THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
God’s presence is what marks His people. Every time God shows up in the Old Testament, there is wind or fire. God meets with Job in a whirlwind, with Abraham as a burning torch and with Moses as a burning bush. At the “first Pentecost” on Mt. Sinai, God came down in windstorm with smoke and lightning.
Now consider the presence of the Lord at Pentecost with a sound of “mighty wind” and “tongues of fire” appearing (Acts 2:2-4). In Acts 2, Pentecost was the living presence of God coming to be with us and show Himself to us. The subjective experience of a transcendent God is vital to God’s people throughout history.
How does this transcendent power come to us? Being filled with the Spirit isn’t an experience with some abstract or naked power like electricity. When the believers are filled at Pentecost, they begin to speak what the Spirit has shown them. What the onlooking crowd can’t get over is revealed at the end of verse 11: “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” When filled with the Spirit, God’s people declare the wonders of God.
The Spirit fills us and gives truth about God Himself, revealing who He is and what He has done. Christianity is neither mysticism nor rationalism. It is far too mystical for rationalism and far too rational for mysticism. Christianity is a deep experience of a deeply rational truth. God doesn’t merely give us a bare experience but comes to fill us with truth about Himself.
Pentecost is looking back to God descending on the mountain and Moses telling God he wants an experience. Moses wants to see something incredible. This is how most of us come to God. God tells Moses He will let His goodness pass before him. For God to give you an experience of His glory He has to show you who and what He is. God doesn’t allow Moses to see all of His goodness because that would kill Moses. God hides Moses in the cleft of the rock to shelter him and allow the back part of His glory to pass by.
Moses wants an experience of power and God tells Moses that the only way to do that is by telling him who He is. He tells Moses He is “the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Exodus 34:5-8)
However, he also says, “…but who will by no means clear the guilty.” This sounds contradictory. The Lord is telling Moses that His goodness demands that He not clear the guilty. Likewise, a judge in our country can’t wink at some great law being broken. He wouldn’t be a good judge. God is good and therefore can’t clear the guilty. Yet in His goodness He loves to clear the guilty and forgive sinners. His good love and good justice come together in Jesus.
At Pentecost the early church had an experience of God’s Spirit coming in great power that caused them to cry out about the wonders of God. Today, God’s Spirit comes to show us His goodness, who He is and what He has done. The Spirit makes the cross electric!
Moses received a glimpse of God’s back, but now through Christ we are brought face to face with God. God’s Spirit came upon a mountain with Moses but now He comes IN us. The result for those at Pentecost was a passion to declare His goodness to those who are not yet saved. The revelation of God’s goodness eradicates any fear to share Jesus. Let us therefore continue to experience His presence and glory today. May we also have fresh passion to speak the good news of Christ to those we meet.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Presence of the Future: Part 2
When the Holy Spirit fills people (like the crowd at Pentecost in Acts 2), those present are brought into the presence of three things:
When the Spirit fills you, you are brought into an eschatological presence. The word “eschaton” means “the last” or “the end.” It is a taste, an experience of what is to come fully in the future. For example, when farmers went out to receive the firstfruits of the summer harvest they could tell what the harvest was going to be that year. The firstfruits showed the laborers what to expect.
God is saying something by filling us with the Spirit.
Romans 8:18-23 “for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Along with all of creation, we long for this freedom. I look in the mirror and it testifies to my own bodily decay. We long for that day when Jesus comes back and this present world is made new. Creation will be liberated from decay and we will have resurrected bodies on a resurrected earth. The glory of God will come down and make all things new.
Paul writes (Rom. 8:23) “we ourselves… have the firstfruits of the Spirit.” Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit who comes to fill you brings you into the presence of the future glory of heaven. The Spirit gives a taste of the beauty and splendor of God’s glory, a taste of the life, power and joy coming in fullness.
In Romans 8, Paul informs us that we’ve been given power beyond our imagination. Every Spirit-filled follower of Jesus is walking around with something under their flesh of far greater value and power than this entire world. The Spirit is eschatological, bringing you into the presence of the future. The Spirit is the firstfruit, the very Spirit of Christ himself.
Do you know what you have? Do you realize what you have been given? We have been given the power of God which today can work against all manner of decay: social, emotional and spiritual. Give up small ambitions and have hope beyond your imagination for your ministry, church and city.
We have a taste of what’s to come—where there are no more tears of pain and suffering, no more groaning under the burden of sin. It may only be a taste but it’s powerful beyond imagination. We can confront social issues, poverty, injustice, lost humanity because we have this firstfruit power.
Jesus declared, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses…to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
Do you know who you are? Do you know what you have?
- The presence of the future
- The presence of the Lord
- The presence of the nations
When the Spirit fills you, you are brought into an eschatological presence. The word “eschaton” means “the last” or “the end.” It is a taste, an experience of what is to come fully in the future. For example, when farmers went out to receive the firstfruits of the summer harvest they could tell what the harvest was going to be that year. The firstfruits showed the laborers what to expect.
God is saying something by filling us with the Spirit.
Romans 8:18-23 “for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Along with all of creation, we long for this freedom. I look in the mirror and it testifies to my own bodily decay. We long for that day when Jesus comes back and this present world is made new. Creation will be liberated from decay and we will have resurrected bodies on a resurrected earth. The glory of God will come down and make all things new.
Paul writes (Rom. 8:23) “we ourselves… have the firstfruits of the Spirit.” Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit who comes to fill you brings you into the presence of the future glory of heaven. The Spirit gives a taste of the beauty and splendor of God’s glory, a taste of the life, power and joy coming in fullness.
In Romans 8, Paul informs us that we’ve been given power beyond our imagination. Every Spirit-filled follower of Jesus is walking around with something under their flesh of far greater value and power than this entire world. The Spirit is eschatological, bringing you into the presence of the future. The Spirit is the firstfruit, the very Spirit of Christ himself.
Do you know what you have? Do you realize what you have been given? We have been given the power of God which today can work against all manner of decay: social, emotional and spiritual. Give up small ambitions and have hope beyond your imagination for your ministry, church and city.
We have a taste of what’s to come—where there are no more tears of pain and suffering, no more groaning under the burden of sin. It may only be a taste but it’s powerful beyond imagination. We can confront social issues, poverty, injustice, lost humanity because we have this firstfruit power.
Jesus declared, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses…to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
Do you know who you are? Do you know what you have?
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Presence of the Future
The Church is a miracle, not only because its founder is Jesus but also because of those who comprise it. The Church began with a marginalized group of uneducated, poor, politically powerless, economically challenged followers of Jesus. They were a marginal people living on the fringe of Roman society.
How can we explain that within two centuries this group became the most dominant influence in the world? The Roman Empire toppled without military or political power by followers of Jesus. The Emperor Constantine declared his allegiance to Jesus.
The book of Acts is a story of something that had happened to Christ’s followers after He arose and ascended. They received something that transformed them. They were filled with some transcendent power. It happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) and was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. It ushered in a new age of the Kingdom that will be consummated with the second coming of Christ. When restoration is complete, we dwell together (a representative of every nation and tribe) with God in a New Heaven and a New Earth.
WHAT WAS PENTECOST ALL ABOUT?
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place” (v.1). Why did the Holy Spirit arrive on that day? What was the Holy Spirit doing in them that was so significant?
1. Pentecost was the feast of the firstfruits
In an agrarian culture, harvest was very significant. When the “firstfruits” of the harvest were brought in and eaten, thanksgiving was made to God for their firstfruits and they celebrated God’s goodness. Israel’s harvest happened 50 days after Passover. This is where we get the word Pentecost, as it meant “50 days.”
2. Pentecost was a celebration
The Jews viewed Pentecost as the time when celebration was made for being delivered from slavery. It was 50 days after their redemption that God gave the Law through Moses to His people. Pentecost was a celebration of God meeting Moses face to face to give him the Law.
The Acts 2 event was 50 days after Christ was crucified, which marked the establishment of the Church as she celebrates the true “firstfruits.” The church received God’s power to go into the world as His representatives.
The Holy Spirit’s coming on the day of Pentecost tells us something about the purpose of the Spirit coming and what it means to be filled. When the Spirit fills you, you are brought into the presences of three things. Those present at Pentecost experienced this also:
How can we explain that within two centuries this group became the most dominant influence in the world? The Roman Empire toppled without military or political power by followers of Jesus. The Emperor Constantine declared his allegiance to Jesus.
The book of Acts is a story of something that had happened to Christ’s followers after He arose and ascended. They received something that transformed them. They were filled with some transcendent power. It happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) and was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. It ushered in a new age of the Kingdom that will be consummated with the second coming of Christ. When restoration is complete, we dwell together (a representative of every nation and tribe) with God in a New Heaven and a New Earth.
WHAT WAS PENTECOST ALL ABOUT?
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place” (v.1). Why did the Holy Spirit arrive on that day? What was the Holy Spirit doing in them that was so significant?
1. Pentecost was the feast of the firstfruits
In an agrarian culture, harvest was very significant. When the “firstfruits” of the harvest were brought in and eaten, thanksgiving was made to God for their firstfruits and they celebrated God’s goodness. Israel’s harvest happened 50 days after Passover. This is where we get the word Pentecost, as it meant “50 days.”
2. Pentecost was a celebration
The Jews viewed Pentecost as the time when celebration was made for being delivered from slavery. It was 50 days after their redemption that God gave the Law through Moses to His people. Pentecost was a celebration of God meeting Moses face to face to give him the Law.
The Acts 2 event was 50 days after Christ was crucified, which marked the establishment of the Church as she celebrates the true “firstfruits.” The church received God’s power to go into the world as His representatives.
The Holy Spirit’s coming on the day of Pentecost tells us something about the purpose of the Spirit coming and what it means to be filled. When the Spirit fills you, you are brought into the presences of three things. Those present at Pentecost experienced this also:
- The presence of the future
- The presence of the Lord
- The presence of the nations
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Believe and See
Resurrection and Life – Part 4
Which is it? "Seeing is believing" or "Believing is seeing?" How you answer this question is most clearly revealed by how you live life each day. I live in Missouri and we’re known as “The Show Me State.” This is probably how most of us in the Western hemisphere approach life. It’s how one of Jesus’ disciples viewed news of the resurrection of Jesus.
"Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:24-25)
In our world “seeing is believing.” We live with a “Prove it to me” attitude. We need personal proof before we believe. Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks and touch his side, I’m not buying it.” He fits right in with today’s world.
In Jesus’ world, believing precedes seeing. You believe first, belief is translated into desire and desire becomes perseverance in the face of negative situations. Belief will bring us into seeing, despite what we feel, smell, touch, etc. It doesn’t make sense to roll the stone away from Lazarus’ grave. We smell the reality of death. But those with Mary and Martha acted and experienced the resurrection and life of God (see John 11).
Belief isn’t a feeling. It’s an act of obedience. When my dad died in my home as a teenager, I prayed and he came back to life. It was an act of obedience, not a feeling.
At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus cried out, “Lazarus, come out!” Then the Bible simply says, “The man who had died came out…” (John 11:43-44). The dead moved, got up, responded to the voice of Jesus and walked toward that voice.
You can experience the resurrection power of Jesus today. When you hear the voice of Jesus, you don't always understand what it is, but he draws you. The voice of Jesus in your Spirit, something inside of you, wants to move toward that voice. When I first began to hear the voice of Jesus I wasn't sure about it. However, I just knew it was Jesus. He was dealing in my thoughts. I surrendered to him and my life was changed. When you move toward that voice, He will move toward you. You can experience the resurrection power and life of God.
Jesus told Martha, the sister of Lazarus, “…if you believed you would see the glory of God.” Will you believe? If so, you will begin to see.
Which is it? "Seeing is believing" or "Believing is seeing?" How you answer this question is most clearly revealed by how you live life each day. I live in Missouri and we’re known as “The Show Me State.” This is probably how most of us in the Western hemisphere approach life. It’s how one of Jesus’ disciples viewed news of the resurrection of Jesus.
"Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:24-25)
In our world “seeing is believing.” We live with a “Prove it to me” attitude. We need personal proof before we believe. Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks and touch his side, I’m not buying it.” He fits right in with today’s world.
In Jesus’ world, believing precedes seeing. You believe first, belief is translated into desire and desire becomes perseverance in the face of negative situations. Belief will bring us into seeing, despite what we feel, smell, touch, etc. It doesn’t make sense to roll the stone away from Lazarus’ grave. We smell the reality of death. But those with Mary and Martha acted and experienced the resurrection and life of God (see John 11).
Belief isn’t a feeling. It’s an act of obedience. When my dad died in my home as a teenager, I prayed and he came back to life. It was an act of obedience, not a feeling.
At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus cried out, “Lazarus, come out!” Then the Bible simply says, “The man who had died came out…” (John 11:43-44). The dead moved, got up, responded to the voice of Jesus and walked toward that voice.
You can experience the resurrection power of Jesus today. When you hear the voice of Jesus, you don't always understand what it is, but he draws you. The voice of Jesus in your Spirit, something inside of you, wants to move toward that voice. When I first began to hear the voice of Jesus I wasn't sure about it. However, I just knew it was Jesus. He was dealing in my thoughts. I surrendered to him and my life was changed. When you move toward that voice, He will move toward you. You can experience the resurrection power and life of God.
Jesus told Martha, the sister of Lazarus, “…if you believed you would see the glory of God.” Will you believe? If so, you will begin to see.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Do You Believe This?
Resurrection and Life - Part 3
I’ve been stirred about how the resurrection of Jesus can make such a difference in life today. Even when Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, God’s ways were undeterred and still active. When Jesus arrived late, He said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25,26)
Jesus not only said that He was the resurrection, He proved it! This is why we worship Him today. Jesus is saying, "I am the one who has authority and power to overcome the ultimate setbacks." Death is the ultimate setback. If Jesus has power over death then there is nothing He can't do in your life.
Notice Jesus doesn't ask Martha what she's feeling or thinking. There is a difference between what we feel and think, and what we believe. In times of disappointment or struggle, we are often persuaded by what we see or hear. It is easy to be directed by negative people around you. In high school I had learning difficulties and wasn't “college material.” Jesus came into my life my senior year and life changed for me. Jesus gave me a resurrection mentality. If Jesus can raise the dead then there’s nothing He can't do in your life if you believe.
"Jesus came to the tomb. 'Take away the stone,' he said. 'But, Lord,' said Martha, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’" (John 11:38-40)
Faith puts God between us and our circumstances. Faith gets us what God knows we truly need. However, it is not always what we want in the way we want it. God is not indifferent to your situation. Yet Martha's reaction mirrors most of us. She was caught up in the circumstances. She saw a dead body, a decaying body that smelled. We often live by our senses. Notice Jesus’ response, "Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the Glory of God?" (v.40)
What is it in your life you can't overcome? Following Christ means we no longer live merely “under the circumstances.” Jesus, the Resurrection, still lives, cares and acts. Do you believe this?
I’ve been stirred about how the resurrection of Jesus can make such a difference in life today. Even when Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, God’s ways were undeterred and still active. When Jesus arrived late, He said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25,26)
Jesus not only said that He was the resurrection, He proved it! This is why we worship Him today. Jesus is saying, "I am the one who has authority and power to overcome the ultimate setbacks." Death is the ultimate setback. If Jesus has power over death then there is nothing He can't do in your life.
Notice Jesus doesn't ask Martha what she's feeling or thinking. There is a difference between what we feel and think, and what we believe. In times of disappointment or struggle, we are often persuaded by what we see or hear. It is easy to be directed by negative people around you. In high school I had learning difficulties and wasn't “college material.” Jesus came into my life my senior year and life changed for me. Jesus gave me a resurrection mentality. If Jesus can raise the dead then there’s nothing He can't do in your life if you believe.
"Jesus came to the tomb. 'Take away the stone,' he said. 'But, Lord,' said Martha, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’" (John 11:38-40)
Faith puts God between us and our circumstances. Faith gets us what God knows we truly need. However, it is not always what we want in the way we want it. God is not indifferent to your situation. Yet Martha's reaction mirrors most of us. She was caught up in the circumstances. She saw a dead body, a decaying body that smelled. We often live by our senses. Notice Jesus’ response, "Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the Glory of God?" (v.40)
What is it in your life you can't overcome? Following Christ means we no longer live merely “under the circumstances.” Jesus, the Resurrection, still lives, cares and acts. Do you believe this?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Delay Doesn't Mean Denial
Resurrection and Life - Part 2
Followers of Christ can often experience difficult situations and trials. We pray and our prayers seem to hit the ceiling and go no further. How are we to interpret a God who loves us, has power to help us, but the answer to our prayer doesn’t come? Why is there delay?
We see Jesus dealing with a family in crisis in John 11. He loved Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus. Yet when Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, “he stayed where he was two more days” (John. 11:5-6). Why did Jesus delay in responding?
Our culture values speed. We have microwaves, DSL, fast food, etc. and we demand instant gratification. We are disappointed when things are delayed, especially when God seems to delay! We get disappointed with God when he doesn’t do what we need when we feel we need it. Our desire fades, persistence vanishes and we want to quit.
Permit me a story about someone who handled "delay." Kurt Warner is a Super Bowl MVP and a champion. Kurt expressed how difficult it was when he was on a college football team and just warmed the bench. After college, he was bagging groceries and not playing football. He met his wife, Brenda, when she was a single mom on welfare, trying to raise children on food stamps. They didn’t quit. His answer wasn’t automatic, but he persevered. Today the Warners continue to have a deep faith in Christ, he is still a celebrated quarterback and they have a foundation for children. Delay doesn't mean denial.
Believers must learn to persevere amid delay. Perseverance is an action of faith. Perseverance is not dependent upon your circumstances or your frustrations, setbacks or disappointments. Perseverance is directly pinned to your faith (or lack of faith). Paul said “the love of Christ controls us” (2 Cor. 5:14).
Perseverance is action based on the promise of God. If God raised Jesus from the dead, there is no circumstance in your life God can’t turn around. Jesus delayed his coming to two sisters, but he did show up. He will show up in a new way and he will demonstrate his intention regarding the future. He will destroy our enemy, death. He will remove the pain that seems to permanently destroy relationships and bring decay.
All the circumstances of Mary and Martha would say there’s no hope. But Jesus came. Delay is not denial.
Followers of Christ can often experience difficult situations and trials. We pray and our prayers seem to hit the ceiling and go no further. How are we to interpret a God who loves us, has power to help us, but the answer to our prayer doesn’t come? Why is there delay?
We see Jesus dealing with a family in crisis in John 11. He loved Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus. Yet when Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, “he stayed where he was two more days” (John. 11:5-6). Why did Jesus delay in responding?
Our culture values speed. We have microwaves, DSL, fast food, etc. and we demand instant gratification. We are disappointed when things are delayed, especially when God seems to delay! We get disappointed with God when he doesn’t do what we need when we feel we need it. Our desire fades, persistence vanishes and we want to quit.
Permit me a story about someone who handled "delay." Kurt Warner is a Super Bowl MVP and a champion. Kurt expressed how difficult it was when he was on a college football team and just warmed the bench. After college, he was bagging groceries and not playing football. He met his wife, Brenda, when she was a single mom on welfare, trying to raise children on food stamps. They didn’t quit. His answer wasn’t automatic, but he persevered. Today the Warners continue to have a deep faith in Christ, he is still a celebrated quarterback and they have a foundation for children. Delay doesn't mean denial.
Believers must learn to persevere amid delay. Perseverance is an action of faith. Perseverance is not dependent upon your circumstances or your frustrations, setbacks or disappointments. Perseverance is directly pinned to your faith (or lack of faith). Paul said “the love of Christ controls us” (2 Cor. 5:14).
Perseverance is action based on the promise of God. If God raised Jesus from the dead, there is no circumstance in your life God can’t turn around. Jesus delayed his coming to two sisters, but he did show up. He will show up in a new way and he will demonstrate his intention regarding the future. He will destroy our enemy, death. He will remove the pain that seems to permanently destroy relationships and bring decay.
All the circumstances of Mary and Martha would say there’s no hope. But Jesus came. Delay is not denial.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Resurrection and Life
Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When Jesus rose from the dead He changed history. Our entire dating system is based upon His resurrection.
However, the greatest proof that Jesus lives today is that He continues to change lives. The course of my life was changed by Jesus. I never intended on doing with my life what I am presently doing. This is true of all who follow Christ.
In John 11 we find the story of Lazarus and his family. This family is in trouble. The sisters, Mary and Martha, know that their beloved brother Lazarus is gravely ill, so they send word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." (John 11:3). Notice they call Him LORD. They have faith He can do something about their desperate situation.
They also know of Jesus’ great love for people. He had invested himself in their family. Jesus is committed to people. He has invested himself in us. He is committed to you and has the power to change your life. When asked about how to pray, Jesus said to pray, "Our Father…." A father is someone who loves us and gives himself for us. "Who is in Heaven" speaks of God's power to act in our situation.
In my upcoming blogs, I want to explore how we experience the resurrection power of Jesus in our lives today. Often today, people can feel they’ve lost this experience of God. In his book, "Raised With Christ", Adrian Warnock quotes Francis Schaeffer:
“Some Christians seem to think that when they are born again, they become a self-contained unit like a storage battery. From that time on they have to go on their own pep and their own power until they die. But this is wrong. After we are justified, once for all through faith in Christ, we are to live in supernatural communion with the Lord every moment; we are to be like lights plugged into an electric socket. The Bible makes it plain that our joy and spiritual power depend on a continuing relation to God.”
I am confident the love and power of the living Savior is continually active, transforming the lives of His people. Even amid difficulties, Jesus is alive. More on this next time…
However, the greatest proof that Jesus lives today is that He continues to change lives. The course of my life was changed by Jesus. I never intended on doing with my life what I am presently doing. This is true of all who follow Christ.
In John 11 we find the story of Lazarus and his family. This family is in trouble. The sisters, Mary and Martha, know that their beloved brother Lazarus is gravely ill, so they send word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." (John 11:3). Notice they call Him LORD. They have faith He can do something about their desperate situation.
They also know of Jesus’ great love for people. He had invested himself in their family. Jesus is committed to people. He has invested himself in us. He is committed to you and has the power to change your life. When asked about how to pray, Jesus said to pray, "Our Father…." A father is someone who loves us and gives himself for us. "Who is in Heaven" speaks of God's power to act in our situation.
In my upcoming blogs, I want to explore how we experience the resurrection power of Jesus in our lives today. Often today, people can feel they’ve lost this experience of God. In his book, "Raised With Christ", Adrian Warnock quotes Francis Schaeffer:
“Some Christians seem to think that when they are born again, they become a self-contained unit like a storage battery. From that time on they have to go on their own pep and their own power until they die. But this is wrong. After we are justified, once for all through faith in Christ, we are to live in supernatural communion with the Lord every moment; we are to be like lights plugged into an electric socket. The Bible makes it plain that our joy and spiritual power depend on a continuing relation to God.”
I am confident the love and power of the living Savior is continually active, transforming the lives of His people. Even amid difficulties, Jesus is alive. More on this next time…
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