Daily Huddle - Mon Oct 21, 2019 When PiVAT And PRISM Don't Work

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
Today's Huddle isn't short, but it's important.  I love the quick easy encouraging ones... but Praise God, sometimes He just gives us real talk.  It's funny - every time He does - we always think - "It's for someone else, not me."  You all know well - my prayer for you is that you would do PiVAT and PRISM for the rest of your life.  Why?  Because they help you obey, and obedience is everything.  PiVAT will reveal God’s plans for you, and PRISM will transform your mind to the mind of Christ. Romans 12:1 is PiVAT, presenting your body as a living sacrifice -  and Romans 12:2 is PRISM – transforming your mind so you understand what His will for you is – that He told you in PiVAT before dinner.  The only thing Jesus did in His entire life was obey.  He said multiple times – I do not say anything on my own, I do not do anything on my own – only what my Father in Heaven tells me to.  That’s what a life like Christ looks like - you live on earth as He did.  So when do PiVAT and PRISM not work?  One of the four foundational principles:  In everything in life - There is God’s way, and there is man’s way.  When it comes to PiVAT and PRISM – there are two ways you can do them; flesh and spirit.  You can do PiVAT and PRISM with your mind, or with your spirit.  If you do them with your mind – you’re just writing down what you think God is saying, and your opinion of what His Word says.  Anyone can do that – even Pharisees can,  and the devil wants to trap you in it.  What could cause this?  What could  make PiVAT and PRISM that which God has given you to help you lead a Spirit-led life -  to become merely a mind exercise instead of the Holy Spirit's leading?  Any area that you refuse to obey in - will then default PiVAT and PRISM to a mere mind exercise.  Do most people deliberately disobey God - no.  They just say things with their mouth that they begin to believe.  "God wants me to be happy - and I'm just not happy in this marriage." That's not PiVAT or PRISM - that's not God speaking - that's you.  God never said He wants you to be happy - He said He wants you to be holy - and joy will come whether you're happy in this moment or not.  Do you remember the rich young ruler?  Mathew 19:21 - Jesus answered, "If you want to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  So what if this young man who turned away from Jesus – started doing PiVAT and PRISM?  When He turned away from Jesus – He didn’t go join another religion, He probably still went to church (the temple), but if He did PiVAT and PRISM – it would just be him, not the Holy Spirit speaking... Because If you turn away from Jesus, and don't do what God told you - everything really stops until you do.  That young man could keep searching for something else to please God that would be more palatable to his liking, but it wouldn’t be God telling him – because what God told him, he refused to do.  That’s what happens if you do PiVAT and PRISM, but don’t obey – they soon become a figment of your imagination - what you can come up with.  What about Jonah – would PiVAT and PRISM work for Jonah in Tarshish?  He could convince himself in PIVAT before dinner that God told him to start a soup kitchen ministry in Tarshish.  It seems Godly, but that’s not PiVAT, that’s not what God said – that’s just what you have convinced yourself that God said.  PiVAT and PRISM won’t work for everyone.  If you are not obeying – you’re not hearing.  The rich fool – wasn’t a heathen, he wasn’t a Gentile, He probably went to the temple, and even gave some alms to the poor.  But His heart was for bigger barns, to be rich for himself, not the things of God.  PiVAT and PRISM for Him would just be an empty exercise.  So how do you know?  Years ago a popular sermon warned of three pitfalls.  The Gold, the Glory, and the Girls.  If you are in Tarshish – PiVAT and PRISM won’t work.  Go To Nineveh.  If you refuse to do what God told you to do, PiVAT and PRISM will become your own ideas, not the Holy Spirit speaking to you.  If you are living with your girlfriend, PiVAT and PRISM won't work.  God said very clearly that the only sexual relationship He has designed is a man and women in the covenant marriage – not outside of it.  If you are a pastor, and your church isn’t really growing, but you want that new church building, you’ve convinced yourself that it will bring more people – so you go to the bank for help.  That’s not what God told you in PiVAT for today – that was you.  Isaiah 30:1  Woe to the obstinate children, declares the LORD, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me, who look for help to Pharoah’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.  But Pharoah’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.  God loves us enough to tell it to us straight.  The disciples were all wanting the highest position, but Jesus said, that’s what the world does, they want to lord it over others, not so among you – Be servants.  In James 4:13 - Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money..."  "Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  And then seek Him for it.   It’s easy to confuse God's voice with yours if sin is clouding your judgment.   Deception sucks.  What will prevent PiVAT and PRISM from working?  Sin.  God even said, I Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.   If you are not obeying God, your prayers are hindered, what you think He’s saying in PiVAT – isn’t Him, it’s just you – convincing yourself it’s Him.  The first thing to do – is humble yourself.  Ask God, Help me be humble, and completely lay down my plans, or my opinions… and Holy Spirit – will you lead me in all truth – just like Jesus promised.  Then ask Him honestly  - if you're willing to hear his answer...  "God am I missing something? Is there anything I am doing or planning or pursuing that goes against your word - or doesn't align with it?  Are there some worldly beliefs – ways of thinking that I’ve had my whole life, or have crept in recently – that are not you – that don’t line up with your Word.  Third – do a gold, glory, and girls check - the pitfalls of life.  Ask yourself, what are my financial goals and plans?  What does the Word of God say about that?  If you are not tithing – your plans aren’t working.  God said you are robbing me.  Malachi 3:9 Bring the whole tithe into the store house, test me now in this.  Gold Check – Are you honoring God with tithes and offerings, and your financial plans – do they reflect His Word or the world... Or Pastor are you going to Egypt for help?  Glory check – What are your ambitions - your career, ministry or life ambitions.  Are you looking for the high place, then it’s not God speaking.  PiVAT and PRISM won’t help you – you’ve probably already convinced yourself it’s God.  What are you pursuing?  What does God’s Word say about it?  Is that what Jesus was after?  Did He teach it to his disciples?  Or have you convinced yourself of something that is of the world, not of God?  Girl Check – are your physical passions under the authority of Christ.  Are you sexually pure, do your relationships please and honor God?  Are you honoring your wife, and treating other women as sisters in Christ, or other men as brothers in Christ.  Do you love God more than you desire to be in a relationship – of if you’re married, do you lay down your life for them, as Christ has for you?  Daily Huddles – that just encourage are so much more fun.  But I’m praying for you -  that you will humble yourself, that you will do a Gold, Glory and Girl check – so money, ambitions, and relationships honor God.  Praying that you will honestly and humbly ask God – am I missing something that you have for me?  Am I in Tarshish without knowing it?  Am I pursuing my own plans and calling them yours.  And four – praying that you will humble yourself and seek counsel from a trusted friend who is an obeyer.  Have the courage to ask them, am I missing something?  Do you see any blind spots in me?  If you don’t examine yourself – you could find you’re doing PiVAT and PRISM with your mind, not by the Holy Spirit.  Praying that you will ask God, that you would be completely humble, and willing to check yourself, and make any corrections He reveals - even if it’s a complete do-over in some areas of your life.  Are you willing to fully obey what He tells you, and what His Word says?  If not – PiVAT and PRISM will become just an empty ritual, not the life- giving, walk in the Spirit relationship that God desires to have with you.  Don’t ever be discouraged!  Just humbly ask – and obey no matter what.  Walk in the Spirit and He will write your PiVAT and write your PRISM if you let Him.  No matter what you have to change or re-order in your life – nothing is worth more than your obedience.  It’s the key to walking in the plans He has for you.  And they are so very good! 
 
Love you all,
dad