Is your “sense” His sense or non-sense? The difference between God’s “will" and God’s “direction.” Part 3

Once when I was riding my bike in the USA I was behind a truck. It was going faster then me, so there was no reason for me to change lanes. Yet, deep inside I felt this sense that I should move to the other lane. Just as I crossed the line into the other lane, I heard a “Bang!” from inside the truck, I saw a piece of chain slide out, followed by a refrigerator! It rolled right past me…what a close call! If I had not move over it would have rolled right over me. Even with my helmet on, traveling at 50 mph I most likely would have been killed. That “sense” I had resonated in me and I am glad I listened to it.

When we are serious about following God’s direction He will give us a “sense” and a peace that we are where we should be. Yes, this is subjective, but it would never contradict scripture. So if you have a “sense” to leave your spouse because you “deserve” to be happy, that is not a sense from God, it is non-sense from your selfish flesh. It may sell on TV talk shows, but it won’t be a pass with God! The sense I am talking about comes AFTER we have met the three conditions we have already looked at.

·      Make sure Rom 12:1-2 is a reality.

·      Make sure you are honest

·      Make sure you are open for His specific direction for you no matter where it leads

Then, and only then are we safe to trust those subjective leadings. They merely confirm what God has already confirmed. 

With our heart we feel and trust. With our mind we know and trust. I believe when we combine the two, it brings what I call a “Sense”.

It's meaning - " A Motivating Awareness”  

1. Sense of Power

·       A surrender of life; relying on His Power

Acts 13:45-46 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:2-3 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Our life is lost in His plan, so we fear no one, compromise no truth and follow His lead.

2.  Sense of Urgency

·      A surrender of love; Your heart – What is most urgent to you commands your heart.

"Billy Graham says that when he was growing up, there was a man who ran a liquor store in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.  A drunk called him about one o'clock one morning and asked what time he opened up.  The owner sleepily replied that he opened at 9 A.M.  The man hung up.  An hour and a half later he called again and asked the same question.  Again, the store owner replied more irritably that he did not open until nine.  At 3 A.M. the phone rang again.  An even more drunken voice asked the same question.  So the owner lost his temper and said, `Look, if you promise not to call again and let me get a good night's sleep, I will come down there at 8 A.M. and let you in.' There was a pause.  Then a befuddled voice said, `I don't want in--I want out!' "I suspect the owner of that liquor store was there in a matter of minutes to let this guy out before he drank him out of house and home.

Romans 9:1-3 I speak the truth in Christ-- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,

Paul’s heart beat after God’s! When we choose to love as God loves, people become our priority…even over ourselves.

John Harper, the newly-called pastor of Moody Church in the early 1900s, manifested his Christian character in the sinking of the Titanic. Dr. W. B. Riley related the death of Harper.

  “We have the history of John Harper’s end, for survivors, brought to harbor in safety, told the same. When the Titanic was struck by the iceberg that drove in her sides, and sent the ship to the bottom, John Harper was leaning against the rail pleading with a young man to come to Christ. …

Four years after the Titanic went down, a young Scotchman rose in a meeting in Hamilton, Can., and said, “I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper, of Glasgow, on a piece of wreck near me. “Man,” he said, “are you saved?” “No,” I said, “I am not.” He replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

 “The waves bore him away; but, strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, “Are you saved now?” “No,” I said, “I cannot honestly say that I am.” He said again, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” and shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper’s last convert.”^[1]

Our only accomplishment is what leaks through us that is of Jesus!

2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

3.  Sense of Responsibility

·       A surrender of rights

1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Acts 20:26-27  Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Our life message is not about us…it’s about Him!

4.  Sense of Enlightenment

·       Not snobby – A surrender of Ego

We are no better or more intelligent than others. Our Wisdom is from above and a gift. We share it humbly, knowing that if God had not awakened us we would still be in darkness.

1 John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true-- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1 Corinthians 2:14  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Titus 3:3-5   At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

CHALLENGE: Are you trying to make yourself have a passion for the things of God, or are you allowing God to produce His passion in you?

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^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.