He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Church.

Associate Pastor Mireya San

Are You Occupying the Place God Has for You?

Have you ever wondered why some people move forward while others seem to remain in the same place? Why do so many continue living below what God has established in His Word, even when they have opportunities to grow?

It is not always a lack of opportunities. Many times, the problem lies in the decisions we make, what we pay attention to, and where we have placed our trust. A person may have a strong desire to move forward, but if they do not know God's instructions or choose to ignore them, they will eventually walk in the wrong direction.

Scripture declares:

"And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them."

Deuteronomy 28:13 (KJV)

What a powerful declaration! God spoke to His people about the results of listening to and obeying His commandments. It was not simply about occupying a position of importance but about living under His direction and according to His will.

However, many people want to be the head without learning to obey. They desire good results but are unwilling to receive instruction, correct their decisions, or abandon the things that are harming them.

You cannot expect to reach the right destination if you continually choose to walk in the wrong direction.

God has given you His Word so that you may learn to live wisely. Do not settle for remaining spiritually stagnant when you have access to the instruction you need to move forward.

Wisdom Is Demonstrated by the Decisions You Make

Being wise does not simply mean possessing a great deal of knowledge. A person may know many things, have an education, and possess years of experience, yet still make decisions that destroy their future.

True wisdom is demonstrated when we learn to correctly apply what God teaches us.

Do not live for appearances. Do not try to convince others that you are living something you are not. What matters is not how much you claim to know about God, but how much of His Word you are actually putting into practice.

Every decision you make has consequences. Your words, relationships, priorities, and the way you manage your time can either bring you closer to or move you further away from the purpose God has for your life.

The Lord declared to His people:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

These words were given to Israel at a specific moment in its history, but they also remind us that God does not act without purpose and that His thoughts are good.

Therefore, before making an important decision, ask yourself: Am I acting according to what God has established, or am I simply doing what seems convenient to me?

Do not confuse your personal desires with the will of God. Learn to examine your decisions in the light of Scripture, and allow His Word to correct your way of thinking.

Isaiah 3:10 declares:

"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."

The way we live matters. Our decisions produce fruit, and we cannot expect good results while insisting on acting against the truth.

If you want to change the direction of your life, begin by changing the decisions that are leading you away from God's Word.

Where Have You Placed Your Trust?

We live in a world where we constantly hear opinions, advice, and ideas about how we should live. People tell us what to do, what to think, what to accept, and even what we should believe.

But there is a question every child of God needs to answer: Do you believe people more than you believe the Word of God?

Jesus declared:

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:32 (KJV)

The freedom Christ offers is connected to knowing His truth and remaining in it. It is not obtained simply by following what the majority considers right.

People's opinions can change from one day to the next. What is popular today may be rejected tomorrow. However, God's truth does not depend on trends or human approval.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote:

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV)

Notice that this warning does not prohibit receiving human help or advice. Rather, it warns against placing our trust in people to such an extent that our hearts turn away from God.

Some people consult everyone before making a decision, yet never seek what Scripture says. They listen to the opinions of family members, friends, and people they consider experts, but they place God's Word last.

Others have come to trust their own intelligence so much that they believe they no longer need the Lord's direction.

The question is not how many opinions you have heard, but which one is governing your life.

You can listen to advice, learn from others, and take advantage of available knowledge, but never allow anything to take the place that belongs to God's truth.

Human Intelligence Can Never Replace the Wisdom of God

Today, we live in an age when human knowledge is advancing rapidly. Technology and artificial intelligence allow us to accomplish tasks that once seemed impossible. We have immediate access to information, tools, and answers on countless subjects.

However, danger arises when human beings begin to believe that having so much knowledge at their fingertips means they no longer need God.

Artificial intelligence can process information, help solve problems, and make many activities easier, but it cannot replace our relationship with God or become the authority that governs our spiritual decisions.

Having access to a great deal of information does not necessarily mean knowing the truth.

Jesus said:

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

John 15:5 (KJV)

Christ was teaching the importance of remaining united with Him in order to bear fruit. We can accomplish many activities through our human abilities, but the spiritual fruit that comes from our relationship with God depends on remaining in Christ.

The problem begins when people place all their trust in their intelligence, resources, or abilities and stop recognizing their need for God.

Do not allow technology to do your thinking for you in matters that require spiritual discernment. Do not accept information simply because it sounds convincing. Examine what you hear, read, and learn in the light of the Word.

Human knowledge has its limits. God's truth remains forever.

Stop Looking at What Distracts You and Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Many people fail to move forward because they have lost sight of their true objective. They are so busy watching what others are doing, comparing themselves, or focusing on their circumstances that they have stopped looking to Christ.

Scripture exhorts us:

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

Where have you fixed your eyes? On your problems, the opinions of others, your own abilities, or what God has said?

When a person constantly worries about what others say, their decisions begin to depend on human approval. If they receive praise, they feel secure; if they receive criticism, they become discouraged and change direction.

But God did not call you to live according to people's opinions. He called you to live by faith.

Jesus declared:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Matthew 24:35 (KJV)

Everything we see around us is subject to change. Circumstances change, generations pass, and human ideas evolve, but the Word of Christ remains.

Therefore, do not build your life on something that may disappear tomorrow. Establish your decisions on what God has declared.

Romans 10:17 says:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Faith does not develop simply by listening to positive opinions or motivational speeches. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

If you want to live by faith, you must feed your heart with the truth that produces faith.

It is not enough to say that you believe in God. Learn to hear His Word, believe it, and act according to it.

Do Not Run Without a Goal!

Imagine a runner entering a race without knowing the course, understanding the rules, or even knowing where the finish line is. That runner may run with all their strength, work hard, and end up completely exhausted, but their effort does not guarantee they will reach the right destination.

The same thing happens to many people. They live busy lives, work, make plans, and exert themselves every day, but they have no clear direction for their spiritual lives.

They are running, but they do not know where they are going.

The apostle Paul used the example of a race to teach us about discipline and perseverance:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV)

Paul goes on to explain that everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things. An athlete understands that reaching a goal requires preparation, discipline, and self-control.

Athletes cannot do everything they want and still expect the best results. They must learn to reject whatever harms their performance.

In the same way, if you want to advance in your spiritual life, you need to learn to make decisions that align with your purpose.

There are attitudes you must abandon, habits you need to correct, and distractions to which you can no longer continue giving your time.

Not everything you can do is beneficial. Not every opportunity brings you closer to your goal. Not every relationship strengthens your faith.

Learn to distinguish between what helps you move forward and what is delaying your spiritual growth.

Run With Discipline and Determination

Paul continues by saying:

"I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air."

1 Corinthians 9:26 (KJV)

How important it is to understand these words!

Paul did not live without direction. He knew his life had a purpose and that he needed to remain disciplined in order to fulfill it.

Can you say the same about your life?

Are you making decisions that bring you closer to what God has established, or are you wasting time on things that produce no fruit?

Do not allow a lack of discipline to cause you to miss opportunities for growth. If you know something is harming your relationship with God, stop justifying it. If you recognize that a decision is leading you down the wrong path, correct your course.

A runner who wants to win does not wait until race day to begin preparing. That runner trains, learns the rules, and keeps their eyes on the finish line.

You also need to prepare yourself spiritually through the knowledge and practice of God's Word.

It is not about competing against other people or proving that you are superior. It is about living with faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience to the will of God.

Stop running without direction! Do not waste any more time going around in circles, repeating the same mistakes.

What Do You Need to Change to Reach the Finish Line?

Perhaps you have spent too much time listening to what others say, trusting your own abilities, or making decisions without consulting the Word of God.

Maybe you have become accustomed to remaining spiritually stagnant and have begun to believe that this is the only way you can live.

But today, you need to ask yourself some questions:

Am I occupying the place God wants me to occupy? Do my decisions reflect the wisdom of His Word? Have I placed more trust in human intelligence than in God's truth? Am I running toward a clearly defined goal, or am I simply allowing the days to pass?

You cannot recover the time that has already passed, but you can decide how you will live from this moment forward.

Begin by recognizing what you need to correct. Examine your priorities, strengthen your knowledge of Scripture, and learn to make decisions that agree with the will of God.

Remember, it is not enough to begin a race. You must persevere and run in such a way that you reach the finish line.

Do not fall behind because of a lack of instruction, poor decisions, or misplaced trust!

God has given you His Word. Hear it, believe it, and put it into practice.

Christ Is Coming Soon! Do Not Lose Sight of the Goal

Life should not become a race without purpose. Every day represents an opportunity to grow in the knowledge of God, correct our course, and remain steadfast in the truth.

Do not allow the distractions of this world to make you forget what truly matters. Do not live only to achieve earthly goals while neglecting your spiritual life.

Run to win! Prepare yourself wisely, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and do not abandon the race set before you.

The apostle Paul wrote:

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV)

Today, I encourage you to examine your life in the light of God's Word. Identify what is holding you back, stop justifying wrong decisions, and begin walking with a clear direction.

Do not run without a goal or waste any more time!

Faith in Action

This week, take time to read 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 and reflect on the discipline you need to develop in order to remain steadfast in your faith. Identify one decision, habit, or distraction that is affecting your spiritual growth, and take a concrete step to correct it according to God's Word.

Share this message with someone who needs to remember that it is not enough to run: we must know where we are going and remain steadfast until we reach the finish line.

Christ Is Coming Soon! Pay attention, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.