IBS-Equip Yourselves

Aug. 11, 2011

Acts 12:8

"Then the angel said to him, 'Gird yourself and tie on your sandals'; and so he did. And he said to him, 'Put on your garment and follow me.'"

Be prepared. The angel was telling Peter to get ready for the road ahead. God sometimes does this; warns us for the battles ahead, so we can equip ourselves accordingly. Would I quickly "gird" myself and follow the Lord's calling for my life when I had no indication of where it led. I can say, I do believe I would. Recently, I have been strengthening myself in the Lord, making less of me, and more of Him, where I can confidently say that I want to do His will. I want to leap and prepare myself for whatever He has for me. To listen to His voice, and honor  His commands, so I will be ready for anything. Whatever garments, whether of patience, love, discernment, knowledge, strength, trust, I am willing to clothe myself in these. I am willing to listen to God's commandments toward me so that I will be able to follow Him without hesitation. 

I need to constantly be in the word, learning more about what God's commands to me are. With this knowledge, I need to clothe myself in all of the things He asks of me, so that I can be ready for all of the things I have ahead in my life. 

2 Corinthians 3:3 "clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."

IBS-For the Good

Aug. 10, 2011

Acts 12:7

"Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, 'Arise quickly!' And his chains fell off his hands."

This bright light that came with the angel revealed God's glory. It revealed God's mercy and sacrifice as He rescued Peter from the jail and all that was restricting him. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those called according to His purpose. Peter loved God and, resting in his peace in the faith he had in God, was evidence of that. God wasn't done with Peter. He had plans to use him still, in the furthering of His kingdom. Sending an angel and making the chains simply fall off of Peter's hands revealed the power that is held in Romans 2 verse 28. Because Peter walked uprightly in Christ, God saved him from his enemies.

I need to follow God, holding to his promises. I want to have the faith like Peter, so that I can know with confidence that God will work everything out for my good because I love Him, and his power will be revealed through my life.

Psalm 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly."

IBS-Resting Soundly

Aug. 9, 2011

Acts 12:6

"And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison." 

Sleeping before his trial? Obviously Peter wasn't phased. He was surrounded by restrictions and yet he had enough peace to rest soundly. He was comforted by the Holy Spirit, and was not worried about what was to come. I wish I could say that I had enough faith in the Lord to rest soundly in Him. When I'm faced with a trial, or something I know will test my faith I am never at ease. When I first heard about the Ignite program I remember thinking about being whisked off to a foreign country, with all of the discomforts, and my faith being stretched. That night I lay in bed, my mind going a million miles an hour, thinking of all of the things I would have to get done in order to make this trip possible, and all of the things that this step would entail. I had to force myself to go to sleep that night so I wouldn't be exhausted the next morning at school. And this lack of peace was two months before I would even be starting to face all of the things I was worried about. I hadn't even lifted it up to Christ, and let the Holy Spirit give me the peace God wished to give me on the matters. Oh to have the faith like Peter. To know that everything is in God's hands, and to have confidence in all of the things He has planned for me, even if the odds are bad, and the trial is right around the corner. To be trapped in a place where there's no escape, and yet not doubt the Holy Spirit and it's power to hold my hand throughout it all.

I wish to trust God with my future in all things. I want to be able to lift up my trials when I see them coming, instead of dwelling on my worries and fears until they make me physically sick, or exhausted. I need to build my trust, like Peter, in the Holy Spirit, and it's power within me to give me peace through it all.

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ."

IBS-Constant Prayer

August 8, 2011

Acts 12:5

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."

Constant prayer for a brother in need. That's what the church offered, as the church does today. But how often does the statement, "I'll be praying for you" actually get fulfilled? Is one constantly in prayer for the one who is suffering, or do we merely say a short "God help this person" and then go on spilling our own trials to Him? I know that the latter is usually what occurs for me, and I acknowledge this, and desire to change it.

I need to actually follow through with my promised prayer. I should't tell someone I will be praying for them unless I know I will remember to put aside my own thoughts and offer that person and their trials up to God. This, I know, goes hand in hand with leaving myself behind, and putting others before me, my goal in living life, doing as Christ would do.

IBS-Preaching vs Teaching

August 5, 2011

Acts 8:35

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him."

There's a difference between preaching and teaching. There are times that are appropriate for both of these methods of sharing the gospel, but one must be wise when ministering, to determine which would be most effective.When someone is a strong Christian, pursuing God's own heart they might be able to handle a lecture type message. In most circumstances though, teaching needs to be used for the audience to not feel like they're being attacked with a forced doctrine. Many times the disciples did teach about Jesus, but I believe at this point Philip was doing as it says: preaching to the man. This shows to me, that even though Philip did not know the man very well, he was still able to choose the most effective way to minister to him. The only way he was able to discern this must have been because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In this decision he was able to sit down with the man, and know that by preaching to him, he would be able to portray the message of Christ to him.

I need to pray for discernment in my decisions. I need to look for guidance when I am called to minister to people so my method of sharing the gospel will change hearts instead of falling on deaf ears.

IBS-Take Off The Blinders

August 2, 2011

Acts 8:30

"So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'"

Philip ran as God directed him. He did not hesitate to follow the Spirit's command. His task was simple, to overtake the chariot. And as he approached he heard the man reading Isaiah's words, and he asked him a very simple question. This simple question, though, made all the difference, for the man indeed did not understand what he was reading. He was following God, but following blindly. He had no idea what he was supposed to be learning from this passage, so the Spirit sent Philip to guide him. The same way God sends the Holy Spirit himself to guide us in our reading, and our everyday lives. So often we want to follow God, but we do not look for guidance. With this, we are seeking God, blinded by what we do not understand. I know, I am guilty of this, as many times I have tried to do something, wanting to please God, but not allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me in my actions. I have not asked for assistance, even though I know I cannot do it alone, and must look for help. 

I need to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in every situation. I need to not hesitate to look to God when I am obviously lost, so I depend on Him. Because I already know I cannot do anything by my own strength or knowledge, but only through He who strengthens me.

IBS-Faithful in the Little Things

August 1, 2011

Acts 8:29

"Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.'"

This simple task was asked of Philip directly by the Holy Spirit: to guide the Ethiopian in His reading of the scriptures. How easily Philip could have pushed this off as a minuscule thing that wouldn't make a difference, but yet, he so eagerly did as he was asked. Here at the ranch a favorite quote has been "Be faithful in the little things". Now this usually pertains to keeping your room tidy, or your bed neatly tucked every day, but this comes to mind when I think of Philip's obedience to God at this moment. He was faithful to follow the Spirit's calling to simply talk to a man about the scriptures. Something little, but yet necessary, as brought to attention by the Spirit Himself. When God speaks to people, telling them of tasks that he wishes upon them, they can react in many different ways. Perhaps they see the task as important because it's so large no one can deny it has to be done, but other times they may comply simply because God commanded it. I must say when I listen for God's voice, I am seeking big answers. I am seeking problem-solving words that I must follow in order for the pieces to complete the puzzle within my brain. But it's being faithful in the little things that God tells me to, that makes all the difference. To listen when he calls me to read my Bible daily, or take every thought captive in obedience to Him. Those things are what changes a heart, and allows the Holy Spirit to work within me. 

Without a doubt, I need to be faithful in the little things. I need to listen to God in every circumstance and situation to hear what changes can be done, no matter how small. In order to strengthen my relationship with Him, and others, I need to follow where He leads, listening to His guiding voice, no matter how curt the command.