What kind of person is being produced in me as I live in the activity of God’s own hands? What am I experiencing in my journey with God? Much of the time it is the external blessings or the smooth tranquil waters of life that seem to be what I desire most and rejoice about most in my spirit and verbal expressions. But do I find myself delighting in the times in which God takes me down the path of the cross. I must move from a heart landscape and mindset of what I am trying to attain in the way of solutions or plans to what God wants to achieve in me personally. Too I often I decide what I want to do and ask God to bless it. What happens when God's calling has something else in mind? Wrong expectations lead me to be a crash and burn Christian.
A person’s, movement’s, Church’s or even a denomination’s greatest and brightest achievements is not its doctrinal framework, its historical highlights, or its dazzling and number-producing organization. God’s greatest mark of effective kingdom achievement is in the type of person that is being produce in me. And His greatest work is not the blessings he gives or the formula’s I discover for getting all my planks nailed down in the right places. His greatest work in me is the same work He accomplished in the life of Jesus—death through crucifixion and the resurrection of being raised in the power of a new life.
The Church in the early 21st century is receiving a new outpouring of God’s manifested presence. As John Wimber has proclaimed over and over, “God is in the process of taking back his Church.” I am learning that I am swept into a tidal wave where God is doing a deeper work in His people. However, sometimes it’s a painful & humiliating work in a time such as this. While the work is unfolding internally the evil one & his dark forces will be there every step of the way to tempt us to lose heart and shipwreck the journey. I must find places in my will to find the resolve to persevere and remain steadfast even though the journey maybe dreadful in its present circumstances. I rest in the promise that the reward will be beyond belief or imagination in the end. Some of heaven in me right here on earth.
Some of us are struggling with the uncertainty of what God has in mind for our families, churches, but more importantly for ourselves. For others, the struggle is just around the corner for this is the beginning of our revival & renewal we have sought for so long. A season is developing in which God is revealing our need of Him in very dramatic fashion. You sense Jesus is near but His closeness is revealing itself not in the blessings you are usually accustomed to. It seems to be revealed in the way of the cross of crucifixion. Yet, for some strange reason, instead of bolting or bucking God’s way we are welcoming this journey with a new found delight because this is becoming a more natural way of life.
Along with this new revelation of God we are finding that many of our old ideas and methods, which were blessed by God’s presence now seem useless, hopelessly weak, & empty because God’s favor has been removed from them. Even some of our favorite Christian emphases and ways of doing church in general have been broken down into a less complex expression of Christian faith. We are coming into a season of just wanting to know Jesus and what it means to walk into discipleship and deep restoration with Him. Recognize this as God working in you the hope of glory! Be uplifted & inspired by this new work! Let go of the miserable feelings and with rejoicing let God inspire you on the way to the cross & resurrection of new life.
In the midst of the changes occurring I see one burning conviction deepening within. It is the passion to see the character of Jesus Christ inside me like never before. His meekness, authority, and love imparted into my spirit become a possessing thought and watching my desires be refined and given back to me by my Father. Discovering that “Christian” programs or “church” activities that do not reveal Jesus for me as a dead work is part of the journey. Even though there are good intentions behind all of them they are powerless to effectively bring transformation into my heart and renewal into my mind. Only the way of the cross will lead us home where we belong.
So God continues to whisper in my ear, “don’t lose heart—press on and make your way to this new life I am giving you, for what waits for you on the other side in the resurrection of new life is far greater than you’ve ever dreamed. If you only new what awaits you on the other side of this journey you would sell all you have in order to fully possess this life.” Then I too can say with Paul, “I’ve now died to trying in my own human efforts to please God, and now I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Take the following expression of this same passage from The Message by Eugene Peterson and ask God to help you to pray these words. Listen for God’s whisper in your ear...
Galatians 2:19 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. 20 Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (The Message)
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