Silas were on a missionary journey. They wanted to go to one place but were called through a vision to go to another. They followed the vision and went resulting in many good acts.

Compass Illustration, Spiritual Direction.

VISION:
Vision is like the opening of the eyes. God opened their eyes to the direction he wanted them to go. We may not have a vision like the Apostles did since the needs of the times were different than ours, we may simply have our eyes open by a comment from a person who knows a need.

I wonder at the point that the vision came in the night. Could it be that they had some all-night prayer meeting and God spoke to Paul then? We just don't know, but it is quiet at night, it is the still time when business is over and we stop focusing on chores.  We need to be diligent to observe our times of quiet devotion for that maybe the times when God may speak to our hearts.

SPECIFICS OF THE VISION:
The words of the vision were, "Come... help us." Much of what God wants us to do is just that- to help out. God did not call Paul to be a superstar but to be a helper. His words to us are often, "Come, help." Where we see the need for help just maybe our vision.

THE MISSION:
Paul and Silas were already serving and doing the will of God, they were already on a mission trip. They were doing the work at hand and not sitting around longing for direction in their lives. We often fall into the trap of thinking "I'll just sit here and wait for a leading," while the church bulletin is full of requests for nursery workers, ushers, and people to visit the poor and needy. When we do the will of God that is already given that we are given the direction we need.

* To read this verse in other translations click on this link: Online Parallel Bible

(c)Adron Dozat 8/12/12

How to Become a Prophet, What The Bible Teaches 1 Samuel 3:9

The Bible says to desire the higher gifts like the gift of prophecy. What instruction does the Bible give on how to become a prophet?

"So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you say, speak Lord, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:9, NIV.

This may be the primary verse directed to a prophet on prophet training.

Samuel was a boy living in the tabernacle, where the people of Israel would worship and sacrifice to God. He heard a voice waking him calling his name in the night. He goes to the high priest who sends him back to bed; but the third time Eli realizes God is calling to Samuel and Eli gives Samuel the crash course in being a prophet, the only such instructions in the Bible.

THE PLACE OF TRAINING:
It is significant that Samuel lived in the tabernacle, the place of worship and service since it is in the place of worship that we are readied to develop the gifts that God gives us; for the ultimate purpose of our spiritual gifts are to worship and serve God

THE PRAYER:
Eli's instruction was essentially a prayer. Prayer is critical to seeking anything from God, more so if it is a spiritual gift. We need to pray and ask again and again for the gift, if we truly desire it we must persist in prayer.

LORDSHIP:

What Does The Bible Say About Becoming A Prophet

"Speak Lord." We must be obedient to God. Jesus put it this way, "Why call me Lord Lord and do not do the things I say?" (Luke 6:46).  If we are not obedient to the former we cannot expect the next blessing.

SERVANT:
The purpose of the gift is not to promote yourself but service, all the spiritual gifts are for service to God and to his church.

LISTENING:
In today's world, we do not listen.  We don't listen to each other or to God. We need to take moments daily and stop and listen to what God has for us.

• Some people practice a discipline of silence in prayer as part of their daily worship; it is a time of quiet waiting for God to speak. 
• Some people read their Bibles with the attitude and expectation that God can and will speak to them through his Word. 
• Some people have an attitude of listening throughout the day where a conversation is lived out with God.
• Some people take time in their day when to stop their busyness to wait quietly and ask God to speak to them.

Books have been written on the spiritual gift of prophecy but the Bible says little about it because God is not a God of living by the recipe but a God of relationships; we must each find God's will for us personally.

(c) Adron 6/16/12