Take Another Look...

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:19 NLT) I want us to take another look at the love of God. May this thinking refresh your spirit.

Not so long ago, I shared with you how knowing the love of God will bring us into the fullness of God. I want to take this a step further. After reading in Banning Liebscher's book "Jesus Culture", I was reminded of something: "Experience is the key to fullness because it brings revelation. Without the revelation knowledge that comes by experience, we are limited to operating with only information. Most Christians have the correct information. In the majority of churches, if I were to ask, 'Do you believe Jesus loves you?' I'm certain that 99 percent of the congregation would respond with a sincere yes...But are you responding out of information or revelation?"

Information alone is not enough. Do you know what most of us do with information? We argue about it, debate it, and try to figure out if we can trust it. I hear people do it all the time. I can share a message about the unconditional love of God and almost immediately people will begin to question it. The discussion can play out in a Sunday School class, out in the foyer, or in the car on the way home. And even in the midst of our discussions we may be convinced of God's love but have we been moved by it. Have we experienced it to the point that nothing will ever separate me from it in my mind?

Here's an example (also borrowed from Liebscher's book):
When Evander Holyfield, former heavyweight boxing champion, was in his primed, people would talk about how hard he hit. You could listen to interviews, watch the fights, or read articles about the subject. However, until you laced up the gloves and experienced a shot to the jaw, you will always operate out of information. Unfortunately, this is how many believers operate in their beliefs. We may be thoroughly convinced in our thinking but are we operating out of experience?

The good news for us is that God has made His love available to us. If we want to experience His love then we must take the time to get into His presence. The question is whether or not we will make/take the time. Am I willing to set everything else aside? Am I willing to obey the prompting in my spirit? Am I willing to go through the door of Jesus and come to the throne of grace? I am completely convinced that God wants for us to experience Him. Information about Him is not enough. Doctrine alone will not suffice. He's longing for His people to burn with a passion for Him and that passion comes through an experiential relationship.

Jesus has promised to manifest Himself to us. But reading alone will not bring it.
God has promised that we can experience Him. But prayer alone will not make it happen.
It's about seeking Him...getting into His presence...longing to experience Him above everything else...and waiting for God to move. Is that what you want?

This is an invitation to something intimate...something real. Is there anything in your heart that is saying "I want more than just knowing about God"? Is your spirit crying out saying "It's not enough that I can talk about Him"? Are you ready to experience God? Then you must take some time to talk with Him, worship Him, and listen to His voice. Make His voice the loudest voice in your life. Make His presence the most important part of your day. Determine in your heart that you are going to encounter God today.

Want a "NOW" move of God?

Ephesians 5:18, "And do not be drunk with win, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." Have you ever become content to live on the experiences of the past? You can experience of move of God in your life today.

You don't have to own a vehicle very long to realize that eventually you will have to put gas in the tank. Or if you drive an electric vehicle, you will have to recharge it. A car can only run on fumes for so long. In the same way, if you and I are simply living in the experiences of the past, we will run out of steam. How long can we make it on the fumes of last years experience? Only you can answer that question.

Jesus told us in the model prayer that we should ask the Father to "give us this day our daily bread." There is fresh bread for today. And if there is fresh bread for today then I must refuse to live on the stale bread of yesterday or the crumbs from previous years. I must choose to be filled with the Spirit of God daily.

What does this mean? The Bible is very clear that when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives the Holy Spirit of God comes to dwell in us, seal us, guide us, and comfort us. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? The answer is "Yes." However, to quote the great D.L. Moody, "The Holy Spirit in you is one thing. The Holy Spirit upon you in quite another." The conversion experience with the Holy Spirit alone will not be enough to carry you through this life as a believer. We must learn to drawn upon Him, be filled with Him, and walk in Him. And if you want a "NOW" move of God in your life, you must experience Him.

God is so interactive with His children. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. This promise is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit. You have the very presence of God within you. He's there to guide you in life. He's in you to remind you of the truth. He's there to give you the gifts needed to work in His kingdom. He's resident to comfort you, fuel the abundant life in you, and assure you of the goodness of God. Believers must awaken to the fact that we are not looking for something that is outside of us. We have everything we need!

So the question to ask is: How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Ask (Does this sound familiar?)
Seek
Knock
If you desire to experience the filling of the Holy Spirit then all you have to do is ask. And Jesus made it very clear that God is more than willing that we experience the "much more" of the Holy Spirit.

I want to remind you that this isn't about getting more of the Holy Spirit. You have all of Him inside of you. It's about allowing Him to fill every part of your life. It's allowing the Lordship of Jesus to reside over everything. When I am willing to give myself to God, then He is more than willing to give me a greater awareness of Himself in me. He loves nothing more than His children come into the reality of who they are in Him. This is part of the glory that we are continually being transformed into, and when you and I are walking in this glory then we become the glory of God that is covering the earth.

The "NOW" move of God resides within you. The revival that you long to experience is waiting to be activated in your life. Be filled with the Spirit of God in excess. Learn what it means to abide in Him. There is so much for us to experience in the abundant life that Jesus promised. Let's go deeper in Him!!!

Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the promise of your Holy Spirit residing in me. I thank you that you did not leave us comfortless in this world. I thank you for taking up residence in my life. Jesus said that your Spirit within me would be like a fountain of living water springing up into everlasting life and that it would be like a river flowing out of me. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit. May this fountain of life spring up in me to overflowing. Thank you for allowing me to experience your presence every day. I choose to walk in the Spirit of God and operate in the gifts that He gives me. I choose to build myself up in this most holy faith by praying in the Spirit. And I look forward to partnering with your divine nature within me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

A Faith that Believes

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." {Hebrews 11:1} Some people may question my title. However, the way some people use the word "faith", the title makes perfect sense.

The writer of Hebrews makes it very clear to us that faith is something that is concrete. It has a quality about it that causes us to trust, feel secure, and live in bold expectation. If you read through the first few verses of Hebrews 11, then I think you will agree with me. We must be able to understand the power that lies behind the nature of faith, the testimony of faith, and the source of our faith.

The Nature of Faith:
Faith is Substance
Faith is Evidence
Faith touches what cannot be touched and see what cannot be seen. Possessing the faith to believe God is a particular area is enough faith to operate in. It gives you something to hold on to.

The Testimony of Faith:
If you go a little deeper into Hebrews 11, you read the testimonies of people who believed God in difficult circumstances. They were able to fully rely upon God for the needs in their life. When I read these testimonies, and hear of current testimonies of God's goodness and provision, it causes me faith to grow.

The Source of Faith:
Belief in God
Belief about God
Simply put, our ability to be strengthened in the faith is tied to our belief in the existence and nature of God. The writer states that everyone who comes to God must believe that He is AND that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. If I am sure of God's existence, and I am sure that He is good, then I will continue to pursue Him for everything in life. It is when I struggle with this understanding of God that I do not possess a faith that believes.

Much of the faith that I hear people talking about is like a trinket that can be worn around the neck. As long as I'm wearing the trinket, then I can believe. However, if you find me without my faith trinket then I will be operating in unbelief. Faith must become an abiding reality. Faith is what causes me to draw closer to Father God. Faith is what causes me to pray with full assurance. Faith is what allows me to trust in the goodness of God. Faith leads me to share the gospel, give of my resources, and walk according to the Spirit of God. Faith is vital to experiencing God in this life. It is a life of faith.

When does faith become something other than belief? Through EXPERIENCE. Once we have experienced God in this particular area, then we are able to draw upon a reality in our lives. We also learn to trust God in other areas. It's when we get into the realm of experience that we become a steward. We have trusted God, now God entrusts us. And when God entrusts us our relationship is elevated to another level.

Do you possess a faith that believe in the existence and nature of God?
Do you possess a faith that believes that God can do what we consider impossible?
Are you ready to move from faith to reality?
It is possible. All things are possible to him who believes!

The New Nature

2 Corinthians 5:17 tell us that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Immediately we are confronted with a question: If all things have become new, then why do people continue to struggle with what they used to do?

There has been great debate over the years about whether or not followers of Jesus have two natures. Many believe that we have a continual war of the old nature vs the new nature. That somehow the old nature is still hanging around just to keep us from becoming all that God wants for us to become. The problem that I have with this explanation is that it goes against the Word of God.

Galatians 2:20 (one of my most favorite verses), "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." According to Scripture, I have died with Christ. In fact, in baptism I was buried with Him and I rose with Him. Ephesians 2:1-7 talks about how we used to operate by the nature of the children of wrath but through Christ we have been made to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus so that God can display His kindness and mercy through our lives. So...if I died with Jesus, rose with Him, and have been seated in heavenly places with Christ...where's the struggle? The struggle is in our mind.

More and more I am realizing that what I believe affects how I live. If I believe that the old nature is still hanging around then I can excuse my sin. If I believe that I'm a sinner (old nature) then I will act like a sinner. However, if by faith I believe that I am righteous (new nature) then I will act as one who has been made righteous. This is the power behind the renewed mind. If I have allowed my mind to be renewed by God's Word then I will experience the transformation that God has promised. The grace of God has changed my nature but it has also brought me into a position of freedom. And in that freedom I have greater responsibility...I have a choice. Will I operate in the new nature or out of the one I used to have?

Many believers I know are very quick to go back to the law when they blow it. In other words, if they do something that is contrary to the nature of God within them, then they try to right the ship. The only way they know how to right the ship is to do better. But the Christian life is not about doing - it is about being. By the works of the law, no flesh can be justified. Only by faith in what God has already accomplished can I enjoy the abundant life that Christ has promised.

Peter put it this way in his second letter to the church: "His divine power has given us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness...by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature..." (2 Peter 1:1-4). God has allowed to be partakers of the very nature that He possesses. It is through His nature within us - the divine power that what promised through the Holy Spirit - that we are able to live contrary to this world. What I have to understand is that it is not natural for me to sin because my nature has been changed. Sin is unnatural to a righteous man. Right? For me to live in unrighteousness is contrary to may new nature. I now have to go outside of myself to operate in the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.

There's no doubt that there is a war going on in us, but that war is in our minds. That war is between our ears. Are we going to be ruled by the world's definition of who we are, the definition of other believers, or even the definition we have of ourselves? Or are we going to allow God's Word to define us and live according to His definition? The choice is ours.

Over the last few months, this has been the topic of much of my preaching, teaching, and blog entries. I feel like Paul when he said, "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you." (Phil. 3:1). Sometimes we have to be reminded over and over again of the same truth. We must get this teaching into our spirit or we will continue to struggle between two definitions. Who are we going to be? What nature are we going to allow to rule our lives? Which will we choose: works of the flesh or the grace of God? You decide.

Be Back Tommorrow

Greetings! Well...I'm back from Ukraine. The trip was great, saw several people saved, and we were able to build some great relationships for future work in the country. I appreciate all the prayers that went out for the team.

I hope to post some new blog material tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. It has taken me a little longer to catch up on things and I look forward to sharing with you again.

Stay tuned...