“God is aware of everything you’re going through. Although there are moments in your life that appear as if God’s time is taking a long time, remember God always comes through on time in every situation you encounter in life. God’s timing and your obedience to follow Him is linked to your victory! At those times when it appears that God is taking too long He may in fact be training you to accomplish His specific purpose for you.”
This is the second of 6 posts on God’s Training Program Each post includes excerpts from the the YouVersion “God Comes Through On Time” Reading Plan provided to YouVersion by Kennetra A. Bryant, Ed.D. You can find the complete Bible Plan and Discussion Questions at BRYANT EDUCATIONAL PLANNING & CONSULTING.
God Prepares His People Through His Divine Training Program
The Bible tells us that God’s purpose for those who believe in His Son is to conform us to His Son’s image.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
He also has a specific purpose for each one of us because through the Holy Spirit he has given each of us spiritual gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 NIV To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
In order to effectively use the gifts we need training. Training is required in order for us to perform in any position and any capacity It doesn’t matter whether it’s in business, government, the military, non-profit organizations, or the church. It doesn’t matter if it’s the physical or spiritual world, training is necessary for successful performance.
This is the second of 6 posts on God’s Training Program Each post includes excerpts from the the YouVersion “God Comes Through On Time” Reading Plan provided to YouVersion by Kennetra A. Bryant, Ed.D. You can find the complete Bible Plan and Discussion Questions at BRYANT EDUCATIONAL PLANNING & CONSULTING.
God Prepares His People Through His Divine Training Program
The Bible tells us that God’s purpose for those who believe in His Son is to conform us to His Son’s image.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
He also has a specific purpose for each one of us because through the Holy Spirit he has given each of us spiritual gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 NIV To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
In order to effectively use the gifts we need training. Training is required in order for us to perform in any position and any capacity It doesn’t matter whether it’s in business, government, the military, non-profit organizations, or the church. It doesn’t matter if it’s the physical or spiritual world, training is necessary for successful performance.
“TIMELY INSTRUCTIONS”
God gives timely instructions that not only affect or benefit you but others whom you know and don’t know. When God instructs you to do something, it is wise to be obedient to what the Father is telling you because there is a purpose in his timing and plan.
Rahab serves as a dynamic example of God coming through on time in timely instructions.
Joshua 2:17-21 NIV Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
When Joshua sent two scouts to spy out the land of Jericho, these two men went to Rahab’s house and lodged there. Rahab looked out for the spies and disclosed her belief to them that the LORD had already granted success to the Israelites in conquering Jericho. Rahab even revealed the state of Jericho’s inhabitants by informing the scouts of how terror and dread had fallen on them, and their hearts melted in despair.
But even in all of that, Rahab received a revelation and knew that God was the LORD in heaven above and on earth beneath and that revelation most likely caused her to take timely action in seeking an oath between the two spies regarding the saving of her family when God’s plan of action was to take place. God came through in timely instructions for Rahab by instructing her through the two spies to bring her entire family into her home and to tie a cord of scarlet thread in the window.
When Rahab followed the specific instructions of the spies, God came through on time when Jericho was conquered and Rahab’s family was saved. There is power in being obedient in God’s timely instructions to us.
Joshua 6:24-25 NIV Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord ’s house. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.
One can only imagine what would have happened if Rahab didn’t follow God’s timely instructions or if Noah didn’t follow God’s instruction when commanded to build the ark.
Genesis 7:1-5 NIV The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 8:15-19 NIV Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.
As you journey through life a day at a time, don’t discount God’s instructions for your life. There is purpose in his plan, and if you love God you will obey all that He has commanded you to do.
Act when and how the LORD commands you to act, because your timely obedience not only affects you but so many others. Follow God’s timely instructions and watch how He comes through for you.
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