Still Acting with Immediacy

Still Acting with Immediacy

Genesis 17: ²³ So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. ²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁵ And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁶ That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; ²⁷ and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

 

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Twenty-four years earlier, GOD promised Abraham that he would have children, making him a “great nation.” Abraham waited eleven years and listened to his wife Sarah by having a child with her handmaid. It wasn’t until Abraham turned ninety-nine that GOD appeared to him again to confirm that Abraham’s plan was not HIS plan.

 

GOD then instructed Abraham to circumcise himself and every male associated with him. Even Ishmael.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham acted with immediacy to perform circumcision even after waiting twenty-four years.
• Abraham presented Ishmael as his plan to fulfil GOD’s plan.
• Abraham surrendered his plan to GOD by circumcising Ishmael, himself and every male associated with him.

 

“That very same day” means Abraham still had faith in GOD’s plan. When GOD appeared to Abraham at ninety-nine, HE said for the first time “I AM almighty GOD.” “I AM” is significant showing GOD’s sovereignty. Abraham bowed to this strange request of cutting off foreskin, simply for the reason of publicly showing alliance with GOD.

 

Abraham was the beginning of a group of people who believed in GOD together, rather than being born into an inheritance. The nation would provide the lineage of the physical CHRIST, but CHRIST may have been the one who spoke to Abraham in the first place. “I will be their GOD” is what was said to Abraham earlier. FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT spoke as one.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention to Moses how old Abraham and Ismael were when they were circumcised?
• Has your patience with GOD’s power and plan worn thin?
• Do you still act with immediacy when GOD says for you to do or believe in something HE said?

Belief Accounted For

Belief Accounted For

Genesis 15: ⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” ⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

 

⁶ And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

 

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After hearing GOD’s promise, Abram left the land of his father just like GOD said. He did not know when GOD would show up so he kept moving. GOD then showed up. Abram was excited! But then a famine hit and he had to leave the land GOD showed him. He went to Egypt and almost had his wife taken from him. BUT GOD intervened.

 

Upon return, He had so much stuff, that him and Lot could no longer live together in peace. They separated to Lot’s demise. Abram had to rescue Lot and return the stuff to evil people. Abram said to GOD, after all this, “I still have no children.”

 

My Observations:

• Abram needed to hear from GOD when his patience was running low.
• Abram heard from GOD and immediately believed.
• GOD saw Abram’s belief and “accounted it to him for righteousness.”

 

Since GOD does not react, HE saw Abram’s belief before he was born. HE sees the same in you and me. GOD knows our heart. Unfortunately, we don’t. HE gives us free will to choose HIM and accounts for any belief we do immediately.

 

Abram’s belief needed to be renewed. When he heard from GOD, he may have felt better and was able to move forward in belief in GOD, stronger than before.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about this conversation with Abram?
• Have you ever had a moment that you needed your faith renewed?
• When GOD speaks to you through HIS word, do you immediately believe?

At that Moment

At that Moment

Acts 11: ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 

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“LORD please help me” was my cry. I was doubled over in serious pain. The words I uttered were not used often, as I had stopped communicating with GOD. At that moment, the pain went away.

• There are times when I need GOD right now and HE agrees.
• There are times when I pray to GOD and HIS answer is immediate.
• There are times when I am shown something by GOD and it happens right away.

Peter was told to eat strange animals as an illustration of how he was to go and speak to other races about JESUS. The illustration or vision happened three times. At that moment, three men knocked on the door where Peter was. The HOLY SPIRIT was orchestrating the whole situation.

• When GOD has a plan for me, HE wants me to act with immediacy.
• When GOD has something for me to do , HE wants me to do it without doubt.
• When GOD has a specific change I need to make, HE wants me to make it without question.

Every day, GOD speaks to HIS people. HE guides them and requests that service be top of mind. GOD leads me through the HOLY SPIRIT, praying for people HE brings to mind.

Every once in a while, GOD may put a special request in there. When HE does, I must act immediately, otherwise I would forget. I am grateful GOD includes me in HIS plans.

• Are you hung up on something right now?
• Is GOD trying to speak to you and you cannot hear HIM because of your rage?
• Will you quiet down and listen to what GOD is telling you to do today?

Priority

Priority

Acts 8: ²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. ²⁷ So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

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“Take out the garbage” was the directive given to me. “Okay” was my response, but I was in the middle of a game with my friends. As the game went on, we got lost in the laughter. Eventually, my friends went home.

I walked past the seething cesspool of garbage and went to bed only to be awoken by the stench in the middle of the night. “I told you to take out the garbage. We cleaned out the refrigerator.”

• There were times when I said I would do something, but made it a low priority.
• There were times when I thought what I was doing was a higher priority.
• There were times when I should have prioritized something but did not and I faced consequence.

Philip was told to go to the desert by an angel of the LORD. He immediately obeyed, not knowing what he would find. He never questioned “How far?” or “How long should I be there?” He just went. When he got there, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who was worshiping the LORD by reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip’s obedience paid off.

• GOD wants me to listen to HIS directives HE gives me.
• GOD wants me to act on what HE says immediately.
• GOD wants me to accept what HE says as an act of obedience.

Acting with immediacy pleases GOD. HE guides by using HIS word and will not go against it. When HE says “Speak to that person about MY SON”, I should do it without hesitance. HE tells me to do things I don’t want to do like “Forgive that person” or “Stop doing that and follow ME.”

Obedience to GOD takes practice. HE wants me to let go of the things I prioritize over the things HE wants me to do. HE wants to be the priority each day. I am grateful GOD wants me to want HIM.

• Are you making GOD a priority?
• Do you make time to listen to HIM each day?
• Will you stop doing what you are doing and allow HIM to send you to who HE wants to send you to today?

Known Belief

Luke 1: ¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. ²⁰ But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. ²² But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

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“That couldn’t possibly be the answer” is what I said to myself because the solution was too easy. I mean all the other problems on the test seemed excruciatingly hard. Why was this one so easy? I decided to go with my second guess answer and chose to make my answer more complicated than it needed to be. I got that problem wrong, it was as easy as my first thought.

• Sometimes I second guess.
• Sometimes I rethink something that has already been thought out.
• Sometimes my fears make me relook at something that is already planned and in the middle of execution.

Zacharias was a priest and probably knew the history of Abraham and Sarah having a baby in their advanced age, yet he questioned if GOD was able to do the same for him and his wife. Even though he knew an angel was standing in front of him, he still did not believe. I do the same. Sometimes I know what GOD can do and I second guess HIS methods.

• GOD wants me to practice having faith in HIM so it will grow.
• GOD wants me to take baby steps with my faith until I can handle larger amounts of faith.
• GOD wants me to steadily grow in HIM so I can immediately believe what HE says to me without pouting about HIS timing.

GOD fulfills HIS words “in their own timing.” HIS plan is intricate and involves other people. Sometimes other people are not yet ready so the plan HE has for me gets extended. Zacharias motioned to the people to calm down rather than clutching his throat in pain.

He knew this slight gaff in belief caused him to become mute temporarily. This “timeout” more than likely strengthened his belief in what he already knew. He accepted GOD’s power and acted accordingly. GOD wants me to believe without question. This takes practice.

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Do you think HIS timing for HIS promised blessings are wrong?
• Are you angry at GOD because HE chastens HIS chosen ones including you?
• Will you believe in HIS ways immediately more and more each day?

Immediate Reaction

Matthew 4: ¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

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“Would you like to serve?” were the only words I heard. “No” was my immediate response. I mean I was busy and besides, GOD wouldn’t want a person like me serving.

• There have been many times I have been “called” and hung up the phone.
• There have been many times I have been “asked” but refused to give.
• There have been many times I have been “chosen” but chose to decline the choice.

GOD seems to call me at inconvenient times. I mean my first thought is “Doesn’t he see that I am working on something?” I will get to YOU later.

• GOD wants me to respond to HIM first.
• GOD desires that I seek HIS kingdom first.
• GOD longs for me to put HIM first in my life rather than fifteenth.

Peter and Andrew had the correct response. They may have been seeking GOD all their lives and when HE showed up, they were ready to go serve. They dropped everything and followed JESUS. Circumstances may be different today, but the more things change the more they stay the same.

GOD wants me to follow HIM on a daily basis. I don’t have to stop going to work rather I can carry the HOLY SPIRIT into my workplace or school or neighbor’s house. HE prompts me to pray for people and to speak about GOD at the right time, with the right words. It is up to me to have an “immediate reaction” to GOD’s calling.

• Are you being called and have refused to listen?
• Do you hear GOD on a daily basis?
• Are you making excuses like I am too busy or too poor or too old or too needy or too sinful right now?
• Can you drop the excuses and listen to the HOLY SPIRIT right now?

Act with Immediacy

Joel 1: ¹⁴ Declare a holy fast;
    call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
    and all who live in the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
    and cry out to the Lord.

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Floating through life, I allowed things to ‘happen” to me. As the final approached, I figured I would pick up the book at the last minute and learn the concepts. Of course I failed the class. I had not reacted fast enough.

• There were times when I did not react fast enough.
• There were times when I did not do things in a timely fashion.
• There were times when I did not grab hold of the rapid pace and things did not go so well.

Speed sometimes gets in the way of my desire to do something. The faster things are going, the more I need to slow down so I can speed up. But sometimes I slowed down too much, maybe to the point of giving up for a while then I realize in a moment of panic this thing is important! Sometimes I realized it too late. The same goes for GOD sometimes.

• GOD wants me to declare a holy fast while I still can.
• GOD wants me to call a sacred assembly before it is too late.
• GOD wants me to summon the elders and all who live in the land while there is still time.
• GOD wants me to cry out to HIM before time runs out.

Putting GOD on the back burner is a very bad idea. I mean once I “got my life together” I figured I would consult HIM and maybe even serve HIM. The problem is, I can never get “my life together” because “my” life is not “mine”, it’s GOD’s. HE wants me to act with a sense of urgency towards HIS kingdom because HIS return is imminent.

It does not matter what the day or year is, GOD wants me to seek HIS lost people and turn their face towards HIM daily. HE wants me to act like there is a blazing fire burning down the whole town and HE is the only road out. My sense of urgency in the LORD can begin today!

• Are you treating GOD like HE will never return?
• Do you think you have to “get your life together” before you serve HIM?
• Will you stop putting GOD on a lower priority and place HIM above everything?
• Can you act with a sense of urgency and cry out to the LORD today?