Life was Meant to be Lived Large!

There is a Big Story illustrated through God’s word and I wonder, “Do we understand it?” Oh I think we are very familiar with many stories of the Bible, some more than others. I think we even understand truth communicated through these stories as well as specific application to our lives. We understand through Noah’s obedience that it’s important to trust God’s instructions even though it seems ludicrous to do so. We gain through Abraham’s experiences a perspective that God can be trusted, and through Joseph that things will work in God’s timing. David’s story encourages us to face our Goliaths and to avoid the Bathsheba’s that will tempt us. Peter’s venture into water-walking beckons us to get out of our boats of comfort, even if failure is a possibility. We see Paul and are challenged with his enthusiasm for God’s work as well as commitment to his life’s calling. Through the stories of Jesus’ life we learn…well, all kinds of stuff.

All of these are great stories and there’s more but do we really see the Big One? There is one you know; a Big Story encompassing all of these individual stories. I know that as you’re reading this you’re thinking, “Tell me something I don’t already know; of course there’s a Big Story.” God created, man betrayed; God pursued and redeemed, man is saved; Evil gets defeated and God wins; it’s all in there isn’t it?

Jesus told his disciples, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those outside everything is in parables (Mark 4:11).” We, as those who have intimate fellowship with Jesus, have access to the Big Picture that transcends human perspective and ties all that God has and is doing together in a manner that is incomprehensible to our finite understanding. To really access this is to be forever changed by it.

I think that God wants us to see and grasp far more than we do. He desires for our lives to be impacted and caught up in it. His will is for us to be living much larger than we are. Our lives need to be about much more than trying to live righteously and hoping to be blessed in doing so. Too much of what we pursue is about us and too little is about living in light of where we are in God’s Big Story. Our worship needs to grow much bigger than relating to personal blessing into the exhilaration of being caught up in the Big Thing that God has been doing throughout all-time.

I find myself more and more identifying with Paul’s desire to “be found in Him.” I want to grasp what God took hold of my life for and live my life with a greater relationship to the chapter and verse of God’s story that I am currently living in. Imagine, God wrote us into the script. There’s a growing desire in me to see beyond individual stories into the huge thing that God has been masterfully orchestrating. I know that there is no way I can live large when I think small. I can’t walk circumspectly, making the best use of time if I don’t understand what time it is or what God’s will really is in this day. I won’t do a good job of helping people to find their own story within God’s if I don’t first relate to it myself.

I know I keep telling you that there’s a Big Story but have yet to really tell you what I think it is. That’s because I don’t feel as informed yet as I should be. Maybe you don’t either. Let’s do something about it then. Maybe the first step is to break free from our self-centeredness and start looking out into what God wants to do through us. Let’s do it together and who knows, maybe two or more of us can really put ten-thousand to flight and God will bring the increase. Want to do it together? Perhaps in looking more at the whole picture of God and what He wants to do we will be birthed out into a bigger world of wonder and start living larger. Possibly we will be caught up by it and living for ourselves will never suffice again. Could it be that understanding and living within God’s Big Picture is the antedote for Small Christian living? We’ll never know if we don’t try it.

The Secret is in the Marinating

God has continued to speak to me with regard to what I last wrote about: namely, “Can God make some (good) news through us?” I believe that he can. Even more importantly, I believe he wants to. But it’s going to require some specific things on our part. Before I get to those specifics, let me reflect on the text of Mark 1:40-45 and Mark 2:1-12 where Jesus first heals the leper and then the paralytic man and share some of my observations.

Jesus’ coming on to the scene here was like God himself had showed up. We know that this is true; that God himself had showed up, but to the on-looking people Jesus was just a man. He was a man, but somehow God was being accurately represented through him. His words were like God himself was speaking to them. In verse 27 of Mark chapter 1, their reaction was: “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Jesus teaching was a far cry from the religious droning of the church people of that day. What Jesus had to say was not the least bit trivial, nor was it an appeal to come and witness a healing crusade. Verse 2 of chapter 2 says: “he was preaching the word to them.”

As Jesus intentionally placed himself in the public arena, he came in contact with people’s ailments and oppressions. He did not shy away from them, neither was he too busy to be bothered with them. Many texts describe the “compassion” or “pity” that Jesus experienced in these situations. Moved by this compassion he exercised the authority given him by the Holy Spirit’s anointing and spoke directly into these ailments and oppressions, bringing about deliverance. This was very different from the condemning and controlling practices and exclusionism of the religiously inclined. God was here! And it was very freeing.

I am personally very intrigued with becoming a representative of God who is freeing people. The challenges that this conjures up for me are almost overwhelming, but in my spirit I am driven to pursue God-given destiny. One of the first challenges, and maybe the most vital, is that of really and regularly meeting with God. It is so easy to marginalize the importance of this practice that Jesus found so necessary (Mark 1:35). Since I regard myself as so unlike God and far short of really representing him; my conviction is that this “meeting” needs to become a place of marinating in God, His grace, and all of His character. So often the default method is to read, study, and petition God. Certainly reading and meditating are important, but I know that my time with God needs to move from an intellectual level to that of really having my spirit engaged in true worship. I want to get to the point of having regularly “been with Christ” (Acts 4:13).

Another challenge for me is to have the quality of compassion that Christ had. It’s funny; I regard myself as a fairly compassionate person, but I also feel very inept in this area. Maybe that’s because in my compassion I lack the faith to bring about change or deliverance. This brings up the third area that I feel most challenged in, which is faith and the lack thereof. There certainly is a measure of faith in my life, but it is far short of proclaiming things such as: be clean; be healed; be delivered; . . . with any kind of authority or real expectation. Building more faith and greater compassion have become very important to me and part of what I hope to gain as I learn to marinate in God. In these challenges, I would venture to say that you are probably not unlike me.

I believe that God does want to show up in our culture, our generation, and our community. When He does it will be evident in the words, the compassion, and the authority that he speaks through us. When God shows up in this way, it will be Good News and believe me, this kind of news has a way of getting out. Society around us is not so much looking for more religiousness as it is for the very real God to show up. “Creation (itself) waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19).” Impacting our world with Good News that is worth investigating will take us positioning ourselves to be Good News makers. I ask you; Has God called you to be religious and blessed? Or does he want to redeem and reconcile the world unto himself through you? Please consider this and take the necessary measures to become a representative of Good News. Let’s break out of the smallness of our faith, our lack of compassion and trivial activities by intentionally soaking up more of God so that we can free people’s lives. Let’s make some news! Let’s marinate so that we can.

Can God Make Some News Through Us?

A story grabbed my attention this week. No, it wasn’t something in the news, but it resulted in news, headline kind of news. This story is found at the end of Mark chapter one. There’s this guy with leprosy (a really bad skin condition) who in his desperation to be cured, approaches Jesus and confesses his belief that a miracle is within His power.

As I process this story in today’s context, the fact that he had faith in God for this healing rather than exploring medical options seems amazing. People seem to turn to doctors and medicine first and God is reserved as a last resort. I don’t know, maybe this guy had already investigated any other avenues there might have been and this was a last resort. However it happened, here he was imploring Jesus and it says that Jesus was “moved with pity” (vs. 41). At that moment, exactly what this man imagined could happen did happen; Jesus touched him “and immediately the leprosy left him” (vs. 42).

I don’t quite grasp why Jesus then told him not to tell anyone about this, but he did; he told people about this miracle in his life. Maybe he tried to comply with Jesus’ wishes for a while, we don’t really know. Maybe as he processed in his mind all of what had happened he was suddenly struck with how fortunate he was. Possibly he was spurred on by the reaction of astonishment that he received from the first person he told. However long it took to really sink in, this was really great news; news that shouldn’t be kept to one’s self. He began to tell anyone and everyone about it and people began to come from all over to witness this merciful and miracle-working representative of God.

As I ruminate on this story, I can’t help wondering what the reaction in our community would be to something on this scale. Imagine if people were drawn into our presence and had the courage to implore upon us for a God-working-through-us kind of miracle. Imagine even further that we would be moved not only with pity, but also with faith enough to touch them and proclaim words like “be clean” (vs. 41). Now, really stretch your imagination and picture an actual and immediate miracle. Do you think news of something like this would get out? Do you think it would be news worthy enough for people who get wind of it to want to also come and witness God being represented for real? Do you think that our church would start filling up with real seekers? I don’t know about you but I’d like to find out.

It seems to me that if we are ever going to have a part in making the kind of impact in our community that draws in seekers and not just church hoppers, then we need to participate in some real news. There is no shortage of churches in our community and if someone wants religion they know where to find it. Is it just me or does there not seem to be overwhelming interest in becoming religious or connected with a church family other than among already religious people? What kind of news would be generated out of a church that is instrumental in miraculous and life-transforming experiences?

At this point I realize that I have posed a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. I want to ask you to pray and ponder if it is within God’s plan for some these questions to be answered through us. Imagine whether God would like to create some news through us. I promise to follow up with more articles with my personal thoughts on these things, but I challenge you to consider these things for yourself. What will it take for God to make some news through us?

You don’t have to be a Rock Star; just Obedient!

I have been wrestling a lot lately with a sense that God wants me to get public with my Christianity. You know; not just reading my Bible, praying and attending Church, but actually affecting lives outside of my Christian circles. This is somewhat scary for me to contemplate because I know that it means more than just being a joyful and positive speaking person who can occasionally interject a “God loves you” into conversation. These types of characteristics are not a real stretch for me, I do them quite easily. It’s the other part of the mission that comes a little more difficult.

Why is it so difficult to approach someone in the marketplace and tell them that God has been speaking to me about them? How come it is so frightening to consider going up to someone in a secular setting and asking them if I can pray for them? Neither of these things are that difficult for me to do in my church. What is it that causes me such anxiety to consider doing it outside of my church? Does it have to do with some insecurity I have about needing to be accepted and normal looking?

I recently began reading in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark. Verse four says, “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” What an amazing calling John the Baptist had; to be the first prophetic voice to arise in over four hundred years and to actually be the forerunner of Christ Himself. It was the first two words that really caught my attention: “John appeared.” Did John just all of a sudden show up? Essentially, yes!

Reflecting on some of John’s background really brought some things into focus for me. His birth was a miraculous event; it being foretold by an angel that he would be a prophetic voice going before the coming Christ. He was most likely made very aware of this significant call on his life by his parents. Being born to an older couple who probably passed on while he was somewhat young, he was left to wrestle alone in the wilderness with what God’s call on his life meant. Make no mistake, John was no Rock star. He was simply someone filled with the Spirit of God and knowledge of the mission that was set out in front of him. One day, after thirty years of wrestling and growing in confidence, he stepped out of obscurity and into the arena of affecting the public with the message of God.

I like John the Baptist a whole lot and his life really inspires me. It is clear to me that wrestling with the feelings of insignificance and a desire to look normal are not sinful, especially if all of this grappling leads me to actual obedience. I realize that John never did look normal, but he got bold with the message of God and really changed some lives. He didn’t have to be a Rock star and have the most attractive qualities, he just had to be obedient and let God work His power through him. I know that this is what God is saying to me also.

So why choose a public format to confess this? Partly to challenge others with what God has actually called each one us of to. Mostly though, I needed to put an end to private little musings and publicly put myself out there that I intend to get more activated in my faith. I fully expect to be sharing some firsthand experiences about prayers and words of knowledge shared with unchurched people in the marketplaces around me. I really want to put an end to my wrestling and show up in the arena where I have been called so urgently to. Will you join me?

Kids Will Do the Darnedest Things

Jesus’ disciples were prodding him for who God’s favorite kind of people were. Actually the term they used was “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This was Jesus response to their inquiry: And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:2-4). God’s favorite kinds of people are the ones who can be like kids. I know you were told that God has no favorites, but that’s not how Jesus put it. In order for this analogy to work you need to forget for a moment about all of the bad exposure you’ve had to really bratty kids and think about some good and childish qualities.

 

My granddaughter in her naivety once asked her great grandmother why she had wrinkles to which she was told, “Because I am old.” My granddaughter’s very innocent response was, “Oh! You must be really old.” Kids will say and do the darnedest things. They are simple in their understanding and their responses. They can be very naïve and unsophisticated. It doesn’t take a lot to persuade them and they will readily do very foolish things, even taking risks because they are so trusting. Kids are very reliant on others, especially mom and dad, to help them and provide answers. They haven’t yet learned a lot of independence and they’re okay with that. Another thing about kids, they come easily to tears and repentance, and in an environment of love and acceptance are eager to please and obey.

 

As we move toward adulthood we learn to distrust and we get more and more selfish. Simple understanding and acceptance of things changes to needing everything to make sense according to our rationality grid. We are much less prone to act on instructions that seem at all foolish or to take risks. Our self importance has ballooned and we learn to be very independent. Many barriers get erected in our lives preventing us from acting on the promptings and simple steps of obedience that God puts in front of us. We need to relearn some of the impetuous qualities of children such as: trust, compliance, and being loving and forgiving so that God can use us. He works best through people who can be like this.

 

God’s favorites, or to put it another way, the kind of people that have the most value to the kingdom cause are the ones who can learn to be like kids. We need to learn to get past our rational barriers and learn to respond to God’s promptings. We need to become childish enough to be foolish and take risks for God. Our hearts need to get softened to the point that repentance and tears flow easily in the sight of God’s discipline. There is some unlearning of increasingly selfish lifestyles that is order so we can give ourselves to our Father’s wishes. We need to digress in our prerequisites for obedience to where only the simplest of payment is enough – God’s unconditional love.

 

So is this possible? Can we become like a child again? I think so or else Jesus wouldn’t have suggested. In fact he said, “…turn and become like children.” What he’s talking about is repentance. We have to admit our adulthood, humble ourselves and ask God that he would help us to be childish again. Sounds kind of weird doesn’t it, to repent for being too grown up. But that’s exactly what is implied here. If we want to be the most useful that we can be for God’s cause, childish changes must take place in us. We can transform by the working of the Holy Spirit in us and we can learn to obey and take risks for God. We can if we want to. Do you?

It’s Not always Apple Pie and Ice Cream

 As they [Jesus and his disciples] were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed (Matt 17:22-23). Whoa, talk about getting bad news! This guy was their messiah, the guy that the prophets had been talking about for many generations. All their lives they had heard about the promise of his coming, he was finally in front of them, and now he’s telling them that he’s going to be killed. This just cannot be! This must be some kind of bad humor; surely God doesn’t work like this, does he?

 

It strikes me that we tend to think in victories and good times and blessings when it comes to our imagining of spiritual progress. Our fantasies of God’s purposes moving forward don’t usually include a lot of pain or suffering or bad news; at least not for us personally. We like to think that when we’re right in the middle of God’s will then things will be apple pie and ice cream for us. Bad things usually indicate to us that either we’re suffering an attack from the enemy or we’re straying from God’s path. And yet, from this text in Matthew neither of these things are true. In fact they were right in the middle of God’s will and it was God that was orchestrating this set of events and not the enemy.

 

God’s plans aren’t always all about good times, at least not as we would define them. In the progressive agenda of God’s purposes there will be suffering, birthing pains, and even death. Some of what we value and hold very dear will be affected in these ways and this will cause us great distress. I am reminded that in the birthing of a child there is great pain and suffering involved. It could even feel like a death of sorts but something beautiful and wondrous is birthed as a result. Even in the taking of traditional wedding vows there is a pledging of loyalty in good times as well as in bad times. It’s like admitting right up front that life will not always fit our fantasies.

 

“In this world you will have trouble,” was Jesus promise to us in John 16:33. The continuation of this promise was: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We must not lose sight of the sovereignty of God; “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). It is important that we realize that the “good” that God is working is what He has orchestrated in moving His redemptive plan forward.

 

We are in the midst of some challenging and, for some, very distressing times at this present time. Many face the prospect of losing their homes and/or their livelihood. For some, health issues have become more and more distressing. Although I believe that God is able to heal and deliver from any and all of our distresses, I also know that our timetable and our picture of deliverance can differ drastically from God’s.

 

This is my hope for me as well as for you: that we would be more prone to faith and trust and hope rather than distress in the face of bad news. I remind myself even as I sit here in this wheelchair that my God who still heals and is not helpless to deliver me is also in control and knows what is best; and especially what is best for the redemption of this whole world. If we stick with God in hope and do not forsake serving His purposes rather than our own, I believe that we will see all of the provision that we have need of because “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3a).

Getting Your Head in the Game – Part 5

As I send my blog out into cyberspace each week, I can’t help but wonder if anybody reads them. An even more intriguing question I have is, does anyone relate to the thoughts and challenges that I put forth? There certainly have been a few of them as we have moved through this series of articles on getting our head into God’s game plan. By way of quick review, I’ll list again some of the core challenges. Getting engaged in God’s game plan means moving away from casualness and selfishness in our Christianity and getting into a revelatory place of God’s perspective where we are communing with Him and learning what He wants to do through us. It means that the worldly orientation that we default to needs to be replaced by a kingdom and destiny orientation.

 

The final challenge that I want to put forth in the conclusion of these articles comes out of Matthew 16:24-25 where it says: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

 

In my opinion, the principle of “self-denial” has been somewhat lost in our current Christian way of life. We have become caught up in a culture of grace. This has been a good thing and personally has been very liberating to go from a legalistic mindset of living by a set of rules to coming to grips with what it really means to be under grace. This shift has been very necessary for the propagation of a Christianity that is truly unearned and unmerited.

 

At the same time, our headlong running toward living under grace has introduced us to a very slippery slope that we need to be careful of. The slope that we so easily slip on is this: Our flesh desires many things and can easily convince us that we are okay to involve ourselves in these things under the banner of grace. Because we are free and there are so many things in life that appeal to us, we are at risk of becoming ruled by our flesh. Part of the danger for us is that we justify our involvements on the basis of not being outwardly sinful. Being sinful or not sinful should not be our only criteria; being more or less kingdom of God oriented should. The big problem with giving into more and more of what appeals to our flesh is that less and less are we inclined to have our heads into God’s game.

 

I wonder if you are anything like me. I tend to give more and more of my time to computer and internet related activities (like facebook surfing and writing blogs). My finances, recreational goals, and the upkeep and improvement of my home are on my mind a lot. I think and plan what I want to eat, drink, play, and spend my time doing for my personal enjoyment. I could go on, but it’s too painful. None of these things are in themselves sinful. I just recognize that my flesh needs to be reigned in so that I am not being ruled by these things instead of a missional mindset. The Apostle Paul said that lots of things are legal for me to involve myself in as a Christian but not all of those things are in the best interest of the kingdom (my own words). He also said that a healthy relationship with grace will teach me to say “no” to things that will lead me away from God’s way (again my own words).

 

The conclusion I have come to is this: God wants me vitally invested in His kingdom work. Even though I am free in Christ, I need to consciously give myself to the agenda and ruling of the Holy Spirit at the expense of denying many of the desires of my flesh. Any productivity or fruit I hope to be involved in for the kingdom of God depends on my relationship to these principles. I personally want to come back to a fresh relationship of denying my flesh much of what it desires so that I may experience more of God’s grace working through me. I am purposing to curtail my activity on many levels so that I give more time towards communing with God and seeking His agenda.

 

I wonder, are you with me on this? Where are you with some of these challenges? I want to ask you to do something for me. Please post a comment. Write a short response if you’re reading this and tell me what God is saying to you personally. I ask you to do more than just browse, take the time to write a quick response to what God is saying to you through this. Doing so will not only give my ego a boost it will be healthy for you to think more than a few seconds on what this means to you. It is also quite possible that we might get some clue about what kind of CSCC Blog readership we have.

Getting Your Head in the Game – Part 4

We began this current series of articles in Matthew 16:18 when Peter, upon having a wonderful revelation about who Jesus was, was told that the future church would be built upon this knowledge. With this kind of revelation activated, nothing, not even hell itself will stand in the way of God’s agenda being orchestrated through His church. Multitudes of unlocked destinies will lie in the wake of those moving forward in God’s anointing. Our challenge is to get ourselves engaged in an active role with what God’s agenda is.

 

Reading on from here, let’s pick up the story in Matthew 16:21-23: From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

 

As we are trying to get ourselves engaged in God’s game plan, this last verse reveals a very real problem for us. In our humanity, we tend to have our minds on earthly and fleshly things. We are so limited in our perspective by what our eyes see, what our minds comprehend, and what our experiences have been. So much of what we pray for and seek after is influenced by these things. This is why it is so dangerous for us to get ourselves too caught up in the values of our worldly environment and the concerns of our life here. I am sure that very often what we are setting our aim upon must be running cross-purpose to what God’s will really is. We are, as Jesus told Peter that he was, a hindrance to what God wants to accomplish through us.

 

This is why it is so important that we get the mind of Christ. God said through Isaiah that his thoughts and ways are of a much higher perspective than what we are humanly accustomed to (Isa. 55:8-9). There is no way that we will ever proceed forward in God’s will, His purposes flowing through our efforts, without a lot of seeking of His mind on our part. In light of this, provision has been made for us to be able to get caught up into His perspective. God has given us the Holy Spirit whereby we can get totally filled up with Him and become influenced toward His agenda to a greater degree. It is imperative that we avail ourselves of the Holy Spirit’s influence to the fullest extent possible. We must make it our business to seek this filling and continue stirred up in the game plan of God.

 

I am convinced that the life we as Christians have been called to live on this earth is meant to have a much greater involvement with God’s agenda than what we are currently cozy with. There is no reason to feel condemned, as I am sure we can identify with Peter who at one moment could experience wonderful spiritual revelation and the next moment be totally ruled by his human perspective. There is definitely a challenge though, that compels us through this scriptural text to position ourselves to be influenced more by God’s perspective. I hope that you feel obliged as I do to be more filled up by the Holy Spirit and stirred by the things that are important to God. Let’s do what it takes to move this direction.

 

As we enter this level of relationship with Him we can expect to be privy to greater and greater levels of revelation. There will be more and more experiences of moving in God’s supernatural power. Lives being changed will be the fruit of our labors. Doesn’t this sound inviting? We can also expect to be faced with increased challenge to “deny ourselves”, but we’ll save that subject for the concluding portion of this five-part article of getting our head into God’s game plan.

Getting Your Head in the Game – Part 3

We’ll come back some very important elements of Matthew chapter sixteen in part four, but in this third installment in this subject of getting our heads into God’s game plan I want to skip ahead. There is a very significant experience noted in chapter seventeen that I want to appeal to you from. In Matthew 17:1-3, we have the following narrative: And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.

 

These three guys (Peter, James & John) were like the inner circle of the disciples. They were the ones that were the closest to Jesus. It wasn’t that Jesus wasn’t good friends with each of the twelve, but He was especially close to these three. As we observe what transpired in this story, I am struck by a thought that I believe to be true, and that is: there are special things and greater revelations that God will share with those that are closest to Him. It’s not like some people are more special to God than others, but those who take the time to become really intimate with Him will find themselves in the midst of amazing experiences with Him. In this case it happened on a mountain top.

 

Where I grew up in Alaska, we lived at the base of a mountain. It wasn’t particularly high, but it was a mountain nonetheless. For a good reference for Washington residents, Mount Si in North Bend would be about the equivalent. Now, although thousands of people live in the general vicinity of this mountain and are acquainted with its location, probably less than 2% of these people have ever experienced the view from on top of it. I had the privilege of climbing to the top of this mountain on several occasions and can say that the view is spectacular. Similarly all Christians have access to amazing revelatory experiences with Jesus but few will put forth the needed effort to encounter them.

 

These three men invested the time in a close relationship with Jesus and they also exerted themselves by making a climb with Him. Directly after witnessing this amazing transfiguration Peter remarked, “It is really good that we came up here” (my paraphrase); but they would never have experienced it had they not positioned themselves for it. I find myself both attracted as well as deeply convicted by this colorful event. I want so much to experience God sharing Himself with me like this, but I also know that I must invest myself much more in the relationship and exert myself to climb with Him. I wonder if I want it enough. I wonder if you want it?

 

The reason that I wanted to expose you to this story before we finish chapter sixteen is to tempt you with what you will find on top of the mountain. We’re going to be getting challenged with the subjects of denying ourselves and being too worldly minded, but it’s important for us to recognize that there is a reward for our efforts. Serving God is not just about discipline and rigorous effort. There are some amazing, off-the-charts experiences in store for us. It is of absolute significance that we grasp the merits of investing ourselves. God wants to expose us to revelatory perspectives and supernatural insights, and He will if we will go with Him.

 

Getting our head into God’s game means taking this very seriously; what He wants to do through us will require more than a casual attitude of fellowship with Him. We must see that being related to Him is a call to be continually related to all that He is working at in the world around us. In this relationship that only a small percentage of Christians will actually thrust themselves into, there will be some amazing views to behold. These views and the efforts that we exert in positioning for them will launch us into great kingdom productivity. I invite you to come with me and make the climb, it will be worth it!

Getting your Head in the Game – Part 2

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17). What a great blessing it is that we, like Peter, can really know the person of God!

 

In my previous blog I talked about the work that God is doing on the earth and posed the question, “Are you involved in the game plan of God or are you just playing your own little game?” In response to Peter’s spiritual revelation, Jesus prophesies about the future role His church would play in exerting all of the power of heaven to unlock people’s destinies. The pivotal tenet connecting us to this place in the arena of affecting destinies according to God’s game plan is that we commune with God and really know Him.

 

When Jesus first asked the question about who He was, there were varied responses based upon personal observation. It wasn’t like they didn’t really know him; by this time at least a year of their lives had been spent traveling with Jesus and witnessing His teaching and miraculous abilities. They had spent time in the marketplaces together as well as time around camp fires and in lodging places. Certainly they had a lot of respect and reverence for Him. But while everyone else had a relationship based on what their emotions and senses told them, Peter had a revelation in his spirit. What Peter experienced went beyond his fleshly senses where his being was flooded with supernatural understanding and suddenly he really knew Jesus.

 

I want that kind of experience with God, don’t you? I’m not talking about just a onetime occurrence either, although for some of you, you’re still hoping for that first time. There is relationship level in Christ that is possible to experience where you can hear and know in your spirit the very plans of God. It is exactly this kind of relationship that will enable us to be involved in God’s strategies in pushing back spiritual forces. God wants us involved with Him on this level. He wants to involve us in His work which is constantly going on all around us. The wheels have been set in motion long ago of a partnership between the sovereign and almighty God working His agenda through people who will incline themselves toward hearing His voice and acting on His promptings.

 

What we’re talking about here is not a casual relationship, nor is it selfish. Your current status of knowing God on a first name basis but not really spending a lot of personal time with Him is not going to cut it. Your selfish relationship where most of your time spent with God is oriented toward trying to get Him to bless you and praying for all of the things on your wish list is going to have to get ditched. If you really want the quality of experience that is possible, then some changes are in order.

 

For me personally, I know that it is critical that I spend regular and deliberate time getting in a place of worship and communion with God. I find that solitude, worship music, meditation, prayer and journaling are very important elements for getting my spirit to a place of revelation. My focus has to be one of meeting with God and expecting Him to speak into my life. What we’re not talking about is doing a Bible study. The difference is that rather than trying to find out all there is on a particular subject I am consciously opening up my life, my mind and my heart and saying, “Your kingdom come, your will be done in my life; speak to me concerning these things.” Action and obedience are also key factors for obvious reasons.

 

I wonder if any of this strikes a chord with you. Do you really want to know God like this? Are there changes in order for your relationship with Him? I’d like to share a word with you that motivates me and should motivate you as well. That word is “Destiny”. My own personal Destiny has been affected by the power and grace of God and there are many other Destinies waiting to be affected. It is your calling as well as mine to be more than a Christian who has been handed a get-out-of-jail-free card. It is our Destiny to pull ourselves away from our computers and everything else that we fill up our time with and get in a place where the Holy Spirit can commune with our spirits and activate us in God’s game plan. It’s time to get our head into the game!