Author: JT Hutts

innkeeper

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This is a monologue, which could be performed around Christmas time. It is about one of the least talked about characters within the Christmas story. He certainly is not the most important, but I often wonder what he must have thought of this glorious event:

Yes, sir, here are your extra towels (hands couple a set of towels).

No, I am sorry we do not have a hot tub.

Wow, what a day. This census that Caesar asked for is really good for business!(Yawn) I think I am going to head to bed.

(laying down) Oh, this feels so good! The bed is so…

[Knock, Knock]

Who could it be at this time of night? Hello?

Yes, it is late.Nice to meet you, Joseph.

No, we are all booked up. I am sorry you didn’t make any reservations. You might want to check the Motel 6 down the street…they always keep their lights on for you.

Oh, you already checked?

I understand you have traveled a really long way (from Nazareth) and that you are tired, but I am sorry we do not have any room for you here.

I see that your wife is pregnant. She looks like she is ready to pop. I am sorry, did I say that out loud?

Ok, I think I might have a place for you to spend the night, but only tonight. It is all that I got…Out back I have a cave and in that cave there is some hay and a feeding trough. You can make use of that area tonight. Don’t tell the Bethlehem safety Council, ok? I am sure it wouldn’t pass inspection. You can sleep tonight for free. Please, be quiet. Most of our guests are sleeping.

Yes, you are welcome.Good night.Hmm…what an interesting couple. What a polite man. They look so young to be having a baby.

(scratching eyes) Now my bed is calling my name. Ahh…I love this new Temper-Pedic mattress.[Knock, Knock] Cant a man sleep in peace?

Yes, how can I help you?You are shepherds. I am sorry we cannot let you in our inn. This is a civilized place. If others knew you stinky, dirty guys were here I would surely lose customers. Plus, we do not allow pets in the rooms. Your sheep would need to stay outside.

Oh, you don’t want a room. Well, fine. Why did you wake me up then?

You are looking for a baby? I don’t know of a baby…wait…I just sent a couple out back. The woman looked very pregnant.

Yes, they are from Nazareth, how did you know?

You saw angel?

Are you sure? I am sure you get a little loony after being in those fields with sheep all day and night. I am sure it gets a little lonely too. But, angels? Now, that’s funny!

Ok, ok, I guess you guys are pretty serious. The young family is out back in the cave. You can leave your sheep there too, it is a perfect place for animals. Please, keep them quiet. I wouldn’t want to be a baaaaaad host now.Good night gentlemen.

Talk about a strange night. Shepherd coming to Bethlehem because angels old them too. Crazy, shepherds!

Alright, now…Oh, that’s great. Boy, she snores really loud.

[Knock, knock]

Goodness! That’s it. This has got to stop.

(frustrated) WHAT DO YOU…want?

Oh, please forgive me your majesty’s. What can I do for you? What pretty gifts you have. No, I am sorry our royal suites are taken. I can make sure we have something available right away tomorrow!

You are not looking for a room?

You mean to tell me for 4 months you have been walking across the countryside following a star? You call yourselves wise guys? Sounds crazy if you ask me.You come to seek a baby?

Ok, follow me.

Hello, Joseph.You have a baby? Already? That was quick! I guess your wife really did have to pop. You have a son?

Congratulations.

He is so quiet.

Why are the shepherds worshipping the baby? (looks left)

Why are these wise men bowing down too? (looks back)

They are bowing down to the baby?Oh, my, oh, my…You are the One I heard about in Sunday School. It is true. At my inn! It is the LORD. You are the LORD! (worships himself)

eulogy: dead by sled

Posted in friends, joy, quirkyTagged , , , , , 1 Comment
I almost died yesterday. Okay, not really. I went sledding with some friends from church at Slatter Hill. The conditions were supreme. The snow was packed, the air was cold, and the orange-deer sleds were dominating the competition on the hill. For real, no sleds could challenge our speed.

Risking my life for the glory of the day I borrow a little kids can of Pam cooking spray. I lathered my sled up in buttery goodness and dared to conquer the slope. A few butterflies entered my stomach. My pride was at stake. I got into my sled and took the street-luge position. Pete gave a quick push and I was off.

My eyes were watering because of the speed. My bowls were about to explode in my snowpants. I was rocketing towards the road. I couldnt bail. Only chickens bail. I reached the bottom of the hill, but I had such great speed that I launched over the road rear the Purdue soccer field fence. The sled stopped. For a moment I basked in the glory!

new christmas tree

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I just got a new Christmas tree over the weekend. It is big compared to the little Charlie Brown tree that I had. The tree came fully decorated. It is unbelievable. It almost looks too good. The Davis’ were over and helped me put it up, which was a lot of fun. We had the Christmas tunes cranked, tea on the stove, and the shared memories of past Christmas’. Great day.

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quit church

Posted in church, faithTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Why do so many young adults quit church? 
 
Three out four young adults walk away from the church. Their is a laundry list of reasons why they walk away from the church: they want a break (27%), church is too judgmental (26%), they move away to college (25%), busy with work (23%). And I would add to this list that churches today lack a ministry that reaches out to young adults. So no wonder they wander off to find something else that will cater to their “needs”.
 
On the positive side, the 30 percent who kept attending church cited solid spiritual reasons, including: “it’s vital to my relationship with God” (65%) and church “helps guide my everyday decisions” (58%)
 
Quiting church during your college and early career years can cause a lot of problems in ones future life. The years between 18 and 25 young adults are making some of the biggest decisions of their lives: living on your own, college, marriage, family, etc. If God is not in these decisions, it is a recipe for hardship. Not to mention, the future of the church is weakened without the involvement of today’s young adults. When you remove the Solid Rock foundation it is difficult to lean on anything else.
 
I want to make a plea to all young adults: don’t be a quiter. I want to take liberty in quoting a popular rapper from the 1980’s: Church, it’s  “too legit, too legit to quit”-M.C. Hammer
 
Stats taken from USA Today newspaper August 6, 2007 

i ♥ church planting

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Church planting is in my blood because it started with His.
 
Christ spilled His blood on the cross so that the church might exist. I heard it said many times, but don’t know where it came from that “The blood of the marytr’s is the seed (growth) of the church.” And it started with the greatest martyr of all, Jesus Christ.
 
If He gave His life so that the church should exist, shouldn’t I make it the purpose of my existence to be passionate about building His church?
 
God’s plan for the world today is the living organism called His Body, the church. God is the beating heart of church, which is pumping blood through the veins of His people.  May we not bypass the opportunity to be a part of His Body. We may seek to destroy the church by clogging its arteries with perversions and sin, but Christ will continue to build His church. How it is awesome to be involved in something that the God of the universe is so passionate about.

frozen in time

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I wonder what this place looked like a few hundred years ago. Have you ever thought that? 
 
Today I took a walk at the Tippecanoe Battlefield and the Wabash Heritage Trail. It was so beautiful out. The night before we had an ice storm that coated everything in a thin layer of translucent ice. As I walked along the pathway I wondered who walked this same ground. Probably Indians and early settlers. What did they look like? What language did they speak? What were they having for dinner? Did their children play in the creek?  
 
It was a great walk.   
 
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can you enjoy God?

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I don’t know where I learned it, but early in my faith I believed that having a relationship with God was a lot of hardwork and little play. Or better said, the Christian life was about duty, not delight. I am sure I was not taught this but it was something that I believed over time. My idea of God was that He was to be served, feared and revered. The view of God made Him seem so distant and impersonal. Christianity quickly became exhausting, boring and unattractive to me.
 
Yes, God should be worshipped, feared, and revered. But can He be enjoyed? Why does the idea of enjoying God seem strange or sacreligious?
 
A few hundred years ago men who loved God wrote down in the historical document entitled the Westminster Confession, “The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever.”
 
John Piper echoed this by stating, “God is most glorified (worshiped, praised, etc.) when we are satisfied in Him.”
 
These quotes were revolutionary to me. They relieved me of years of living for God out of duty rather than delight. I was a slave to living for Him because “I had to” rather than “I love to.” 
 
I believe we can enjoy God and here are some reasons why… 

5 Reasons why we should enjoy God
 
1. God COMMANDS us to pursue joy in Him.
Psalm 100:1-2
According to these verses, would it be disobedient to serve God without joy?
Philippians 4:4
Is this a command? Yes.
Are you obeying it?
 
2. The nature of FAITH teaches us to pursue joy in God.
Hebrews 11:6
How does this verse describe faith? “believing in things that are impossible”
Is God pleased when we seek a reward I Him? Yes.
 
3. The nature of EVIL teaches us to pursue joy in God.
Jeremiah 2:9-13
Based on these verses how would you define evil? 1. Forsaking God. 2. Pursuing joy by living for myself.
 
4. The nature of my SALVATION teaches us to pursue joy in God.
Matthew 13:44
Why would the man in this parable sell all that he has in order to buy the field? He knows it is a worthy investment.
How could be joyful if he sells all that He has? He is gaining more by buying the field.
Why would Jesus tell this story? Treasure = Jesus Christ / selling = surrender
 
5. The nature of HUMILITY teaches us to pursue joy in God.
Mk.8:34 & John 8:24
 
In conclusion, I want to share a story that I heard recently about a small boy who when walking down the street one day found a bright copper penny. He was so excited he found money and it didn’t cost him anything. This experience led him to spend the rest of his days walking with his head down, eyes wide ope, looking for wealth.
 
During his life time he found 1,296,000,000 pennies, 480 nickels, 1,900 dimes, 16,000 quarters, 200 half dollars and thousands of crinkled dollar bills [Estimate: $13million]. He accumulated quite a bank account in his lifetime. He prided himself in the fact that he spent his life getting his fortune from nothing.
 
Yes, the boy, now an old man, spent his life collecting money for nothing. Except that in his lifetime he missed the breathless beauty of 31,369 sunsets, the colorful spleandor of 157 rainbows, the fiery beauty of hundreds of maples nipped by the autumn frost. He never saw the thousands of white clouds drifting across the blue skies, shifting into various wonderous formations. Birds flying, the sun shining, and the smiles of hundred of thousands of people that passed him through his life. All of this is not a part of his memory. Nor did the man-bo have any time to build a successful family or a circle of true friends. No one cried for him when he passed on; in fact, many were glad to see the hunchback with a hunk of cash leave this world.
 
Enjoying God is what a life of worship and walk with god is all about. Stop settling for the unsatisfying duty of finding pennies, but reach out for the wad of joy that comes from enjoying God.

 

TOP 10 LIST: you have been coming to FUEL a long time when…

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10. You hear a whiner and your first thought is, “WHAA!”
9. You have a collection of blue pens at home you forget to bring back the next week.
8. You have enough take home papers and blank notes sheets to replentish the Amazon Forest.
7. You bring your own hat on your birthday.
6. You have pit stains on your black FUEL t-shirt.
5. You know what the acrostics FUEL, SNAC, GOSPEL stand for among many others.
4. You can do all the motions to “Every Move I Make” backwards.
3. Your favorite game is HUWA, and you try to teach it to others outside of FUEL and you wonder why they look at you weird.
2. You have been practicing since February for the annual ReFUEL Retreat t Un-Talent Show.
1. You catch yourself saying, “Eh?” every now and then.

3:10 to Yuma

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This is a movie review:

This is a remake of a 1957 Western.

Dan Evans (Christian Bale), is just a man trying to make a life for his family. His life is one step away from crumbling to nothing: He’s down a leg, his son Mark suffers from chronic respiratory problems, his ranch and only source of income has become a desert from lack of rain, and then the banker who owns the note on his property is seeking to make a buck by repossessing and selling it to the railroad. Reacting to his difficult situation, Dan says, “I’ve been standing on one leg for three damn years waiting for God to do me a favor and He ain’t listening.”

Dan Evans is no hero, just an ordinary Joe. He is what he is, no frills. He simple speaks what he thinks and does not manipulate.

Then there is Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), who plays the best outlaw I have ever seen. He is the kind of guy you love to hate, but there is something mysteriously interesting about him. He is Bible thumping creep with a Messiah-complex, and who has named his gun “the hand of God”. He kills anyone who stands between him and the riches he seeks, and even kills people as a hobby. A unique side note: his mom at a train station as a child abandoned him, and interestingly enough she told him to read the Bible.

One day Ben comes across Dan Evans’ herd of cattle while seeking to rob a banker coach. Dan becomes instrumental in Ben’s arrest and volunteers to help deliver him to Contention, Arizona, where he will be put on the prison train to Yuma at 3:10pm. Dan does this all for $200 to save his ranch and gain the respect of his wife and son. He is willing to risk his life for what he loves.

While on the journey to Contention it is just that, contention. Ben does everything he can to outsmart his captors. This is when Dan becomes an ordinary hero. Dan and Ben have multiple interactions on the journey. Dan’s humble ways shoot down the pride of Ben Wade. We learn that Dan’s life is built to be a hero to his children, and a man of honor to his wife. These are all things Ben learns to admire: fatherhood, humility, and character.

I recommend 3:10 to Yuma for adult audiences because of the violence and language.

 

less IS more

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less of me

less trash, more treasure

less luxuries, more necessities

less on my looks, more looking to Him

less performance, more praise

less whining, more shining

less wishing, more waiting

less scandalizing, more sacredness

less selfishness, more selflessness

less darkness, more light

less being served, more being served

less fence riding, more boldness

less grudges, more grace

less pity parties, more praying

less duty, more delight

less stalling, more doing

more of GOD

Livingstone, I presume

Posted in africa, love, missionsTagged , , , , 1 Comment

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I love Africa. You know you love something when you think about it a lot and want to be there. There is something contagious about the land, the people and the culture. It takes you back to a simpler time when family matters and where wealth is unimportant.

I presume Dr. David Livingstone had this same heart for this beautiful continent.

At the end of 1840, at the age of 27, supported by the London Missionary Society, Livingstone set sail for Africa. On arrival in Cape Town on March 14th 1841, Livingstone made his way by ox-wagon to Dr Moffat’s mission station at Kuruman. While Moffat confined his work to the region around Kuruman, Livingstone felt called to venture north into the unexplored terrain of Central Africa. Isolating himself for several months in a native village many miles from Kuruman, Livingstone sought to speed up his comprehension of the language and customs of the Africans.

He became a doctor and a missionary, and devoted a great amount of his life to exploring Africa and spreading the gospel.  Livingstone was one of the first Europeans to explore the central and southern parts of Africa. He determined that the best way to tell the Africans about Jesus Christ was to move around and see as many people as he could.

He married Dr Moffat’s daughter, Mary in 1845 and she (and later their children) came along with Livingstone on his early explorations. In 1849, he led a group of Europeans across the Kalahari Desert and discovered Lake Ngami. Two years later, he again traveled through the Kalahari with his family. In 1856, he traveled on the Zambezi River, and became the first European to see God’s natural wonder—Victoria Falls. He also became the first European to cross the entire width of southern Africa.

On May 1st 1873, Livingstone was found on his knees by his bedside, having died in prayer. Following with the African beliefs, Livingstone’s heart was buried under a Mvula tree near to the spot where he died; but his body had to be returned to Britain. His body was buried in Westminster Abbey in London on 18th April 1874 which was declared a day of national mourning.  

the slump

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It is really embarrassing to strike out in slow pitch softball. The ball comes in nice and SLOW, not to mention a softball is twice as big as a baseball.
The night was going great. I had a double and an in the park homerun. Our team was winning. All was about to change, for me. I suppose it all went to my head, I thought I could crush every ball to the fence. The only thing that got crushed was my pride. Whiff! The next 5 at-bats I struck out. Sure I could make the excuse that it was one-pitch league, that I was tired, or that the pitcher was good (throwing them low and short, which really gets me drooling). I was so frustrated with myself. I wanted to throw the bat, curse like a sailor, and sit on the bench in a pout. But the team wouldn’t let me…
The other players on my church softball team came along side me and saught to encourage me. Rollie, the coach, gave me some back-to-the-basics pointers like, “Keep your eye on the ball…follow through with your swing…step-up in the box…forget about your last up-to-bat” He really encouraged me.
I was having what baseball calls a slump. I was determined to shake this slump with the encouragement of my teammates. My next at-bat I step up to the plate, took my stance in the front of the batters box, picked up my elbows, looked to the sky for strength from my God, and then watch the pitch slowly reach the plate. I swung. Crack! The ball made contact with the bat and rifled over the shortstops head. Base hit. You would have thought I won the game. I almost cried. My teammates were cheering, and I was relieved because the strikeout slump was over.
Slumps happen in others places than softball or baseball. They can happen in life. Have you ever been in a spiritual slump? I know, I have. How do you get out of a spiritual slump? The same way you get out of a sporting slump…by getting back to the basics, by surround yourself with teammates that will cheer you on and encourage you to get back to the plate and hit that ball. Nothing is more satisfying that sticking to the game through the slump, stepping up the the plate, and keeping your eye on the Prize–JesusChrist.

less is more

Posted in faith, GodTagged , , , 1 Comment
less is more: less of me, more of God
 
“God, I want to step it up in my faith!” This was my cry as I came across these familiar, yet refreshing verses of Scripture…
 
Mark 10:42-45. An apostle makes a strange, but striking comment about Jesus’ purpose, which reveals His true character. He says, “He [Jesus] came not to be served, but to serve.” What? How could the God of the universe or the King of all kings not come to earth to be served? Jesus took the form of a waiter and even a slave to show that life is all about giving of oneself not receiving.
 
Luke 9:46-48. Jesus breaks up an argument among His disciples who were trying to prove who was the greatest man among their posy. Before they started to really duke it out, Jesus steps in and says, “Whoever is least among you will be the greatest.” In other words, make less of yourselves and more of Me.
 
We live in a culture today that’s national anthem is “Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, mmmeeeee!!!” However, we never read in the Bible that this is to be our theme. On the contrary our motto is to be “God first”, “You rule”, or simply “You God!”
 
Remember what John said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” [John 3:30]
 
In fact, the Scripture explains a lot about who I am. Paul’s says it best when he says he is the “scum of the earth.” I am a sinner. I do not deserve for a minute the position that I have before God. I didn’t earn it. I didn’t buy it. And I sure wasn’t good enough for it. Yet, Jesus Christ has allowed me to have a right standing before Him all because of what He has done for me.
 
After four years of ministry at Battle Ground Bible Church I am starting to get comfortable. I know the church, and they know me. Comfort is not always a good thing. I don’t want to get to comfortable. I believe God always want us out of our comforts zone and step in up in our faith. So out of this comfort a new vision for my walk with Christ and our youth ministry was born.
 
LESS IS MORE. < = >
 
Less of me. My identity is Christ. There is nothing about myself to be proud of or to boast in. If anything my pride and boasting is in Christ.
 
More of God. His purpose is making Himself known. So my purpose must be in sync with His. I am to make God famous. When people look at me, they are to see less of me, and more of God.
 
So are you with me in this great cause to make more of God and less of us?
 
 
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entertainment

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What kinds of movies, TV, music, books, etc., can a Christian enjoy and still be honoring to God? No other issue has been the source of more debate and friction between Christians in our media-saturated and pleasure-seeking society. This issue has been the source of so many legalistic rules in an attempt to keep Christians from being contaminated by the world.

Some Christians say we should avoid movies altogether; others would say G-rated ones are acceptable, and others say that you can watch whatever you want. Christians are far too loose on their entertainment standards, but on the other hand, many others overreact to the dangers of modern media by setting up rules that “go beyond what is written.” Can we understand these issues in a way that avoids extremes and maintains a biblical balance?

If someone were to approach me and say that I were in sin for watching and promoting the movies list in my blog or shelved in my personal library then I would say, “Let’s look at the heart.” Is what your are convinced in the heart to be sinful or evil what I should be convinced is sinful or evil? Is there law or liberty on this issue?

The Bible offers very few specifics on the issue of media/entertainment. Here there is no easy answer. It is a matter of “the heart”—a term which the Bible refers to as the “inner man,” where we think, desire, worship, and make decisions (“mind” and “will” are aspects of the heart; Gen.6:5, Prov.4:23, 23:7). Jesus says that “whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,…that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.” (Mk.7:18-21) He then goes on to say evil comes “from within, out of the heart.”

What I take into my eyes and ears can definitely tempt and influence me, but it cannot necessarily cause me to sin. Why take the risk then and use my liberty to watch an R-rated movie I know will have violence, vulgar language, etc? To this there is no easy answer.

There is nothing inherently wrong  or evil about some of the media people enjoy today, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying it merely for entertainment. Ecc.9:9 tells us to “enjoy life” and throughout the book to “eat, drink and be merry”, of course we are to enjoy life within the moral confines of the Scripture. Now if the entertainment is causing you to be desensitized by sin or tempting you to do evil them it should be avoided altogether. And such verses have been used offensively, “avoid of the appearance of evil”, and do not be conformed to the world,” which both of these verse are primarily targeting the heart/mind rather than appearance.

Media and entertainment can be used for godly purposes. Even Hollywood produced TV, movies and music can be a great platform for sharing the gospel. I have often used movie clips and songs from today’s popular culture to share biblical truth. Both the strength and weakness of secular media can be useful tools for building an unbelievers (and believers) understanding of biblical truth. I have been encouraged to hear from a few teens after using a secular song to amplify a biblical truth that later when they were listening to secular radio and heard the song they were reminded of the biblical truth.

Most Christians can enjoy the music of Mozart and Tchaikovsky even though one was a libertine and the other a homosexual. So why can’t we enjoy modern media even though they are ungodly? To His people God “has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight” (Ecc.2:26). The abilities that unbelievers have been given to them by God and can be used for His glory even though they do not give credit to God for their gifts and use them with evil intentions. This does not mean all of the unbeliever’s media is for Christians to enjoy, but it is certainly reasonable to assume some of it is.

The movies I enjoy and promote illustrate biblical principles. Now I am guilty of watching far too many movies that I would be ashamed to admit I have watched and enjoyed. For these I have repented. I know it is my responsibility to be wise and careful what I take into my eyes, and discerning about the trust and error depicted in movies and TV. If there are movies in the list that offend another Christian and cause them to have a tarnished view of my walk with God. Then I must ask, “Who are they to judge?” And do they know my heart?

The 7 E’s of Entertainment(by Dave Swavely):

Exalt God. 1 Cor.10:31; Mt.4:10, Lk.4:8; Rom.14:6, 1 Thess.5:18

Exercise biblical discernment. 1 Thess.5:21; Phil.4:8

Expose evil rather than enjoy it. Eph.5:10-12

Economize your time. Eph.5:15-16

Edify your brothers and sisters. 1 Cor.14:26, 8:13; Rom.15:2, 14:13; Lk.17:1-2

Excise anything that tempts you to sin. Mt.5:29-30; Rom.13:12-14

Eliminate anything you’re not sure about. Rom.14:23

my first triathlon

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It was Saturday at 700AM and 500+ men are all getting into lake at Eagle Creek. We are barely dressed and I am thinking…really is this normal?  The gun goes off and all you see is splashing and so I start to swim only to get kicked and swam over.
I started in the last heat, when I should have gone in the first wave with the old fat guys (or Clydesdales as they said it). But I did get to swim with a Hannah, her family and my training partner Steve Z. It was a great time, great accomplishment, and a soaking experience in all the down pouring rain.

Here are my stats:
Indianapolis SPRINT Triathlon (EAGLE CREEK PARK, INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
Placed 450/560
Time:1:32:16.9

follow the LEADER

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Remember the game you use play in elementary school Follow the Leader? It was the activity where you would follow or mimic another student in class and doing whatever they would do no matter how strange or crazy it got..

Leaders are everywhere! They are at school, church, work, TV, sports. But are they all worth following?

A leader is “One who provides guidance and direction for others.”

You follow someone or something. Who or what would that be? How would you describe their leadership? How does their leadership help you? Does their leadership hurt or hinder you? There are many leaders around us. They lead us in many different ways. Some good and some bad.

As Christians, do we need a leader to follow? Yes. As we will look at in a moment God always leads His people through the Holy Spirit. As a Christian I need Some-ONE to LEAD me.

The disciples sure felt their need for a leader when Jesus told them He would be leaving them (Jn.16:5-6). Jesus told the disciples that the Father would send them “another Comforter” that would be with them forever (Jn.14:16) and would “guide” or lead them (Jn.16:13). Isn’t it good that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us and not let us wander around aimlessly?

God has always be concerned about leading His people down through history…

How did God lead? (Ps.136:16; Ex.13:17,21) He led His people.

How long did God lead His people? (Ps.48:14) To the end, until death.

Where did God lead His people? (Ps.5:8, 25:9) He led them in truth and righteousness.

What is the character of one who follows the Lord’s Leadership? (Ps.25:9) Meek & humble, willing to follow.

The Holy Spirit is the main leader in the church and the Christina life today. since, this is the case, shouldn’t we find out more about His leadership in my life? Let’s look at some principles of the Holy Spirits LEADING…

Principle One: The Holy Spirit will always be consistent with the teachings of Christ (Jn.14:26) – The H.S. will never do anything contrary to what Jesus taught.

Example: To say you have not been led to share your faith with a friend is to contradict Christ’s words to Go and Preach the Gospel (Mk.16:15)

Principle Two: The Holy Spirit’s leading will be in agreement with the whole of God’s Word. – If it were not so we could not trust Him since He is the author of the Word (1 Pt.1:21).

Example: To say that you have been led to date a non-believer to evangelize him/her contradicts the message of 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Don’t be yoked to an unbeliever”. The H.S. would not lead in this way.

Principle Three: The Holy Spirit’s leading is known in a way He exalts Christ (Jn.16:14). –Whatever we do under the leading of the Spirit should point others to Christ (Jn.15:26).

Example: A preacher on TV says you can get rich if you pray or denies the deity of Christ cannot be led of the Spirit because his message exalts man, not Christ.

Principle Four: The Holy Spirit’s leading will be in opposition to the World and all that is worldly. – He would never led you into sin because it is His plan to keep you from it (1 Cor.2:12; Rom.8:3-4).

Example: To claim the Holy Spirit led you to a drinking party or to have intercourse with your date is not the leading of the H.S. (1 Thess.5:22)

In conclusion, there are many leaders you can follow. Some good, some bad. But none better than the Holy Spirit. Who will you seek to follow? Who will you not follow? What will that cause you to do or not do?

Good questions to ask yourself:

How will this decision/activity be consistent with the teachings of Christ?

How will this decision/activity be in agreement with the whole of God’s Word?

Will this decision/activity exalt Christ?

Will this decision/activity lead me into worldly activities?