The Bunker property - a step of Faith or is the Devil in the details?
By D. James Heffner
A good friend of mine asked me if I was sure that what I was doing was the will of God. I was buying a piece of land with a house on it that met the conditions of that which I had seen in the Spirit. All the elements of my ‘vision’ were there and my visit to the land confirmed that this was the right choice. But, from the day I signed the purchase contract it seemed that anything and everything was ‘going wrong’ – are things always going to go in your favor? I mean it was one problem, delay or dealing with an idiotic situation after another – confusion seemed to be ‘in charge’ as if Murphy’s Law was driving the process. We of course know who the ‘author of confusion is! The real question being asked of me was really, "How do we know it's God's will - or not?"
The Bible clearly teaches that it's possible to communicate with our Creator and it often is a two way conversation. Be it in prayer, contemplation or studying the Word, the Holy Spirit is our 'plug' into the Heavenly 'communications network'. This means that, to actually participate in the process of 'talking' to God, you have to be "in the Spirit". If not you are 'coming from' your fleshly self and though God will 'hear', you won't be able to interpret or understand the response or guidance that comes from Him. If you doubt this I suggest you read all of Paul's letters to the churches. Paul makes it clear that it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes a believer in Christ a totally different person - we are a new creation, a people set apart, heirs and children of God and thus members of God's Kingdom and not of this world. We have special gifts, access and privileges not enjoyed by the 'carnal' Christian; those whose mind and spirit are captive to Satan's temptations. I had been praying and seeking, for more than a year, the answer to the question of why I felt, so deeply, in my spirit that it was time to move. I was actively looking for the answer, or a sense of being led by the Holy Spirit, as to what I should do.
Don't get me wrong, spirit filled Christians can still be tempted (as was Jesus), but we have a unique method of discerning God's will and knowing what to do, or not. In Romans 12:2 Paul uses the words: the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. Finding out what God’s will is isn’t hard and the method is simple and always works. We are told to be in the world but not part of it, our present dwelling place is planet Earth - yet we are citizens of Heaven. As Citizens we have all the rights and privileges that Jesus 'enjoyed' throughout his ministry on Earth. When he needed to connect with the Father he went to a quiet place so he could hear God's voice clearly - without the clatter and clamoring of the world getting in the way. Shut out the noise of daily living and find a place where you won't be distracted when you need to communicate with God. It's that simple! Doesn't matter where that quiet place is but you need to find one.
Pentecostal believers (of which I am one) like to call this their 'prayer closet'. When I lived in Oklahoma, and was very active in ministry, I had a house with a room for my office and - a closet off of it. The closet was narrow, about three feet wide and led to a place under the stairs that went to the second floor. I'd crawl on my hands and knees and stuff myself into that small space under the stairway. Oh, and that space had a small door (I guess it was meant to be a 'hidden storage' space) so I had to squeeze myself in to close it. It was dark, and when the children weren't running up and down the stairs, very quiet so much so that I could hear my heart beating. Because it was so tight a space I couldn't get fidgety, which is my nature, and had to discipline myself to 'stay still before the Lord'. I realize we all can't find such a place but the concept is - become isolated from the world around you - where all you can hear is God's voice (after all His is a 'small, still voice).
But how does one get 'in the Spirit'? Pentecostals firmly believe they can speak in 'tongues', that is a heavenly language - the language of the Holy Spirit. To speak in tongues you have to be fully open to the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit that is actually speaking, so - and trust me - you can't simply decide you're going to speak in tongues by babbling some nonsensical words. This means you have to 'wait upon the Lord', and again that takes discipline and patience (all of which are 'good for you'). The Bible says 'meditate upon the Word' so I guess it's OK to meditate while you're in your personal 'closet' waiting on the Lord. I am not saying you cannot pray in your normal language, I encourage you to do so - it sets the tongue free and praying means you want to communicate with God! So, speak your piece, utter your needs and fears and concerns and whatever else it is that has led you to a time of prayer. As you do so the Holy Spirit will 'takeover' and you will utter words no person can understand - words that come from your Soul and Spirit and not from your mind.
Yes, it is a 'God thing', His Spirit talking to Him about you! When the tongues cease that's when you should remain quiet and let the Holy Spirit convey to you what God has said to you. It most likely won't be words in your 'head', though some do hear God in an audible voice, rather it will be a clear understanding that comes to you - a knowing beyond doubt - that God has heard you, answered and you can trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit. Obviously this requires Faith! Don't have much faith because the world has been beating up on you? Then ask God to give it to you, He gives it liberally to all who ask! To achieve what it is God wants, or to receive what it is you need (wanting and desiring are OK too) to make your life full of Joy unspeakable. Jesus said He wants you to have a life that is 'full' and filled with blessings. God enjoys pouring out blessings 'on you' and filling your heart with Joy and Praise - so be receptive to this experience, don't hold it in!
There is a false teaching that essentially says, 'God does for those who do for themselves', don't believe it! If you try to do it out of your 'flesh' it will fail, and miserably, but, when you do it out of Faith you will indeed 'move mountains' and defeat the Devil! Remember, the Word says, "resist the devil and he will flee from you"! You will know you are 'in' God's will when you face obstacles, troubles, and things get 'goofy' and confused. The Bible says, 'Satan is the author of confusion' and being confused (the fleshly mind is in control) is the Devil's way to lead you astray. In the midst of confusion and 'battle' trust the Holy Spirit, listen to His voice and ignore, totally disregard whatever is going on that is creating confusion or trying to get you into a state of fear and uncertainty. You must have absolute faith that your journey - your actions and thinking - is directed by the Holy Spirit. Don't believe the lies and other 'ugly' things going on or being said about what you are doing.
Remember Job and take wisdom form this book in the Bible; even your best friends can mislead you with religious advice. Ignore them and stay in 'communication' with God and His Holy Spirit - be resilient, persistent (knock and it shall be opened, seek and you will find, etc.), unshakable and God will give you what it takes to overcome these hindrances to achieving the goal set before you. Don't forget you are in a real 'battle' you are a warrior in the tumult between God and Satan. That's why you need to be clothed with the Armor of God - all of it, every weapon given by the Holy Spirit. Will this be easy? Of course not! But as the Bible says, 'they that endure to the end....' and endurance takes faith and resisting the Devil at each and every step where confusion is running rampant. Don't let your eyes be taken off the goal!
God's wisdom is your wisdom, God's knowledge is your knowledge, and God’s means of exposing the works of Satan is your means of seeing where the Devil is in the details. When you see the Devil at work be open to God's guidance through the Holy Spirit - He will give you knowledge and wisdom necessary to overcome the works of Satan. Remember, the Bible states, 'We are more than Conquers' and 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'. When in the midst of battle be ready to 'fight' or you will not achieve the victory and receive the reward for your faith. Sometimes the battle will be so intense your natural mind and body will suffer, it will drain you of your strength - which is good as that's when you'll finally rely upon the Holy Spirit. Also, when in an intense battle you need the fellowship of the Saint's, the ministry of the Body of Christ, the sanctuary of the Church - for the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The U.S. Army thinks you can be an Army of One - phooey - stand alone and get shot up! So, when in the battle, put out a call for prayer! Don't stand alone, allow others to enter the battle with you and uplift you with prayer! God's children will fall, battered and bloody, but they always get up - renewed by the Spirit - and continue until victory is achieved, no matter how long it takes!
I have a lot of Scripture verses to share with you, so many it would make this longer than it already is! If you've read this far, thank you, you are on the path to victory in Christ! Please read these verses, they are in no particular order so don't infer anything by the sequence of the references; let the Word speak to you!
Scriptures for your prayerful study:
Judges 6:37 - 40; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 143 - 8; Matthew 7:7 - 8 & Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:24 & Mark 11:22; Luke 10:19; John 1:12 & John 14:14; Romans 8:37 & Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 10:36; James 1: 2 - 8; 1 John 2:13 - 14 & 1 John 5:4.
