GOD IS WORKING IN YOU

Many of us would like a booklet that would explain exactly what we are to do as a Christian to make things easier. Telling us what to wear what to say what to feel and what to expect from God. With this we would not have to work things out or think so hard anymore as it would all be down in black and white. This is how cults operate, for their Leaders do all the decision-making and the people just follow like lost sheep.
Paul points out in his Epistles that we as the New Testament Church are Christ's Body and we all have different parts to play. We are all unique members of the Body and what's right for one may not be the same for another. We all have to seek God for our individual guidance and can't just put God into a box.

Philippians. 2:12-13 (KJV) "Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

If you have become a Christian you have been given the power to be a child of God as it says in John 1:11 and He is working in you. Many Christians are confused as to what is God's direction in their life. Which is them? Which is the Devil? Which is God? They go around and round in circles and up and down from one week to the other. Some give up and just go with the flow making no decisions for themselves anymore. They just do what the Pastor says or are pushed around by others and circumstances. They aren't happy little bunnies. They never find themselves or know who they are in Christ as they're under the shadow of someone else all the time.
Others drift afar off, too scared to get too close to God. They are saved, but fall asleep in a prayer meeting and feel uncomfortable in a disco.

James 1:6-8 (KJV) "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."

People like this are neither one way nor the tuther, a mixture of hot and cold - lukewarm.
The enemy has stolen their faith from them and this needs to be taken back. The Devil has stolen their most precious faith, and they need to re-affirm what they believe again and stand on that. If you can't make decisions without feelings of guilt or condemnation then the devil has stolen away your confidence. If you find it safer to let someone else make all the decisions for you and tell you what and what not to do, then your faith has been stolen from you. You will never be happy and never come into your inheritance until you make a stand.

You need to do something and stand again upon the basics of your faith and declare these truths boldly.
"I have received Christ therefore I have the power to be a Son/Daughter of God.
I am a new creature in Christ and old things are passed away. My sins have been forgiven.
I did receive power when the Spirit of God came on me. All things are working together for my good because I love God."

God is working in us as His Children and we are members of His Body. Instead of always feeling you should be like someone else, start praising God for who you are and how you feel as God is still working in you. Do this instead of nothing. You have to start somewhere. If you don't you will always feel guilty, condemned and useless. Start praising God for what He is doing in you right now. Start to activate some faith, and don't be governed by your feelings. Praise God you aren't like the Pastor. You're you and there is no one else like you. Instead of always feeling guilty, start to PTL that you don't feel like dancing in Church or rushing out to witness. Commit your way to the Lord and He will direct you as promised. God doesn't smack His babies when they stumble and fall and He doesn't kill His wounded.

Begin to stagger forward with your confession and laugh at the Devil, not letting fear cripple you. As you praise God for all things you'll start to feel better about yourself and the more you'll want to work for God. Praising God is an act of faith and soon you'll get out of your spiritual hospital bed and start to walk again. Praise the Lord for your failures as they humble you and God is even in them too. Look at Judges 20 and how God told the Children of Israel to go out and fight 3 times and each time they lost, even though they were the righteous ones. Victory eventually came.

God's love is so vast, so high and so deep that it can cater for our all mistakes and sins. You can afford to take some risks, for God can work all things out for your good. If you sit still and do nothing it's like the foolish man who buried his talent in Matthew 25:25. He didn't take any risks and invest his money, which was displeasing to God.
There is no reward without taking risks.
God wants us to step out and start taking risks for the Kingdom. "He that loses his life will find it". When it comes to witnessing for Jesus, you need to be prepared to make a fool of yourself in order to do the will of God. Sometimes there is a favourable response and other times a rejection. When you step out in faith, God will show you if you're wrong. A ship can't be steered until it starts moving.
If you are afraid of making a mistake you'll end up burying your talent. You need to use it and invest it. It's like the Stock Market, it's the winners who take risks. We often try and play safe to save face and always stay in our comfort zone.

As far as knowing the voice of God we have the example of the Urim and the Thummin.
In the Old Testament the Priests used the Urim and Thummin for guidance. This was part of the breastplate and seemed that the jewels changed colour when a question was asked of God. It was a sort of a "Yes", "No" type of answer. This object was near the Priest's heart. When we as God's N/T Priests ask God for an answer we often only get a simple "Yes", or "No" answer.
We have all received an anointing which we have from God and it abides in us. 1 John 2:27. We can ask God questions as He's in us and close to our hearts. The bible says that if any man lacks wisdom let him God, and He will answer, but we mustn't doubt. James 1:5-8.

When Elijah was in the cave there were some spectacular events taking place outside but God was not in any of those things. He came to Elijah afterwards in a still small voice and spoke with Him. This is how God comes to us too, but we need to ask Him questions. Lord do I go? Yes or no? We need to develop the ability to hear His voice. It takes time.
So many Christians are blown about by every wind. They are like tumbleweeds blown about by circumstances, feelings and people. So many are like Caterpillars in the Church instead of being like Pillars. People like this are constantly under condemnation.

Some of you aren't enjoying God because the devil is keeping you out of God's love and you are living below the level of blessing because of fear. You won't let God bless you.
The Devil is keeping you in a place of guilt and condemnation.