The Definition of a Christian

"However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Romans 8:9-11

God of Reversals - an exercise in application

Since you all are in the responding mood (thanks for that!), I am going to ask you to do another task for me. I have recently written a few posts on "The God of Reversals." The concept came from a comment in a message Dave preached recently and it means that God is a God of change. Life can be heading in one direction but in an instant, God can reverse the circumstances and change everything. It is this concept or fact that gives sinful man hope that they can not only have a relationship with God but that their lives can truly change because of Him.

Here's the assignment: Post stories from the Bible where God reversed a situation for His glory. You don't need a narrative - just enough information so that we know which story you are listing. If you want to, include a reference, but that is not necessary as well.

Okay, don't be shy...who will be first?

(How long can we make our list? Hmmmm....)

Question for You

How does God speak to you?

This is such a subjective topic - within the Christian world, or even the secular world, man has claimed to have received leading and guidance from God, using the words like, "God told me to...", and "God spoke to me...", and "God led me..." to explain their actions and feelings. I have used these words as well, so I am not accusing or finger-pointing. I am being sincere.

So my question today is, how does God speak to you?

Samuel heard the voice of God as a young child. He was awakened in the night to God audibly calling his name. Later in life, God told him to go to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem and He would instruct him to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king over Israel. (I Samuel 16)

I read this story this morning and got caught up on one of the details of the story. Picture this: Samuel, a famous prophet, shows up at Jesse's house and asks if he will sacrifice with him. He also requests that Jesse's sons join them as well. Seven boys gather with this aged father and prophet, and one by one God tells Samuel that they are not His chosen king. Finally, the last of the seven stands before Samuel and Samuel has to be sure this is the one, because God said the king would be one of Jesse's sons. Of course, Samuel didn't know that there was one more boy in the field with the sheep - the youngest son. So he looks at this final son, knowing this must be the one, and God says no again.

Samuel asks if there were anymore, and Jesse brings in the little redhead from the field. Finally, God says yes.

What struck me as curious was God's ongoing conversation with Samuel throughout this gathering with Jesse. What did it sound like? Could Jesse hear God as well? Or did Samuel hear God's voice in his head? Samuel knew the voice of God since he was a child, so was it a certain tone that made him know it was God and not his own conscience?

I really am curious about this.

Fast forward to present day. I know the usual answers to this question. Some will say that God speaks to them through the Word of God. (concrete, tangible answer) Others will say that the Holy Spirit speaks to them. (a little fuzzier) And still others will say that God spoke to them in dreams or while they were meditating. (what exactly did that sound like?) As I wrote earlier, this is a very subjective experience and as my husband has told me before, you cannot argue with someone's experience.

Keep in mind, Samuel did not have the complete Word of God, as we do today. He had the audible, verbal Word of God, as well as the Law, right? But we have the whole collection, so definitely, God will use His Word to speak to us. I am a huge advocate of dependency on this Word - so was King David. If you aren't sure what his view on God's Word was, read through Psalm 119.

So what does it sound like when God speaks to you? I am hoping some of you will post your answers, because this topic fascinates me. I personally believe that the concept of God speaking to man is biblical and completely abused within the church today. Harsh? Maybe, but we are to be a discerning people. So talk to me. How do we know when it is God and not our own mind? Does He communicate only through the Word? Does He do it through other people? Does He do it through our own thoughts?

Okay, I'll make it even easier on you - answer either question: How does God speak to you or how have you heard that God speaks to other people? (This way you are not on the spot!)

Awaiting answers...

Practical Advice from...the Old Testament?

Really, Kristen? From the Old Testament? I thought the OT was just full of stories and prophesies...

You'd be amazed at how consistent the Old Testament teaching is with the New Testament. Too often we discard the OT as the "passed away covenant" because Christ has come, and we pour our attention onto the New Testament, because that's where the teaching for the church is found.

Well, here's what I found today. Take a look at it and let me know what you think:

When the children of Israel demanded that they have a king like the rest of the world, though God was their King, He gave them a physical, human one - Saul. Initially some in Israel were happy with this choice, but others were skeptical, until Saul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, led the Israelites against the Ammonites, freeing the men of Jabesh-gilead from their threatening presence. With that victory, Saul was hailed their king and Israel was happy again. (I Samuel 11) They were no longer without a king (still ignoring their King) and now life would be exactly what they had hoped for it to be.

At this point, Samuel exhorted the children of Israel to be careful with their newfound joy. He explained that God had always been their Protector and Provider, and now that they had a king, they should be careful not to forget that their request was out of the evil of their hearts and not out of love for God. (I Samuel 12) The people suddenly had second thoughts and asked Samuel to pray for them, so that God would not kill them in their sin. Here was Samuel's instructions:

"If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God. If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was your fathers...Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside form following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile...Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king shall be swept away." (I Samuel 12:14,15,20,21,24,25)

Basically, though they were sinful, they were told to fear the Lord and obey His commands, and God would be with them. If they rebelled, God would severely deal with them and their king.

God is not threatening to "un-choose" them. He is simply explaining, like any good parent, that obedience will bring blessing and disobedience will bring discipline. With or without a king, the instruction is the same.

Israel was standing at a crossroad and had a choice.

Samuel was telling them to choose obedience.

Same with us today. This passage is very much alive and well because the consequences of obedience and disobedience still remain. God knows that we are sinful but it is never too late to choose obedience. I love how Samuel says, "Fear the Lord," and then "Do not fear." He's saying, don't fear the consequences of your sin at this point - fear the Lord instead. Follow Him. Choose obedience. It's never too late to repent and follow.

That is a great message for today. Too often we fear that it is just too late for us - we're in too deep. We've made too many bad choices and we'll never get out of this hole. God's counsel is true - stop what you are doing, turn around and head in the other direction. Choose to follow God and see what He will do in return.

As I was reading this passage this morning, it struck me that the counsel of the New Testament that I use in biblical counseling is not a new concept - it's there in the OT as well. God never changes - He's the same yesterday, today and forever.

So when you're standing at a crossroad and you're not sure what to do, the answer is really very simple.

Follow Jesus.