PARKING LOT PREACHING
Last week I was leaving a store, and my trip had not been enjoyable. As I made my way out of the store, and into the parking lot, I met one of my Christian friends. We stopped started to visit about her new venture, which led to some other discussions about our lives. By the end of the conversation, my attitude had shifted from that of upset and displeased to joyful and blessed. My heart had taken on a new status, and my mindset was in a positive place.
Many opportunities lend itself in parking lots. It is up to us whether we take the opportunity or divert from it. My friend could have decided she didn’t have time to visit with me and she could have said hello politely and kept on walking, but instead, she took the nudging from the Holy Spirit and spent 35 minutes in a hot parking lot uplifting me.
God gives us opportunities every day to be kind to others and uplift their spirits. At times we make up excuses for not taking time. We say we don’t have time, or we will do it later, or we may think the timing isn’t right. However, the Holy Spirit works within us at the perfect time nudging us to act.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB
He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
What is this saying?
Don’t wait at the right time; the perfect time may never come.
The opportunity to be kind and share with others may not come again. Act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When you feel the nudge go with it.
Our preacher has been preaching a sermon series on the Holy Spirit. Yesterday’s sermon went directly with PARKING LOT PREACHING. Parking lot preaching comes from the nudging of the Holy Spirit.
Just what is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a person He is the same as our God.
The bible tells us in Galatians 5:16that we are to walk by the Spirit.
Our preacher took a look at the life of Peter to explain to us what it looks like to walk by the Spirit.
It was when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples that they began living like God intended them to live. Our preacher looked at Peter before the Holy Spirit and then looked at him after. When Peter wasn’t filled with the Holy Spirit, he denied Christ, but when Peter was full of the Holy Spirit, he put his life on the line for Jesus. He was open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Peter’s life was one that was embracing the Holy Spirit and leading others to faith. He uplifted people and brought them to hope all because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
When filled with the Holy Spirit you look for opportunities to encourage others. You listen to that still small voice. You act on the promptings and nudges that sometimes seem a little bit crazy. Have faith to step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit and act on His nudges. Take time for some parking lot preaching!
CHALLEENGES OF THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment
- Dive deep into the word
- Take the NUDGE, be ready to act when the Holy Spirit prompts you
- Fill your cup with Christ so you can fill other cups
EXTRA READING:
https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2018/03/The-Holy-Nudge
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