When God Cuts You to the Quick (The Acts of the Apostles – Part 16)
The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice
October 9, 2005
Acts 15:12-19; 15: 36-16:10
Rev. 1:3
YOU EVER NOTICE HOW SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND CAREFULLY TRIM THINGS OFF YOUR BODY? YOUR HAIR, YOUR WHISKERS (OR FOR LADIES, THE HAIR ON YOUR LEGS); AT MY AGE, I’VE EVEN GOT TO OCCASIONALLY TRIM MY EARS!
THE OTHER DAY I HAD TO STOP AND TRIM MY TOENAILS. AND I WAS IN A HURRY, AND CUT ONE OF THEM TOO SHORT, INTO WHAT’S CALLED “QUICK”. AND IT HURT! AND WHEN YOU GET CUT TO THE QUICK, IT’S A PAIN THAT REMAINS FOR AWHILE, TENDER TO THE TOUCH. HARD TO GET OVER.
TODAY WE’RE GOING TO SEE TWO THINGS: HOW GOD CONFIRMS HIS WILL FOR US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AND WHAT IT TAKES TO SEE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE. AND SOMETIMES, GOD HAS TO “CUT
CONFIRMED THROUGH THE WORD (15:12-19)
JAMES, PART OF THE
YOU’RE NOT HEARING FROM GOD LATELY? MAYBE YOU NEED TO SEEK HIS VOICE THROUGH HIS WORD.
CONFIRMED THROUGH THE CHURCH (30-33; 40)
WHEN THE GENTILES HEARD THE DECISION OF THE
WE CANNOT FORSAKE THE BODY OF CHRIST WHEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM GOD! GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS CHURCH; HE PASSES ON BLESSING AND CONFIRMATION, POWER AND AUTHORITY.
CONFIRMED THROUGH A VISION (16:6-10)
IN TWO RELATED CASES, THE SPIRIT PHYSICALLY COMMUNICATED TO PAUL AND SILAS, IN WHAT IS CALLED “THE MACEDONIAN CALL.” THE SPIRIT FIRST PREVENTED THEM FROM GOING TO
AND HERE'S A KEY POINT: PAUL IMMEDIATELY OBEYED AND WENT. WHICH BRINGS US TO THE NEXT STEP OF CONFIRMATION:
CONFIRMED BY OUR FAITH IN ACTION
Rev. 1:3 “BLESSED IS HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY, AND KEEP THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN IT, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR.”
IT’S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO “HEAR” FROM GOD; IT’S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO HAVE A CONFIRMATION THROUGH GOD’S WORD; THE EDIFICATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST;
IT’S NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO RECEIVE A VISION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THERE’S ONE MORE STEP THAT’S NEEDED BEFORE GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT POWER CAN BE UNLEASHED IN OUR LIVES: OBEDIENCE ; ACTION; STEPPING OUT IN FAITH AND DOING.
(READ JAMES 1:22-25) “BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, AND DECEIVING YOURSELVES…”
MANY TIMES GOD’S WORD RELATES THE STORIES, WHERE HIS VISION WAS SEEN; HIS WILL CONFIRMED; AND THE RESULT IS A TRAGIC ONE BECAUSE THE PERSON REFUSED TO OBEY.
SOMETIMES OUR OBEDIENCE IS GOING TO BE A HARD, DISCOURAGING THING. IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO GIVE UP SOMETHING WE HOLD DEAR:
* SAMUEL AND ELI (READ 1 SAM 3:1-3)
“THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE…NOT VERY WIDESPREAD (NKJV)”
ELI WASN’T LISTENING TO GOD ANYMORE. (V2…”EYES WERE BECOMING WEAK THAT HE GOOD BARELY SEE” YES, THIS SPEAKS OF HIS AGE, BUT ALSO A SYMBOL OF
ELI’S PROBLEM
NOT NECESSARILY SIN, BUT DISOBEDIENCE. ELI WAS A MAN OF GOD. HE HAD PROPHESIED MANY THINGS FOR GOD, AND HAD LED HIS PEOPLE FAIRLY WELL…WITH ONE MAJOR EXCEPTION. HE GREW SOFT WHEN IT CAME TO HIS OWN FAMILY. A PROPHET OF GOD AND HIS HOUSEHOLD ARE TO BE ABOVE REPROACH. ELI’S SONS, WHO WERE ALSO PRIESTS, HAD SINNED BY DISHONORING GOD IN THE SACRIFICES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
IT IS DISOBEDIENCE THAT KEEPS US FROM HEARING GOD’S VOICE!!
GOD LOVES US, AND WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US, BUT DON’T BE CONFUSED ON THIS: GOD WILL CUT TO THE QUICK WITH YOU, WHEN IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO OBEY HIM.
ELI’S SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE WHEN HE DIDN’T DISCIPLINE HIS SONS RESULTED IN THEM BEING SLAUGHTERED BY THE PHILISTINES, AND HE HIMSELF FALL OFF HIS STOOL AND BREAK HIS NECK.
BUT EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, GOD’S VOICE WAS NOT HEARD IN THE LAND DURING ALL THIS TIME!
*KING DAVID: DISOBEDEYED GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND LUSTED AFTER ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE; COMMITTED MURDER AND ADULTERY OVER IT. THE RESULT WAS THE DEATH OF HIS NEWBORN SON; BUT THE WORSE RESULT WAS THAT HE WOULD NOT SEE THE
*THE RICH YOUNG RULER (Luke 18:18-21)
He WENT AWAY SADDENED. HE WASN’T READY TO OBEY TO THE POINT OF WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP HIS MONEY. BUT THE WORSE RESULT OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE WAS TO RISK ETERNAL DAMNATION, BY NOT BEING ABLE TO ENTER THE
*PAUL AND BARNABAS: (Acts 15:36ff)
SOMETIMES OBEYING GOD MEANS ACCEPTING A CHANGE IN YOUR MINISTRY! PAUL AND BARNABAS ENDING UP GOING THEIR SEPARATE WAYS, AND THE DEVIL TRIED TO MAKE IT BIG PROBLEM. BUT WHEN THE BRETHREN COMMENDED THEM TO GOD (IE. THE CHURCH CONFIRMED IT), GOD ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING BIGGER, BY SENDING OUT TWO MINISTRY TEAMS INSTEAD OF ONE!
CUT TO THE QUICK
WHEN WE ASK GOD FOR DIRECTION, HE IS GOING TO TELL US.
WHEN WE ASK GOD FOR A VISION, HE IS GOING TO REVEAL ONE.
WHEN ASK GOD TO REVEAL HIS WILL, HE WILL DO SO.
BUT THEN WE SIT BACK AND WONDER WHY THE VISION HASN’T COME TO PASS!WHY HIS WILL HASN’T MANIFESTED ITSELF IN OUR LIVES! WHY THE TRAGEDIES BEGIN TO OCCUR!
GOD CONTINUES TO COMMUNICATE HIS WILL FOR US, WHETHER THROUGH HIS WORD, THROUGH HIS CHURCH, OR THROUGH VISIONS. BUT HE OFTEN IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOMETHING IN RETURN: FOR US TO GIVE UP SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME A BARRIER: AND IT IS THAT NEXT STEP THAT WE THINK IS TOO PAINFUL
YOU WANT YOUR FINANCES CORRECTED? GIVE UP YOUR LOVE OF MONEY AND POSSESSION, AND TURN THEM OVER COMPLETELY TO GOD. THAT MAY MEAN GETTING RID OF SOME IT, OR GIVING IT AWAY TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT.
YOU WANT YOUR BODY HEALED? QUIT TAKING EVERY MEDICINE THAT EVERY TALK SHOW OR OLD WIVE’S TALE TELLS YOU WILL CURE YOU, AND START BELIEVING THAT GOD IS THE ULTIMATE PHYSICIAN. THAT MEANS YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR LOVE OF WORRY.
YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY RESTORED AND YOUR KIDS’ TO OBEY? YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR SISTER AND MOM AND DAD TO QUIT FIGHTING? YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE SITUATION!
YOU WANT YOUR JOB TO IMPROVE? YOUR WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE WORKLOAD TO BECOME MANAGEABLE? MAKE JESUS YOUR BOSS; GIVE HIM THE WORK AND PRAY IT OVER TO HIM. HE’LL PRIORITIZE YOUR DAY REAL FAST.
SUMMARY
*HEAR FROM GOD THROUGH HIS WORD, THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, THROUGH HIS VISION, THROUGH HIS CHURCH
*BE READY TO LET GOD CUT YOU TO THE QUICK AND ASK YOU TO GIVE UP SOMETHING THAT’S BECOME MORE DEAR TO YOU THAN HE HIS.
*FOLLOW THE VISION: STEP OUT AND OBEY HIM.
©2005, Richard C. Trice and TriceTunes , All Rights Reserved.
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