Walk As God Leads

Sharon Townsend

Pastor of Grace Assembly

Chesterfield, Michigan

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” II Corinthians 1:8

Paul had not wanted the saints to be ignorant concerning the trouble that came to him when he was in Asia. The word “trouble” means a narrow place that hems one in; especially when feeling there is no escape. There had been a time in Paul’s ministry where he had been forbidden by the Holy Ghost to go into Asia so Paul did not go at that time.

If Paul had gone to Asia when God had told him not to, he would not have had to face the opposition from Satan that we see mentioned here in verse 8. Paul eventually did go into Asia at the right time and it is at that time he was faced with “trouble.”

Just because our feet are going in the direction the Lord leads, does not mean there isn’t going to be opposition. Oftentimes opposition and trouble come because one IS walking the way the Lord leads. I want to share a few thoughts, all seem to deal with “feet.”

Jesus washes the  disciples feet in John 13:1-17, remember it was before the cross. Peter did not want him to wash his feet and Jesus let him know it was necessary. Then Peter said, if that’s the case then wash all of me. Jesus let him know, he was already clean, only his feet needed cleansing. 

Usually feet were washed after they got dirty. They were in the house and probably had them washed before they entered the house which, I believe, was the custom. Here Jesus washes Peter’s feet just before he went to the cross. Just before Peter denied him. Jesus was preparing him for what lay ahead.

We look at Peter’s denial of Jesus as a great failure. It wasn’t. That experience cause Peter to know that he could not put his trust in self; but he could trust Jesus. His focus afterwards, is off himself and on Jesus. That is victory.

We know, from scripture that we are cleansed through the washing of water by the word. It is the Word that cleans our feet. It is the Word that prepares us for what lay ahead. This portion of scripture is not about salvation. It is about our walk.

Verse 14, “If I then, your LORD and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” 

So, how is this done? We encourage or build each other up with the Word. We find Jesus and share Him.

 MORE THAN ENOUGH

John 6:1-14

David Beck

Sedalia, Missouri

I know, this is a very familiar story that most of us remember from Sunday School. It’s found in all four Gospels. The Lord impressed it upon me by the Holy Spirit. This account was a huge miracle. One definition of a miracle is “supernatural intervention by God in the ordinary course of nature.” Some say we don’t see miracles anymore. If you are a Born Again Christian, look in a mirror and you will see a miracle! All of us were sentenced to die because of sin …BUT GOD!! He intervened in the person of Jesus Christ and that was forever changed for All who believe in that finished work of Calvary.

We see in Verse 2 “a great multitude followed Jesus and in V. 3 that Jesus sat on the mountain with his disciples, separate from the multitude. I thought of those who take their place in the heavenly places in Christ by faith. Those who walk with Jesus daily, So, who am I listening to? Who am I spending time with? Am I following to be in the crowd, or am I following Jesus to be with Him?

In V. 4 we read the Passover was near. This is no coincidence because Jesus is the Substance of God’s Passover! Not only is HE the ONE who would be more than enough food for this multitude …HE is the ONE whose sacrifice would be More than enough to provide for eternal life to all who believe on Him.

V. 5, Jesus sees this great multitude approaching and I do not believe He was at all surprised. He asks Philip where bread could be purchased to feed them. Yet, He himself knew what He would do. I also believe He knew what Philip’s answer would be. Philip realized the futility of this suggestion. So why did Jesus ask Him? I think He wanted Philip to know HIS OWN ATTITUDE. God will allow us to peer into that mirror and see an attitude, opinion, or interpretation that does not reflect the viewpoint of one who is wholly dependent on Christ.

The 200 denarii equaled about a year’s wages and was probably all the money they had, but not enough to solve this problem. There was such a great need before them and their resources were so small. How often do we face an imposing obstacle or a serious trial and it seems to consume us so that our faith may dwindle and even unbelief begins to creep in. Unbelief leads to doubt and fear: fear of failing, of letting others down, even doubting that God will answer or supply the need. 

Mary Bodie wrote, “Philip saw the crowd, not the Christ.” Do we sometimes see the need or the demand and not the Supply? We have all these questions, and HE is the answer! We are so limited and HE is not! A preacher once said, “Are you impressed with the need, or are you impressed with God?” When did so much of Christendom get to the point that Jesus is not enough?

V. 9, Andrew has made a discovery. We may not have enough money, but this boy has his lunch. So Andrew’s suggestion shows he has doubt as well. We have gone from spending all of our money for bread that won’t even begin to be enough …to having something on hand that may feed a family or two. Oh, my! Don’t we come up with some of the greatest ideas!

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT), the Lord says, “MY thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. My ways are far beyond anything you can imagine.” We simply cannot limit God to our understanding or expectations. The Word of God is not bound and God is not bound. My wife will say, “You can’t put God in a box.” The Lord wants to move in ways to inspire you, put you in awe, cause you to be grateful, joyful, and to trust and love Him even more.

V. 10, notice Jesus really doesn’t answer Andrew’s question, but He most certainly responds. He says, “have them sit down,” get in position to receive, to be ministered to. This tells us to submit, wait, and to acknowledge HIS power, HIS authority, HIS ability, and HIS headship as opposed to our own or anyone else! We are to be expecting even before we see anything happen. A friend of mine says “do the next thing.” God wants us to trust Him to deliver us, and He also wants us to trust Him each step of the way. Don’t ignore or disregard the process. It is often during that time we can receive the greatest blessing and revelation from the Lord.

V. 11, “Jesus took …and gave thanks …” He did not say “Well, I wish there was more, but if this is all you can come up with, let’s give it a try.” A great example of being thankful in little, not just in much. Now notice … It is in HIS hands.

We have gone from “that each may have a little” – V. 7, to “as much as they wanted” – V. 11. All were given opportunity to partake; regardless of race, religion, gender, age, education, or class of society. No discrimination here! (God is no respecter of persons). All are welcome at the table of Jesus.

So, what happened? Everything changed when it was put IN HIS HANDS. And it still does …think of the change that takes place when something, or someone, is placed in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In HIS hands …”a little” becomes “abundantly above all we could ask or think” …weakness becomes Strong in the power of HIS might …sickness turns into health …the impossible becomes possible “things that be not” become “things that are” …mourning turns into dancing …death becomes life, and life more abundant …a problem becomes a process as stumbling blocks become stepping stones and the most difficult experience brings the greatest revelations of truth!

Part 2 of “More Than Enough” will be in the next issue.

 The Encouraging Word

“For what so ever things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18

Jesus speaking, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” Psalm 13:5

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:6 and verse 10.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 8:8 

To God be the Glory.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalm 56:3

Martha Wainright

 Change Not Performance

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:1-4 

It is our normal human nature to want to be accepted by others, and many times we are willing to put on a mask that is not our normal self. We can act in ways that make people think we are something that we are not. The old nature, that we all have, likes to act religious because it means that we do not have to recognize our failure before God. It is certainly possible to look like we are “spiritual,” when our heart is not right.

God is always dealing with our attitudes. He is not fooled by our outward actions even if they appear to be good. God is not in the business of making people that can put on a front and do things to be seen of others. He is in the business of changing our hearts to be like Him. The Christian life has never been about performance, but about change. 

God has always looked at man’s heart and sees what others do not. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Everything we do is known by God, and He is the one that will reward accordingly. We are not talking about our salvation when we talk about rewards. We will receive a reward according to our deeds. However, those deeds should be done as unto the Lord and not to impress people. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 

When we are doing something for the Lord, it should be done as unto the Lord without considering whether others see us and recognize our efforts. While it is generally true that our actions are the effect of what is in our heart, we are certainly capable of doing things with the sole purpose of making others think something about us that is not really true. The real question is whether we really want to please God or man.

This is what Paul says about his intentions. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (ESV) Every action should be in the attitude of pleasing God. This does not mean that we will act perfectly all the time. It is, however an attitude of heart that needs to pervade our life.

Many understand and agree that our salvation is by grace alone, but then they want to turn to performance for the rest of their spiritual growth. God has never desired “performance” from us. He desires only surrender. It is far harder to surrender all of our life to Jesus than to try to do something on our own. 

Jesus makes it very clear in John 15 that we can do nothing apart from Him. He is speaking there about bearing fruit. Performance is not fruit, it is self effort. What Jesus does in us when we are truly abiding in Him, is a real change in our hear attitude. He is making us more and more like Him. This is what Paul means when he says we are being changed from glory to glory.

God’s people will find so much rest and spiritual growth when they begin to realize that Jesus wants to complete their sanctification if they will let Him. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6. “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:” Psalm 138:8a. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10 

Please consider that you are not expected to perform something that is defined by someone else in order to be spiritual. If you will yield your heart and life to Jesus, He will work a change in your life that you cannot on your own. I am so amazed at what He has changed in my life. I can really see many changes in my attitudes in my heart.

I saw this quote somewhere, and I think it is correct. “Nobody wakes up one day and decides to lock Jesus out. They just build something that works without Him.”

 Spiritual Leprosy

Pastor Vicky Moots

Kingman, Kansas

Leprosy, in the Bible, is a spiritual picture, or type, of sin. At that time, it was considered incurable, but now it is treatable. I would like to discuss the physical disease of leprosy and then give the spiritual comparison and meaning of it. 

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is a slow growing bacterial infection affecting the skin, the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, testicles and peripheral nerves. It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacteria that is similar to the one that causes tuberculosis. 

The first symptom that appears is patches of skin on the body that look like a rash, but there is no itching. One of the most marked manifestations of the disease is the loss of the ability to feel temperature or pain in the affected areas. This is due to the destruction of the nerves, which can lead to atrophy and bone damage and autoamputation of the fingers and toes. Leprosy is very disfiguring and can lead to paralysis of the hands and feet. The patients unknowingly burn or injure themselves, and then the wound becomes infected. Death was usually due to infected sores.

So, how is leprosy like sin? Sin, like leprosy, destroys a person a little at a time, and they do not feel it or realize it. As leprosy progresses, it affects the appearance, the speech, the ability to walk, and the ability to bear fruit. Untreated, it leads to death. Likewise spiritually, when we yield to the sinful old creation it affects our talk, our walk, and our outward appearance and causes us to become unfruitful. 

The leper was considered “unclean” according to the Old Testament Law and had to be separated from the other people in a place outside the city. Sin, likewise, separates us from fellowship with God. Leviticus, chapters 13 and 14, give the regulations regarding the plague of leprosy and even how it was diagnosed. 

In Lev. 13:45 the leper was commanded that he was to “...put a covering upon his upper lip and shall cry, unclean, unclean.” In other words, he was to put a covering over his mouth. This law was to prevent the spread of the disease to other people. It is interesting to me that no one at that time knew how leprosy was transmitted. We now know that it is spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing.

In the spiritual sense, just like the leper, the Christian who is yielding to the flesh instead of walking in the spirit, is unclean. But according to I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is the only cure for spiritual leprosy. 

Leprosy is spread by prolonged close contact with someone who is infected, not by casual contact with them. And so it is with sin. The more time that we spend in an unwholesome environment, or the more time that we spend with unbelievers, the more likely that it will begin to affect us. Jesus occasionally ate with sinners and ministered to them, but He did not associate with any of their activities. We are commanded in II Cor. 6:17 to come out from among them and be separate. 

In II Kings 5 we read the story of Naaman who was captain of the host of the king of Syria. Verse one describes him as “a great man … and honorable … he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” Naaman was a great man, but he was unclean, just like all of us who have sinned. He sought the prophet Elisha for healing. Elisha sent a messenger to him to tell him to go and wash in the river Jordan seven times, and he would be clean.

Naaman was angry and refused to obey at first because Jordan was a dirty river. He finally swallowed his pride, and v. 14 tells us that “... he went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

The river Jordan is a spiritual picture of our death and resurrection with Christ, and the number seven is God’s number of completeness (on the seventh day, creation was complete). The dirty river water of Jordan had no healing power, and it was not what cleansed Naaman. It took faith and complete obedience to the command to “wash and be clean.” He had to dip in the water seven times, not just two or three. 

To have victory over sin, we must submerge our souls completely in the murky waters of the death of Christ and be raised up with Him as a new creation, as Paul testifies in Gal. 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

 Sharing Testimonies

June Arst

I want to start by saying how thankful I was to grow up in the family I did. I’m thankful that I’ve was raised by a wonderful mom and dad who taught me so much in life and about the Lord and about the Grace of God. Also, I had a wonderful and ornery brother I enjoyed growing up with. I really enjoyed going to church and going to fellowship meetings and also to camp. It was fun for me.

I really can’t complain about my life. I love people that I have gotten to know over my life time. I was a single person for a long time and then, the Lord brought me a wonderful man to whom I have really enjoyed being married. I am so happy that my Dad got to perform our wedding. We went back to our honeymoon spot in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and when we stepped back into Thorn Crown Chapel, I broke down in tears as it brought the memory of our wedding back to surface. 

In 1997 my husband David was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Then, several years later I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. It seems like most of my life was medicine free and hospital free and I had pretty good health. 

Last year David had to have half of his thyroid removed. That wasn’t easy and his recovery was rough. Two years ago I had to go to the emergency room and found out that I had blockage in my kidneys. Two years later, on the 9th through the 13th of March of this year, I was in the hospital. Before that, I had gone to my doctor’s and ended up having a lot of shortness of breath. That Monday they hooked me up to an E.K.G. and said I was in A-Fib .and told me I was going to have to go to the Hospital. I chose St. Theresa because the heart doctor that was there was from my doctor’s office. 

When I was done with the E.K.G., David said he was feeling funny. He thought his blood sugars were dropping they checked his blood sugar and got him something to eat his blood sugar was doing fairly good. When I came back to the room, after I went to the bathroom David was talking but I didn’t understand what he said and then his hands started shaking and his body started convulsing and he started to fall forward I grabbed his body and held him back and yelled for help. When they came in the nurse tried to do what she could and David blacked out again. 

When he came to they started to check his blood pressure, and blood sugar again and pulse, and oxygen. More than half the staff was in the room taking care of David. I moved to the hallway to give them room to work on David. We ended up at the same Hospital Emergency room. 

I got out of the hospital on the 13th and have been at home recovering with watching my sodium closely and taking blood pressure and checking pulse taking lots of medications. I Thank the Lord for His love and care over me. My prognosis sounds positive if I make big changes for my health. I thank the LORD JESUS FOR HIS LOVE. 

They also had to reset my heart beat on April 22, which was David’s and my anniversary. I stayed at St. Francis overnight. Since then it has taken me a while to recover. I had a life vest that I have worn since the 13th of March, that monitored my heart and could act as a defibrillator if necessary. 

We had made some serious changes since I was released from the hospital with our sodium intake and making big changes but just took a step further. I do believe that God put that in my head to do that and watching our food closer has also paid off because when I went to the doctor last Monday I had an echocardiogram and this last Friday, 26th of June was my followup with my Heart doctor. He pointed at the battery pack that was part of the life vest and said you can get rid of that thing. He also lowered my medications. and said my heart was almost back to normal. 

I love our gracious Lord how wonderful and faithful he is to take care of his children. God blessed us with all of you and your prayers. Thank you Lord for our spiritual family that has been praying for us all the way through this journey, and for God’s wonderful healing. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. 

(Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name he has done great things Bless his holy Name bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is with in me bless his Holy name!)

Paul Chastain

My Prayer

I Come Broken, Lord, with no place left to go. 

I come broken, Lord, with nothing left to show 

For a wasted life of sin and shame. I come broken Lord, 

For You are my only hope. Yes, I’ve wasted my life on sin and frivolity; for a sinful life was the only life for me. 

Now I know the folly of the sinful life I’ve lived, 

so, I come broken, Lord, full of sin and sickness please 

please won’t You take me in? 

I’ve had no friends nor family to walk my road with me; 

So, now I walk this lonely road with one last chance for me. 

As I walk the lonely road, torn, tattered and filthy, 

so full of sin and shame, I have come almost to roads end; 

hoping that you will accept me and take me in. 

For there is no place left to go, so I come to You, Lord, please won’t You take me in? 

As I near the end of the road I have walked, so full of sin and shame, I look ahead and see a solitary figure, standing, looking back at me. 

It is You, O Lord, I see, looking back at me; 

It is You I see, with arms held open wide, and the love I see shining from Your eyes, I know is meant for only me. 

You call my name and say, “I love you, Paul, please come and live with Me? That you have wasted your life is plain for all to see; Yet only I alone can redeem you, if you will come and live for Me. A life poured out in service, leading others unto Me, 

a life redeemed, and lived in liberty.” 

I am not perfect, it is plain for all to see, yet Jesus loved me, saved me, that I might live my life for Him, in perfect liberty.

         A Soul

A soul in distress,

  cries out with grief.

Seeking an answer,

  desiring relieve.

The Word goes forth,

  Touching that soul.

Pointing to Jesus,

  making it whole.

A healing takes place,

  For all to see.

For a soul once bound,

  Is now set free!

The name of Jesus!

  His cross! His grave!

His resurrection!

  A soul is saved!

Debra Isenbletter

Springfield, Missouri