Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit...

2 Timothy 4:1-5

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

"Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit" is an old song that even non-belivers know. You would be an odd one out if you spent anytime in a church or school choir before 1990 and didn't perform that song at least once in your choral career.

It came back to me this weekend when I was asked to enter into a fast. Immediately my flesh rebelled. Now, my flesh has learned to use the language of the church when it rebels. I could hear in my head "Well, this can't be a proper fast. It doesn't feel like the Spirit is calling for a fast."

Funny thing about feelings. They can be terribly powerful, driving even. But we couldn't really call ourselves spiritually mature if we don't recognize that even when the 'feeling' is positive, it is still based in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

We are called to be 'instant, in season and out of season'. This has as much to do with getting beyond our feelings as it does timing. Afterall, obedience means doing a thing as directed...not when we feel like it.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is a time for everything. The timing may not 'feel' right, but it is still time. It might be inconvenient for the rain to start during your picnic, but it is time for the rain. Losing someone is never easy, but, eventually, we lose loved ones because it's their time to go. The disciples didn't feel like going through Samaria, but Jesus knew he had an appointment with a woman who would be at a well around noon on the first day. Lazarus wasn't 'feeling' anything at all, but at the voice of the Savior, he got up.

It is a privilidge to feel the Spirit move in your life. Anytime you feel Him move, you should pray, shout, do something. But, we can't rely on feelings alone (and at times not at all). In growing, we have to move out of obedience. We have to step out because the timing is right, even when we are scared or unsure. Peter walked on water because the Lord bid him to come, not because he 'felt' like he could do it.

If you must be motivated by one of your senses when it comes to the Holy Spirit, please let it be your hearing. Move when you hear the Spirit says move and in the way the Spirit directs, even if you don't feel like it.

Peace.

Sis. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
The church website is www.fcchosengeneration.com.

Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 HWY 138 Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor