Some years ago (29 to be exact), there was a movie entitled “Jerry McGuire.”

Truthfully, I’ve never watched the entire movie. . .however, I did see part of the Oscar –winning performance by Cuba Gooding, Jr., as an athlete seeking a more lucrative financial contract.

Throughout the movie, Gooding would say to Tom Cruise, his agent, “Show me the money” which became an immediate pop culture sensation.

The phrase “Show me the money” was then repeated for some time by celebrities and normal people like you and me.

A few days ago, I was doing a search on money. . .when I came across the phrase “show me the money.”  Evidently, it’s still around.

I smiled and did an immediate search on “show me.”  The result of which. . .is this teaching on seven things God wants to show us.

1.         Show me the way.

There are actual people who live the words of the Hank Williams, Sr. song which goes like this.

“I’ve wandered so aimless, life filled with sin

I wouldn't let my dear Savior in

Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night

Praise the Lord, I saw the light

I saw the light, I saw the light

No more darkness, no more night

Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord, I saw the light

Even though most believers know that Jesus is the way. . .there are some who still get lost along the journey.

Over the years, I’ve had people say to me, “I don’t know what to do” or “I don’t know which way to go.”

If we don’t know what to do. . .then we need to head straight way to the One who does. . .because God will always show us the way He wants us to go.

Exodus 33:13 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.”

Psalm 25:4 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”

Psalm 25:4 in the Easy To Read Version says:

“Lord, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live.”

God clearly shows us in His Word how He wants us to live.

Some people want a word from the nearest prophet instead of profiting from reading the Word of God.

Without question, the Word of God shows us exactly the way He wants us to tread.

Psalm 5:8 in the Easy To Read Version says:

“Lord, show me your right way of living, and make it easy for me to follow. People are looking for my weaknesses, so show me how you want me to live.”

When God shows us the “right way of living”. . .what do we do with it?

Do you keep a journal or a notebook where you detailed the divine directives you receive from the Lord?

When you read or pray. . .always keep something close by where you can record any insight, revelation, spiritual discovery or directions you receive.

2.         Show me a sign.

Judges 6:17-18 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Gideon said to Him, If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You Who talks with me.  Do not leave here, I pray You, until I return to You and bring my offering and set it before You. And He said, I will wait until you return.”

Gideon rushes off to his home. . .prepares some meat and unleavened cakes along with a little broth.  When he returns. . the angel directs him to put the meat and the cakes on a rock and pour broth over it.  The angel touches the food           with the top of his staff and everything is consumed by fire and disappears from the rock.

Judges 6:22 tells us:

“And when Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face!”

How would you feel if you considered yourself the runt of the litter and an angel appeared and called you a mighty man of valor?

Have you ever noticed God can call some of the mostly likely people? Maybe that’s you so don’t be surprised if the Lord lays His hand on you for something significant. Still Gideon lacked confidence in his new-found title.

With a burst of faith. . .Gideon obeys the instructions of the Lord and tore down some pagan poles.  When the locals threatened Gideon’s life. . .his confidence was again shaken.

After God tells Gideon he will defeat the Midanites. . .Gideon needs a little more  reinforcement for his courage to hold steady.

Judges 6:37-40 Gideon asks for and receives two other confirming signs.

Lest we be too quick to criticize Gideon. . .how many signs has God given us that we didn’t perceive or ignored?

Our signs may not be flames coming out of a rock or a fleece being wet or dry. . .but God is speaking to us this and every other day. . .if we will learn to listen.  He desires to guide our steps.

3.         Show me the love.

“Don’t tell me you love me…show me.”  That’s exactly what Jesus was saying in the following two verses.

John 14:15 in the Amplified Bible says:

“If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.”

John 13:35 in the Amplified Bible says:

“By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”

Don’t tell me you love me. . .show me by how you love others. . .like I love you.

Psalm 119:41 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“Show me your love and save me, Lord, as you have promised.”

God loved us enough to send His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

In Romans 5:8 it says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That’s love. . .demonstrated.

Psalm 119:88 in the Easy To Read Version says:

“Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.”

Faithful love is demonstrated by how we love others.

Psalm 17:7 in the New Living Translation says:

“Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.”

The God-kind of love should also be demonstrated when it’s not convenient. . .or even popular.

Matthew 5:43-44, 46-47 in The Living Bible says:

“There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!. . . If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that.”

We are called to show the love of Jesus.

4.         Show Me Mercy.

Dr. Billy Graham said:

“God's mercy and grace give me hope - for myself, and for our world.”

Psalm 25:15-17 in the Easy-To-Read Version says:

“I always look to the Lord for help.  Only he can free me from my troubles.  I am hurt and lonely. Turn to me, and show me mercy.  Free me from my troubles.  Help me solve my problems.”

The first eight words of Psalm 25:15 are powerful.

“I always look to the Lord for help.”

But that’s another teaching on another day.

The Strong’s Concordance definition of the Hebrew word for mercy (H2603) is:

“to be gracious, show favour, pity”

God shows us mercy. . .so we should show mercy to others.

Psalm 25:16 in The Living Bible says:

“Come, Lord, and show me your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress.”

When we need His loving mercy. . .He’s always there.

Psalm 30:8 in the Easy-To-Read Version says:

“So, Lord, I turned and prayed to you.  I asked you, Lord, to show me mercy.”

The mercy we’ve received is the mercy we should be giving.

Matthew 5:7 says:

“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

If we don’t treat others with mercy. . .how can we expect God to treat us mercifully AND answer our prayers?

Hebrews 4:16 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”

Pastor Joel Osteen said:

“We need to show mercy. I mean, because as much mercy as you show people, that's the mercy you're going to be receiving.”

Luke 6:36 (KJV) says:

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

5.         Show me favor.

Favor is the irresistible charm of Jesus flowing through you to every person you meet. . .whether they know you or not. . .whether they’re Christians or not.

Psalm 86:17 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.”

The favor of God allows you to walk into any room, meeting, venue or anywhere else with the absolute confidence in knowing that our great God Jehovah is flowing through you.

Psalm 119:132 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Look upon me, be merciful unto me, and show me favor, as is Your way to those who love Your name.”

If you want to know how to move in God’s supernatural favor. . .you’ll find an amazing answer in Acts 2:47 which says:

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

According to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for praising is aineō (G134) and it means:

“to praise, extol, to sing praises in honour to God;  to allow, recommend;  to promise or vow”

Praising comes from the Greek root word ainos (G136) which means:

“a saying, proverb; praise, laudatory discourse.”

When you begin to praise God. . .you change the spiritual atmosphere. . .wherever you are and whatever you’re going through.

If you feel like the hordes of hell have carpooled and headed to your house. . . just start praising God for what He’s done and is doing in your life.

Start with the basics. . . He woke you up this morning. Yes, thank God for being able to breathe on your own. . .to hear others speak and being able to speak so others hear you.

It is an exercise that takes you from living in dependence on this world to living more deeply in the spiritual realm which is more real than the world we live in.

Words of praise create a supernatural force where. . .circumstances change. . .adversaries flee. . .thoughts are purified and energized by the Holy Spirit. . .it leaves  a spiritual confidence. . .with every person you meet.

6.         Show me the money.

Matthew 22:19 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Show me the money used for the tribute. And they brought Him a denarius.”

Matthew 22:15-22 tells the story about the Pharisees trying to get Jesus to make a mistake.

It’s a powerful story. . .with many amazing points. . .so I encourage you to read and study it on your own.  .

Instead. . .let’s back up five chapters.

Matthew 17:24-27 reveals how Jesus showed Peter the money for taxes.

“And when they [speaking of Jesus and Peter] were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

“He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

“Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.  Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for ME and THEE.”

The tax collectors frankly asked Peter if Jesus Temple tax. Peter reassured them Jesus always did what’s right but before he could approach him with the matter, Jesus promptly spoke a Word to Peter that was beyond his natural reasoning.

Jesus told Peter to go down to the sea and cast a hook, and the first fish he caught would have enough money in its mouth to pay both their bills.

Peter’s obedience even though it may have seemed impossible to Peter at the time shows us some important ways God works.

*           This is the way that God pays His bills—through the believer acting upon his         Word.

*           This is the way the Gospel is preached.

*           This is the way God's servants are paid.

*           This is the way the believer gets his needs met.

*           This is how Jesus showed Peter the money.

When we act upon the Word of God, He will show us the money even from some of the strangest places or perhaps from some very unexpected sources.

I have to tell you I love Amos 4:5 in the Contemporary English Version and truthfully, it’s the way I want to operate.  The verse says:

“Bring offerings to show me how thankful you are. Gladly bring more offerings than I have demanded. You really love to do this. I, the Lord God, have spoken!”

7.         Show me your faith.

James 2:18 in the Amplified Bible says:

“But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.”

Show me your faith as an action. . .because we exercise our faith by our actions.

Here are seven keys to exercising your faith.

First, what you do in life. . .will be a reflection of what you’ve learned.

John 8:38 in the Amplified Bible says:

“I tell the things which I have seen and learned at My Father’s side, and your actions also reflect what you have heard and learned from your father.”

Second, our greatest desire should be for our deeds to reflect His instructions.

Psalm 119:5 in the New Living Translation says:

“Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!”

Third, faith must be an action or it will always be inactive.

James 2:17 in the Amplified Bible says:

“So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).”

Fourth, it’s a team effort. . .faith. . .knowing that God’s Word is true. . .and actions which unleash answers into the natural realm through faith.

James 2:22 in the New Living Translation says:

“You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.”

Fifth, you will be rewarded for the actions you take. . .and consequences when you don’t.

Proverbs 24:12 in the New Living Translation says:

“Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.”

Sixth, our commitment to bring glory and honor to His name. . .will automatically bring success to ours.

Proverbs 16:3 in the New Living Translation says:

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.”

Seventh, you’ll be paid for your faithful actions.

Revelation 22:12 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.”

Now here’s the bottom line and it’s found in Psalm 143:10 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.”

Show me. . .is an action phrase. . .it’s about doing. . .and not just talking.

If we want to move into a deeper revelation with an even greater manifestation of His blessings. . .then we must be ACTIVELY following and implementing His instructions.

We will be glad we did.

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