In a ‘tweet’* pointing people to read a previous blog, I boldly stated that:
“Jesus came so you could be whole, free and really alive. Anything else is not His will.”
I believe this to be absolutely, Biblically, the heart and will of God, truth. God wants you whole, free, and really alive! Anything else is not His will for you! How do I know that? I know His essential nature, and character. I don’t mean the average, everyday, watered-down use of the word essential (for example, chocolate cake is essentially healthy). I mean:
ESSENTIAL: fundamental or central to the nature (personality, character, disposition or temperament) of something or someone
So, chocolate cake is essentially chocolate, flour, and sugar. Armed with that knowledge, you can now decide if chocolate cake is essentially healthy, or not. I can tell you that God is Healer, Redeemer, and Love. Based on those ‘ingredients’ (and there are more!) I know God is good!
I spend time in His presence, and hear His voice. I still wrestle with sickness, loss, pain, disappointment, and lack. In those times I turn to a beautiful, loving, faithful God who points me to the person of Jesus, the work finished for me on the cross, the Word that declares God’s promises for me, and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who lives in me. I know His character, and it is essentially good.
When God is growing, stretching, or correcting me He uses His Word, His Body, and His Spirit.
God’s Word
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
God’s word is powerful enough to shape and change us. At the hands of our loving, and gentle surgeon, this sword will work to bring healing, peace, hope, and clarity as it removes wrong beliefs, fears, depression, doubt and confusion.
The Body of Christ
[8] …“When he [Jesus] ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. … [15] … speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:8-16
Jesus gave gifts to His bride, the church, to prepare all of us to continue in the work that He began. I don’t know about you, but I have not yet attained perfect unity, knowledge, or maturity. This is a sign that I still need to be connected to a local church, allowing the gifts God has placed in those around me, to help me with these areas! Actually, until Jesus returns and makes me as He is, I will not be perfect in any of these areas.
The Holy Spirit
It breaks my heart that so many have excluded the Holy Spirit and His role in our personal lives, and the corporate life of the church. Jesus walked and ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit. Why would we ever try to continue His work on this earth by any other model?
[16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. He lives with us, teaches us, and guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will remind us of everything Jesus taught, testify about Jesus, and empower us to live and impact our world the way Jesus did.
Jesus paid a great sacrifice for you to be whole, free, and really alive. Whole in body, spirit and mind. Free from sin, and the resulting death. Really alive to walk in His best purposes and plans, living in His love.
When I need to be corrected, God never brings sickness, or temptation to sin to get the job done. Yet that is what so many people in the Body of Christ believe about God. That He would bring something to fracture your life, put you in bondage, or bring death or sickness to get His plans accomplished.
Then why do bad things happen?
We live in a place where sin was allowed by us, the stewards. Sin brings death, poverty, decay, disease, and disappointment. We will not always have every question answered. We may not receive every miracle prayed. There are things this side of eternity that we may not see, or understand. Press into a loving God in every situation. He is the one who gets the last say about your eternal destiny! I may address this more in another blog. For now, I will finish this extremely long blog with this,
… no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17
No weapon created to hurt or destroy can prevail against the righteous. Weapons will be formed. They have no authority to harm you. Stand your ground, resting in the confidence of a good and loving God!
Much Love,
