The Right People - Tues 11 Sept 07

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. Psalms 25 v 12 (NIV)
Pastor Jentezen Franklin recently preached from his new book entitled Right People, Right Place, Right Plan. His instruction was so good I just couldn’t help but share it with others. Today I am focusing on what he said about meeting the right people.
Pastor Jentezen said if you listen to the wrong voices, you will make the wrong choices! If you hang around wrong relationships and have the wrong friends, you will never get to the right destination. He said this is simple but so important! He used Jonah as an example. The sailors he was with apparently had not done anything wrong, but because they were associating with Jonah—someone who was out of God’s will—they were in a life-threatening storm. When the sailors realized what was happening, they were afraid and said to Jonah, “Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them” (Jonah 1:10).
Jonah was the problem. He was why the sailors were in a storm. He told them to throw him off the boat: “So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging” (Jonah 1:15).
It is an extreme example, but the lesson remains that you may be stuck in storms of life and unable to discern or follow the voice of God in your life because you have the wrong people around you.
The Bible tells us, “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33). He desires to lead you past the storms.
Everything good evolves from your relationships with people. You will never reach your destiny until you begin to encounter the right people.
The apostle Paul is a shining example. God sent the right people into the apostle’s life: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18)
God can have a great calling upon your life, but you will never get there by yourself. God will always use people like Ananias in your life to help the scales fall off of your eyes and receive greater sight.
God used Barnabas greatly as a bridge and door opener for Paul. And Paul’s friend Titus was his constant encourager. When you are sensitive to people like Paul was to Ananias, Barnabas, and Titus, God will connect you to the right people who will help you see more clearly, who will open doors for you, and will pour encouragement into your life.
Elijah was that person for Elisha. Elijah helped the younger Elisha go where he would not have gone on his own. God has new people and new relationships ahead for you who can help lead you and show you things that you cannot see.
Today pray that the Father makes you must sensitive to the people He is placing in your life.