JESUS NEVER SOUGHT ADVICE FROM ANYONE
Imagine Jesus whispering to one of His disciples, "How do you think I'm doing?" or "How was that sermon I just preached, did I do OK?" We often ask people for advice, but Jesus didn't. This doesn't mean you shouldn't ever seek another's counsel. The Bible encourages us to do so.
One of His disciples said, "Now we are sure You know all things..." (John 16:30). Yet too often we are trying to get the answer to our current problem by telling everyone what it is; or in some final act of pressurized desperation, we attempt to solve it ourselves—before we have fervently sought God (James 5:16). Of course we should pray for one another, but Jesus already has the answer for every problem you will face. When He hears your prayers, He will never turn to an angel and say, "Gee, this is a tough one. I don't know how to handle this, what do you think?"
Jesus never asked for advice because He never needed it. Some don't ask for advice because of pride, but Jesus was humble and meek (Matthew 11:28-30) and tells us to be the same. After you seek a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14), you may get your answer, but the best advice you'll ever get will be directly from God. He is available and He still speaks today (John 14:14). He will speak to you (John 10:4).
One word from Him is worth a million words of advice from anyone. I have gotten many words of encouragement from friends and counselors, but when God spoke to me recently and said, "Al, I love you and I will bring you through this," all of my heart rejoiced. Seek a fresh word from Heaven….it is hovering over you now.
JESUS NEVER CHANGED HIS MIND
Jesus never pulled one of His disciples on the side and said, "You know what I told you the other day? Well, I got to thinking about it and I was wrong. That is really what I meant..." Or, "I've been having second thoughts about what I said yesterday and I've changed My mind." This means Jesus will never change His mind about choosing you (John 15:16), using you (John 20:21) or forgiving you (Ephesians 1:7). Once He says it that's it.
Jesus may have given you some promises years ago and some of those promises may have not yet come to pass, but He never changes His mind. Even our greatest leaders admit to changing their minds about some major issues, but Jesus never did. He never changes His mind because He never makes a mistake. Your calling is not a mistake (1 Thessalonians 5:24). When He said something to you He meant what He said (Hebrews 13:8) because He never changes. Jesus did everything well (Mark 7:37) which means you can too.
When you say something, do it (1 John 2: 5-6). Jesus is bringing forth a confident, sure and powerful Church—one without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). Don't feel confident? Put your confidence in Him. Have faith in Him (1 Thessalonians 5:24), He will help you. He loves you. He will bring you through.
JESUS WAS NEVER IN A HURRY
Isaiah 28:16b says, "...He that believes need not make haste." Jesus was never in a hurry. He never told His disciples to start jogging so they could get to the next town on time. God's people need to slow down and fellowship with Him. So many today are either busy seeking ministry or giving ministry to others. But, the early Church did something that few do today or even know about—they ministered to the Lord.
If you want to hear from God you must sit at His feet. To effectively minister to others you must first minister to the Lord. When you minister to Him He will speak to you: "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them'" (Acts 13:2). When you minister to the Lord He will give you such peace and contentment that you will not wonder or guess—you will know what to do (John 8:29).
Unless you first minister to God, much of what you do will be polluted with flesh and not with His anointing. Some have it all wrong, He is not looking for volunteer "leaders" (Matthew 20:16). Yes, God is looking to save all of mankind, but He has not called all to be leaders. However, if He does call you to be a leader, you must learn to minister to Him before you minister to anyone else. That is where you will hear His voice and that is when you will learn to not get in a hurry; instead you will simply watch Him work (John 5:19).
This does not mean you empty your mind or enter some eastern meditative state. God's not looking for you to empty your mind, but to fill your mind with His word (Psalm 119:140).
HE NEVER SHOWED ANY PERSONAL FEAR
Why? He never had it. When you fear the Lord, you do not fear anything else. "...I will never leave you nor forsake you...therefore what can any man do unto me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our Lord never showed personal fear because He knew His Father. In like manner God watches over you. We are to have a "Fear of the Lord."
Proverbs 8:13 says "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance..." The fear of the Lord is to have great reverence for God and to hate evil. When you fear God, the angel of the Lord camps around you (Psalm 34:7), and you will never fear man.
You can sum up "the fear of the Lord" in one word—obedience (1 Peter 1:14). Jesus was completely obedient to His Father. As you do likewise, there will be no fear and you will lie down in peace and sleep in safety (Psalm 4:8). Bottom line, do as He did and expect the same results. He said we could (John 20:21).
Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life Ministries
