Standing before the God Who is there.
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
If the Lord has ever called you to a ministry or work (we call it work, because so many people feel “ministry” is only for preachers), He has not changed His mind concerning you.
Our whole existence should be: to will to please our Lord, as His creature and servant.
As creatures, we are responsible for all He has given us.
Who I am and what I am rests with the God before Whom I stand.
I can not make myself what I am not; nor can I excuse myself for what I have been.
But I can give myself over to the molding of the Holy Spirit within, and do God’s Will in obedience, now.
He will work within the increase of faith, hope, peace, and joy that I need, as I yield to Him.
It is: I stand, as His servant, before Him in each situation.
It is not as someone else, or someone I might be someday, but who I am, using the faith that God has given me.
Example:
Acts 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them which entered into the temple;”
Peter and John, had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
But they were still Peter and John.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be filled to the capacity in your soul at that time, to receive the rule and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never interferes with you being you, in your personality, but only guides you away from sin, and into knowledge of God’s Will.
Then He gives grace or the empowerment to do God’s Will. (We still have to use it)
Peter and John were going along to prayer service, when they see this lame man.
He sat at the gate of the temple to beg alms.
He saw Peter and John, and as usual, he asked them for some money.
Acts 3:4 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.”
The lame man saw nothing different in them, for he expected some small change, as others gave him.
But Peter wanted to direct his eyes away from the coin, to what he said. For he knew that the Lord wanted to heal him. (“Fastening” here, means looking with a purpose in mind.)
Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
Notice Peter said, “such as I have give I thee”. What did he have?
He had the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the power of His name.
For Jesus Christ can change men’s lives.
And Peter knew the Lord’s Will, and used what he had to obey.
Notice also, he took him by the hand. Peter did not wait for the man to believe, but “lifted him up” in faith, himself.
And God did the rest: “his feet and ankle bones received strength” to walk and leap.
Then faith in the man caught up and he did not run home; but went into the temple to praise God.
If you read further, you will see how God used this to enable Peter to preach about Christ to others. Many believed. (Acts 4:4)
(Yes, they were put in “hold” for a night, but even that gave them the opportunity to preach in Jesus Name to the rulers, elders, and scribes.
They were threatened, but told the council, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”)
After such an experience, Peter and John went back to the company of believers and told what had happened.
All the gathered believers prayed for boldness to “speak Thy word”.
Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Here they were filled to the greater capacity in their souls. They had a larger capacity because of what they had done, and they needed more of His help.
And He gave it.
Standing before the God Who is there is simply being His obedient servant; and receiving and using the faith and help He gives.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 