March 7, 2009 - Saturday
A life of miracles should be natural for us!
Hey folks!
I am reading an awesome book called WHEN HEAVEN INVADES EARTH - A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles, by Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA.
WOW, we ALL need to read it! Bill is a fifth generation pastor who grew up hearing his grandparents tell of Smith Wigglesworth and his ministry and his parents tell of the ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson and speaking of it all still with wonder, as though they were still back in that time experiencing the miracles that took place.
Here is an excerpt:
(It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for the impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus.)
Chapter 2 - Commission Restored
"Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst..."
Jesus could not heal the sick. Neither could He deliver the tormented from demons or raise the dead. To believe otherwise is to ignore what He said about Himself, and more importantly, to miss the purpose of His self-imposed restriction to live as a man.
Jesus Christ said of Himself, "The Son can do nothing." In the Greek language that word nothing has a unique meaning - it means NOTHING, just like it does in English! He had NO supernatural capabilities whatsoever! While He is 100% God, He chose to live with the same limitations that man would face once He was redeemed. He made that point over and over again. Jesus became the model for all who would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible in His name. He performed miracles, wonders and signs, as a man in right relationship with God...not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. But if He did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle. Recapturing this simple truth changes everything...and makes possible a full restoration of the ministry of Jesus in His Church.
What were the distinctions of His humanity?
1. He had no sin to separate Him from the Father.
2. He was completely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit working through Him.
What are the distinctions of our humanity?
1. We are sinners cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Through His sacrifice He has successfully dealt with the power and effect of sin for all who believe. Nothing now separates us from the Father. There remains only one unsettled issue -
2. How dependent on the Holy Spirit are you willing to live?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is not about seeking miracles, but seeking first the Kingdom of God and then walking in all that restoration and redemption...salvation has opened up to us...heaven invading earth! His commission is our commission.
LUKE 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1 - "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
JOHN 14:12 - I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
Have a blessed day!
Teresa
No comments:
Post a Comment