Serving God Without Waiting For A Vision.

by Lydia Mbalachi | 17 July 2018 08:46 am07

When we read the Bible, we learn many things about God’s character. One of the most unique traits of God is that He does not force anyone to do anything.

There was a time when I desperately prayed for the Holy Spirit to take control of me, guiding me without my conscious awareness almost as if I were possessed. People with evil spirits act in a way that makes them unaware of themselves, like someone driven mad. I kept praying like this until the Lord gave me understanding: God does not work that way, even though He has the power to do so. He does not force people or make them captives, as a spirit might.

The Holy Spirit is a helper, a counselor, and gentle. He never forces anyone to make a decision. That’s why when a person chooses evil, God does not compel them to repent. Instead, He advises, persuades, and provides every reason to abandon sin, but if they refuse, He allows them to continue in their choice. If they accept, He walks with them.

The same principle applies to serving God. Many people wait to see visions like Paul did, or to be visited by angels, or to be supernaturally compelled like Jonah, or to hear a voice from heaven telling them what to do, or to receive prophetic instructions.

I want to tell you, brother or sister, if you rely on that method, you will end up discouraged when nothing happens during the period you’ve been waiting. Time will pass, and you’ll see no signs. Those extraordinary experiences are given by God as acts of grace, to reveal His power not as the ordinary method by which He calls His people to serve Him.

We serve God by faith, not by sight, and He wants us to act willingly, not because we are forced.

We can learn from three examples in the Bible about the right way to serve God:

1) David

David was king of Israel and went through many hardships in life. Yet the Lord blessed him with kingdom and wealth. Eventually, he began to reflect on God and was convicted in his heart. He thought:

“I, David, live in a palace of cedar, while my God dwells in a tent of cloth, in darkness, in some town called Shiloh?”

So David decided of his own volition to build a permanent house for God. When he thought of this, the Bible says:

1 Samuel 7:1–9

1 When the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,

2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4 That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.

6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.

7 Everywhere I went with all the Israelites, did I ever say to anyone, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”

8 Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.

9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest on earth.’”

By taking initiative, David was promised that his throne and kingdom would be established forever. Through him, the Messiah would come, and Jerusalem would become the center of Christ’s kingdom. David’s heart pleased God more than anyone else’s.

Notice: David did not wait for a vision to tell him to build a house for God. He saw the need and acted wisely  and God rewarded him greatly.

2) Nehemiah

Another example is Nehemiah, who was a cupbearer to the Persian king. One day, his brothers brought news from Jerusalem: the temple and city walls were in ruins. Nehemiah was deeply grieved. He fasted, wept, and prayed for many days for the city and for Israel’s forgiveness.

Nehemiah was not a prophet just a normal man, serving in a royal position. Yet he resolved in his heart:

“I cannot remain comfortable while God’s house in Jerusalem lies in ruin.”

Because of his resolve, God moved the king to grant Nehemiah permission to rebuild the city walls. Though he faced many hardships and enemies on all sides, Nehemiah and his workers completed the wall. Nehemiah’s courage and action left a permanent legacy, and we read his story in the Bible even though he was not a prophet, priest, or scribe.

3) The Sinful Woman Who Anointed Jesus

Another example is the sinful woman who came to Jesus. Despite her sins, she saw that His feet were dirty and needed washing. She acted on her own initiative  using her tears instead of water, and her hair instead of cloth. Then she anointed Him with expensive perfume.

Luke 7:44–48

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house; you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.

47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Notice: The woman saw the need and acted she did not wait to be told. Similarly, many others in the Bible took action without waiting for visions or prophecy, such as in Matthew 26:13.

The Lesson for Us

Wherever you are your church, your home, or your workplace  don’t wait for God to tell you in a vision what to do. If you see a need, act faithfully. God has blessed your resources; use them to serve Him. The good news can reach many, even if you are not a preacher.

•See a dirty toilet at church? Clean it.

•See unkempt grounds? Work on them.

•Do not wait for someone else to be assigned to the task while you have the ability to do it.

Even online, if you notice a spiritual need and can help people come to know God, do not wait God will not force you. He calls us to discern wisely and take initiative.

Take action now in every place the Lord has positioned you for Christ. God will help you, and your legacy will endure forever.

God bless you.

Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2018/07/17/serving-god-without-waiting-for-a-vision/

---