In the previous post, we observed
that part of learning to trust and listen to Christ means that we must take
time with him as Martha’s sister (Mary) did when Jesus was visiting their home.
Through Bible accounts, we can see that when Jesus was calling an individual the
person would take time to listen most often. The disciples were called to
follow Christ and they would take time to sit at his feet and listen. Some of
the disciples their hearts were fertile ground and the seeds of truth were
planted while some were too busy doing their own thing.
It wasn’t until the disciples were united in Christ that they received the Holy Spirit and when that happened the world was changed. The disciples were now walking in unity, having faith in Christ, and being led by the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior and with the leading of the Holy Spirit then we begin to walk with Him. Walking with Jesus means that what you have learned while sitting and learning, you can now apply it to your daily life. It is a process. For example you don’t first write a thesis then, listen to the necessary instructions from your professor. No, you first sit and listen for instructions, get to know the subject and then you apply what you have learned and with research write your thesis. Walking with Jesus is applying what you have learned of him, what He wants of you and understanding what he will do for you by sitting, listening and applying what you have learned through worship.
Walking with Jesus is part of building a strong relationship with him. Getting to know Jesus and what he will and will not do in our lives is important. For example, Jesus will never lead you into sin, or cause you to fall, or ask you to do something that he is totally against because he is perfect. In fact, I say this because I too was a victim of pastoral sexual abuse in my early 30’s. In addition, I have worked with women and men who have been victims of pastoral sexual abuse as adults and often they became victims because they did not have a relationship with Christ. Let me further explain. I have heard of many stories where the “pastor-perpetrator” would use Bible verses to manipulate his/her victims into sexual misconduct. Hence, when victims would come to me and while in sessions they would explain the verse that deemed it right for the “pastor-perpetrator” to abuse them and then I provided biblical verses that show they were being manipulated by using the Bible to cause them to fall they became irate toward the abuser and toward themselves. Unfortunately, these victims did not know Jesus well enough just like I did not know Jesus well enough to know that my perpetrator was using the Bible for his own disgusting pleasure.
Walking &Learning
It wasn’t until the disciples were united in Christ that they received the Holy Spirit and when that happened the world was changed. The disciples were now walking in unity, having faith in Christ, and being led by the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior and with the leading of the Holy Spirit then we begin to walk with Him. Walking with Jesus means that what you have learned while sitting and learning, you can now apply it to your daily life. It is a process. For example you don’t first write a thesis then, listen to the necessary instructions from your professor. No, you first sit and listen for instructions, get to know the subject and then you apply what you have learned and with research write your thesis. Walking with Jesus is applying what you have learned of him, what He wants of you and understanding what he will do for you by sitting, listening and applying what you have learned through worship.
Walking with Jesus is part of building a strong relationship with him. Getting to know Jesus and what he will and will not do in our lives is important. For example, Jesus will never lead you into sin, or cause you to fall, or ask you to do something that he is totally against because he is perfect. In fact, I say this because I too was a victim of pastoral sexual abuse in my early 30’s. In addition, I have worked with women and men who have been victims of pastoral sexual abuse as adults and often they became victims because they did not have a relationship with Christ. Let me further explain. I have heard of many stories where the “pastor-perpetrator” would use Bible verses to manipulate his/her victims into sexual misconduct. Hence, when victims would come to me and while in sessions they would explain the verse that deemed it right for the “pastor-perpetrator” to abuse them and then I provided biblical verses that show they were being manipulated by using the Bible to cause them to fall they became irate toward the abuser and toward themselves. Unfortunately, these victims did not know Jesus well enough just like I did not know Jesus well enough to know that my perpetrator was using the Bible for his own disgusting pleasure.
Walking &Learning
Abraham, Moses, Daniel, John and others
walked with God and they had a profound love relationship with the Creator. The
more times they sat in prayer and worship the longer they were able to walk
with the Creator. Unfortunately, Satan has perfected ways to distract us so
that we don’t sit down and learn from our Creator because the more we learn of
His beautiful character the more we desire to walk with Him and in time and through
the leading of the Holy Spirit we will reflect the character of the Creator. If
we don’t have a deep relationship with our Creator, we will fall away from Him.
I love the story of Enoch and how he walked with God “Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and
daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he
was no more, because God took him away.”
Genesis 5:22-24
When we complain, grumble, or put excuses because we need to sit, listen to the leading, learn from His lessons and walk in His presence, then we are grieving the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it very clear about our salvation and how the Holy Spirit should be respected “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
Do you want to heal from your past abuses? Are you willing to sit, listen, learn and walk with Christ? Then, ask the Holy Spirit today to open your heart so that it can become fertile ground and the seeds of truth can be rooted in your heart like a strong tree that its roots are firmly planted that cannot be shaken. Walk with God today, talk with God today and listen to God today and see his glory.
When we complain, grumble, or put excuses because we need to sit, listen to the leading, learn from His lessons and walk in His presence, then we are grieving the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it very clear about our salvation and how the Holy Spirit should be respected “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
Do you want to heal from your past abuses? Are you willing to sit, listen, learn and walk with Christ? Then, ask the Holy Spirit today to open your heart so that it can become fertile ground and the seeds of truth can be rooted in your heart like a strong tree that its roots are firmly planted that cannot be shaken. Walk with God today, talk with God today and listen to God today and see his glory.
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