We Have What They Longed For

If you stop noticing sunsets you quickly forget the wonders that surround you. This is the reality of our ever changing relationship with Jesus. In the carnality of our thinking we lose our spiritual sensitivity and the things of this world look more and more attractive. Before we know it we stop seeing the miracles and signs that surround us; we stop seeing Jesus in our day. We will continue to go through the motions but now it is only religion and the relationship is lost. How can it be?

We are like spoiled children, so use to all our privileges that we lose the wonder of them. Sometimes we need to spend some time in the Old Covenant scriptures to be refreshed in our privileged reality. Psalm 61 is an example of this refreshing. The writer needed help. He needed protection and he sought the Lord. He needed to be encouraged and strengthened. He needed the presence of the Lord:

God, listen to my cry;
    pay attention to my prayer!
When my heart is weak,
    I cry out to you from the very ends of the earth.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am
because you have been my refuge,
    a tower of strength in the face of the enemy. (Psalm 61:1-3)

The writer only needed to experience the presence of Yahweh to receive all that he wanted. And when he experienced it he desired never to leave his presence:

Please let me live in your tent forever!
    Please let me take refuge
    in the shelter of your wings! (V. 4)

Unlike this psalmist, this experience is available to us every single day of our lives, all we have to do is open our eyes to it. Jesus never wants us to be outside of the experience of his presence. He is always with us, as he promised, but it is up to us to decide to be sensitive to him. If we keep our mind and heart occupied by the things of this world, things contrary to his character, we will grow insensitive. There is nothing else for it except for us to decide every morning to love him with all our passion and to expect him to do great things through us every day.

We are a privileged people and the psalmist, prophets and all other people found in the old covenant could only dream and long for what is ours every day. So don't waste it. Live for Jesus to the fullest of all your passion and walk with him daily.

God Is With Us

Are you aware of the presence of the Lord? We have the knowledge he is with us, the Bible tells us that he is. There are even times when we feel moved during worship or during a really good sermon but many people do not have a daily awareness of Jesus' presence with us. There are lots of reasons why; busy schedule, occupied mind in other things, lots of tv or music, worries, fears, uncertainties. All kinds of things keep us from the awareness of Yahweh's presence. It is a shame because it is one of the greatest gifts he has given to us, fellowship with him.

Being aware of his presence is also being aware of all of his promises. It is a reliance on him for strength and wisdom throughout the day. It is important to understand that just because we have thought a thought does not mean that it is the Spirit speaking to us. If we have ignored him for weeks, neglected the Word, haven't given him a moment in days, why would we think we are sensitive enough to hear the Spirit? It is those we open themselves to the awareness of his presence who often hear from him.

Consider Joseph for a moment. Here was a man so fixed on Yahweh that he even received dreams and visions from him. His brothers hated him but even when they sold him and he ended up in slavery Joseph did not lose his awareness of Yahweh:

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man and served in his Egyptian master’s household. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful. (Genesis 39:2-3)

That's the amazing and important thing here: It is obvious to people when Yahweh is with us. This is Joseph, pre-Jesus, pre-Holy Spirit. So how much more should we be aware of the presence of the Lord, us being possessed by the Holy Spirit? How much more should people be able to see that Yahweh is with us because of the Spirit in us?

We should be seeking the awareness of his presence throughout the day so we may have success in everything we do in Jesus' name. It isn't about us. We should be seeking this so that we can serve people in the strength and wisdom of the Lord. His presence should permeate us so that he is able to impact everyone we come into contact with each day. They should be able to look at us and know the Lord is with us. Seek his face today.

What Do You Know About The Spirit?

Dear Christian, here is a question for you: What do you know about the Holy Spirit? Most of us know he is part of the Godhead and that we receive him when we receive Jesus but few of us understand the baptism of the Spirit. Few of us have been taught how vital it is. For some reason we stick the testimonies of Acts in a little box and hide it high on the shelf and we struggle because of it.

We need the Spirit to know God. We need the Spirit to understand the Word. We need the Spirit to hear from Jesus. We need the Spirit to witness with power. We need the Spirit for the power of God in us. We need the Spirit to live a victorious walk with Christ. Just one small snippet from the Word:

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took a route through the interior and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you came to believe?” (Acts 19:1-2)

Paul went on to pray with them and to lay his hands on them. They received the Spirit in power. Paul knew that no Christian can function properly in the Body without the Spirit. Sure, we can try in our flesh and we may convince ourselves we are doing well but we are accomplishing nothing outside of the anointing of Yahweh which comes by the Spirit in us.

Just before leaving Jesus told his disciples:

“It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)

Most of us have not received that power because we have not understood the place or importance of the Baptism of the Spirit. It is not a design of man but the design of Yahweh. It happened to me with no teaching, no instruction, with no one around. I received that baptism by the hand of Jesus but did not know what it was until years later. It is the power of Jesus in us, his authority to do what he commanded us to do. Certainly we can ignore it, but we will not be able to serve properly without it.

Even if you don't fully understand it, examine the Scriptures for yourself. Read what Jesus said about the Spirit. Read what he did by the Spirit. Understand he came to set us the example of how to live by the Spirit. Read Acts and see what was accomplished when people lived by the Spirit. Understand that nothing has changed and this was the model set for us.

Hearts do not change because we have good ideas. Hearts do not change by our intellectual arguments. Hearts do not change because of our good deeds. Hearts change by the presence of Yahweh and this happens through us; this happens by the Spirit in us when we understand we carry his presence. We need to understand and experience the Baptism of the Spirit. We need the power of Yahweh to return to the people of God.

Experiencing The Holy Spirit

The premise is simple.

There has to be change in order for change to happen.

If things remain the same then change is denied.

The old must go in order to allow the new to enter in.

Many of us do not experience Jesus because, at the heart of it, we do not want to change. But when Jesus possesses, things change. He told us, as he told Nicodemus, that there must be a second birth, a moving from the state we are in to a new state. He calls us a new creation. But it can't be new if we are doing what we have always done, thinking as we have always thought, and valuing what we have always considered to have value.

Most of us want all the good stuff Jesus promised but we want to limit the cost. Some would say there is no cost as Jesus paid the cost but Jesus said it will cost us everything and we would be glad to pay that cost if we understood what we would possess, or what would possess us. If you know the Word then there are all kinds of verses that Jesus spoke that are just now flooding your thoughts via the Holy Spirit and what you have hidden in your heart.

Read:

"Because of the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the disciples were overflowing with happiness." (Acts 13:52)

This was penned concerning Paul and Barnabas as they were just ejected from a town. There was no confusion in them; no distractions; no philosophies pounding at them through movies, music, news, television. They had a mission and everything they did was focused on that mission and because they did not try to fit other things in, they had the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit, and that made them happy. Imagine that.

The one thing we all say we want to experience, the overwhelming presence of the Lord, is available to us, if only we would let go of the old. If only we would be absorbed by the new. If only we didn't try to live a dual life. If only we understood carnality and rejected it while understanding our mission. If only we could understand that Jesus did not rebirth us to live a life of duplicity.

But is it too late for us? Are we too far gone to understand? Is it possible to silence the other voices? Is it possible to experience the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in this age? The Church seems to have multiple personalities on this subject but I know what Jesus said and I have decide to trust his words and his words alone as he declares to even this generation:

“It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.” (Matthew 19:26)

If you really want to experience the presence of God, he will help you silence those voices. You will have to make some decisions to simplify your life but he will empower you to do it. After all, Father's great desire is fellowship with you. Be still and know that he is God.

The Presence Of The Lord Changes Everything

We all have our share of problems and each person thinks theirs is greater than any others. One thing you can be sure of - today you will face difficulties. Jesus even warned us that life would not be fair to us. The thing is, make sure you are not the source of your troubles. We have enough to face without causing unnecessary pain to ourselves.

Now I am not trying to be a downer today because along with the facts of life is the reality of our part in it. When we are facing difficulties we have a few choices in the direction we will head. We can choose to fight it, complaining all the way. We can choose to deny it until it destroys us. Or we can deal with it using the tools Jesus has given us.

One of the greatest gifts we have been given is the constant abiding presence of the Lord. We may not always remember and we may not always practice his presence, but when we do, he becomes our greatest source of strength, encouragement, and wisdom. There is a line in psalm 73 that always reminds me of this fact. The psalmist was struggling over the apparent prosperity of the wicked and he could not understand until he humbled himself and entered the presence of the Lord:

When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end. (Psalm 73:16-17)

Too often we make our struggles harder than they need to be. Father never intended for us to face anything on our own. But all too often we try to take short cuts in the relationship. We will fire off a few quick prayers and expect the situation to be removed, but Father wants intimacy. He will resist us so that we are forced to take the time to consider the situation. He will delay the response until we realize what we have done and come into the awareness of his presence. He is always present but we are often too busy with life to notice.

Taking the time to be aware and to sit in Father's presence is the greatest step we can take to overcoming the difficulties of our day. Whether Father removes them or gives us the strength to overcome them, it starts with our relationship with him. The presence of the Lord changes everything, and the joy we experience from knowing he is with us is the perfect way to face every new day.

Have We Been Left To Our Own Devices?

There are times I get the impression most Christians feel they have been handed an assignment and have been sent out from the presence of Yahweh to complete it. We have this "go it alone" mentality where we think we have to do whatever we think is best to survive because no one else is going to help us. We struggle over decisions, direction, actions to take, words to speak, and we stress ourselves out. But we are never alone, and we have not been sent out on our own. In fact, the promise of Jesus is just the opposite.

Jesus promised that he would be with us to the end of the age. Via the Holy Spirit, Jesus is constantly present, giving us strength, hope, peace, instruction and direction. From him we receive the power and ability to do everything he has given us to do. If we ask for counsel he gives it. That is the part we miss out on all the time. Instead, we come up with our own plans and ask him to bless them. That is our approach for most of our life, to do what we want and expect Jesus' blessing on it. It gets us into trouble.

A glaring example of this is found in Joshua 9 when a local city decided to deceive Israel into making a treaty with them. The people were smart enough to see what was happening and they did not want to be removed from their land so they made it appear that their envoys had come from a great distance to make the treaty. It was a brilliantly conceived desperate plan and it worked because of one reason:

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. (Joshua 9:14)

Israel went by what they could see instead of asking the One who sees everything. If you have never read this incident then I encourage you to do so because it is an example of how we can be tricked into disobeying Yahweh, even when it is our full desire to walk in obedience. We have not been left on our own for a reason: We can't make it on our own. We don't know everything. We can't see everything. We are vulnerable to deception. We need the wisdom, power, and direction of Jesus. Have you never considered what Jesus told his disciples and us:

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

This was delivered during a warning of the persecution we would face because the world hates the righteousness of Jesus Christ Yet, we are messing up because we fail to understand we live in a world that is naturally hostile toward us. This world is under the influence of a false prince and we are here to be the salt and light, but it is a terrible environment in which we are serving. So much tries to distract us from our mission and relationship with Jesus. There is such an incredible influence that tries to cut us off from our only source of everything we need. We must remain aware of this so we will also remember that we aren't in this by ourselves.

Independence from Jesus is the opposite to our goal. We need to let loose whatever we depend on in this world so our dependence on Jesus can grow. He is our source for all things good and he will equip us and instruct us every day of our lives. But we need to remember to ask. Don't forget today to ask.

How To Destroy A Complaining Spirit

We all want to experience the presence and power of Jesus in our lives every day but then we work against it. We want it but we don't realize what we have to set aside to experience it. Our behaviour and attitude have a big role in our sensitivity to the Spirit. Jesus is always with us, he promised, but it doesn't mean we are cultivating a relationship that makes us sensitive to this presence. Let's pick on one thing today, that we all do, which acts as a dampener to sensitivity.

We may be surprised to discover how much we complain in a day. It would be interesting to track it one day, just to note every time we complained and then add it up at the end of the day. For some of us complaining comes as easily as breathing. Even when we try to hold it in it always finds a way of coming out. We complain from the weather right up to complaining against Yahweh and everything in between. We are not alone as complainers.

The Israelites were huge complainers after Yahweh had rescued them from Egypt. They complained about the food, the water, the leadership, about Yahweh himself. It was enough to make any leader quit. Worse than that, it led that generation to rebel against Yahweh when they were told to enter the Promised Land and possess it. Their complaining revealed a dissatisfaction and mistrust of Yahweh. That entire generation died out in the desert and the generation that emerged was the strongest generation Israel ever produced, and they were non-complainers.

Jesus also received his unfair share of complaints. Every time he did something great, like heal a man with a withered hand, there were people there to complain about it. There was one incident where a chief tax collector was trying to get close to Jesus. Obviously Jesus offered something the man felt was lacking in himself. Jesus accommodated this by pointing Zacchaeus out and then inviting himself to his home for a meal. This man's life was about to be changed for the better and what do we hear from people nearby:

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7)

Praise the Lord, he still has meals with sinners and how glad we all are for it. These people would try to dampen the sensitivity of Zacchaeus to Jesus but he would have nothing to do with it. In the face of it he stood and demonstrated evidence of salvation as he pledged restitution for any evil he may have done. That's how we need to deal with any complaints within ourselves, stand up against them with a demonstration of love.

The first step in dealing with this is to admit that we do it. Yes Lord, I am a complainer. I complain against my neighbour, my friends, my church, my government, even you Lord. Then ask that he would renew your heart, to remind you again of his great mercies. Worship also helps to kill a complaining Spirit at the roots but make sure it is worship that springs forth from the Word. Worship Yahweh for who he is not for who you think he is. Ask that he would renew his love in you for other people, especially sinners, and you will begin to see things change. Then face that complaint and pour love all over it. Love Yahweh with your all and love your neighbour and you will have no room for a complaining Spirit and you will again experience sensitivity to his presence.

I Will Fear No Evil

Have you ever been afraid? Fear is a normal human emotion when faced by things we don't understand or by things that appear to threaten us. But fear can also be provoked by our imagination. We can fear sounds and shadows when there is nothing of substance. We can fear the "maybe's" and possibilities of life. We can fear our tomorrows causing us to be paralyzed in our today. This is what I sense David talking about in Psalm 23:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (v. 4)

It is a shadow, a thing of no substance, a threat with no teeth. Actually, all fear is like that for a Christian. Fear has no teeth for us and is only the shadow of things that would like to harm us if it could but it can't because Jesus is with us. That is why David continued:

I will fear no evil;
For You are with me. (v. 4)

What can separate us from the love of Jesus? Absolutely nothing. When we turn to him in all situations we find comfort, especially as we turn to his Word. Shadows disappear in the light of his presence and Word:

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (v. 4)

If fear is paralyzing and overwhelming us it is because we are not relying on Jesus for strength and comfort. Fear may be a natural human reaction but we are no longer controlled by our emotions; we are a new creation, filled by the Holy Spirit, walking in the presence of our God.

We can find an example of someone who understood this long before Jesus gave us the Spirit. King Jehoshaphat was an awesome king and had developed a strong relationship with the Lord. News had suddenly come to him about a combined army that was coming to destroy Jerusalem. This army was massive and did not appear to be a "shadow" threat but something of real substance. Maybe under any other king Jerusalem would have been destroyed but Jehoshaphat knew Yahweh and he knew the promises. In other words, he knew the Word. He reminded Yahweh of a few things (2 Chronicles 20):

First, that Yahweh was the ruler over all kingdoms and that no one could come against him.

Second, that Yahweh had given them this land.

Third, that Yahweh had made a promise that if at any time they faced trouble they could pray in the temple and he would rescue them.

Then Jehoshaphat prayed this prayer that has always remained with me from the first I read it:

O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (v. 12)

We don't know what to do but our eyes are on you. Of course the Lord is going to respond to such a man of the Word, to a man of this kind of faith, a man who leans on the Lord for his hope and strength. Yahweh responded and told them they would not have to fight, that he would fight for them. He told them to get dressed for war, in their armour, swords and bows, and then watch him deliver them from their enemies.

One of the most incredible parts of all of this was the next day, as they marched out to face this overwhelming enemy, they went out singing. They faced their enemy with praise and worship. Praise and worship was not their salvation but was their heart response to the promise of salvation by the grace of Yahweh.

My friends we have nothing to fear but if we do feel fear then we need to run into the presence of our God. We are always in his presence but if you are feeling fear it is because you have forgotten that Jesus is the ruler over every nation, over every circumstance and nothing can come against him. You have forgotten that what you have received has come from his hand, and you have been told to stand your ground. You have forgotten his promise that whatever you need you can ask for in his name and Father will give it to you. Pray that prayer, "Jesus, I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you" and fear will flee from you as he answers you swiftly. Your fear will be replaced with praise and worship.

You cannot save yourself. Whether by many or by few, salvation belongs to the Lord. You belong to him and he has given you a ton of promises to encourage you. Learn the Word, walk in his presence and you will discover that there is no substance to the things that provoke fear in the children of Yahweh. Allow his "rod and staff" to comfort you.

Why It Sometimes Goes Wrong

Life is fluid. Everything is constantly moving, changing, evolving because life involves a lot of people. Perhaps if you stood in isolation, dependent on no one else and having no interaction with anyone else, life might be predictable. However, your life involves a lot of different people who are independent in their decision making. Even you, with your many decisions in a day, cause life to be fluid. This is the reason we should never assume.

We are dependent on Yahweh, or at least, we are suppose to be. We are suppose to be in constant communication, checking his will and direction. He adjusts our actions according to the decisions of other people so that his will is always fulfilled. That means it is not one set of instructions and off we go. He goes with us for a reason, so adjustments can be made. This is why he desires obedience from his children, so we will listen constantly and obey in love and trust. We have an example of this with Joshua and the Israelite's.

They just had an awesome victory at Jericho. It was a bit odd but the purpose was to show them that Yahweh was giving them victory and it was not dependent on their army. He had given them exact, step by step directions. So now their sights were set on their next objective, the city of Ai. Joshua sent the spies and they came back with this report:

Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few. (Joshua 7:3)

Confident on the heels of their victory, they did not consult with Yahweh. They assumed. But life is fluid. None of them could possibly have known that the situation had changed. One of their own had disobeyed Yahweh's instructions in the first battle and because of his sin, Yahweh had removed himself from Israel. When they went up to attack Ai, a much softer target than Jericho, they were thoroughly defeated and people died. People died, not just because of Achan's sin but because the leadership had failed to consult Yahweh. If they had verified things with him they would have discovered the change in their situation.

We can't make assumptions with Yahweh. We must remain in the Spirit, being sensitive to his voice so when adjustments need to be made we will be in the know. If we do not understand and practice the presence of our Lord then we will have the mentality of a commander receiving instructions from the general, then going out without the general to carry it out. Then again, a general always has contact with his troops in the field for the purpose of adjustments as the situation changes.

Practicing the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is more than for our strength. We often get selfish in this relationship, thinking it is always about us. It is true that being aware of his presence is a great source of strength and confidence, but his presence is also for direction. You have never been left alone to do this on your own because on your own you are not capable. You are not capable of understanding all the changes in our fluid lives, but the Spirit is and he is here to direct us in our Father's will. So learn to listen and obey.

We Are Very Good At Escapism

It's been a hard day. You're bummed. You just want to veg for a bit, not think about things.You grab the TV remote, open the computer, plug in the ear phones or disappear into a novel.

It's been a hard day.You're stressed. There is so much going on. You don't know what decisions to make. You don't want to think about it right now. You should open your Bible. You should pray. You should spend some time in worship to get centered again, but you don't. It's so much easier to watch a movie on NetFlix, scroll through some social networking, go to sleep.

We belong to a society that loves to escape, prefers to be distracted, to major on the minor and hope the important stuff goes away. It is so easy to give in to it; a lot less energy, less emotions, less decision making. Why can't life just leave us alone?

If we turn to the Bible we quickly discover people who tried to avoid life and their responsibility in it. Yes, you are not alone. Adam tried to hide from God so he wouldn't have to face the consequences of his disobedience. Elijah tried to disappear in a cave to avoid confrontation and threats. Peter fled into the cover of the night to avoid the shame after denying Jesus. Maybe it's just tiredness, despair or craziness but somehow we forget who is our God.

Do we really think God doesn't see us in the forest, or the cave or in the dark? Not only does God love us enough to pursue us in all places but he is waiting there for us before we arrive. God knew all our days before we lived one of them. He knew our decisions, moods, reactions, circumstances and he laid down his plans accordingly. The psalmist reminded us:

"Your eyes saw my embryo,
     and on your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me,
     before any one of them had yet happened." (Psalm 189:16, CEB)

And the psalmist's reaction to this revelation?

"God, your plans are incomprehensible to me!
     Their total number is countless!
If I tried to count them - they outnumber grains of sand!
     If I came to the very end - I'd still be with you." (v. 17-18)

He worshiped. How could he not? Any time we look into the incomprehensible glory of our God our response is worship. And concerning trying escapism on God?

Where could I go to get away from your spirit?
    Where could I go to escape your presence?
8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
    If I went down to the grave,[a] you would be there too!
9 If I could fly on the wings of dawn,
    stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—
10         even there your hand would guide me;
        even there your strong hand would hold me tight!
11 If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me;
        the light will become night around me,”
12     even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you!
        Nighttime would shine bright as day,
        because darkness is the same as light to you! (Psalm 139:7-12)

There isn't a cave, jungle, or dark night that could ever separate us from the love of God. There isn't a TV show, video game or book that could keep him from pursuing us. Whatever it is that we don't want to face we can do it with God's strength. Whatever we want to avoid we can confront with Jesus in us. He has promised to equip and strengthen us to overcome all things in this world. So don't put it off.

Put down the TV remote. Put the music away. Turn off the xbox. Close your book and allow God to make you aware of his presence. Receive strength. Overflow with blessings. Be all you were ever intended to be. Forgiven. Transformed. Empowered. Possessed. All things are possible through him who gives you strength.

Welcome back to our reality; the reality of the Risen King.

Good Morning Monday

Do you know what always greets me Monday morning, besides the cat? Emptiness. Doubt. Fear. Worry. Anxiety. Discouragement. Maybe you are surprised by that. Maybe you know exactly what I mean.

It's not that those things belong to me or even are generated in me. They belong to and originate from the enemy of my soul. You see, he hates me. He hates the fact that I received such great sustenance from the Lover of my soul on Sunday. He hates that I was encouraged in the Spirit and received new strength. He hates that, whatever plans he had for me last week, were washed away as I stood in the presence of my God. He hates that a feast for my soul was laid out for me right in front of him and that I ate and drank until I was overflowing with the blessings of the Lord.

So he was here to greet me this morning with his tired old tools that still work if we are not alert to his schemes. But I am alert and will have nothing to do with it. I know what he is up to and more importantly, I know that yesterday's experience with God is my same experience today.

Jesus does not occupy a temple. I do not have to go to a special place to meet with him. I do not have to have a priest mediate on my behalf. I don't need the trappings of a religious system to be in his presence. He is with me now, here, and I am with him now, seated on the right hand of the Father. All I have to do is turn to him, take his hand and begin my day.

The enemy used to trip me up on Monday mornings, when I was young and not yet wise in the Lord, when I did not know the Word. But now the Spirit has equipped me to walk all over the enemy's schemes because I know the Word:

But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth. (John 4:22-24) 

I am nothing without the Spirit. My job today is to remain sensitive to him. These are the Words of Jesus, who taught a great deal on the Spirit; teachings much of the Church overlooks. He also told us plainly:

I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me. (John 17:23)

Jesus is in us and we are in him, and we are one. No wonder the enemy is so scared. No wonder he hates us so much. No wonder he will do whatever he can to convince us of his lies which are designed to trick us into leaving the oneness with Jesus.

Did you wake up to his greeting as well? Was the first thing you faced this morning a thing that washed you in discouragement? Don't let it turn into despair and then depression. Those are all tricks of the enemy of your soul. Instead, crank up the worship. Dance before the Lord and take your delight in him. Confess your trust in him and do it out loud. Put voice to your faith and put the enemy to flight. Drink deeply from the Word before you start your day. Renew what took place yesterday. Renew the teaching you received. Renew your love for the Lord.

Don't let the enemy have his way with you this morning. Put him in his place, which is under your feet. Have a glorious day in the Lord. Sing. Dance. Shout the name of Jesus so nothing else can possess your soul.

Desperation

Are you desperate? Is there something you are facing that is beyond your ability or capacity to do anything about? Good; you are right where God wants you to be.

Do we worship a sadistic God? Not at all. We worship a Father who knows his children all too well. When we are desperate, we move closer to him. When we are satisfied, we move away.

Look at Israel. Every time they were at peace and had everything they wanted, they moved away from God and sought out false gods. Whenever enemies were attacking they grew desperate and turned back to God; and he always rescued them.

Look at Solomon. He had everything he wanted; rich beyond compare. He ended up following the gods of his hundreds of wives and concubines because he was not desperate for God. In the end this "wise" king was a fool and the dynasty fell apart. Yet,when he was young and afraid of the responsibilities he was given, he was desperate and called out to God and God was pleased to respond.

When was Israel the strongest? When they were desperate for provision in the desert. The generation that emerged from that 40 years of dependence on God every day was the strongest generation that ever walked this planet.

Why did God send his chosen people into exile? Because he had to make them desperate again so that they would seek him. They had forgotten how to be dependent. They were lost to him and he needed to wake them up before he lost them completely. Why do families do interventions when a member is killing themselves on drugs or alcohol? It seems cruel at the time but they are desperate to get through to that person, to save them. God is forced to do intervention with us when we turn from him and face certain death.

What did God say to Solomon after the temple was built? Listen to the heart of a Father who knows his children and has a plan to save them:

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

When do people seek the face of God? When are they interested in knowing him better? When do they start praying without ceasing? When they are desperate. It is amazing how desperation gives birth to determination. I am determined to see God because I am desperate for him. However, now I have the maturity that it does not take provision to provoke me to desperation. My desperation comes when I feel absent from God. I am desperate for his presence because I know I have nothing and am nothing without him.

However, when I was younger, my greatest growth in faith came every time I was forced to seek Jesus for protection and provision. I was desperate to be aware of his presence; desperate to be reminded of his promises; desperate to know deeply his love, compassion and grace. It was in those weary moments, panicked moments, lonely and desperate moments that Jesus became real like never before.

There is nothing wrong with desperate moments. Like Paul discovered, it is when we discover God's grace is sufficient and that in our weakness he shines brightest. In these moments we can often react like Paul as we are overwhelmed by the beauty of our Lord: I want to be weak all the time!

It is unfortunate that our old nature still tries to convince us that our Father wants us independent and strong. Just like the Israelites, our relationship with God is filled with great intimacy and great independence, and it is in those moments of independence that we set up other gods. We live in such times now, as we rely on everything but God.

We need renewal in our relationship but it isn't going to happen until we are desperate for him. To seek his face requires determination but determination requires desperation. Do you see what we have become? Do you see how far we have wandered away? Do you see how independent, self-sufficient we are? Does God really need to allow disaster upon us before we wake up, before we become desperate? Can't we hear his voice now? Won't we respond now? Haven't we learned from the generations before us? Why aren't we desperate?

Letting Them See Jesus

The other day one of our regular customers came into the store. It was a Sunday and the church was meeting in the dinning area for worship service. I had stepped out of the service to get something and saw the customer at the counter speaking with my son, so I went over to greet him. He shook my hand briskly and promptly told me that he knew I was a real man of God. He then went on to explain that every time he sees me he sees an aura around me and it makes him glad. He then expressed his affection to my son and me for our ongoing kindness to him and he promptly left.

I am not under some illusion that I walk around with an aura but I understood what this man was trying to express. He sensed the presence of God and he described it in the only manner he knew how. I share this with you, not with the intention of "hey look at me", but as an example of what some people are able to see in us. Everyone can see it but many choose not too because if they acknowledged it they would also have to acknowledge the conviction of the Spirit, and that would provoke a decision.

I remind you today that your time on this earth is not about you seeking the blessings of a comfortable life. You are a vessel of the Holy Spirit, the only presence of God that some people will ever experience. Wherever you go, Jesus is right there with you, not just for your benefit but for the sake of a dying world. But, are our behaviour, words and actions putting up a screen so that others cannot see Jesus, only our unkindness?

Words matter. So do actions. So does attitude; as does love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. All the things that God has done for us, we are to do for others. That's what Jesus said. "Freely you have received; freely give." Jesus also told us something incredible in his prayer for us as he spoke to the Father on our behalf:

I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me. (John 17:23, CEV)

It is the "aura" that people see, our oneness with Jesus and each other. They see him in our unity and compassion for people. They see him in our words and actions. They don't see the kindness and love of people. They can find that in any good, well meaning organization. I am talking about the actual presence of God, the anointing that comes through our being possessed by the Holy Spirit.

Anyone can perform acts of kindness, but when that kindness is offered in the authority of Jesus Christ, his presence is also felt, and there is power behind that action. We can do nothing apart from Jesus. That is what he told us. He told us we have to stay connected to the vine, and he is that vine, or we would dry up and be thrown into the fire. Acts of kindness amount to nothing if they are done apart from Jesus. We are not here to perform acts of kindness but to carry the presence of Jesus, so that others will see him in us; the kindness will be provoked in us by the Spirit of God in us. They need to see the "aura", the anointing, the power, the thing that sets us apart from this world. They need to see Jesus.

My friends, it is not about a written code or meeting certain expectations. It is not about being well thought of or accepted as a kind person in this world. It is about total surrender to the Spirit, walking in obedience, getting out of the way and allowing people to see Jesus. It is about Jesus being lifted up in us, being one with him so that only he is seen in us. May they see the "aura" in you today.