The last sermon I received from the Lord was something I felt you should have in writing so that you may refer to it. It is based upon the following passage of Scripture:
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21
I gave examples regarding this passage from my own life as a pastor. The messages I receive for my sermons always come through prayer and calling upon the Holy Spirit to fulfill His anointing as Pastor/Teacher in me. He is faithful to do so and will always be. However, that does not negate my need to constantly go to the well—the Holy Spirit dwelling in me—in worship, prayer, and the word, to seek Him on the throne. He is my life. I ask Him to renew, refresh, lead, and speak. I am unqualified as a human to lead this church, but fully qualified through Christ who gives me strength, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort His people.
The Old Testament provides many amazing examples of men who were “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Just read the Psalms and discover the many prophecies of the coming Messiah: His life, and amazing details surrounding the cross that King David could not have known except by the Spirit. Likewise, Isaiah prophesied, “A voice of one calling, ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’” Is 40:3. This, of course, was a reference to John the Baptist. The Spirit also gave Isaiah the following: “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (7:14); and “…by His wounds we are healed.” (53:5). All these were written 600 to 1000 years before Christ was born. These are the words of the Holy Spirit through faithful believers.
When I wrote last week’s sermon the Spirit moved me to change the passage from 2 Peter to the following:
Above all, you must understand that no Christian ever lived the Christian life by his own ideas and strength. For the Christian life never had its origin in the will of people, but men and women received their life as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
It is of utmost importance that you understand this. King David, Isaiah, and others who wrote Scripture are no different that you or I. They received their lives as they abided in the Holy Spirit through prayer and worship. My life is no different than yours, except for our gifts in the body of Christ.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. That is why it says, ‘When He ascended on high…He gave gifts to men.” Eph 4:7-8.
What is your gift? Do you know how to discover it? Pray! Praise! Worship! Give your self fully, dive deeply into a relationship with the third Person of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit. The gift will manifest; it will flow. Do not look for it; worship Him! The Christian life never had its origin in the will of people. You cannot decide to do good works, or to think like God, and call that the Christian life. It is not. Rather, we seek Him who IS the Christian life within us. “…no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what He has freely given us.” 1 Cor 2:11-1.
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