BBD 08.26.08 The Leading of the Spirit

#1 · August 25, 2008, 9:52 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on August 25, 2008, 9:52 pm
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Visit the Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 150 countries.
Celebrating 10 years online since January 31, 1998.

Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth
of God's Word to more than 11,000 subscribers across the world.

The Burning Bush Devotional

Welcome to the 1,026 new subscribers since January 1, 2008!!

08.26.08

The Leading of the Spirit

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come
to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit
them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to
Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision,
immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had
called us to preach the gospel to them. - Acts 16:6-10.

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed
by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him
bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he
drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up,
because there had been no rain in the land. - 1 Kings 17:5-7.

Paul received very specific instructions from the Spirit about where he was
to go and where he should not go. The Spirit is still busy today leading and
guiding us. Sometimes He blocks us. Sometimes He warns us. Sometimes He
sends us in another direction. Sometimes He says, "come over and help."

As a pastor before I have moved to another pastorate, I have always driven
to the area and looked around. We have had some interesting experiences from
these trips. On one trip when we had arrived in the area we stopped at a
convenience store and when Jeanie came back out she said that she had become
dizzy and almost passed out. We decided to drive on to the church facility,
and maybe she would feel better by then.

Jeanie was feeling better by the time we drove by the church building. But
the car seemed to be having a problem. By the time we had located the
parsonage and driven by it the needle on the engine heat gauge had red
lined. The electric fan motor had burned out. We had the distinct impression
after our excursion that God did not want us to go to that place and had
warned us.

Another time when a church was interested in us, we again drove to the
church facility, and as we drove into their parking lot the car died and
would not start. I walked several blocks to a store and bought another
battery and carried it back and installed it. The car started fine and I
hoped that the problem had been solved. My mother was in the hospital in
Oklahoma City after having back surgery so we then drove on to the hospital
and checked on my mother.

When we left the parking garage to return home the lights began to dim on
the car and by the time we were on the expressway they were out. We prayed
and made it to an exit where the car coasted into the parking lot of a
hotel, and we stayed the night there. The alternator had stopped working. I
believe that coincidences do happen but the timing of some leaves little
doubt of God's involvement in them. We were able to have the car repaired
the next day, but we also had the definite impression that God had given us
a warning about that church.

Another time after prayer and fasting for seven days about where God wanted
us to go to - a search committee called us on the afternoon of the seventh
day. Even though we did not think it feasible for us to accept their call
because of financial considerations God did confirm that this was where He
wanted us and we went. We received additional confirmation of God's call to
that church as we served there.

Other times the "brook" may dry up as it did for Elijah, and we are forced
to move. There are at least three ways that the "brook" may dry up for a
pastor. One is for the finances to become so difficult that he is forced to
move. Another is for the support of the leaders or members of the church for
the pastor to dry up or come to an end. Third, is for the movement of the
Spirit in terms of decisions to end i.e. no one being saved, no one
rededicating or recommitting their lives, no one joining the church,
attendance rapidly declining, and no growth in spiritual maturity of the
believers who make up the church. This was why we moved from one church to
another church at two different times.

Along with these things that may occur, there must also be the still, small
voice of God (1 Kings 19:12) confirming His direction for your life. How do
you know? You will know when it happens and when He speaks. However, you do
have to be watching and listening, or you can miss out on what God has for
you.

The Spirit still leads and guides today. What is the Spirit saying to you?

Copyright © 2008. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

Prayer Requests: Please pray for the democratic nation of Georgia that has
been attacked by Russia. Please pray for Malachi and Cody who are young boys
with cancer. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the
Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they
will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always
in need of prayer - please pray for me. I believe that God is speaking to me
about a change in the ministry He has given to me.).

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Two videos of my sermons are posted on Godtube at:
www.godtube.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist
Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
is the URL: www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Visit the Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net

http://www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 150 countries.
Celebrating 10 years online since January 31, 1998.

Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth
of God's Word to more than 11,000 subscribers across the world.

The Burning Bush Devotional

Welcome to the 1,026 new subscribers since January 1, 2008!!

08.26.08

The Leading of the Spirit

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come
to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit
them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to
Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision,
immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had
called us to preach the gospel to them. - Acts 16:6-10.

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed
by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him
bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he
drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up,
because there had been no rain in the land. - 1 Kings 17:5-7.

Paul received very specific instructions from the Spirit about where he was
to go and where he should not go. The Spirit is still busy today leading and
guiding us. Sometimes He blocks us. Sometimes He warns us. Sometimes He
sends us in another direction. Sometimes He says, "come over and help."

As a pastor before I have moved to another pastorate, I have always driven
to the area and looked around. We have had some interesting experiences from
these trips. On one trip when we had arrived in the area we stopped at a
convenience store and when Jeanie came back out she said that she had become
dizzy and almost passed out. We decided to drive on to the church facility,
and maybe she would feel better by then.

Jeanie was feeling better by the time we drove by the church building. But
the car seemed to be having a problem. By the time we had located the
parsonage and driven by it the needle on the engine heat gauge had red
lined. The electric fan motor had burned out. We had the distinct impression
after our excursion that God did not want us to go to that place and had
warned us.

Another time when a church was interested in us, we again drove to the
church facility, and as we drove into their parking lot the car died and
would not start. I walked several blocks to a store and bought another
battery and carried it back and installed it. The car started fine and I
hoped that the problem had been solved. My mother was in the hospital in
Oklahoma City after having back surgery so we then drove on to the hospital
and checked on my mother.

When we left the parking garage to return home the lights began to dim on
the car and by the time we were on the expressway they were out. We prayed
and made it to an exit where the car coasted into the parking lot of a
hotel, and we stayed the night there. The alternator had stopped working. I
believe that coincidences do happen but the timing of some leaves little
doubt of God's involvement in them. We were able to have the car repaired
the next day, but we also had the definite impression that God had given us
a warning about that church.

Another time after prayer and fasting for seven days about where God wanted
us to go to - a search committee called us on the afternoon of the seventh
day. Even though we did not think it feasible for us to accept their call
because of financial considerations God did confirm that this was where He
wanted us and we went. We received additional confirmation of God's call to
that church as we served there.

Other times the "brook" may dry up as it did for Elijah, and we are forced
to move. There are at least three ways that the "brook" may dry up for a
pastor. One is for the finances to become so difficult that he is forced to
move. Another is for the support of the leaders or members of the church for
the pastor to dry up or come to an end. Third, is for the movement of the
Spirit in terms of decisions to end i.e. no one being saved, no one
rededicating or recommitting their lives, no one joining the church,
attendance rapidly declining, and no growth in spiritual maturity of the
believers who make up the church. This was why we moved from one church to
another church at two different times.

Along with these things that may occur, there must also be the still, small
voice of God (1 Kings 19:12) confirming His direction for your life. How do
you know? You will know when it happens and when He speaks. However, you do
have to be watching and listening, or you can miss out on what God has for
you.

The Spirit still leads and guides today. What is the Spirit saying to you?

Copyright © 2008. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

Prayer Requests: Please pray for the democratic nation of Georgia that has
been attacked by Russia. Please pray for Malachi and Cody who are young boys
with cancer. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the
Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they
will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always
in need of prayer - please pray for me. I believe that God is speaking to me
about a change in the ministry He has given to me.).

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Two videos of my sermons are posted on Godtube at:
http://www.godtube.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist
Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
http://www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.