God, is that you?;

How can you determine if you have a thought that originates with God?  

1. Ask does this thought agree with the Bible?

Luke 21:33 (NIV) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

2. Ask does this thought make me more like Christ?

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) " For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

James 3:13-18 (CEB) "Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. What is the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts."

3. Ask does my church family confirm it?

Ephesians 2:10 (GWT) "He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom. "

Proverbs 11:14 (Amplified) "Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety."

4. Ask is it consistent with how God shaped me? You can be all that God has shaped you to be.

s- spiritual gifts

h- heart

a- abilities

p- personality

e- experiences

Ephesians 2:10 (YLT) "For of Him we are workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God did before prepare, that in them we may walk."

Romans 12:6a (GWT) "God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts."

5. Ask does it concern me and my responsibility? "Stop trying to get God's word for others".

Be witty...

W- what

i- is

t- that

t- to

y- you

John 21:18-22 (NCV) I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will tie you and take you where you don't want to go." (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me!" Peter turned and saw that the follower Jesus loved was walking behind them. (This was the follower who had leaned against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who will turn against you?") When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me."

Romans 14:4 (GWT) "Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful. The servant will be successful because the Lord makes him successful."

When God give you a word for someone else...

> Be patient and pray.

> Give God a chance to talk to them directly.

> God will use you to confirm what God has already said to them.

> God usually uses you without you knowing it.

Romans 14:10-11 (GWT) Why do you criticize or despise other Christians? Everyone will stand in front of God to be judged. Scripture says, “As certainly as I live, says the Lord, everyone will worship me, and everyone will praise God.”

6. Ask is it convicting rather than condemning?

> If it is from God, it will correct our attitudes and behavior.

> If it is from Satan, it will accuse us, criticize us, and make us feel worthless.

> God never attacks our value.

> When God speaks, it is like a pin point of light.

> When Satan speaks, it is like a thick dark cloud of condemnation.

> God's conviction system is to convict a sin, so Jesus can take the condemnation for my sin. Then, God can forgive us.

> Before sin, Satan minimizes. After sin, he maximizes.

Revelation 12:10 (NIV) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,who accuses them before our God day and night,has been hurled down.

7. Ask do I sense God's peace about it? 90% of what God says is encouraging.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:17 (Amplified) "Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge"

Listen, follow, pass it on...

(listen to this wonderful message by Rick Warren http://saddleback.com/mc/m/8B3E)