DON’T ASK WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT RATHER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD
WRITTEN BY JACO VAN AS
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How interesting that so many people always want God to first reveal Himself in some way before they will follow Him. How interesting that so many Christians just want everything from God but do not want to do anything in return? What is most interesting is that so many of these people already have a personal relationship with our Lord but are still not prepared to spend some quality time in His presence. Yet most of these people are the first to turn away from God because according to them God did not answer their prayers.
My friends, lets see what the Lord gives us from His Word:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”. Prov 3:5-6. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mat 6:33. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21.
Jesus gave us the choice whether we want to follow Him or not, He gave us that FREEDOM. If we choose to seek Him, follow Him, go into a personal relationship with him, follow his commandments and share the great news with others, then He WILL reveal Himself to us. My friends, that is a promise He made and believe me, God does not lie! When I say that God will reveal Himself I am not saying that He will appear in front of you in flesh, I am saying that He will attend to your “call” and will reveal Himself to you through the Holy Spirit, His Word (Bible) or through someone else that He brings onto your path. Jesus wants us to first make the choice of accepting Him as our Saviour, then follow Him and His commandments and then live it!
When I say live, I mean spreading His work, sharing the good news with others, helping others to be saved and then continue to serve Him unconditionally. In simple terms, Jesus wants us to make the first step! I have been saved for many years but it was only when I started spending real quality time with Him, worshipping Him and spreading His Word that He started to reveal Himself to me, which then changed my life completely.
We are so quick to ask why Jesus is not healing me, why Jesus is not providing food, why Jesus is not letting me have that job, why Jesus is not giving me a car, why Jesus this and why Jesus that. Well my friends, today I am bringing you a message telling you that Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you, He want to provide and He wants to touch and change your life, but He wants you to make that first step!
He also wants to ask you today about the times in your life He did help. How many times did He provide that you did not even notice? How many times did He provide and you did not even thank Him? How many times did you make promises and He provided but then you did not live up to that promise or continued with your sinful life? How many times did He provide and then you were to shy to show others what He did for you? How many times did you pray and did not believe that you really will receive, and I mean REALLY believe?
Lets quickly look at our way of living and if we really doing our part. When a friend, or just someone you know, call you about a stunning live show happening with one of your favourite singers, artists, actors or whatever it might be, would you go? In most cases, the answer would be yes and in fact, you would even be prepared to pay for it, wouldn’t you? If you are invited to go to a dance with some friends or people you know, maybe a good movie or just some coffee at your local Mugg ‘n Bean, would you go? Again, I am sure you would not think twice to say yes. However, if a friend or someone you know, who are in a personal relationship with Christ, invites you to attend an awesome church service or maybe just some great worshipping, maybe just a cell group, which will inspire and strengthen you, will you attend that? I know that many people, probably most of you reading this article, will say yes, but the reality is that the majority of people in general will NOT.
What is interesting my friends is that the people who complaint the most that Jesus is not giving them what they want or is not revealing Himself and providing to them, would most of the time be those who would say yes to earthly invites but not to Godly ones, invites that will help them grow closer to God, inspire them, strengthen them and build their spirits. Today I want to ask you think you will find Jesus in your local club at your local church? Do you think Jesus will reveal Himself at a live rock concert or rather within a cell group inside someone’s home? Do you think Jesus will reveal Himself inside a bottle of brandy or rather a glass of fruit juice/wine used at your church monthly/quarterly communion? This is indeed a very interesting question, isn’t it?
I know I am asking you many questions today, but I want you to think about this. I want you to understand that Jesus does not lie, He does answer prayers, He does reveal Himself to us and He is with us always. It is US who are to blind to see Him, that pushes Him away, who doesn’t follow Him, who make the wrong choices and choose earthly things over Him and it is us who choose not to attend gatherings that will help us grow spiritually and through all this be opened up to be revealed to.
My friends, I am not saying that we cannot enjoy life, we can indeed! All I am saying is that we need to first seek Him and rather ask God what we can do for Him FIRST before we want to ask what He can do for us! If we accept Christ into our lives, follow His commandments, spread the Word, share the good news and commit ourselves to His work then He will answer our prayers and provide to us as promised! If God does not answer right away, please be patient as He is busy shifting things around to give you what you want, it takes time! Also, remember that God has a bigger plan for your life and whatever it is you asking, must be able to fit into that plan. We sometimes ask things that are not realistic and that doesn’t fit into His plan for us and when this happen, you need to TRUST God as you will find out later in your life why things turned out the way it did and why you did not get what you asked for.
God always knows better because He can see into your future and you cannot! If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5.
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 22:25.
In summary I want to say that Jesus want to reveal Himself to everyone, He wants to answer your prayers, but He wants us to make that first move by accepting Him into your lives, have a personal relationship with Him, follow his commandments, spread the Word of God, show to others that you live with Him in your heart, make an effort to grow spiritually by attending gatherings, cell groups and events and to trust Him in full.
Ask what you can do for God and not what God can do for you!
If you have not accepted Jesus into your life yet and wish to do so now, then please say the following prayer, which will give you that personal relationship with Him, which will give you the freedom and which will open your heart to receive:
Father God, I acknowledge that You are the one and only God. Jesus I acknowledge that You are the
Son of God and that You came to earth, died on the cross for my sins and overcame death through
the resurrection. Jesus I acknowledge that You are now in Heaven and preparing a way for me. Will
You come live in my heart? Holy Spirit I now welcome You into my heart. Father in the name of
Jesus please forgive me all the sins I have committed. Please be what I say, think and do so that I
will know and do the will of my God. Amen!