Living In The Know

Foundation scripture Isaiah 43:18-19 “…Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Living in the KNOW

Knowledge is power
Having an eternal perspective
Having an awareness of God’s presence in your life
That there is a powerful spiritual dimension to your life
That the word of God is true
That God has plans for you today and a future

Not problem-free but it is a victorious life.

The Prospect of the Righteous is JOY

We deal with the past
Live in the present
Entrust our future to the Lord

PAST

Isaiah 43:18 "...FORGET the former things; do not dwell on the past."

Today you may be thinking about the week ahead or are regretting something that happened last week, or years ago. Either way, you are missing NOW. Now is what is live, it is not recorded – it’s real.

Isn’t it amazing how clever everyone is with the benefit of hindsight!

Do not dwell on the PAST. We all have a past, and it has brought us to where we are today. But God says don’t live there.

“IF ONLY” are two small but very dangerous words.

OK so you’ve made some mistakes. Join the club.
Even the apostle Paul found himself desiring the wrong things.
Peter denied Christ.
King David had a guy killed so he could take his wife – and God called him a man after his own heart – how? Because we are forgiven!! He chooses to remember our sins no more.

In the same Chapter Isaiah 43:25 "...I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

So we can be like God and choose not to remember the past

You are in a motor boat – the wake looks powerful but its history.
It is the engine driving you forward right now that is all important. It is the decisions you make now, today, that affect tomorrow.

FUTURE

Just as we can live in the past, we can also live in the FUTURE

“I’ll be happy when………”

I have a better job
I get married
I have a holiday
I clear my overdraft

No – God says be happy today for I am with you. Discipline today brings rewards tomorrow.

God holds the future and because of that we can rest in His love today – Jeremiah 29:11 “…For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” GOD knows the future, not us.

God made time.

14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands…”

TODAY

Isaiah 43:18-19 "...See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

God wants to do new things in our lives.

SPRINGS UP from within, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

New in the Greek implies a new nature quite different from anything previously existing.

Jesus said this experience is born again; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 “…For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” In 2 Corinthians 1:22 Paul says there that “…God anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts.”

That word seal means sealed absolutely water tight, like sealing a tin of food so air and impurities cannot enter. There is a part of me that is wall-to-wall God – my reborn spirit. It is sealed and nothing that is impure can enter in and defile it. This is where we communicate spirit to Spirit with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:17 "...But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit."

John 7:37-39 Jesus said, "…If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit”

As we open ourselves up to God, we find a divine connection. Right now, God is at work in us. Now it springs up. Spirit to spirit – I am changed from the inside out. Now it springs up – do you not perceive it?

Mark 4:35-41 Disciples in the boat with Jesus. Storm – they feared for their lives. Teacher don’t you care if we drown? Jesus was asleep. He got up rebuked the wind and said to the waves “Peace! Be Still!” The wind died down and it was completely calm. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

This provides a picture for us that is true of many people. The storms of life come and they blame God. In reality, He is there all the time, available to us.

If they had been in the know – they could have taken authority over the storm. Mark 11:22-23 “…Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

We have authority. Luke 10:18-19 Jesus said “…I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Living in the know is living in faith. Jesus asked why they were afraid and said do you still have no faith.

Got a problem. Faith is the answer. I know it’s tough sometimes and it requires courage and effort. But you step out boldly and declare that Jesus is Lord and it all going to work out fine! Because it will.

Be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power (Ephesians 5:10)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Living in the Know is allowing God by His Spirit to influence and direct us.

"...What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31.32)

"...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Living in the know is living in the light of God’s Word.

Psalm 119:105 “…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Matthew 4:4 “…Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland

My observation of people is that most experience some form of stress regardless of their level of wealth. It is God who brings us joy.

Jesus for the joy set before him endured the cross… His understanding of destiny enabled him to concentrate on today. And in the midst of hardship, our vision of the future carries us through.

Ephesians 2:10 “…For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God’s plan for our lives is that we are those who influence others for the better.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 “…You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

God makes a way, where there is no clear path.

You may feel like your life is a desert at times. Nothing seems to be going right. But God makes a way. Streams begin to flow over the parched landscape.

Hope rises. A verse springs to life in your spirit and you know God has spoken to you. The devil is defeated in your life once again and all is well.

It is necessary to experience the desert heat. Trials are not for ever. The come to pass – they came so they could pass.

STREAMS FLOW. TO US AND THROUGH US

Habakkuk 1:5 “…Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. ?For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, ?even if you were told.”

Foundation scripture:

Isaiah 43:18-19 "...Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Paul Addison, 18/04/2010