My opening paragraph on 5th of January (that being our first Sunday service of 2020) was to ask you the following questions:
- I wonder how we’ll do this year?
- Will we be as busy?
- Will we make any better use of our time?
- In 360 days, when this year is over, will we be looking back with joy, or with regret?
- Will we be looking at the future with anticipation, or with dread?
How would you answer now? Would there be a change from your original answers? I guess there would be. Whatever your answers, one thing we must do…
We must draw from the well.
God has given us no ordinary book. Inside the Bible, we discover ordinary people doing extraordinary things, in the most tempting and trying situations, overwhelming odds stacked against them and yet they became victorious for they all had one thing in common they knew their God and Let the Holy Spirit work.
Daniel was such a man who, as we have discovered in the last two days, battled throughout his life but was determined to be resolved.
Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.
Daniel 5:14
Daniel is not the only example we can draw on this morning. Johann Sebastian Bach was born into the musical family of Bachs in 1685. By the age of ten, both of his parents were dead. Early in his friction-filled life, young Johann determined he would write music for the glory of God and this he did.
Most of Bach’s works are explicitly Biblical. Albert Schweitzer referred to him as The Fifth Evangelist, thus comparing him to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At the age of 17, Bach became the organist at the church; soon thereafter he was given charge of the entire music ministry. No one had any idea what a mark Bach would leave. His legacy lives on some 300 years later. You can hear his music at will.
At the beginning of every authentic manuscript, you will find the letters “J.J.” This stands for Jesu Java (Jesus help me). At the end of each original manuscript, you will find the letters “S.D.G.” This stands for Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God).
Bach is a reminder of one who gives his life to Jesus and allows the Holy Spirit to lead him. As we continue to live in these days, facing many challenges and feeling we are rowing upstream, let us be resolved to draw from the water of life, keep going to the well, it will help us to…
- Stand strong in the midst of change. (see Monday’s blog)
- Accept the inevitable interruptions of life. (see Tuesday’s blog)
- Let The Holy Spirit Work. The Holy Spirit never announces His presence in Daniel, but He is clearly at work. Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
The success of Daniel’s plan was due more to the sovereignty of God in blessing his spiritual commitment than it was to the diet. The Holy Spirit gave the ability to Daniel to keep being resolved. This young man was determined to allow the Holy Spirit to lead him. Daniel proved it is possible to serve the Lord even in Babylon. Joseph proved it in Egypt and Esther in Persia. Let us be resolved to let the Holy Spirit leads us in the situations where we find ourselves and ask Him to use us as he did Daniel, Joseph, and Esther.
Finally, remember James opens his book with this… Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. Let adversity provide the opportunity to live by faith.
When everything in your life is upset and you find yourself in new circumstances that you cannot control, let the Holy Spirit lead you, take over and work out the plan He has in mind.
Let the Holy Spirit work by drawing from the well! Drink deeply. Drink often from the WELL that never runs dry.
Greater is He that is in you (Holy Spirit) than anything that is against you?