Key 6 – INSPIRATION
Through God – Through Others – To Others
A. What does it take to inspire you?
Picture this…The Son of the creator God, leaves his home and his Father to come to earth. He must go through the travail of childbirth. That means nine months in the human incubator and being physically born into this world. He isn’t born with even the comforts or dignity of the peasant, but instead his parents must bear him in a cold, damp animal stable. Sprinkle around some hay and fill the air with the odoriferous likeness of its inhabitants and you have the birthplace of our Savior.
Why would He do that?
Let’s say, just to get the bigger picture that instead, He chose to be born as the King of Kings should. If he was born in a king’s castle or in a godly temple there would be great fan fare. He would be clothed in royal robes and be honored by the mighty and the great. Now then…who would the angels make their announcement to? Would they still show themselves to the shepherds of the field? Would He be in more or less danger from Herod? Instead of the twelve original disciples…who would he call – governors and Pharisees? And most importantly…would we identify with him in any way? Isn’t it good to know that God had us in mind at the birth of Christ? …and what about his death?
Not only was God in control of the details of the coming of the Christ but in his death, for we are remembered forever, due to the nail prints in the hands of our Christ.
In Isaiah, chapter 49; Zion says “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me…” But God says that just as a mother cannot forget the child of her womb, He will not forget them…once more He says “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands…” (It is believed that Isaiah was referring to the engravings of the names of the tribes upon the gems fastened to the ephod* as a permanent memorial) It is taught that just as the Lord says he has engraved his people on the palms of his hands that this also symbolizes the nail scars in the hands of Christ. Since these were caused by our sin which Jesus took upon himself, we too, hundreds of years after the Isaiah passage reminds us of the plans that God himself has and always has had in our regard. Certainly, we are remembered by God. Inspired yet?
Well, just in case you need more…the Prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to those who were taken in exile. He wrote, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil…” (29:11) The NIV - “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah records a specific time in history regarding God’s people and their despair. God clarifies that He is very aware of their condition and that he THINKS of them and PLANS for them. AMAZING! God had his people in his thoughts. Do you think it is different now, especially after his only begotten Son died a horrific death for and because of us!
How much does it take to get you excited? Will you take the inspired Word of God and let it excite and motivate you to inspire, motivate and excite others? It would be hard to convince me that you had great confidence in your faith if you lack Godly inspiration. We need His inspiration if we expect to accomplish anything for the cause of Christ. Before finishing this study ask yourself the following questions:
Do I really believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ?
Do I struggle with doubt or fear when it comes to my faith?
Do I feel alone or confused when it comes to the way in which God wants to use me?
First you must know what you believe in. If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior then don’t rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you in your Christian walk. Instead go to the C.O.P.E. Bible Study Introduction and scroll to the last portion. Read the plan of salvation and be assured that Jesus Christ is your personal Savior. It is important to do that before moving on in this study.
B. Inspired Through Others - Can you remember those who God has used in your life to inspire you? I can.
First there was my Aunt Helen – A lot of people around me were Christians but it was Aunt Helen who persevered and never gave up on me. She did more than talk about religion; she lived her faith every day. From the time I was a young little girl I can remember that she was different. Love seemed to come from her - it’s hard to explain in so many words. She would ask if I would like to come to Sunday school. I always said no, but she kept praying. And though, once I became an adult, others told me that I needed church, it was Aunt Helen who first opened her Bible and introduced me to Christ. Oh, the night she opened the Bible with me she asked if I wanted to pray the sinner’s prayer. “Did you understand what you just read Susie?” she asked. “Yes”, I said as I nodded assuredly. “Then would you like to pray to invite Jesus to be your personal Savior?” she asked. “No,” I politely answered. Still she remained patient and calm and left it to the Lord to bring me to him in his time. The next morning after that first Bible experience I asked Jesus into my heart and life. I received the free gift of salvation; the very one Aunt Helen tried to tell me about over and over again for years. I was nineteen and a newly married woman. I got on my knees in my little kitchen that Saturday morning and thought about God’s Bible and what I had learned the night before. Right then, right there, I knew and understood. I prayed and worshiped and praised God. He saved me and through that experience I have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How I praise God.
Would you like to know the verse she used to lead me to the knowledge of such profound love? It was John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” I was asked if I knew what that meant. Uh, there was that word ‘begotten’ that I had never seen or heard before; and what about everlasting life…does that mean you never die? That would be physically impossible! Softly Aunt Helen responded. That ‘begotten’ simple means that Jesus came by being humanly born, even though He is God. And the everlasting life is a sure thing, but no, not physical as we know it. She took her time. She knew I was a bit confused but I was wearing my heart on my sleeve and she loved me enough to step back and let the Lord work.
Everyone will live forever – either in heaven with God or in Hell separated from him. But if you believe in Jesus as God’s Son and your Savior, he removes the sin from your life…the very sin that would send you to an eternal hell was washed clean at Calvary so that you could be delivered to an eternal heaven. God loved us in the world so much that he gave us his only born son to take our sins away. Jesus did that on the cross, only after being beaten and humiliated. He was pierced with a spear and slapped and spit on. A crown of thorns was pushed down on his head as he was mocked and belittled. He could have stopped it. He didn’t have to feel the anguish of those rejecting him – the very ones he was dying for; and he didn’t have to feel the physical pain of the torture he endured. But He did…for them, for you and for me. And that salvation is a gift, for it says clearly “that He gave…” That means we accept his act on the cross without earning it, paying for it or working for it. The gift of salvation is free to us, though it cost Jesus everything.
The original twelve disciples had Jesus to live a godly example in front of them and I had my Aunt Helen. Later, my sister Kathy would also be used of God so that I would have two Godly women in my life to instruct and guide me in my walk with Christ.
My time of conversion was no coincidence… At the time of my salvation I had been having vicious nightmares and I was so afraid of death, especially at night. Isn’t His timing grand? Who says he’s not in control?
But there was someone else who inspired me long before the day of my salvation. If it weren’t for my Aunt instilling the thought of Sunday school in my mind I may never have met a precious lady, who I believed loved Jesus. I asked if I could go to church around the corner from our house. It wasn’t Aunt Helen’s church, but I know her testimony had a lot to do with my decision to go. I don’t recall ever hearing the plan of salvation but I do remember Mrs. Fisher. At about eight years of age I was very impressionable and very shy. I rarely looked into the face of an adult. I don’t remember her face but I shall never forget her hands.
No, I don’t remember her face and I can’t remember the sound of her voice but I do remember the soft, caring way she spoke to me.
When I could recite the Lord’s Prayer….she peeled off a gold star and put it on my Sunday school paper. When I could recite the Ten Commandments, she peeled off a gold star and put in on my paper. She encouraged and praised my efforts, yet sadly I cannot remember her face. Yes, most of all, I remember Mrs. Fisher’s hands…I shall never forget the gentle way she had as she taught me the stories from the ‘book’.
That was nearly 57 years ago. I don’t know for sure if she was saved but if she were alive today she would be about 100 years old. I don’t take any chances, just in case, I still pray for her salvation and the salvation of her descendants. Whenever I work with children, I want to be a Mrs. Fisher. She still inspires me to be faithful to God in the small as well as the big things. Whenever I hear the song “Thank you for Giving to the Lord” I think of her.
I think of Paul when he wrote the church at Philippi and told them “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…” (Philippians 1:3) This is how I feel when I think of those who walked before me and with me. I thank Him that I am on His mind and that a plan has been worked out for me. Paul was inspired of God to write ... “I thank God when I remember you….” That is a lesson for us. We don’t arrive alone, we don’t walk alone and we won’t pass alone. He has a plan and it involves all and everyone He wills to see it through…and I too praise and thank God for those who have cared and prayed for me. I could make a long list of those who have come along side me in the family of God, but instead I challenge you to take time to think of those who God has used in your life.
Write their names down and with it discover how each of them has influenced you in your spiritual growth. What lessons have you learned from them that you are now or can be applying to your daily walk?
C. Are we inspiring to others?
We know that we are to use the words in ‘red’ to reach and inspire others to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. For those who are not sure what the words in ‘red’ are, they are the quoted words in the Bible spoken by Jesus. Some editions print them in red so that we find them quickly. However, I wish to encourage you to remember that the Bible as a whole is the inspired Word of God (“All scripture is given by inspiration of God….” II Timothy 3:16). All of it, every book, is to be put to use in our lives. We are on stage at all times where ever we are. We are being observed and Satan loves it when we forget that and do or say anything that robs Christ of his honor. If we want to impress on a person the great writings of Shakespeare or wish to encourage others to get involved in good health practices, what do we do? To involve one in Shakespeare we probably wouldn’t give him “The Cat in the Hat” book nor would we serve our guests steak and cheese sandwiches dripping in fat, Taco fare with sour cream and a huge helping of red velvet cake ala mode for dessert; and at the same time tell them exercise is for nerds to prove what is necessary for good health. In normal practice when we encourage someone to do something we believe in, we live it in front of them – we follow through in our lives as a living example of the very things we claim. Should it be any different when we claim to be Christians, endeavoring to walk in a godly fashion while living among rampant sin? Just as a reminder: no one, especially God said it would be easy. In fact, he makes sure that we understand that we as believers will be persecuted for our faithfulness (“…and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” II Timothy 3:12). Bearing up under persecution is going to inspire others who are observing you – it will also convince others that faith in Christ is worthless if you are giving up and giving in!
How are we to behave and what can we expect when we set out to be a witness for Christ? Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Pretty scary huh? So what do we do? What if we become afraid to speak out for God, I mean I could really mess up, forget and become tongue tied. How can I share God’s word with the unbeliever or encourage and mentor a believer with little or no confidence? Well, read on in chapter 10. Verses 19 and 20 have a solution for the faithful. “…take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” WOW! What a promise! A believer has the Spirit of the Lord indwelled. We carry with us the wisdom, strength, courage and the knowledge that we need. BUT…we can only apply it if we are in his word, growing in our faith and drawing closer to Him. We can’t share what we don’t know but we can share what we know. Share your personal experiences between you and God. Share the love of Jesus. Share the commitment to another believer. Share the promises of God. Share the vision of the harvest. Share your prayer life. Share your laughter and joy. Share your concern for the mission field. Share your time and tears. Share the preview of heaven and share the knowledge of evil and where it can lead. Share…and inspire.
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