GOD-TRACKING IS FLOWING WITH NEW WINE

GodTracker 684The e-devotional helping to keep you on-track with God’s plans for your life
GodTracker is published by Sure Reality Media at surereality.net

 GOD-TRACKING IS FLOWING WITH NEW WINE

 “I believe the Lord is opening a great new opportunity for you to see great results for his glory in your life. He is discarding your old wineskin and filling a new wineskin with new fine wine.”

 Mark 2:22“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Jesus’ first recorded miracle was a profound demonstration of his power and authority, as the Word of God, over the laws of nature. As was customary at traditional Jewish weddings of the first century, Jesus and his family had been celebrating a friend’s wedding in Cana, for several days already. Traditionally, wine would flow freely, and due to the longevity of these celebrations copious amounts of wine was required to see the feast through. As the celebrations continued at the wedding Jesus was attending, the organisers ran out of wine. Jesus’ mother overheard the servants talking and approached her son to do something about it. Jesus answered, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Nevertheless, in his compassion, Jesus miraculously converts approximately 120 gallons of plain water into the finest wine.

Two thoughts occur to me as I read this story. Firstly, the proper use of the vessels Jesus chose to contain the new wine, was to contain water for ceremonial cleansing. Jews ceremonially wash before a meal. These jars were intended for purification. I don’t believe it was coincidence that Jesus used 6 purification vessels to contain his new wine.

God is doing a new thing in your life today, dear GodTracker. Before you can enjoy the newness of God’s fine purposes for your life, you need to purify your heart. In James 3 we read that wisdom from above begins with purity. Before you can contain the new wine of the Lord’s new move in your life you need to check your heart’s motives. Ask, how can I glorify God and not self? Before you can hold the new wine of the Lord’s new move in your life you need to be ready to discard your old wineskin.

Secondly, one could say that at the Cana wedding the best was saved for last. Unbeknownst to the wedding host that Jesus had supernaturally created that finest quality wine from mere water, he calls the bridegroom over and says, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” You see, when God does a new thing, it’s always good!

The Lord is doing a new thing in your life today, and it’s good! You may feel it’s a little late in the day to start something new, but with God, nothing is impossible. He who is calling you will make a way for streams in the desert of your dryness. If you’ll let him, he will orchestrate your life’s circumstance according to his will and meet all your needs to fulfil his new purposes for you. He who calls you is faithful. He will do it. We are told to make the most of every opportunity. I believe the Lord is opening a great new opportunity for you to see great results for his glory in your life. He is discarding your old wineskin and filling a new wineskin for you, with new fine wine.

God-tracking is flowing with new wine

 READ ALL ABOUT IT

John 2:1-11

James 3:17

Isaiah 43:18-19

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Ephesians 5:15-17

DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY

I commit my future to you and acknowledge you in all my plans, aspirations and ambition.

“Lord, here I am. Use me. I repent of holding on to the old for any reason. I believe today, that you are doing a new thing in my life. Lord, I see it coming. As Mary said to Jesus, so I pray, Lord help me do whatever you tell me to do. I commit my future to you and acknowledge you in all my plans, aspirations and ambition. Lord, check my heart. If there is any baneful motive in me, remove it and help me to humbly seek first your kingdom. I place my trust in you to direct my paths according to your purpose and meet all my needs according to your riches, in Christ. Use me Lord! Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, I need to hear from you. Email me at dudley@godtracker.co.uk

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What is GodTracker?GodTracker is a weekly e-mail devotional based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith.

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God Watches Over His Call

Learning to hear and trust the call of God
By Dudley Anderson

  “When we face opposition in our lives, we need to walk in the truth, while remaining still in the face of the conflict. God always vindicates truth. Be sure to persist in truth. If you are siding with the truth, you have nothing to defend.”

My Experience

I sensed the call of God on my life when I left school in 1980. Every kid wonders what he wants to be when he grows up. When I was younger, I was into science in a big way. I loved mixing chemical concoctions in my bedroom, much to the disdain of my brother, as rotten egg whiffs would waft over to his side of the room. I always thought I was going to be a scientist when I grew up. However, God had other plans. At age 18 God placed a very clear call on my life. Every sermon I listened to, every book I read and in my daily devotions I heard the Lord calling me into ministry. At the time I had no idea what that “call” would be.

At that tender age, I was chomping at the bit to launch out into a fulltime Christian work. I made plans to attend Bible college, but then God spoke clearly to me. I visited a church where I’d never been before and where no one knew me. After the message (which likewise confirmed the call of God on my life) the pastor invited people forward for prayer. I rose and walked to the front of the church, expecting the Holy Spirit to affirm my calling through a prophetic word. This he did, however, not in the way a 20-year old ambitious young man wanted to hear. “Indeed, the Lord has called you,” said the pastor as he laid hands on my shoulder. Yes! I thought. Bible college here I come! “But he says to you today, ‘wait and be patient!’” Not what I was expecting to hear. Nevertheless, I had indeed, heard God’s Word: I have called you, Dudley.

Ten years later, after a reasonably successful time in the computer industry, God literally closed the door on my vocation. Try as I may, I simply could not jump-start my career. Then I heard the still small voice of Holy Spirit, “Now! It’s time.” Circumstance, scripture and additional words confirmed what I was feeling. It was time to venture out in faith and enter the ministry; not an easy feat at age 30 with two small children.

Thus, began my adventure of seeking the purposes of God for ministry. After 3-years Bible study, God opened the door for me, in 1994, to develop a Christian radio broadcasting ministry. In 2004 he opened the way for me to finally pastor a church – 14 years after his original call on my life.

During this time, and since, (as is typical for many who sense the call of God) I have suffered intense resistance from the enemy of God’s plans. Jesus said that Satan is the destroyer. The devil invents his own plans to undermine the call of God on our lives. But I am convinced of God’s calling. He has given me his Word. He has called me to serve him in Christian ministry, yet the attacks are numerous: financial difficulty, illness and loss, but to mention a few. However, some of the most proliferous attacks sadly come from within the Church. Through the years I have suffered more than one major conspiracy against my leadership and calling from within the Body of Christ.

Satan hates God’s purposes but our God who calls, is faithful. And God watches over his Word – his calling – to perform it (Jeremiah 1:1-12). Scripture also says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,” (Isaiah 55:10-11). I have discovered that the calling I have on my life is not mine, it’s God’s. It is not my ministry to defend. God’s Word has called me to serve him and he has promised to watch over his Word to perform it. He told me that his purposes will prevail in my life, provided I continue to acknowledge him in all my ways and trust him to fulfil his plans for me. As it is written, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord,” (Jeremiah 29:11). I have learned to rest in the knowledge of God’s calling and not attempt to defend my ministry.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord raises up his standard (Isaiah 59:19). And his Word is his standard. Therefore, when opposition comes our way we need to learn to rest in the purposes of God. When conflict arises may we do as we read about in Psalm 37, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7). I have discovered the context of when we read the words, “Be still” in the Bible, it usually refers to conflict. When we face opposition to God's call on our lives, we need to walk in the truth, while remaining still in the face of the conflict. God always vindicates truth. Be sure to persist in truth. If you are siding with the truth, you have nothing to defend. God is watching over your calling.

Hearing the Voice of God

Knowing the call of God requires hearing the voice of God. Here are four ways I have found useful in discerning the voice of God:

1.      Scripture

God watches over his Word to perform it. The Christian scripture is found in the Holy Bible. It is the inspired and objective Word of God. God will always use Scripture to confirm a personal word or a sense of God’s instruction. The Holy Spirit activates Scripture, so always pray before you read.

The scripture presents us with:

a)      Principle

The principles of Scripture are codes or dogma. These includes doctrine, morality and ethics. Example: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,’” (John 3:3).

b)     Precedent

Precedent of Scripture involves models, patterns and examples of how to live, as found in the Word of God. Example: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,” (James 5:14).

c)      Purpose

The purpose of Scripture involves personal words, promises and direction for the reader. These include hearing God’s call upon one’s life. Example: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19)

The scripture, or Word of God, is not autonomous. It is always accompanied by the activation and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Word and Spirit are synonymous: The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). The Word confirms the actions of the Spirit and the Spirit activates the Word.

2.      Spirit

We believe God is triune. That is, he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God. When you receive a Word from the Spirit, you receive a Word from God. (By the way Jesus, the Son, is also called the Word of God.) Remember, the Word and the Spirit always confirm one another.

Hearing the Holy Spirit’s direction involves a knowing sense in the inner man (or spirit) that the Lord is speaking. This is often termed, the still small voice of the Spirit. This voice can take the form of a thought, a picture or a deep inner sense. The voice of the Holy Spirit is usually perceived in prayer, but not always. The test of the voice of the Spirit is, a) it lines up with Scripture and b) it results in a sense of peace.

3.      Signs

God sometimes speaks through signs. Signs may include visions, dreams or revelation by the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge or tongues with interpretation. Sometimes, the Lord will use the sign of a change in circumstances to reveal his purposes to you.

Remember, the objectivity of scripture is always the test for the subjective voice of signs. 

4.      Servants

Every true Spirit filled follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit in him or her. Therefore, the Holy Spirit may often prompt someone else to speak God’s Word to you. However, because you also have the same Holy Spirit in you, the word brought to you by another person will always confirm what God is already saying to you. Sometimes, though, we become deaf to what the Spirit is saying to us. Often, this is when the Holy Spirit may prompt a friend to boldly speak out God’s Word. 

Again, remember, the subject personal word is always confirmed by the objective Scriptures.

And Finally

God does have a plan and a purpose for you. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness then you will clearly discover God’s plans. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways (including and especially your relationships) and he will direct your paths. When the devil challenges God’s purposes for you, keep your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross and went on to sit at the right hand of God in glory. Always trust in God’s calling; after all, it is his calling and not yours. He will watch over his Word to you to defend his cause.

All scripture quotations taken from the

English Standard Version of the Holy Bible.
More from Dudley Anderson at godtracker.co.uk