The basics is this, and I’m gonna do this without quoting any scripture, because I’ll end up tripping over my own best efforts. If you really are hungry for getting this, than you will go start digging in the Word and let it speak to you by asking the Holy Spirit to give you revelation. Jesus taught on the Kingdom of God. It was radically different from what everyone was looking for. The same principle applies today. Jesus came humbled, riding on a donkey, and so must we. I believe that some of the greatest moves of God happen when no one is looking, and a person is totally willing to die to self and let God do whatever He wants to do. That is radical obedience and what I believe God wants and is desperately looking for in His people. Surrender All, means Surrender All. PERIOD. This is a lifelong process, and as we live surrendered, God will draw closer and begin to place His kingdom in our hearts.

Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. You may want to say, well, what was the Father doing? None of us have a bird’s eye view into heaven, but if God Is Love, then I think it is safe to say He was doing what He is; He was loving Jesus and pouring that into Jesus so that Jesus could then pour that out onto others on earth. Jesus’ relationship with the Father was based out of love and then in
humble obedience in fulfilling His will. He could not humble himself and fulfill the will of God on earth unless he fully trusted God out of experiencing God’s love. The same is true for us today.

Not only did He know who he belonged to, but that relationship was so deep and intimate that the only option that flowed out of his heart was to want to obey what his father told him and asked of him because he knew Him, he knew through experience with God that God’s love doesn’t fail, He knew by experience that God doesn’t lie, He knew by experience, without any doubt that He was truly loved, and He knew by experience that anything the Father asked of him was going to all work out in the end somehow, (remember how he asked for the cup to be taken in the garden?). We are shown a very human Jesus here, but He pressed in with obedience because once again, He knew God’s love out of experiencing God’s love. He trusted God by experiencing that Trust. He was able to be obedient because he had confident assurance that God would always be with Him no matter what. That my friend is radical obedience, and what God is calling us to.

If we look at the first two commandments, which Jesus said are the greatest, we may begin to see why. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.” What did Jesus do? He loved God with all his heart. Without arguing the point, He was fully human, and the power and love that he displayed came out of his obedience to the Father. He was so filled with who He was, He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was not going to let him down, he trusted in God’s goodness because He experienced it fully. Because He had the right perception of God, and fully knew who He was, He was then able to allow that love to fill him and to then walk in obedience and pour it out, but it was poured out in love, in compassion, in humility.

I think I have been redundant in making this point of Jesus knowing who He was, but it cannot be underestimated. If we inside the church and even as individuals on a daily basis cannot come to God in full trust that stems out of an intimate love with Him than there lies our initial problem. Before we can walk out and be disciples, we must be filled by His great love. We must trust in the father the same way that Jesus trusted in the father. We must learn to abide and not strive.

For me recently, this has meant in learning to trust God’s timing, knowing that if I am walking in surrender, he is not going to allow me to miss something I may want to happen or experience. It sets me free to a new level of trusting him and his goodness, which then leads me to love him and want to share that same truth with others. Also, it is humbling in my obedience. An example of this is learning to be obedient in the small things. Even more, it is a dying to self. An example of this is putting my daughter’s needs before mine. If I see that I need to pour into her first, than I am going to do that not because I am a parent and it’s my job, (obligation), but I am going to do it because, a). I sense God or the Holy Spirit nudging me , and, b). I do it out of trust in the Father. I may have had to leave an event that I was enjoying early, but the bigger lesson is that God is calling me to die to self and to take care of my daughter. I stop and put my daughter’s needs above my own and expect the Lord to make it a teachable moment for me. This is humble obedience and daily cross bearing; being so tuned into the will of the father, because we have learned to love and trust him in complete abandonment, that we will humble our hearts to his, no matter what.

Unless we live out the love that Christ is filling us with, we are just going to do the same thing with the same results. We may find some new ways of spinning it, but it really will be the same thing in a different colored package. We cannot give away what we don’t have. If we aren’t abiding in His love, then we can’t expect to be filled by His love, and if we aren’t being filled by His love then we can’t learn to trust his heart for us, and allow Jesus to flow through us. So what’s the answer? We must return to our first love. Again,, the Bible is full of this theme of return to the Lord, I think it is probably its main theme. Jesus didn’t have to return, because God was His first love. He created us and calls us to that same relationship with the Father. This was the message of the Prophets; to turn and repent, and it was the same message of John the Baptist and Jesus, Turn and Repent. Over and over we hear the cry of the Father for relationship with His people.

So do you want to know how we change the World, our communities, or families, ourselves???? We turn from the things that have pulled us away from seeing the love of the Father, the great love that He wants to continually fill us with. We turn from the things that have fought for our attention, and had us believe that God’s love that He showed Jesus is unreachable. I know we all have different theologies; we all are wired for different church experiences, but as Christ’s Body we all have been told the same thing out of the mouth of Jesus. Commandment number 1 and Commandment number 2. Today, go spend some time with Jesus. Tell him you’re sorry for not trusting fully in Him, His love for you and His goodness and faithfulness. Surrender to His will and trust that He is changing you. He already knows, he’s just waiting for you to come to him. It’s OK to be vulnerable; He wants us to be like little children, coming to him in complete trust because we can rest in his goodness. He’s got our hearts, he formed them, and all He asks is that we give them back to him so that we can be forever changed by his great love. We must learn to be emptied of our own ways so that we can truly be filled by His great love and begin to have kingdom vision. So if today, you hear his voice, harden not your hearts, (Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 3:15). He is always speaking, are you listening? What does He want to talk to you about?

Romans 12:2 ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Phil.4:8 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

John 17:17 (NLT) 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Ephesians 5:26 (NLT) 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

God has been teaching me to wait well and continually learn to enjoy the journey even with big dreams in my heart. I could say a lot on that alone, but what seems to trip me up spiritually the most is my hope being deferred. Part of it is sometimes not so much the waiting, but being used in the process or having others to share it with along the way. I know this is just a season, and I know it’s all for a bigger reason. The Lord is using this time to prepare me, to teach me and grow me. I know God is using me; it’s just in the small things. But here too, I am reminded that it is in the small things that God prepares us for the bigger things. So, OK, I am trying to go about the small things, and after awhile of praying and hoping, I am still doing the small things and still not feeling as though I am really where I want to be. God has to remind me that He is not limited by our limited conceptions of time. Ok, fine, but then add to that the fact of living in a microwave culture; where everything is sped up continually, and success is measured by how much you get done. So for a person who is in life’s waiting room, things can get a bit hard at times, and today was one of those days. No matter how much I prayed and tried to be obedient, and look past myself I was just spent. I tried to remind myself that God’s timing is perfect, that He has a plan, and that He is good. I read, I worshiped, but I just couldn’t shake this feeling of coming up short. .

Tonight was mid-week service at church and I knew I needed to go. So I packed up my daughter and we made our hour trek to the church where God has called us, (another huge part of the journey and lesson in waiting). I instantly got myself into worship mode, deciding that I was going to hear from the Lord tonight. I poured out my heart in desperation and He answered. When one of our pastors started to preach, he began with Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”. I thought “yep, I know all too well about feeling that way”. He said the devil can’t take your hope away and The Lord can’t give it to you. I had to chew on that one for a minute, but then it made sense; we have to exercise our faith. Heb. 11:1 says “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen.” So now I am choosing to hope because the potential of hope lies within me. I know this right? But hope deferred can cause me to forget. I must renew my hope by looking past my circumstances and looking at Jesus, He Is My Hope! I know it’s easier said than done, we all have those times of testing and weariness, but The Lord continues to be faithful and renew and remind us, just as He did for me tonight at church.

James 2:14 says “What use is it brethren if someone says he has no faith but not works? Can that faith save Him?” This here is talking about the need for us to put our faith in action, to choose to have faith because we are reminded that back in Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” I know often my hearts cry is to please God with my life; to be a good and faithful steward and to one day have him say “well done” by fulfilling the call that He has placed on my life. Again, it goes back to His time and in His ways. Hope and faith can only happen when you are put in a situation where you are not able to obtain in your own strength; when God is your only hope. Hmm, sounds a lot like my life at the moment. We are reminded and given hope in 2 Corinthians 4:8 which states “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;” John 14:1 says “”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” Words from Jesus, who is comforting his disciples, that too, is you and me today. Bottom line is this. Hope deferred=Unbelief. Your heart is going to produce either hope or unbelief. Roman’s 5:5 reminds us that “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

I feel like I just squeezed a whole lot into a little space and perhaps I did, but this is the word the Lord gave to me through our pastor tonight. I added my parts of my own journey into it, but it remains true that the Lord met me where I was at tonight on the journey, and I am blessed to share that with you. My prayer is that I not only refer to this when my hope is running low, but it will cause me to draw more hope from the Word of God so that my faith can grow and I be strong in the Lord. As I was finishing up this post, the song “You are my Hope” by Skillet came to mind, so I posted it below, and I hope it blesses you.

Filed under: Spending Time With God ]]> http://desperateformoreofhim.com/2011/06/07/when-we-are-unfairly-treated/feed/ 1 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 Robin http://desperateformoreofhim.com/2011/05/07/a-reminder-to-believe-john-2024-27-2/ http://desperateformoreofhim.com/2011/05/07/a-reminder-to-believe-john-2024-27-2/#comments Sat, 07 May 2011 18:33:14 +0000 Robin http://desperateformoreofhim.com/2011/05/07/a-reminder-to-believe-john-2024-27-2/ ]]> I was reminded today how so often our faith is like that of Thomas, in John 20:24-27,  who wouldn’t believe unless he saw and felt Jesus’ nail wound scars. I know in my own life, there are times when it seems as though I have great faith, faith to move mountains, faith that doesn’t doubt, faith that is not shaken by life’s challenges. Many times, God grows my faith by showing me something, by lighting my path and by affirming in different ways. I was reminded once again about the silence and what it takes to believe when we don’t see and hear God. There are many times in life where God doesn’t show us the next step, and we are trying to trust the best we know how, but often think it would be nice to have a back plan, a plan B. He reminded me today that He alone is plan A and in being that, we don’t need a plan B because we know that His plan A is perfect. It reminded me to not just go to the trophy room and remember all that God has done, but it also reminded me that I need to have a right view of my Abba Father, the one who dearly loves me and who has placed plans and dreams deep inside me. He is good, He is loving, and that Never Changes, no matter what comes my way. In verse 27 Jesus invites Thomas to reach in and touch his scars; he then says to him, “be believing, not unbelieving.” We all face that same choice when we don’t see the “proofs” of God working on our behalf. I often have to ask myself “am I willing to sit with the unanswered questions?”, “am I willing to trust even when I don’t see”. Do I remember that His character never changes, that He is good, that He is love, and that more than any other, he’s got my whole life in the palm of his hands? I think of Peter too in Matthew 14:29-31, getting out of the boat, he starts to sink; Jesus grabs him and says “Peter why did you doubt?” After all Jesus was right there, less than an arm’s length away; He’s even closer to us, dwelling within each of us. We all have our Peter moments in life when we wonder if God is going to come through. Is he going to catch us? Does he really know what He’s doing with my future? Looking back now at my own life, I can see where Jesus asks that question “why did you doubt Robin?”. Have I not always come through for you? Am I not God, the creator of the universe? Did I not form everything about you in your mother’s womb? Remember how far you have come and all that you have overcome; that was me helping you. Remember that my love does not change. Trust me when you don’t see because you know I am good and you are secure in my love. Do you really think I am going to let you drown? Believe when you do not see, believe when you are at the end of your rope. Fear is just gonna paralyze you, and Satan is just going to lie to you; you know better than that! Be strong and courageous, I know what I am doing. I have come to make all things new, even your bad choices that you think are too far for me to reach, I got those too. After me and God had this little discussion today, he spoke to me as He often does; He gave me a song on the radio. I’ve never heard it, but I know it was him speaking to me; he was reminding me that we all have these doubting moments, even great worship leaders like Chris Tomlin. Sure, who wants to admit that, but blessed are the humble I think. Do I wish I never doubted, yes, especially looking back at all the times God has come through. I’m Ok with doubt b/c I see Peter and I see Thomas, and I find I’m in pretty good company. Heck, if those who walked with him, watching him perform miracles had doubts, I guess my doubts are OK too. I know they build my faith, I know they draw me closer to my Abba Father, and my beloved Savior Jesus, I have peace, joy, and righteousness in the Holy Spirt, even in the middle of my silent times with God. It’s in those silent times, that I choose to trust that He is working on things. Results don’t always happens in an instant as we would like, but it takes faith to wait and trust in what we cannot see. So as I wrestled today with what I cannot see, God reminded me of his love and goodness.   So Father today, as Chris Tomlin Sings, “I lift my hands to believe again…” I do believe, and I thank you for reminding me of your great and uneding and unfailing love for me today and forever.  Forgive me for doubting you when I do not see, and grow me now I pray that my faith would arise, that I would be still and know that you are God in every part of my llife.  I love you and pray all this in your beautiful name, Jesus. Amen.

Seeing how distraught Mary was in v.33, he goes to Lazarus’s tomb and also weeps for him, for he loved him. This really stood out to me, because Jesus weeps for all of us. He wants all of us to reach our full potential in life; not just worldly successes, but he wants us to reap a spiritual harvest for his kingdom. He gives us all spiritual gifts and He wants us to be participants in his great redeeming work, what a privilege! But in v. 37, some bystanders doubted, remembering how he opened the blind man’s eyes, and wondered why He could not save Lazarus,(so many today, have this same level of doubt, not fully understanding and believing in the power that God hold in their own lives); but Jesus speaking to Mary and reminds her in v. 40 “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Jesus then thanks his father for hearing his prayer and allowing him to display his power and glory so that they may believe that God sent him. Jesus then cries out in a loud voice “Lazarus, come forth”, Lazarus is quickly unbound and let go. At this, many believed, but some went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Jesus over and over in His Word reminds us that if we just have faith, we will see great things happen. Faith is a verb, it is an action, it takes practice, and it takes belief in how we see God, who we believe him to be and what we believe he is capable of doing. Do we believe he can do miracles today, or was that just in Bible times? I’m here to tell you that He still works mighty miracles today! He cries out to each of us in a loud voice as he did to Lazarus, “Come Forth”, it is a command; will you obey it? Will you believe? Will you go to God, as Jesus did, and pray for belief in the midst’s of your own circumstances? And then thanking him for what He can do! God wants to do get things in your life, He wants to show you His power and glory, but you must put your trust in Him, you must believe that he is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

There is probably more I could dissect in this passage, but I think this is enough for now. It has served for me a reminder of all that He has “raised” me out of in my own life, and how I look forward in my waiting of what He will do next, so that I can testify of his goodness. I pray that whoever reads this will be encouraged to spend some time with Jesus and pray for greater faith in who He is and what He can do. I pray that your faith will not only increase, but you will begin to see Jesus in a new way, that you will not just read about Jesus in the Bible, and the stories that surround him, but that you would enter into the Bible and it would become real to you, and that you will hear God speak to you through the Holy Spirit. Lord, may you have your way, may eyes and ears be opened, and may people come to know you in a more personal way than ever before. I know that you call them, and I believe for each one who reads this that you will do a mighty work in their lives so that they can too, testify of your great love. I pray this forth in Jesus’ name, Amen!