Are you feeling like you’ve messed up and feel that things will never turn around? Our God is a God of second chances. You are called to new levels. Keep climbing! The load on your back will be lifted soon.
Jonah, the one who fled in the other direction when God gave him an assignment, is now given another chance. The Lord said to him, “Go to the great city of Nineveh, proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3: 1) This time Jonah will get it right!
Jonah obeyed. I think God probably smiled at him. We are told that “Nineveh was a very important city–a visit required three days.” (Jonah 3: 3)
Hmmm! Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days. Jesus was on the cross for three days. Jonah is requiring a visit in Nineveh, three days. The very scripture talking about three days is from Jonah 3: 3.
The very first day Jonah proclaims to Nineveh, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” (Jonah 3: 4)
What every prophet would want to hear: They believed God! Not only did they believe, but they declared a fast, and all of them, put on sackcloth. This was a sign of repentance and mourning. The king made a decree for everyone to call on God, urgently.
Here’s the result of fasting and repentance: “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” (Jonah 3: 10)
- It’s never too late to turn around, turn back or start over.
- Take hold of the chance you have.
- He desires to give you another chance to flourish. (Shared from Jonah 3, Modified)
Learn to excel in what God’s called you to. “Excel in gifts that build up the church.” (1 Corinthians 12: 12)
God is all about edifying and building us up. Prophecy is all about exhorting! I am passionate about this! I have seen so much misuse with the prophetic gift. It has turned folks away from using it and teaching about it. God has given this gift, like all the other gifts, to be used. All the gifts are to be used with the governing principle of love.
The New Testament prophet aids the apostle to help lay the foundation of the church. They confirm, clarify, and bring empowerment to the vision of the church. If error is discerned, take it to prayer. God may use you to bring forth breakthrough. Remember, building up, not tearing down is the goal. That does not mean that error should never be addressed.
Paul tells his audience, “Brothers, stop thinking like children.” (1 Corinthians 14: 20)
About the gift of tongues, another gift given, was used in the early church to bring the unbeliever to God. For example, an unbeliever walks into a church, as a foreigner, and someone speaks forth a message in their native tongue. That specific message, in their own dialect, could be God speaking to them. God used this way to bring many to Him.
A prayer language, is a form of prayer, an unknown tongue, that we speak and pray to God with. Paul explained it this way, “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays.” (1 Corinthians 14: 14) This prayer language edifies the one praying. It allows the Holy Spirit to pray through you, spirit to Spirit.
Does that mean that tongues is evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit? For those wondering about this, I propose to you, yes! Here’s what some scriptures say:
- On the day of Pentecost, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.” (Acts 2: 4)
- Another example is when Peter is speaking and the “Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out…for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” (Actis 10: 44-46)
- My final case in point is, “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19: 6)
Today, we may receive prophetic words about a specific situation we are in, and God is speaking encouragement and confirmation about it. The one giving the prophecy has no clue who you are or what you are dealing with. That brings us personal delight that God is with us in our struggle.
We all need affirmation and incitement at times. Personal encouragement can be given when we are in a prayer meeting, and someone, unknowingly, starts praying about something that you have asked the Lord about. Listen up, your answer may be coming in what they are praying.
Another way the Holy Spirit speaks is while you are talking with another person, they just happen to mention what you just asked God about. Yet, no one knew that except you and God.
Or, you read a daily devotional and there is a personal prophetic message in what is written on a topic you need clarification on.
These are all ways that God speaks to us and how spiritual gifts are in operation within every day of our lives. Being sensitive in the Holy Spirit enables us to be tuned in to what God is saying.
Let’s open up our hearts and receive what He is saying. Let’s dismantle the lies and false teachings about these matters, and let the Lord grow us up, in Him. We are to keep climbing and moving forward, not backing up and falling away.
In times like these, and in what’s coming, we need the strength of God to sustain us, teach us, guide and direct us. He gave us gifts to empower us in Him.
Don’t let fear keep you from growing in the Lord. If this was all okayed and implemented by our God when He started the church, why have some gravitated, away from it?
Timothy, a student of Paul’s, was speaking about godlessness in the last days. One of the signs was: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3: 5)
Lord Jesus, we never want any form of anything, we want you, and all of you, your authentic, pure love given to hurting, wounded, people. Love is the most excellent way in using our gifts, as His love and power are released. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit provides this! We can’t do life any other way!!!
(Shared from 1 Corinthians 14: 1-25, Passionately Modified)
Elijah is moving in God’s love as he is led by the Lord to send away the woman and her family whose son had his life restored. He was warning her of a severe famine coming upon the land that will last seven years.
At the end of the seven years, the woman and her family came back to her land. She went to the king to beg for her house and land. He assigned an official to her case.
Elisha was talking with the king about all the things the Lord has done, including the restoration of her son. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, says, “This is the woman, my Lord the king and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” (2 Kings 8: 7)
- When the king’s favor is upon your life, no begging is needed for your request.
The official signed to her case granted this, “Give back everything that belonged to her including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.” (2 Kings 8: 6) Remember, she was gone for seven years.
- The Lord–our provision. (Shared from 2 Kings 8, Modified)
Our God is not only a God of second chances, He’s a God of provision. He is able to give back everything that we have lost. He sees all–past, present, and future. We don’t see it all, even in our giftings, we see only in part.
Give our God a chance to redeem your situation and your heart. He shall not fail you. He is love, pure love. He sees us as we are, but also, as we will be. We were not created by chance. We were created for change, and to be the change. There’s only one letter different. Hint: The letters are in bold.
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3: 6)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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