Corona Devo 1682

What is God up to today in our lives?  

We often don't know what God is doing.  We can't.  That's why we have to trust Him, and His leadings, and His Spirit (the Holy Spirit). 

Don't stifle God.  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.   ~I Thessalonians 5:19

~~~

A friend of ours shared a story about one day years ago when he was selling his bison meat at a local farmers market.  A friend came up and introduced him to a young man who was from Iran. Thoughts of persecutions flashed through my friend's mind.  

"How long you been here?" our friend asked the Iranian man.

"I got here yesterday", came the Iranian's reply.  

"You should come to our church tomorrow", our friend invited.  And the Iranian man did.  

That was ten years ago.  The Iranian man and his (now) wife have attended that church just about every Sunday since.  They are Believers in God and their testimonies are astounding.

Why?

Because our friend felt the Holy Spirit tell him to invite a new-to-American-soil Iranian to church one Saturday morning at a farmer's market table.  

And he obeyed.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.   ~I Thessalonians 5:19

Or, as another translation says it: Do not quench the Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19). 

And what if our friend had quenched the Holy Spirit that day?  What if he hadn't acted on what God nudged him in his spirit to say that day? 

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (20) Do not scoff at prophecies, (21) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22) Stay away from every kind of evil.  ~I Thessalonians 5:19-22

~~~

As a couple, friends of ours lead weekly elementary-aged children's ministry (Sunday School) classes.  A daunting task for anyone, and this couple is in their seventies...but, they love it.

They have numerous and colorful stories about the young people that sit in their classroom week to week, and one unforgettable story they shared with us was about a Sunday when they invited any students interested in "asking Jeus into their heart" to come forward and pray with them.  

This particular week one boy ambled up to the front.  Led by our friends in prayer, the young man acknowledged his sin and his need of a Savior.  He thanked Jesus for His sacrifice on the cross, and the boy prayed to receive Jesus into his heart.  His eternity was sealed with Christ that day.

The child was killed in city violence the next week.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.   ~I Thessalonians 5:19

And what if our friends had quenched the Holy Spirit that day?  What if they had not called-forth children to receive Christ that day?  Something told them to, because although they often invite kids to pray this way, they do not do it every Sunday.  

Thank God they acted on what God nudged them in their spirit to do that day.

~~~

We don't know what God is doing.  We can't.  That's why we have to trust Him, and His leadings, and His Spirit (the Holy Spirit).  Don't stifle God.  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.   ~I Thessalonians 5:19

~~~  

...and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. (29) The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  

(30) Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  

(31) “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him...  (35) Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  

(36) As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”... ( 38) And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ~Acts 8:28-31, 35-36, 38

And what if Philip had quenched the Holy Spirit that day?  What if he hadn't acted on what God nudged him in his spirit to do that day? 

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (20) Do not scoff at prophecies, (21) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22) Stay away from every kind of evil.  ~I Thessalonians 5:19-22

~~~

What is God up to today in our lives?  

I'm sure I don't know.  But that still-small voice inside of us does.  That's the Holy Spirit.

Don't stifle it.

~~~

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (20) Do not scoff at prophecies, (21) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22) Stay away from every kind of evil.   ~I Thessalonians 5:19-22


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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