Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.56
Do you know
what kind of messages
00:00:02.59\00:00:05.30
God wants to
speak to your hearts?
00:00:05.33\00:00:07.90
Please join us today on
"Pressing in to His Presence"
00:00:07.93\00:00:10.68
as we examine this topic.
00:00:10.71\00:00:12.44
Welcome to
"Pressing in to His Presence."
00:00:33.62\00:00:36.15
Our journey in prayer
has taken us through praise,
00:00:36.18\00:00:39.93
through repentance, affirmation,
00:00:39.96\00:00:42.27
intercessions, supplication
and to the final point to enter
00:00:42.30\00:00:47.00
and be still
listening for the voice of God.
00:00:47.03\00:00:51.09
During our last three
programs we have considered
00:00:51.12\00:00:54.87
how God has spoken
throughout history to mankind.
00:00:54.90\00:00:58.00
And who it is that
God is trying to reach.
00:00:58.03\00:01:01.10
Today we will
consider the types of messages
00:01:01.13\00:01:03.84
the Lord wants us to hear.
00:01:03.87\00:01:05.98
If you are following along
in the program companion book
00:01:06.01\00:01:09.18
also titled
Pressing in to His Presence.
00:01:09.21\00:01:11.68
Today we begin on page 178.
00:01:11.71\00:01:15.83
When we cry out
00:01:15.86\00:01:18.37
with sincere
supplication in prayer,
00:01:18.40\00:01:21.63
the Lord answers, He
hears and He answers.
00:01:21.66\00:01:25.96
He desires to speak words
of encouragement, instruction
00:01:25.99\00:01:30.07
and even
discipline to our hearts.
00:01:30.10\00:01:33.19
Let's consider
some Bible promises
00:01:33.22\00:01:35.43
which indicate that.
00:01:35.46\00:01:37.35
Psalms 3:3-4 is one
of my favorite promises.
00:01:37.38\00:01:43.53
It says, "But You, O Lord,
00:01:43.56\00:01:45.65
are a shield for me, my glory
00:01:45.68\00:01:48.85
and the One who
lifts up my head.
00:01:48.88\00:01:51.63
I cried to the
Lord with my voice,
00:01:51.66\00:01:54.97
and He heard me
from His holy hill."
00:01:55.00\00:01:58.62
Is your heart
breaking right now?
00:01:58.65\00:02:01.25
God is near to
the brokenhearted,
00:02:01.28\00:02:03.36
cry out to Him.
00:02:03.39\00:02:05.16
He will cup His
hand beneath your chin,
00:02:05.19\00:02:07.69
and lift your head up.
00:02:07.72\00:02:10.44
He will heal you
and bind up your wounds.
00:02:10.47\00:02:14.47
He promises in Psalms 91:15
that "When we call upon Him,
00:02:14.50\00:02:21.61
He will answer us
and He will be with us
00:02:21.64\00:02:24.16
in times of trouble
and will deliver us."
00:02:24.19\00:02:27.53
Are you mourning?
00:02:27.56\00:02:29.30
Cry out and He will console you.
00:02:29.33\00:02:31.87
Giving you the oil of
joy to replace your mourning.
00:02:31.90\00:02:36.15
The garment of praise
00:02:36.18\00:02:38.11
to replace the
sprit of heaviness.
00:02:38.14\00:02:41.26
You know Paul
describes God this way,
00:02:41.29\00:02:44.68
in 2 Corinthians
1:3, 4 where He says
00:02:44.71\00:02:49.61
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:02:49.64\00:02:53.66
the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort,
00:02:53.69\00:02:57.74
who comforts us in
all our tribulation,
00:02:57.77\00:03:01.17
that we may be
able to comfort those
00:03:01.20\00:03:04.49
who are in any
trouble, with the comfort
00:03:04.52\00:03:07.94
with which we
ourselves are comforted by God."
00:03:07.97\00:03:13.71
Do you
desperately need direction?
00:03:13.74\00:03:17.17
Call upon the Lord.
00:03:17.20\00:03:18.72
He promises He
will not hide Himself.
00:03:18.75\00:03:22.26
In Isaiah 30:21 and further,
00:03:22.29\00:03:26.91
He promises that
your ears shall hear
00:03:26.94\00:03:29.38
a word behind you saying,
00:03:29.41\00:03:31.20
this is the way, walk in it.
00:03:31.23\00:03:33.53
Whenever you turn
00:03:33.56\00:03:34.63
to the right
hand or to the left,
00:03:34.66\00:03:37.07
God desperately
wants to instruct you.
00:03:37.10\00:03:41.27
Now look at what He
promises in Isaiah 48:17.
00:03:41.30\00:03:47.17
'This is what the Lord says,
your Redeemer, the Holy One.
00:03:47.20\00:03:51.15
"I am the Lord your God,
00:03:51.18\00:03:53.14
Who teaches you
what is best for you,
00:03:53.17\00:03:56.65
Who directs you in
the way you should go."
00:03:56.68\00:04:01.57
What a God?
00:04:01.60\00:04:03.49
Here we see that God
is anxious to help us.
00:04:03.52\00:04:11.26
We hear the echo of His voice
00:04:11.29\00:04:13.86
just saying to
you the same thing
00:04:13.89\00:04:15.92
that He promised to Jeremiah.
00:04:15.95\00:04:17.82
he said,
00:04:17.85\00:04:21.74
"Call to Me, and
I will answer you,
00:04:21.77\00:04:24.03
and I'll show you
great and mighty things,
00:04:24.06\00:04:27.10
which you do not know."
00:04:27.13\00:04:29.39
God knows the end
from the beginning
00:04:29.42\00:04:31.45
and He declares things
that are not yet in existence
00:04:31.48\00:04:37.02
as though they
were already done.
00:04:37.05\00:04:39.36
The Bible says that
00:04:39.39\00:04:40.47
He confines in
those who reverence Him
00:04:40.50\00:04:44.14
and causes them to
understand His covenant.
00:04:44.17\00:04:46.82
He wants to pour out
His sprit of wisdom on us,
00:04:46.85\00:04:51.06
and make His words known to us.
00:04:51.09\00:04:53.72
Look at what He
says in Proverbs 1:22-23.
00:04:53.75\00:04:59.55
"How long, O simple ones...
00:04:59.58\00:05:01.87
will you love being simple?
00:05:01.90\00:05:03.80
And the scoffers
delight in scoffing
00:05:03.83\00:05:05.98
and self-confident
fools hate knowledge?
00:05:06.01\00:05:09.08
If you will turn,
if you will repent
00:05:09.11\00:05:11.22
and give heed to my
reproof, behold, I wisdom
00:05:11.25\00:05:15.78
will pour out
my spirit upon you,
00:05:15.81\00:05:18.02
and I will make My
words known to you."
00:05:18.05\00:05:22.06
This reference
from Proverbs Chapter 1
00:05:22.09\00:05:25.06
is the voice of wisdom
00:05:25.09\00:05:27.61
and it is calling
out within the context,
00:05:27.64\00:05:31.44
wisdom is personified as
a pure and virtuous woman.
00:05:31.47\00:05:35.73
But who does
scripture identify as wisdom?
00:05:35.76\00:05:39.07
1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that
00:05:39.10\00:05:41.75
"We have our
life in Christ Jesus,
00:05:41.78\00:05:44.64
whom God has made our wisdom."
00:05:44.67\00:05:48.83
Wisdom lovingly rebukes mockers,
00:05:48.86\00:05:52.78
desiring to make
His heart known to them.
00:05:52.81\00:05:57.13
God disciplines
His children in wisdom.
00:05:57.16\00:06:01.55
When it comes to discipline,
00:06:01.58\00:06:03.67
Hebrews 12:9, 11 say this.
00:06:03.70\00:06:09.61
"Furthermore, we
have had human fathers
00:06:09.64\00:06:12.72
who corrected us,
and we paid them respect.
00:06:12.75\00:06:15.52
Shall we not much more
readily be in subjection
00:06:15.55\00:06:18.65
to the Father of
spirits and live?
00:06:18.68\00:06:21.23
Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present,
00:06:21.26\00:06:24.00
but painful, nevertheless,
afterward it yields
00:06:24.03\00:06:27.91
the peaceable
fruit of righteousness
00:06:27.94\00:06:30.45
to those who have
been trained by it."
00:06:30.48\00:06:35.72
You know some thing.
00:06:35.75\00:06:36.96
I am always amused to
hear audience responses
00:06:36.99\00:06:39.79
when I mentioned that
00:06:39.82\00:06:40.89
I pray for God to discipline me.
00:06:40.92\00:06:44.55
Usually a
collective gasp of horror
00:06:44.58\00:06:46.74
escapes most lips
huh, as if to imply
00:06:46.77\00:06:49.52
where I was bringing a
curse down upon my own head.
00:06:49.55\00:06:53.41
That is far...
00:06:53.44\00:06:55.31
from the spectrum of God's truth
00:06:55.34\00:06:57.17
as the color
black is from white.
00:06:57.20\00:06:59.79
In Psalm 32:8 God
says, "I will instruct you,
00:06:59.82\00:07:04.38
and I will teach you
the way you should go.
00:07:04.41\00:07:07.21
I will guide you with My
eye." God is the perfect father.
00:07:07.24\00:07:12.78
He knows when we need
to be lovingly encouraged
00:07:12.81\00:07:15.78
and He knows when we
need a word of correction.
00:07:15.81\00:07:18.99
If we listen and respond
to His gentle words of rebuke,
00:07:19.02\00:07:23.24
He has to go no further,
00:07:23.27\00:07:25.07
but if we ignore His
initial attempts to correct us,
00:07:25.10\00:07:28.78
He rams up the volume
to gain our attention.
00:07:28.81\00:07:32.38
Ignore His further
pleads, and the consequences
00:07:32.41\00:07:36.06
of our actions
are the punishment.
00:07:36.09\00:07:39.91
Did you know that?
00:07:39.94\00:07:41.01
Let's look at Jeremiah 2:17, 19.
00:07:41.04\00:07:46.36
God is speaking
here and He says,
00:07:46.39\00:07:49.15
"Have you not
brought this upon yourselves
00:07:49.18\00:07:52.36
by forsaking the Lord your God
00:07:52.39\00:07:54.51
when he led you in the way?
00:07:54.54\00:07:56.47
Your own wickedness
shall chasten and correct you,
00:07:56.50\00:08:00.71
and your backslidings
00:08:00.74\00:08:01.99
and desertion of
faith shall reprove you.
00:08:02.02\00:08:05.45
Know therefore and recognize
00:08:05.48\00:08:07.95
that this is an
evil and bitter thing.
00:08:07.98\00:08:10.47
First you have
forsaken the Lord your God,
00:08:10.50\00:08:13.85
second, you are
indifferent to Me
00:08:13.88\00:08:16.42
and the fear of
Me is not in you,
00:08:16.45\00:08:18.12
says the Lord of hosts."
00:08:18.15\00:08:20.07
So we seed that this is--
00:08:20.10\00:08:24.08
what happens is
it's our own actions
00:08:24.11\00:08:27.26
that bring us the problem,
00:08:27.29\00:08:29.56
this we suffer the
consequences of our own actions.
00:08:29.59\00:08:34.39
And the next chapter records
this sorrowful thought of God,
00:08:34.42\00:08:39.18
and He speaks
again in Jeremiah 3:19.
00:08:39.21\00:08:42.23
Here's what He says,
00:08:42.26\00:08:44.22
"And I thought you
would call Me 'My Father'
00:08:44.25\00:08:47.90
and would not turn
away from following Me."
00:08:47.93\00:08:51.44
Detect, detect
the note of sadness
00:08:51.47\00:08:53.82
in our Father's voice here.
00:08:53.85\00:08:55.67
God wants His children
00:08:55.70\00:08:57.48
to call on Him by
name Abba, Father.
00:08:57.51\00:09:01.20
He wants us to trust His
leading and His judgment.
00:09:01.23\00:09:04.95
The longing of our
loving Lord is to have children
00:09:04.98\00:09:09.05
who have ears to hear His voice.
00:09:09.08\00:09:11.86
And the bottom-line
is your heavenly Father
00:09:14.34\00:09:17.70
wants you to
listen to His guidance.
00:09:17.73\00:09:20.47
Hearing from God
is not a privilege
00:09:20.50\00:09:22.36
that belongs to a select few.
00:09:22.39\00:09:24.54
He wants to train
your spiritual ears to hear
00:09:24.57\00:09:27.47
and recognize
His authentic voice.
00:09:27.50\00:09:30.66
He will never
communicate with you in any way
00:09:30.69\00:09:33.93
that is contrary to scripture.
00:09:33.96\00:09:37.03
So you don't need to be fearful,
00:09:37.06\00:09:39.07
but with all the commotion
00:09:39.10\00:09:40.67
of communication
in today's world,
00:09:40.70\00:09:43.77
it is imperative
to know Bible truth,
00:09:43.80\00:09:47.07
so that we may distinguish
God's voice above the din.
00:09:47.10\00:09:51.36
And we may fine-tune
our spiritual antennas
00:09:51.39\00:09:54.62
to receive only
what comes from Him.
00:09:54.65\00:09:57.96
Our prayer needs to be like
David's found in Psalms 143.
00:09:57.99\00:10:03.42
Let's look at verse
8 and in verses 10, 11.
00:10:03.45\00:10:07.21
David prayed, "Cause me to hear
00:10:07.24\00:10:10.25
Your
lovingkindness in the morning,
00:10:10.28\00:10:12.91
for in You do I trust,
00:10:12.94\00:10:15.22
cause me to know the
way in which I should walk,
00:10:15.25\00:10:18.76
for I lift up my soul to
You... Teach me to do Your will,
00:10:18.79\00:10:23.34
for You are my God,
Your spirit is good.
00:10:23.37\00:10:26.66
Lead me in the
land of uprightness.
00:10:26.69\00:10:29.32
Revive me, O Lord,
for Your name's sake!
00:10:29.35\00:10:32.42
For your righteousness' sake
bring my soul out of trouble."
00:10:32.45\00:10:38.61
You know, as you're
pressing in to God's presence
00:10:38.64\00:10:43.94
and we reach this
final prayer portion,
00:10:43.97\00:10:47.05
the idea of
being still to listen
00:10:47.08\00:10:49.85
and receive impressions on
your heart from God's sprit.
00:10:49.88\00:10:53.11
If this makes you too uneasy
00:10:53.14\00:10:55.59
or if you don't
know what scripture,
00:10:55.62\00:10:57.86
I suggest that you can
conclude with the Bible reading,
00:10:57.89\00:11:01.76
to provide opportunity
for a divine dialogue
00:11:01.79\00:11:05.47
rather than our usual monologue.
00:11:05.50\00:11:07.88
After all, it's said and done,
00:11:07.91\00:11:09.73
scripture is
the most significant
00:11:09.76\00:11:12.15
way we hear from the Lord.
00:11:12.18\00:11:14.17
And prayer should be
a two way communication.
00:11:14.20\00:11:19.42
Some people pray
beautiful prayers,
00:11:19.45\00:11:23.18
but they are so
busy talking to God,
00:11:23.21\00:11:25.27
it never occurs
to them to listen
00:11:25.30\00:11:27.89
for His possible response.
00:11:27.92\00:11:30.30
That was me.
00:11:30.33\00:11:31.81
For several years I had prayed
00:11:31.84\00:11:33.46
all the
scriptures about hearing God,
00:11:33.49\00:11:37.30
during my
practice of affirmations,
00:11:37.33\00:11:39.63
and I thank the
Lord for opening my ears
00:11:39.66\00:11:42.11
to hear His still small voice.
00:11:42.14\00:11:43.87
I thank Him that I knew
and recognized His voice
00:11:43.90\00:11:46.30
and would not follow
the voice of the stranger.
00:11:46.33\00:11:49.37
But it never occurred to
me, to actually try to listen.
00:11:49.40\00:11:54.50
Yes, God broke through
00:11:54.53\00:11:56.40
my bustling
routine from time to time.
00:11:56.43\00:11:59.15
And He impressed His
precious thoughts upon my mind,
00:11:59.18\00:12:02.36
but that seemed acceptable
00:12:02.39\00:12:04.53
even though they
were just rare occasions,
00:12:04.56\00:12:06.68
that was all I expected.
00:12:06.71\00:12:08.83
But when the Lord taught
me to be still before Him
00:12:08.86\00:12:12.19
at the conclusion at my prayer,
00:12:12.22\00:12:14.29
He changed my life dramatically.
00:12:14.32\00:12:17.34
Let me share my
personal testimony with you.
00:12:17.37\00:12:20.48
For a number of
months earlier than the time
00:12:20.51\00:12:23.66
when I am sitting
here at my computer,
00:12:23.69\00:12:25.32
and He was teaching me to pray.
00:12:25.35\00:12:27.50
I had labored feverishly
00:12:27.53\00:12:29.71
to develop
business building seminars
00:12:29.74\00:12:31.89
for our new venture
working with clients of CPA's.
00:12:31.92\00:12:35.37
We had enough accountants
00:12:35.40\00:12:37.19
who would promote our
services across United States
00:12:37.22\00:12:39.96
to fill our
seminar pipeline for year.
00:12:39.99\00:12:43.02
And with their client
00:12:43.05\00:12:44.44
participant estimate
of at least a 100 each
00:12:44.47\00:12:47.83
and recommended
seminar rates of a thousand.
00:12:47.86\00:12:51.38
You can do the math quickly
a hundred times of thousand
00:12:51.41\00:12:54.33
for a week in seminar.
00:12:54.36\00:12:57.16
And we anticipated
a profit of $50,000
00:12:57.19\00:13:00.29
per event after our expenses.
00:13:00.32\00:13:02.82
Well, this dangled
before us like a big carrot.
00:13:02.85\00:13:05.89
I thought surely
this was God's answer
00:13:05.92\00:13:08.28
to clear our debt
00:13:08.31\00:13:09.56
and make us
financially successful.
00:13:09.59\00:13:12.50
So developing seminar content
00:13:12.53\00:13:15.54
had become my all
consuming priority.
00:13:15.57\00:13:18.92
That is of course
00:13:18.95\00:13:20.43
until God taught me to
press in to His presence
00:13:20.46\00:13:23.61
and to be still before Him.
00:13:23.64\00:13:25.74
When He impressed me
that He had a greater plan.
00:13:25.77\00:13:29.73
Although He typically
impressed His thoughts,
00:13:29.76\00:13:35.22
only a few
sentences to me each day,
00:13:35.25\00:13:39.66
and often left me
with searching questions.
00:13:39.69\00:13:42.54
It wasn't long before I knew
00:13:42.57\00:13:43.95
God was calling me
into full time ministry.
00:13:43.98\00:13:47.07
My interest in our
new businesses venture
00:13:47.10\00:13:49.51
just evaporated.
00:13:49.54\00:13:51.67
I was ready to give it up.
00:13:51.70\00:13:53.83
But the Lord
clearly directed me,
00:13:53.86\00:13:56.55
that the decision for me
to enter full time ministry
00:13:56.58\00:13:59.70
must be left up to my husband.
00:13:59.73\00:14:01.82
Does that sound strange?
00:14:01.85\00:14:03.48
God wasn't discriminating
against me as a woman.
00:14:03.51\00:14:06.56
He knew that
J.D could not launch
00:14:06.59\00:14:08.51
our new company without my help.
00:14:08.54\00:14:11.15
And we would
therefore have to completely
00:14:11.18\00:14:14.05
abandon our business plans.
00:14:14.08\00:14:17.18
This was a time of
deep soul searching for me.
00:14:17.21\00:14:21.53
Was I sure, God was speaking
00:14:21.56\00:14:24.20
and calling me into full time
labor in His harvest fields.
00:14:24.23\00:14:27.97
Considering the
investment that J.D
00:14:28.00\00:14:29.98
and I had made and
the time not only funds,
00:14:30.01\00:14:32.98
but the time
developing our new company.
00:14:33.01\00:14:35.43
It seemed unlikely that J.D
will be willing to discontinue
00:14:35.46\00:14:38.67
the business effort particularly
00:14:38.70\00:14:41.54
because of the
incredible income potential.
00:14:41.57\00:14:44.59
And I prayed, and said
Lord if J.D does agree,
00:14:44.62\00:14:48.71
how can I be certain
00:14:48.74\00:14:50.23
that we're really
following Your will.
00:14:50.26\00:14:52.34
If we do decide to give
all this up and do this,
00:14:52.37\00:14:56.26
could you please give me a sign
00:14:56.29\00:14:58.18
that this is
really You speaking to me,
00:14:58.21\00:15:00.51
and that we are
making the right decision.
00:15:00.54\00:15:02.64
Would you please do something
00:15:02.67\00:15:04.32
to confirm this
decision if we make it?
00:15:04.35\00:15:07.82
God's response was this
time, I will give you sign.
00:15:07.85\00:15:13.35
That's all that was
impressed upon my mind.
00:15:13.38\00:15:16.10
But the message I received was
00:15:16.13\00:15:18.37
don't continue to ask for signs.
00:15:18.40\00:15:21.20
It seemed that God wanted me
to learn to trust His leading
00:15:21.23\00:15:25.62
and to keep my eyes on Him,
00:15:25.65\00:15:27.60
rather than seeking a sign
00:15:27.63\00:15:29.47
every time for
proof of His will.
00:15:29.50\00:15:32.18
Now I didn't want to be,
00:15:32.21\00:15:34.01
want to broach this
important topic with J.D.
00:15:34.04\00:15:38.17
So I ask God to cause my husband
00:15:38.20\00:15:40.96
to know His will in
God's perfect timing.
00:15:40.99\00:15:45.49
The following weekend
00:15:45.52\00:15:47.05
I visited J.D in
the panhandle of Texas,
00:15:47.08\00:15:50.32
where he was
working temporarily.
00:15:50.35\00:15:53.04
And as we drove to lunch,
00:15:53.07\00:15:54.89
I was tempted to
open the discussion,
00:15:54.92\00:15:57.37
but the Holy Sprit reminded
me of my request to the Lord.
00:15:57.40\00:16:01.45
So heavy silence
settled over us in the vehicle.
00:16:01.48\00:16:05.73
Finally J.D sighed
00:16:05.76\00:16:08.59
and he asked me
a probing question.
00:16:08.62\00:16:10.20
He said, "Honey
what's wrong with you?
00:16:10.23\00:16:13.40
You are so on fire
about our new business
00:16:13.43\00:16:16.87
and suddenly you
hardly even mention it.
00:16:16.90\00:16:19.78
Do you even have an
interest in it any longer?"
00:16:19.81\00:16:23.17
Well, I responded with sing song
00:16:23.20\00:16:27.16
in serenity saying,
00:16:27.19\00:16:29.12
"Well yes, I have
some interest in it."
00:16:29.15\00:16:31.97
And then he said "Shelley,
00:16:32.00\00:16:33.08
if you could do
anything in the world,
00:16:33.11\00:16:36.44
what would you want to be doing?
00:16:36.47\00:16:38.91
Well, I blurted out my
answer with no reservation.
00:16:38.94\00:16:42.42
I said, "I would be
giving Christian seminars
00:16:42.45\00:16:46.14
to teach people,
00:16:46.17\00:16:47.25
how to have a
closer walk with the Lord,
00:16:47.28\00:16:49.87
rather than giving
business seminars to teach,
00:16:49.90\00:16:52.25
people how to be
more profitable."
00:16:52.28\00:16:55.06
God had opened the
door for this conversation.
00:16:55.09\00:16:58.16
Much sooner than I had expected,
00:16:58.19\00:17:01.11
and my mind, and
my mouth were racing
00:17:01.14\00:17:04.23
as I try to convey
all that had transpired
00:17:04.26\00:17:07.73
during these times of prayer.
00:17:07.76\00:17:09.59
And the heart
change God had influenced.
00:17:09.62\00:17:12.46
But still not trusting
00:17:12.49\00:17:13.83
what God could
do in J.D's heart,
00:17:13.86\00:17:16.44
I put forth the idea that,
00:17:16.47\00:17:18.32
perhaps the Lord didn't really
00:17:18.35\00:17:20.17
mean full time
ministry right now.
00:17:20.20\00:17:22.53
Maybe I can start
in part time ministry
00:17:22.56\00:17:25.48
and we could simultaneously
work on new business part time.
00:17:25.51\00:17:30.03
We can profit
plenty to get out of debt,
00:17:30.06\00:17:33.02
and we can fund
the work of the Lord.
00:17:33.05\00:17:35.85
The ministry could eventually
evolve into full time.
00:17:35.88\00:17:39.98
J.D looked uneasy.
00:17:40.01\00:17:42.01
He had become convinced
00:17:42.04\00:17:44.18
that I had learned to listen
to God's still small voice.
00:17:44.21\00:17:47.34
And he now sensed
00:17:47.37\00:17:48.42
that I was
holding something back.
00:17:48.45\00:17:50.71
He said, "Shelley,
00:17:50.74\00:17:52.98
you know, what God is
asking you to do, don't you?"
00:17:53.01\00:17:56.12
My response was, "Yes I know.
00:17:56.15\00:17:58.51
God is calling me
to full time ministry
00:17:58.54\00:18:01.00
and I believe
His timing is now."
00:18:01.03\00:18:04.17
And to my amazement
without a moment's hesitation
00:18:04.20\00:18:09.72
my precious husband answered,
"Who am I to argue with God?"
00:18:09.75\00:18:16.22
I said, "Oh,
honey, that's wonderful,
00:18:16.25\00:18:19.20
I asked the Lord
to give me a sign,
00:18:19.23\00:18:21.23
just to make certain that
00:18:21.26\00:18:22.87
we are making
the right decision.
00:18:22.90\00:18:25.19
So if this is what
we're supposed to do,
00:18:25.22\00:18:28.00
I 'm sure He will confirm it."
00:18:28.03\00:18:30.58
Then J.D said
something in a strange way.
00:18:30.61\00:18:34.44
He said that's the
trouble with you Christians,
00:18:34.47\00:18:38.41
you are always
asking for a sign.
00:18:38.44\00:18:40.44
So if God doesn't
give you a sign soon,
00:18:40.47\00:18:43.67
does that mean you won't follow
00:18:43.70\00:18:45.50
His leading into
full time ministry?
00:18:45.53\00:18:48.98
Now I want you to understand.
00:18:49.01\00:18:50.65
My precious
husband was a Christian,
00:18:50.68\00:18:53.56
he was a strong
believer in the Lord
00:18:53.59\00:18:56.24
and I knew he
prayed all the time.
00:18:56.27\00:18:58.55
He attended church regularly.
00:18:58.58\00:19:01.04
But in some way
00:19:01.07\00:19:02.27
he had reserved
a part of himself
00:19:02.30\00:19:04.05
that he wouldn't
surrender to God.
00:19:04.08\00:19:06.18
Sometimes is now
and there is then,
00:19:06.21\00:19:10.26
his faith seemed
stronger than mine.
00:19:10.29\00:19:12.89
I was
dumbfounded by his response.
00:19:12.92\00:19:15.92
What would I do if
God didn't give me a sign?
00:19:15.95\00:19:18.64
How long should I wait?
00:19:18.67\00:19:21.02
How would I even
start in full time ministry?
00:19:21.05\00:19:24.05
Who was I that
anyone would listen to me?
00:19:24.08\00:19:28.35
This happened on the
first Saturday of January 2000.
00:19:28.38\00:19:33.03
We determined that
afternoon after much prayer
00:19:33.06\00:19:36.39
that I would enter
into full time ministry
00:19:36.42\00:19:38.71
and our new business
pursuit would be shut down.
00:19:38.74\00:19:42.63
Our decision was made
prayerfully and in faith,
00:19:42.66\00:19:46.16
but with the
lumps in our throat,
00:19:46.19\00:19:47.87
not knowing
what the future held?
00:19:47.90\00:19:50.61
The very next
morning on a Sunday,
00:19:50.64\00:19:55.13
I received an
unexpected phone call.
00:19:55.16\00:19:58.58
It was someone I had never met,
00:19:58.61\00:20:00.37
the vice-president
00:20:00.40\00:20:01.74
of an independent
Christian broadcasting network,
00:20:01.77\00:20:04.37
it wasn't 3ABN.
00:20:04.40\00:20:05.88
It was a network that
was gaining popularity
00:20:05.91\00:20:08.11
in coverage in Texas
and surrounding states.
00:20:08.14\00:20:11.90
She had read my first
edition self published work
00:20:11.93\00:20:15.89
of life
affirmations from scripture.
00:20:15.92\00:20:18.45
And had gone to great lengths
00:20:18.48\00:20:21.27
to track me
down on this weekend,
00:20:21.30\00:20:23.79
calling various sources to
get J.D's cell phone number.
00:20:23.82\00:20:28.24
She invited me to
come to the studios
00:20:28.27\00:20:30.67
and tape a program with her.
00:20:30.70\00:20:32.51
And I felt as
giddy as Gideon must have
00:20:32.54\00:20:35.73
when the dew of
divine grace granted him
00:20:35.76\00:20:38.19
a sign to confirm
God's call on his life.
00:20:38.22\00:20:41.51
We had it. God
had given me the sign.
00:20:41.54\00:20:44.74
Well, I returned to
our hometown that night,
00:20:44.77\00:20:48.04
in wide-eyed wonder.
00:20:48.07\00:20:49.80
In the next morning on Monday
00:20:49.83\00:20:51.85
as I pressed in
to God's presence,
00:20:51.88\00:20:54.38
the Lord spoke a
word of encouragement
00:20:54.41\00:20:56.92
that would become foundational
for my faith in His calling.
00:20:56.95\00:21:00.31
It is etched in my
heart and in my mind forever.
00:21:00.34\00:21:04.02
Listen to what He said to me,
00:21:04.05\00:21:05.97
He said always before
00:21:06.00\00:21:08.25
you have put your
hand to the plough
00:21:08.28\00:21:10.63
and turn back,
but not this time,
00:21:10.66\00:21:13.87
for I will cup
my hand over yours.
00:21:13.90\00:21:19.89
It was true.
00:21:19.92\00:21:21.56
I had felt God's
call to ministry twice
00:21:21.59\00:21:23.79
before my earlier life.
00:21:23.82\00:21:25.63
And I had even
enrolled in ministerial school.
00:21:25.66\00:21:28.61
But both times,
00:21:28.64\00:21:29.67
it seemed as it the
gates of hell were opened wide
00:21:29.70\00:21:32.68
and demonic attacks
descended upon my family.
00:21:32.71\00:21:36.03
Once I had even
angrily shaken my fist
00:21:36.06\00:21:39.82
at the Lord in response
00:21:39.85\00:21:41.19
to what had
happened to my mother?
00:21:41.22\00:21:43.25
And what seemed at the
time is God's indifference
00:21:43.28\00:21:46.97
to my earnest
pleads on her behalf
00:21:47.00\00:21:49.88
and unwillingness
to keep His promises.
00:21:49.91\00:21:52.83
You see, I was under
the impression at that time,
00:21:52.86\00:21:56.49
that sufficient faith
could force God to act.
00:21:56.52\00:22:00.41
I had mistakenly been
taught to have faith in faith
00:22:00.44\00:22:04.27
and not faith in God.
00:22:04.30\00:22:06.37
But now God had
changed, He had taught me,
00:22:06.40\00:22:10.63
and He had cupped
His hand over mine.
00:22:10.66\00:22:13.57
He had opened a wide door
00:22:13.60\00:22:15.43
of opportunity
for me to minister.
00:22:15.46\00:22:19.35
My first television appearance
00:22:19.38\00:22:21.74
was one that I
will never forget,
00:22:21.77\00:22:24.28
not because I was nervous.
00:22:24.31\00:22:25.94
I was not nervous, I
was bursting to share.
00:22:25.97\00:22:29.41
But because of something
00:22:29.44\00:22:30.50
the Lord
impressed upon my heart.
00:22:30.53\00:22:33.01
I had taken
extra care to look nice
00:22:33.04\00:22:36.16
for the cameras that day.
00:22:36.19\00:22:37.94
But when I got to the set
00:22:37.97\00:22:39.42
and I glanced, I
was sitting there
00:22:39.45\00:22:40.84
and I glanced
up at the monitors,
00:22:40.87\00:22:42.84
I saw my own hoard reflection.
00:22:42.87\00:22:46.24
The lights were set for
the host of the program,
00:22:46.27\00:22:48.90
who was much shorter than I.
00:22:48.93\00:22:51.66
And bad lighting was
casting shadows on my face
00:22:51.69\00:22:55.01
that made me
look 10 years older.
00:22:55.04\00:22:57.20
I was mortified
00:22:57.23\00:22:59.01
and suddenly this
thought flashed through my mind,
00:22:59.04\00:23:02.50
crucify that thought
this is not about you,
00:23:02.53\00:23:06.20
it's about me.
00:23:06.23\00:23:08.47
Boy, that's another
jewel of wisdom from the Lord,
00:23:08.50\00:23:11.40
to which I constantly cling.
00:23:11.43\00:23:14.03
It's a great weapon
00:23:14.06\00:23:15.85
against insecurity
about my appearance.
00:23:15.88\00:23:19.30
And for the next eight months
00:23:19.33\00:23:20.81
I appeared
regularly on that network.
00:23:20.84\00:23:23.49
They offered me
a series of my own
00:23:23.52\00:23:25.73
without production
cost or airtime fees.
00:23:25.76\00:23:29.17
And the next morning I
left or the morning that I left
00:23:29.20\00:23:33.42
to go start
taping that new series,
00:23:33.45\00:23:35.75
God spoke to my heart
during my time of prayer
00:23:35.78\00:23:39.05
and He said,
00:23:39.08\00:23:40.30
I am calling you
out of where you are.
00:23:40.33\00:23:44.30
Well, I thought perhaps
00:23:44.33\00:23:46.74
we would be
relocating to the city
00:23:46.77\00:23:48.56
where this
network was headquartered.
00:23:48.59\00:23:50.96
So that I can
increase my work there.
00:23:50.99\00:23:53.86
But that was not God's intent.
00:23:53.89\00:23:56.44
A misunderstanding
over contract terms
00:23:56.47\00:23:58.98
for copyright occurred with
the network's general manager
00:23:59.01\00:24:03.51
during that week
while I was taping there.
00:24:03.54\00:24:07.01
And I was
stunned at the ferocity
00:24:07.04\00:24:09.19
of his attack against me.
00:24:09.22\00:24:11.28
The Lord assured me in prayer,
00:24:11.31\00:24:13.44
the cloud of my
presence is moving
00:24:13.47\00:24:15.27
and you must follow.
00:24:15.30\00:24:16.74
My departure from that
network was disappointing,
00:24:16.77\00:24:20.55
but I kept my hand to the plow
00:24:20.58\00:24:22.59
because God's hand
was cupped over mine.
00:24:22.62\00:24:25.65
And you gonna
have to tune in again,
00:24:25.68\00:24:29.21
to hear the rest of the story
00:24:29.24\00:24:31.08
because we are
running out of time today.
00:24:31.11\00:24:33.99
But I pray that you
will join us next time,
00:24:34.02\00:24:37.38
when we will see,
00:24:37.41\00:24:39.02
how the Lord performs
His purposes in our lives
00:24:39.05\00:24:43.22
when we follow the
cloud of His presence.
00:24:43.25\00:24:46.97
Right now, I just want
to have a prayer for you.
00:24:47.00\00:24:51.96
And I want to ask that
the Lord would open your ears
00:24:51.99\00:24:58.59
that He would teach you
how to truly know His voice,
00:24:58.62\00:25:04.17
that you would never
follow the voice of a stranger.
00:25:04.20\00:25:08.02
And I want to
say something here.
00:25:08.05\00:25:10.51
Because it is critically
important to understand,
00:25:10.54\00:25:13.62
I believe I have said
this on-- previous program,
00:25:13.65\00:25:18.22
but I just want to remind you.
00:25:18.25\00:25:20.80
There is a type
of prayer practice
00:25:20.83\00:25:25.97
that is becoming
prevalent in many churches
00:25:26.00\00:25:30.76
around the
United States at least.
00:25:30.79\00:25:33.45
And it's a type of
prayer that-- I will name it,
00:25:33.48\00:25:37.90
it's called
contemplative prayer.
00:25:37.93\00:25:40.97
It's a very
dangerous type of prayer
00:25:41.00\00:25:43.61
because it teaches you to
empty yourself of everything
00:25:43.64\00:25:48.40
and to meditate and sit
00:25:48.43\00:25:50.82
and try to receive
communication from the Lord.
00:25:50.85\00:25:56.64
The thing that's
dangerous about this is that,
00:25:56.67\00:26:01.06
it is a Middle Eastern practice.
00:26:01.09\00:26:03.58
God doesn't ask us,
00:26:03.61\00:26:05.12
our meditation is not
to be empty of thought.
00:26:05.15\00:26:09.29
Our meditation is
to be on His word.
00:26:09.32\00:26:11.85
Our meditation is to be on Him.
00:26:11.88\00:26:14.21
And then you can trust that
as you are filling your heart
00:26:14.24\00:26:19.73
with His will and His word.
00:26:19.76\00:26:21.34
You can trust
that you can listen
00:26:21.37\00:26:24.26
for the voice of the Lord.
00:26:24.29\00:26:25.82
So don't be
afraid of the real thing
00:26:25.85\00:26:30.71
because of the counterfeit.
00:26:30.74\00:26:32.52
But it is incredibly important
that we know the real thing,
00:26:32.55\00:26:37.29
so that you don't get
caught up in the counterfeit.
00:26:37.32\00:26:40.71
Let me pray for you now.
00:26:40.74\00:26:42.56
Our heavenly Father,
00:26:42.59\00:26:44.41
we come Lord with
thanksgiving in our hearts
00:26:44.44\00:26:48.43
that You Lord send
Your Son Jesus Christ to die
00:26:48.46\00:26:52.28
for us while we
were yet sinners.
00:26:52.31\00:26:54.26
That you send Your Holy Sprit
to dwell in our hearts Father,
00:26:54.29\00:26:57.59
and that You have
given us Your word
00:26:57.62\00:27:00.02
that we might partake
of Your divine nature.
00:27:00.05\00:27:03.04
And Father, we pray
in the name of Jesus.
00:27:03.07\00:27:07.38
Oh, Lord, teach us how to pray.
00:27:07.41\00:27:10.36
I know this is not
the only kind of prayer,
00:27:10.39\00:27:12.57
but teach us Lord,
00:27:12.60\00:27:14.13
how to press in
to Your presence.
00:27:14.16\00:27:16.41
Give us ears to hear what
the Holy Sprit has to say.
00:27:16.44\00:27:21.25
And Father, I ask
in the name of Jesus
00:27:21.28\00:27:24.05
that we will
always check anything
00:27:24.08\00:27:26.41
that You say against Your word.
00:27:26.44\00:27:28.61
Anything that we
think You have said
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.43
that we will check it
00:27:31.46\00:27:33.39
against the
scripture to make sure, Father,
00:27:33.42\00:27:36.34
that it is no one
else who is leading us.
00:27:36.37\00:27:39.44
Father, we love
You and we are so...
00:27:39.47\00:27:42.93
We so want be like Jesus.
00:27:42.96\00:27:45.24
We want to walk
in His footsteps.
00:27:45.27\00:27:47.97
Be with us, bless us in
Jesus' holy name I pray.
00:27:48.00\00:27:52.84
Well, our time is all gone
00:27:52.87\00:27:55.51
and I'm so
thankful you've joined us.
00:27:55.54\00:27:57.73
Our continued prayer
for you is that the grace
00:27:57.76\00:28:00.50
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ,
00:28:00.53\00:28:02.56
the love of the Father
00:28:02.59\00:28:03.91
and the
fellowship of the Holy Sprit
00:28:03.94\00:28:06.18
will be with you
today and always.
00:28:06.21\00:28:09.48
God bless.
00:28:09.51\00:28:10.69