Joshua 24:15 “If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message from the last post, he explains that of the five examples from Joseph in the Matthew 1 passage on how to reflect that God is with us, the third is (3) Be humble about your obedience. Character counts. Human character is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: the peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character, or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities. By way of eminence, character is distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation. We enquire whether a stranger is a man of character. It is said that true character is how you think and act when no one is around. Be 100% obedient to the Lord, your God. Do not brag about your accomplishments, but communicate your progress in areas of righteousness (living “right” before God), your advancement in Christian maturity (growing into the likeness of Christ), and both what you are standing on (the Word and promises of God) and the path that you are waking on (the path of holiness and righteousness with the Holy Spirit at your side). How far towards the ways of God can you go? When God says it, we should do it humbly.
Galatians 5:22-25 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
The fourth example from Joseph is to (4) Be in tune with the Holy Spirit enough to know what is and isn’t of God. In John 14:15-17 and 25-27, the Believer is given the promise of a Counselor/a Helper, the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide our heart, mind and soul. Walk in the Spirit. But, we must also stop and think: Is what we are hearing or comes to mind of God? How do we know? There is the enemy (the sinful flesh desires, the God-rejecting secular humanist world system and the devil (the deceiver of mankind) all tempting and distracting us from the things of God. Here are some tips: (a) Does God’s Word confirm it? (b) Does my heart resonate from it? (c) Do godly people that I love see it? (d) Are there other things in my life that confirm it? Nail sin to the Cross and leave the past in the past as you walk choose the narrow gate and walk the straight and narrow path on the highway to Heaven. Not fear, not anxiety, not the enemy; just God alone.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
The fifth example from Joseph is to (5) Be a spiritual leader (starting with yourself and go out from there). It is not someone else’s job to get you to grow spiritually (though there are those who do help). Life is a learning experience that lasts a lifetime. They is always more we can learn and experience on this side of eternity. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Pray and hear from God, seek helps available, find resources, equip yourself then lead others into the light of truth in His marvelous light. Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
In Christ, Brian
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