I describe an important truth of how we can walk in greater power than Jesus Christ, simply by asking Him for things.
Now I’m describing another truth which is so radical that the depth of it can easily be missed. This is the key to a massively changed life. It’s also my solution to the freedom I need(ed) from chronic addiction.
Here is the basic truth: as you come to know Him, you will come to known what He has done for you and then you will know yourself.
People often say that the biggest lack that we have in the church is that we don’t know our authority. I agree and disagree. I believe the biggest lack is that we don’t know what He did – and when we do know that, we will realize who we are.
As you grow up in a family, you learn about yourself. For example… when you know your dad is rich, you realize that you are about to inherit a lot of money. When you know your dad is the president of the USA, you realize that you have influence and standing in your community.
In the same way, knowing what the OT promised that Jesus Christ would do, knowing what the NT says He did do and knowing what He said He has done… these things will result in your coming to know yourself.
We must understand Him first, because apart from Him, you can do nothing.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
This is why I struggle when I hear people focussing on our Father in Heaven. I choose to focus on Jesus Christ and not on our Father, because He said these words…
Joh 14:6-11 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
I think that many Christians have fallen back into what Philip was thinking, that they long to see the Father. But Jesus seems to rebuke that approach as a denial of Himself. Jesus then goes on to explain again that He and the Father are One.
That is why I choose not to go to “the Father” as some teach in the church. I choose to go to Jesus Christ, because He is “one” with the Father and if I behold Jesus Christ, I am beholding the Father. The more I understand and behold Jesus Christ, the more I understand the Father and the more I understand myself too.
That is why I deliberately decluttered my faith and now I only focuss on Him. Why? Because in Him is the Father, and all the riches, treasures and God’s mystery…
1Co 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Php 3:7-10 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith– that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…
Col 2:2 … to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I’m so excited about my – and yours, and the church’s! – continuing change into His image, from glory to glory as we all continue to behold Him and His day of glory – the cross and resurrection. As my faith (in Jesus Christ on the cross and resurrected) builds, it will affect more and more around me, just as the story of Heidi Baker in hospital shows how her building faith affected people. As your faith builds (in Jesus Christ on the cross and resurrected) you too will have more and more transformational impact on the world around you. As the church’s faith (in Jesus Christ on the cross and resurrected) collectively grows, we will overcome more and more evil in this world.
Taken from…
Book: If My people (v33!) (1.1MB) – A free daily devotional which is under development. +-150 pages.
Faith + Hope + Love 