God's Intervention

Here is one truth we won't be able to fully grasp until we are at last in the presence of our mighty King...


Our God is Sovereign...He reigns in our lives, and has complete control of everything going on with us, including our hearts. 

In Acts 16, you can read how God intervenes when our hearts are reaching toward His:

• Verse 7- Paul and Silas were trying to get to Bithynia, "but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." 
• Verse 14- Lydia was seeking God...when Paul and Silas spoke, "The Lord opened her heart."
• Verse 18- A girl had been following Paul and Silas, proclaiming what appeared to be a good thing...but "Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!'  At that moment the spirit left her." 
• Verse 25 & 26- Paul and Silas, being beaten and chained in prison, are praising and singing joyfully..."and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken..." 

In verse 7, we see God keeping Paul and Silas from furthering their journey.  What could this have looked like?  Maybe it was an intense tugging on their hearts that they couldn't ignore.  Maybe circumstances were against them and it wasn't working out for them to continue no matter what they tried.  Maybe it was a unified decision that confirmed God's intervention and direction.  We don't know.  All it says is "but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't allow them to."  Can you think of times where God has kept you from doing something?  Were things not working out?  Was there a huge tug on your heart?  Did everything around you point to it?  How do you know when it's God on your heart? 

I'll give you a few passages:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8

If we are instructed to think on things like this, they are from God.  Anything in conflict with this is not from God. 

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."  I John 4:8 

So, if that's true...look at I Corinthians 13...here's a chunk.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

Because God and Love are inter-mixed, if your heart is feeling the above, you're feeling God's intervention in your life.  We can't always pin-point how God tells you what He wants to tell you...that's why He has given us His Word.  We learn more and more about who God is and the many ways He works the more we study.

Acts 16 is only a small chunk of how God intervenes in our lives...but the truth is He does.  He is sovereign, and it's time we acknowledge Him for that, humbly coming before Him and meeting Him like Lydia. 

How do we know when we are getting a good thing and not a God thing?  I read in Weird by Craig Groeschel (and I am truly hooked on this truth I realized) about divine burdens.  A burden from God that is used to wrestle our hearts.  It is used to get us angry at oppression and injustice to the point that we are driven to do something about it...it's how God can move us.  I learned that Paul was troubled by this girl being a distraction to their ministry.  What she was saying appeared to be a good thing...but God granted Paul a burdened and troubled heart to stop this spirit from further hindrance. 

Warning: The devil uses good things to get in the way of great things...God things. 

At doing this, you can read what happens.  Paul and Silas get flogged (nasty whipping) and beaten, put in jail...and they complained and moaned all night...NOT.  They were "praying and singing hymns to God."  Talk about weird!!  This response caused the other prisoners to listen to them.  What faith and devotion to God!  Then you see how God intervenes for their deliverance and the eternal deliverance of the jailer watching over them. 

What would it look like if we responded like this?  What if God's intervention in our lives and our treasures that are stored in heaven were reflected in our daily lives like this?  If God brought an earthquake for them in response to their baffling reaction to all this suffering, what would happen with us?  How would God meet us in our times of rejoicing when trials come?  When we're bleeding physically and emotionally? 

My friends, I love you all.  As your sister in Christ, I encourage you to meditate on God's truths for you.  I am eager because "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:14)  I pray you find it. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)  Society has given us plenty of lies to rely on...lies that Satan wants to tie us down with.  We don't have to be that way.  We are slaves to righteousness, not slaves to sin.  Satan has no grip!  God is willing to equip us with everything we need to fight off these chains...don't forget your armor.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."  (Ephesians 3:16-17)