“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24 NLT)
What has the Lord laid on your heart to do for Him? Is there a family member, friend, neighbor, stranger you just met, a co-worker, or a long, lost friend who has come to your remembrance and the Lord is asking you to reach out to them?
Is there a specific reason He’s prompting you to reach out? Is there an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus, to be a friend or advocate, guiding them in what they’re seeking to do or be? Perhaps you have experience in dealing with something with which they’re struggling? Whatever the reason for His prompting, pray carefully before you move forward.
In my experience and, as I understand Scripture, it’s not uncommon for us to receive mixed messages when it comes to the voice of God, not because He doesn’t make Himself clear, but because Satan is often seeking to mix God’s signals with his own. As a Jesus follower we are never immune to Satan’s interruptions, especially when we’re wanting to hear the Lord clearly and precisely.
Spiritual warfare is real, and Satan and his devilish emissaries are alive and active. That is not to say that we need to be fearful or alarmed. Satan is subject to the authority of Christ Jesus just like we are, so the good news is, while Satan can harass and tempt us, neither he, nor his evil spirits, can indwell us. If you are filled with God’s Spirit, you never have to be afraid of evil controlling you or forcing you to do something against your will.
Nothing can enter your life except it passes through the filter of God’s permission, so, if you’re dealing with temptations, ungodly habits, or a lifestyle you know is dishonoring to the Lord, run to the Lord, seek His forgiveness and be certain you’re filled with God’s Spirit. Every born-again believer in Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit upon repentance and conversion.
If you’re not certain you belong to Jesus, please check out Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge Illustration by clicking this link.
Okay, so what does all of this have to do with moving forward? Everything! Until you know with certainty that Jesus is your Lord, you’ll be groping in spiritual darkness, and guess who loves the darkness? Satan and his demons. If you’re trusting your feelings or receiving conflicting answers to your inquiries of God or others, the only way forward is to look back and make sure you don’t have any “skeletons” in your closet. What does that mean?
It means that if you have unforgiveness in your heart for someone, that you’re trying to cover up with good deeds or by being more “spiritual,” you’ve got to take a step back and make that relationship or those relationships right before you can move forward. If you’ve hurt someone or someone has hurt you, you need to ask forgiveness or offer forgiveness before you’re going to make progress moving forward.
Forgiveness is a multi-dimensional process, so let’s look at it more closely in tomorrow’s post.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 