2 Chronicles 30:1-5

Hezekiah and his officials and the assembly in Jerusalem saw something in the Bible that had been neglected (5). They determined to do something about it.You may see something clearly as you read the Scriptures; re-discover some long lost truth. That’s great. But realise you can’t make any other believer see it with the clarity you have. What you can do however is to ‘invite’ them into your experience (1). Ask them if they would accompany you on a journey deeper and deeper into God’s heart. May God give you the courage to change the things you can change; the serenity to accept the things that cannot be altered, and the wisdom to know the difference. But certainly set the example. Live out the teaching that now burns inside you, and invite others to come and warm themselves with you at the fireside of truth. Hezekiah called the entire nation back to the celebration of the Passover, the feast that anticipated Jesus the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on our behalf (1 Cor.5:7). When you see a truth that can benefit others; that you know is for all God’s people, don’t hesitate to send word. You might even want to put it in letter form. People still love to get a hand – written letter, and even in our technological age we can still write ‘epistles’ that benefit people spiritually. Hezekiah wanted something great and big and significant for God. It wasn’t for his own glory. So he got the word out, and we must do the same. Let’s invite people into what God is doing. The worst that is likely to happen is that they say ‘No’. The good news is an invitation to a party. But not everyone wants a place at God’s table on His terms. There’s the problem.

‘Though none go with me, still will I follow ‘(2). You have to come to a place of decision where you say, ‘This is right and I’m going to do it. No matter what anyone else does, I am going to walk in this truth God has shown me.’ It is a sad fact that spiritual leaders had delayed this important event (which was a matter of obedience after all: verse 3.) You can sometimes feel very let down by people  in the church who should know better. It is also tragic to observe that there were those who mocked at the invitation, and they missed out on something good. (10; see Matt.22:1-14). But there were those who responded positively (12). You can’t control what will happen with the seed you sow. The harvest is in God’s Hands. He is the One who gives the growth. But keep sowing the seed any way. Some of it will land on good soil, and at the right time you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up. I was once given a poster which said, ‘Measure each day not by the harvest but by the seeds sown.’

Discovering the right plan is best done in community (4). God may speak to one individual, but so often we discern God’s will in a group, where our personal thinking can be challenged, corrected, sifted and re-moulded. We want to get to a place where we can honestly say that it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us. Not to us and the Holy Ghost, but the other way around. He, the third Person of the Godhead must be dominant; pre-eminent in our thinking. As someone said, ‘The Holy Spirit must not only be resident, he must  also be President.’ A.W. Tozer commented that if the Holy Spirit had been removed from the early church, ninety five per cent of what they were doing would have ceased. But if the Holy Spirit were removed from today’s church, ninety five per cent of what we are doing would continue. He was probably alarmingly close to the truth.

David Pawson went to speak at a meeting. He had been given the title, ‘The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.’ He stood up and said, ‘I’ve taken the liberty of changing the title. I’m going to talk about the believer in the life of the Holy Spirit!’

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to set our sails to catch the wind of the Spirit, so that we move with you wherever you want to take us.