In this day God has been seeking to train and discipline His children in order that they will function for the glory of God, for the revelation of Jesus for the extension of His Kingdom purposes. We are being trained in a lesser day in order that we will be able to function in the greater. If we never learn to hear the voice of God in a time of peace, what hope do we have of recognizing His voice when trials and trauma come:-

Jeremiah 12:5 “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how will thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

Spiritual gifts cannot function outside of God’s design, which is order for Kingdom purposes, for edification of the Body of Christ and not for the self exaltation of any man or woman, but for God’s glory. We place ourselves in a wrong school if we refuse to be disciplined and are unaccountable to the Body of Christ. There is safety in the Body – this is God’s design.

A gift does not operate because it can, it functions under the Head’s direction. Jesus is our Head.

There is a balance in obedience. Jesus had to learn obedience on earth. Hebrews 5:8 records, “Though He were a Son, He learned obedience through the things He suffered”. If the mighty Son of God had to learn obedience, how much moreso then do we? If I justify a course of action I have taken by saying to people “God told me to do it”, I am effectively denying them to challenge me. Truths have to function in the order of God. I must learn that my actions do not just effect me. They have consequences when I am “out of order” and have knock-on effects to others negatively. On the other hand my obedience in the order of God can have positive effects on others.

I can look back on past times with my walk with God and see that If I had been more submissive to the Body of Christ and took counsel, that I could have been more effective for God’s purposes, instead of sticking my neck out resulting in my need of God to fix up the messes I made. Thank God, He is the great Fixer! – but there is a better way. Obedience is learnt through humility and submission to Jesus Christ AND His Body.

The man who learns to stay still moves quickest when the Spirit prompts!

Staying still is an activity of my heart condition before God, not necessarily a physical one. My responsibility in every area of daily life is to be peace controlled by God, then I will recognize His voice. I will not hear Him if I am thrashing around in stress. If I operate in His rest and peace, my relationship with my Heavenly Father will be right and I will hear Him more readily.