RESPONDING TO GOD

[Albert Finch]

Some people think their calling is to sit in church and support someone else's vision.
While it's good to do all you can to encourage someone and support them – each of us has our own CALLING in Christ Jesus. And at the end of the road, Jesus is going to ask you, "What did you do with the anointing I put in your life?"

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO YOU?

Everyone (all born-again believers) has the witness of the Spirit, or the anointing, within them. That's why the apostle John said, "You don't need any man to teach you, because the anointing (or the Anointed One) is within you," - 1 John 2:27.
Does that mean that we don't have teachers in the Church? No, of course not – there are teachers, pastors, prophets, apostles, and evangelists – all given to equip the Church.

But you have to listen to the anointing or witness of the Spirit within you to discern what God is saying to you personally.
For example, someone could come to your church and prophesy or teach or preach – but you have to discern what God is saying to you – even if there are just a couple of sentences that are for you personally.

Paul prayed for Philemon that "[Your] faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." - Philemon 6

When you acknowledge the gift and calling in someone, you cause it to be brought forth and activated; for example, telling someone, "That was a great word you gave." When you tell someone that, they are encouraged and it makes them want to do that again.
Out of one message, maybe there are different things that the Holy Spirit brings out to each individual present, and perhaps He says a different thing to 20 different people.

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Not every word you hear, nor every Bible verse you read, is proceeding a word for you today. What is God saying to you NOW? Today? This week? The proceeding word imparts life and faith and has power to move you to the next thing that God has for you.

One thing is for sure – we have to move on. We have to continually discern what is He saying to us now (today) -- today's manna.

WHAT SHOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE TO GOD?

We can sit there forever in our comfort zone or we can rise up and say, "I'm going to go for it. I'm going to be all I can be in God."

You can't aim at what you can't see. By faith we have to see our DESTINY. We don't have to wander around and around the mountain, wondering where we are supposed to be going and doing a kind of "hit and miss" attempt at fulfilling the will of God.

God will show you what He has for you if you start to see by faith and believe YOU CAN HEAR FROM GOD.
By faith He can release a word to you if you need confirmation – but He also puts His desires in your heart so that when you fulfill the will of God, it's delightful to you because it's in your heart.

What's in your heart?
Where do you want to go?
What is it you really want to do? You only have one life to live down here on earth. What kind of life do you want to live?
A mundane, in-my comfort-zone, occasionally-stepping-out kind of life?
Or, an on-the-edge, exciting, what's-going-to-happen-next kind of life?

It is your Heavenly Father who is stirring you up. He made an awesome deposit in you. Jesus deposited His life in you. He is looking for a return on His deposit. His deposit will bring forth your DESTINY if you let it run its course.

WATCH OUT FOR THE DOGS THAT LAY AT THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY

There are dogs – religious spirits -- having a knowledge of God, but denying His power -- negative spirits -- that make God's people have to "qualify" to be used by God. But Jesus already qualified us 100%.
Dogs can also be jealous spirits in people that don't want you to go further than them. A good teacher or instructor is proud when a pupil begins to accomplish something.

Jesus has made you perfect in the sight of His Father. It is His righteousness that you are covered with – not your own. Jesus switched with you. He took your righteousness, which is like filthy rags, and took it to the Cross – then He gave you His robe of righteousness in exchange. What a great "swap"! Your rotten rags in exchange for the beauty and awesomeness and righteousness of the Mighty Son of God!
How awesome is that? To be clothed in the holiness and beauty of the perfect Son – Jesus.

Don't be afraid of the dogs (religious spirits) – Jesus has given you power over them. The dogs can only minister to you through lies – you have to choose not to believe those lies.
Now is the time to be all you can be in God – you don't have to qualify – you just have to learn how to yield to the anointing.
God sees a great big vision for you. He is not limited. He is not limited by your inability. He is released through your believing in His ability.

Don't let the dogs keep you from the doorway of your destiny. They are liars and thieves.
The dogs can howl and scream and bark all they want, but they can't touch you if know who you are and what is your CALLING and DESTINY on your life.

Have a spirit of abandonment to the purposes of God. God wants to send the winds of the Spirit to take you where you are supposed to go – His plan and PURPOSE for your life.

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