The Path

The Path

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) starts at Springer Mountain, Georgia (southern terminus) and finishes at Mount Katahdin, Maine (northern terminus), stretching nearly 2,200 miles through 14 states

We are all on a journey in this room. This concept of a “path” is relatable to all of us. We are all on a path in life. And the truth of the matter is that our paths are going to take some turns, there will be undeniable supernatural unexplainable moments, great moments, not so great moments but the truth is that God is actively involved in our paths even if we are passively involved with God.

Even when we are away from God, God will make a way for us. 

God has a way of intervening. God has a way showing up in our path. Coming in through the window when we least expect it. 

Some of us are following the path that God has set for us and some of us may be off the path  slightly or even going wayward but even so God is not going to forsake us and he will do everything in his power to make us acknowledge that he is there in the midst of our wondering or waywardness. 

Acts 8:26-40 (ESV)

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.

33 

In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

For those of us that are on what we would consider the right path currently, in step with God, in tune with his will we need to be aware that

God is going to orchestrate Holy moments 

Priscilla Shirer in her book surrender writes:

As we go through the day, we anticipate opportunities. We look for them. We stay on prayerful alert for them, keeping our heads on a swivel for them. We’re not surprised but expectant that any encounter today could shimmer with holy and sacred potential, giving us opportunity to say something, do something, or to be an example to others of what Jesus has made us and called us to be. Our set of tasks for the morning, our to-do list for the afternoon, are surrendered tools in His hand for wherever He says we should go, to whomever He puts in front of us.

True disciples know that there is no such thing as happenstance within the spheres of influence we have been placed. 

There are no coincidences on the path God has us on

There will be moments on your path where God puts others in your path and the bridge for them to walk from unbelief to belief is going to be you. Boldly stepping out, telling them. Oh thats someone else’s job. What did the eunuch say? How can I know unless someone tells me? There will be encounters on our path with people who need hope and we have to share that hope and be willing to actively intervene. 

It’s not a matter of if that situation will take place but when

Some of us are hindered because of our self perceived weakness

Your weaknesses aren’t hindrances; they are designed to display God’s strength.

Let His grace cover faults: Allow God’s covering to work through your faults, making you usable

Embrace imperfection: God uses “broken vessels,” like stuttering Moses or Rahab with a past, not because they’re flawless, but because they are available and surrendered.

Some of us may not be able to buy into this because we think we’re too weak or maybe were socially awkward and there’s nothing special about us. Phillips was just at the right place at the right time and he was available. 

Sometimes all that matters as we forge through this path that God has us on is that we are just available

Ask God to use your gifts 

Seek Him to transform your talents into powerful tools for His glory. A few weeks ago we discussed spiritual gifts. Are we using them for our glory or his glory. As we walk down our path we are going to have to decide if we are going to use our gifts ot bring others to him or glory to ourselves

We need to be willing to walk through uncomfortable situations.

Joshua 6:1-7 (ESV)

6 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,[a] and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

We see that it played out the way God said it would. But you’d have to imagine hearing those instructions was hard and actually doing those instructions was even more difficult. And there will be times as we travel down our path  just like the Israelites as they marched on Jericho we have to 

Trust the process

There will be tests, challenges, pain,  discomfort on our path but we have to trust God through it that he is leading the way. Trail hikers go through all kinds of conditions through getting to their destination and it’s no different on our spiritual journey. 

But we have to know that God will be with us along the way and see us through. That doesn’t mean we will get a miracle. We may see a situation change but what might happen is that we just get peace internally. Outwardly the situation might not get better and our “need” might not get met. 

Your “need” and what you actually need may be different.

 What God knows you need may be different

Its not about getting what we want its about doing what he wants

Some of us are burdened by times in our path in our journey where we have made mistakes

God works through “wrongs”: 

Delays, setbacks, and things you don’t like are part of His plan to lead you to a greater right, so stop fighting them and trust His control. Maybe your past life and mistakes made you stronger or allowed you to relate to people better. Some of you are on a path of righteousness and sanctification but you are burdened and haunted by your past. So if you have baggage consider it a blessing in terms of being able to be used by God for others. 

Your Identity is in Christ: 

Don’t let past failures define you; God redefines your identity as          chosen, redeemed, and qualified.

Some of us may be on a path away from God. 

God is guiding your path even if you don’t realize it

Acts 9:1-9

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Even if you are away from God, God will make a way for you.

Your path matters your story matters: God uses every unique story every path (Sarah, Hagar, Esther) to show His power and faithfulness, so don’t discount your own narrative

            Whether we are walking with God, away from God, he is guiding us, he is there with us. Some of us are on the right path but we need to be willing to help others like Phillip and the Eunuch. We need to step into using our gifts, overcoming our past stop letting our past prevent us from being used by God, we need to just be willing and available. Trust the process despite trials things we may be encountering in our paths we need to know that God is going to see us through in his timing the way he sees fit

And those of us that are away from God like Paul not even looking for God the Lord is going to intervene. You’re going to get blinded, knocked off your horse. If you persist in your life away from Jesus its not going to be because God didn’t try, its going to take some next level stubbornness because God is going to give you a sign today hes going to show you his glory, that he is real, he’s going to rewrite your story, intervene in your path

The Appalachian trail has a start and a destination no matter who the hiker is, no matter what takes place, the weather, elements, situations the destination doesn’t change

God has a journey for all of us and it may look different for all of us but God has the same destination that he wants for all of us and that’s heaven. Eternity with him. The question is are we on the path and are we doing everything we can to reach that destination and ensure others come with us

As we go into the new year, what does our path look like? Are we on the path of Jesus or are we on the path of destruction. Do we need to heed his call and get on the right path? Are we doing everything we can on the path to get others on the path with us? Are we using our spheres of influence to impact others? Are we allowing past failures, weakness, trials, uncomfortable situations to cause us to veer off and not forge the trail like God intended