When I first got saved I started thinking about the things I was supposed to do as a christain. I didn’t know much but “go to church”, “be nice”, “maybe go to africa”, stuff like that.
The Lord started to show me that I wasn’t to go on just doing things I thought I was supposed to do. That I was to give my life to Him, to do with as He would. He said I needed to walk in the Spirit. Go where He would send me, speak what He would tell me, do what He asked me to do. Not only when I was in church, but every day.
Shortly after that I saw the (original) movie the Karate Kid and I don’t remember things very well but here is my paraphrase of part of that movie. This kid really wants to learn karate because people are picking on him and he cannot defend himself. He knows this old man that is very good at karate and he begs him to teach him. The man refuses several times and finally relents and says I will teach you karate but you must do everything I tell you to without arguing.
The kid agrees and when he gets to the mans house for his first lesson the man shows him his gazillion old cars in the back yard of his house and says, wash those cars. The kid argues and the man says, you said you would do whatever I told you to. So the kid reluctantly agrees to wash the cars. The man says, you must do it exactly as I say, wash with your right hand first, in circles like this. Then with your left hand making a circle like this… many cars later the boy returns to the man and says I am finished, expecting his first lesson finally.
The man says next, wax the cars. Another argument. Then the man says, wax them like this, making circles in exactly this way, wax on wax off. The boy did what he was told and then some other stuff happened in the movie that I don’t remember except the kid kept saying something like i am never going to learn karate…
But when that boy went into his first karate match, every time the opponent struck out at him, the boys hand went exactly like wax on wax off and he deflected every blow! What I got from this movie was that Jesus knows what He is doing even when it makes no sense to me. I should just do whatever He says.
He had me read these things:
… in him we live, and move… Acts 17:28
1) …David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 1 Sam 23:2
2) And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 1 Sam 30:1
And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 1 Sam 30:8
3) And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
2 Sam 5:22-25
Jesus showed me in that: twice He said yes to Davids prayers above, but instead of just assuming that he should go up to fight the next time, David asked God again. God said to do something different the third time.
Same with pauls ministry, they thought they should go to Bithynia, but Jesus said no.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Acts 16:7
The children of Israel got a lesson in following the Lord.
The Lord gave them clear instructions, which they didn’t do, and then on their own later they decided to do it.
And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us. Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. Deut 1:20-21
Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God: Deut 1:26
Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. Deut 1:41-44
(thank You Jesus for grace!)
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
Here are some examples of the Lord healing lepers, different each time, once with laying on of hands, once with His word, once not at all. We need to rely on Jesus to lead us by the Holy Spirit.
And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. Luke 5:12-13
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. Luke 17:12-14
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
… many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Luke 4:23&27
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:15-16
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
In the old testament the Holy Spirit guided men of God outwardly. They followed a pillar of fire and a cloud (ex. 13:21), and they inquired of the Lord with an ephod, (1 sam. 30:7-8) We are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and listen for His directions. It is often more difficult than following an outward pillar of fire, but being filled means we are always with the Lord. We learn to listen to the still small voice inside. If we turn to the wrong direction we will hear His voice directing us back to the right way. Isaiah 30:21
For an experiment I decided to set apart a half hour and sit on my couch and do nothing until I heard some direction from Jesus. Immediately my kids got unruly and bothersome so I initiated “quiet time”. I told them they would have one half hour of quiet time every day and they should get some toys and books and go to their room and be quiet and not bug me. Now if something serious happened I would immediately go help them, but they were quite fine entertaining themselves in their rooms for a half hour.
Then the phone started ringing so I took it off the hook and locked the front door, putting the dog out as well.
And then I just sat there. It was pretty quiet for quite some time. I think it was a couple days of doing this and I finally heard from the Lord. He said, do the dishes. Gees just like that movie! I laughed and did the dishes. This began an amazing journey in my life of just asking Jesus what do You want to do today? We have done some awesome things.
Here are some more things He taught me about walking in the Spirit:
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:15-17
Jesus didn’t do His own will when He walked on earth, He listened to His Father’s instructions. We are not greater than Jesus, we need to seek His will, not ours.
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. John 5:19-20
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim 1:9
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Eccl 3:1
…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Eccl 3:7
1) Jesus told one person to tell people about the miracle He had performed:
Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. Luke 8:39
2) Jesus told another person not to tell anyone about a miracle:
And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was
of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:42-43
there was a time to speak, and a time to remain quiet:
1) And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13:17
2) When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. John 19:8-9
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak… James 1:19
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Heb 12:2
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. John 6:37-38
Rooted and grounded in Jesus…
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:6-7
Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. Ezek 31:7
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Prov 7:4-5
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:25
Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. 1 Sam 23:10-13
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:6
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Prov 27:12
But he perceived their craftiness,… Luke 20:23
…These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. John 12:36
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-14
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 2 Chron 25:7-8
And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord. Zech 10:12
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Psalms 43:3-4
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:6
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim 1:9
Plans formed long ago, carried out with perfect faithfulness.
O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer 10:23
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thess 3:3
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Heb 10:9
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: Phil 1:6
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph 3:11
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them . Heb 7:25
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith… Heb 12:2
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20-21
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… 2 Cor 12:9
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalms 143:8
Following Jesus and learning from Him was like my college experience. I had chemistry lecture on Tuesday and lab on Thursday. I hated lecture, loved lab. Chemical formulas didn’t make sense to me when I read about them or someone explained them to me- until Thursdays. Thursdays we actually put that stuff in the vial and watched it make all that cool smoke, i finally understood what the professor had been trying to tell me. My life began to be lecture and lab with Jesus.
Jesus gave me this lecture one time about envy, I don’t really remember anything He said to me, something about envy or something, but the lab got me. It was a few days after the lecture when for some reason this really cool christian lady I had heard speak invited me to spend the night at her house while I was there in her town.
She wasn’t rich at all, it was a small house, but I remember her bedroom. It had a grand piano, I love pianos. My Heavenly Father plays the piano. Her bedroom also had this really awesome cathedral ceiling, with a sky light.
I remember thinking, wow, that ceiling is really high up there! I wish I had a cathedral ceiling, God never gives me cathedral ceilings. I had fun there, she and her husband were very kind to me, and then I went home to my little house with no piano and no cathedral ceiling.
That afternoon underneath my waterbed started sparking and sparking, from the heater. Those heaters are under the water mattress so I drained the bed which took a long time, even unplugged the heater still sparking and sparking, me praying “Lord don’t let the house catch on fire!”
Finally when there was only 50 or 70 pounds of water left in the mattress I dragged it to the window and started pushing it out, I really had to fight that mattress to get it to go out the window. When I looked up for a minute I saw my neighbor watching me out his window practically falling on the floor laughing at me.
I got the heater disconnected, no bad fire, but also no bed. That night when I lay down on my comforter on the floor looking up, I heard, just as clear as day, “wow, that ceiling is really high up there!” I started laughing and said, oh I understand the lecture now Jesus!
One time Jesus gave me a lecture about people that love Him but don’t confess Him before men. It went like this:
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8-9
I am so smart I got that one right away. Short and sweet, I got it, if I had to confess my faith in Jesus or be put to death, I would choose to proclaim Jesus as Lord and die- no problem!
The next day I was walking to the store to get some groceries and coming toward me on the sidewalk was a woman I had met in a local church. She and her friend were talking and laughing and when she saw me she looked away, ignored me and walked right by.
I was embarrassed, but kinda used to it by now. It did hurt though, to know that in church she would be nice to me but really not want to have anything to do with me outside of there in real life.
When I was kinda nursing my hurt, Jesus said to me, “that’s what you do to Me.”
Ouch! Some classes are easier than others, some you have to take over again, but remember the Professor is Awesome and is only working for our good.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3
When are learning to follow the direction and word of Jesus, sometimes at first it doesn’t seem to be right. Paul got a word about bad dangerous sailing weather and he shared it, and then the weather got nice:
And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Acts 27:10
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. Acts 27:13
then it turned bad..
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. Acts 27:14
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. Acts 27:21-26
But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; Acts 27:27
And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. Acts 27:41
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. Jer 51:15
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Psalms 25:9
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:29-30
Ask Jesus to guide you daily, He delights in leading His sheep.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matt 7:7-8
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalms 48:14
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor 1:21-22
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:27
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:20
…give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them… 1 Tim 4:13-15
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 2 Tim 2:7
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thess 2:13
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 2 Thess 2:16-17
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Eph 4:23
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:2-3
Little Sanctuary Ministries 
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