And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29
Who on more than one occasion has not asked God this question? Personally, or by ministry, all of us on more than one occasion have posed similar questions, realizing that there is something else we must or have to do.
If we had any statistics available, we would be surprised at how often this question is present in the restlessness of people of faith to try to discover what is next in God’s agenda for their lives.
But is there really one more step, unknown to us, that God has to reveal to us for us to walk? Is there any biblical way to validate this concern?
One of these evenings meditating on the travel log that the apostle Paul followed on his second apostolic journey, particularly at the moment after touring the cities visited during his first journey, and after passing through the regions of Phrygia and the province of Galatia, and discovering that there is a supernatural impediment for them to extend over the neighboring regions; the description of the account indicates that there was a moment when he and his companions understood that God was calling them to Macedonia to preach the gospel unto them.[1]
Macedonia was not within the projections that the apostle made just before beginning his second journey; the account in the book of Acts indicates that he intended only to visit again the communities of faith that had been activated during his first journey,
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. Acts 15:36
Is there a next step we should take? Who discovers it, God or ourselves?
Yes, indeed, there is a next step that we must take, there always is, but it is discovered in the action of faith that we initiate when we understand what we have to do.
It is faith that discovers the next step. In the account of the history of our consideration we see that the apostle tried to correct a doctrinal damage that the converts to the faith from the sect of the Pharisees had caused after establishing among the Gentile faith communities, that it was necessary for them to be circumcised, according to the rite of the Law.[2]
Paul and Barnabas had been constituted by the Jerusalem church as bearers of the doctrinal decision that Gentile converts did not have to be circumcised to exercise their faith in Jesus. Thus, the second journey of the apostle was only intended to meet that need and establish by delivering the communiqué that the communities would grow healthy and strong as established in the doctrine of Christ,
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Acts 16:5
The fact that it extended beyond the boundaries of the territory covered during his first journey was what led to the discovery of the next step of the log.
The revelation process is activated after establishing with facts what we all already know we have to do, there is nothing new, what will possibly change are the scenarios, but the instruction remains the same.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
Asking what the next step is and asking for it to be revealed disrupts the established order of faith; Christ’s doctrine states that justice is revealed from faith to faith,
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17
And this, established prophetically from the time of Abraham,
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6
And confirmed by the prophet Habakkuk,
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4
The apostle Paul summed it up as follows,
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2nd. Corinthians 5:7
There is a next step, of course there is, there always is, but it comes as a result of moving in acts of faith and not because we ask to be discovered.
Whoever is accustomed to ask or request about the next step to be taken runs the risk of being stopped in his faith, waiting for signs, evidences, and confirmations to start moving. In fact, there are people who have been stuck in their faith, who have not moved in years, waiting for confirmation of the next step they must take. It is opportune to emphasize the advice of wisdom established in the same Word,
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10
The same book explains why this advice is given,
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Ecclesiastes 11:4-6
The processes of revelation are activated through acts of faith, and such acts of faith guide us into all Truth, correct our path, and broaden the agenda of our actions.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will shew you things to come. John 16:13
Let us therefore walk and establish by faith new pathways which no one has yet walked,
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1
Do you feel as being stopped? What if instead of asking about the next step we do what we know we have to do. You know it… walk an extra mile, let him have thy cloke also when they demand your coat, turn the other cheek when they smite the right cheek, put your hand on the plough and don’t look back, take the cross and keep walking, … keep walking!
All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.
Pastor Pedro Montoya
Ph. cell. (407) 764-2699
Twitter: @pastormontoya
https://www.draft2digital.com/pastormontoya
https://earthenwarevessels.blog
[1] Acts 16:5-10
[2] Acts 15:5
Treasure in Earthen Vessels 