My friend Jim Marocco greets me every time with this question, “Mike, are you alive and praising Jesus?”
And I love this because it causes me to stop and remember, “Yes, yes I am.” Because not only are we alive physically by breathing, but we are also alive spiritually.
For once we were spiritually dead but came to life the moment we were born again. The old us has died, and the new man has risen. From the moment we became children of God, the very life of God filled us.
And God didn’t just “fix us up”; He made us NEW. A new creation. That’s something to praise God about!
Not only do we have the very life of God on the inside of us, that Zoe life which means the nature of God, but God promised us in John 10:10 that we would have life abundantly.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10
That word “abundant” there means more, greater, and exceedingly. We are promised an exceedingly greater, and more than type of life, but that life is only found in God and through God.
We encounter this life when we live a life of surrender and submission unto Him. When we make Him the Lord of our life and not just our Savior.
When we walk in obedience to His ways, He blesses us and provides for us. It doesn’t matter what the enemy tries to steal, kill, or destroy, because our God has made an abundant provision for it already.
Today, give praise to God for the very life He has poured into us and the abundant life He has made way for us to walk in.
In our current era, the need for spiritual awakening is evident, yet the laborers who wholeheartedly embrace God’s will are scarce. God seeks those who surrender completely, not just reluctantly or halfheartedly.
There are three levels of surrender: unwilling surrender, half-hearted surrender, and complete surrender. You can actually say there are two counterfeit versions of surrender, but one true surrender.
When someone says yes but does the job grudgingly that’s an unwilful surrender, where complaints persist.
Half-hearted surrender is where effort lacks enthusiasm. They tend to say yes but not give their best.
A complete surrender is where one offers their all to God.
God desires wholehearted devotion, not just reluctant obedience.
He looks for those who do everything unto the Lord, no matter what it is or who’s around.
Those who lay down their life to, in return, find life through Him.
God wants your yes even when the request might seem hard and out of your comfort zone.
Surrendering isn’t just when you accept Him as your Savior but also when you make Him the Lord of your life.
Today, reflect on your surrender to God: are you unwilling, half-hearted, or fully committed?
Jesus calls us to surrender our ways and follow Him wholeheartedly, loving God with all our being and serving Him diligently in all we do.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” – Matthew 16:24-25
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” -Matthew 22:37
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” -Colossians 3:23-24”
It’s common to fall into a rut in our thoughts and actions, especially regarding how we perceive God’s will.
When change disrupts our familiar patterns, we often resist it because it challenges our preconceived notions.
Think of a rut as a grave with both ends knocked out.
In Acts 10, Peter’s encounter with God during prayer led to a profound revelation. While in a trance, God revealed a vision to Peter, instructing him to “rise, kill, and eat,” presenting him with animals considered “unclean” under Jewish law.
God was trying to give Peter a new altitude, attitude, and appetite.
Peter’s struggle to grasp the vision’s deeper meaning stemmed from his entrenched cultural beliefs about purity and cleanliness.
God sought to broaden Peter’s understanding beyond cultural norms to embrace His perspective.
Despite considering Gentiles unclean, Peter realized that Jesus’ sacrifice extended salvation to all who believed in Him.
Had Peter remained trapped in his limited thinking, he would have hindered God’s plan for him.
God desires to reach everyone and work through us to accomplish His purposes.
In Acts 10:28-29, Peter speaks to Cornelius saying, “Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.”
God took Peter to a new altitude in his way of thinking, gave him a new attitude about Gentiles, and gave him an appetite to reach all for the Kingdom of God.
Is God trying to show you something? Is He trying to change your way of thinking?
Perhaps your case differs from Peter’s, but God may be calling you to embrace a new way of thinking.
Like Peter, respond with obedience, even amidst uncertainty, trusting that clarity will follow as you align yourself with God’s guidance.
In Acts 1:8, the Bible states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The question arises: witnesses to what?
The Message:
The message is the love of God. It’s about God’s profound love for the world, demonstrated by giving His only Son. This love extends to us, portraying God as merciful, kind, gracious, and caring. We should be sharing to others about such love He has lavished upon us all.
Secondly,
2. Witnesses of the Example, Jesus:
Our lives should mirror Jesus, impacting those around us. Living what we preach is paramount. We cannot proclaim God’s love without embodying it ourselves. Our lives should reflect a deep personal reverence and revelation of God, drawing people to Jesus.
And thirdly,
3. The Power of the Holy Spirit:
Living by the Spirit yields fruits of the Spirit.
Our lives produce either good or bad fruit, reflecting either the Spirit or the flesh. When people witness the fruit of the Spirit in us—peace, joy, patience, love—they are drawn to it, offering us the opportunity to be witnesses of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, signs, miracles, and wonders manifest through the authority Jesus has given us, and the Holy Spirit within us.
As Christians, we are called to be witnesses of God, His love, and the Holy Spirit. It’s part of our purpose on Earth.
This week, begin each day confessing, “I am a witness of Jesus.” Personalizing it by acknowledging your role in your community and home.
Embrace your identity as a witness of the holy and wonderful God.
I came across a quote that said, “Believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything,” by Serena Williams.
Man, that truly embodies faith!
But what if, instead of believing in just “something,” we believed in God?
Imagine reading it as, “Believe in God even if it means sacrificing everything.”
That’s an entirely different perspective, isn’t it? But would you? Would you be willing to sacrifice everything based on faith?
What if we genuinely believed in God’s Word? What if we were fully convinced that He would fulfill His promises? What if we had unwavering faith in God’s identity?
I believe we wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice everything.
Consider Abraham. His faith in God was so profound that when asked to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, he was prepared to do so.
Moreover, in Genesis 12, God instructed Abraham to leave everything behind—his country, and his family—to journey to a place yet undisclosed, and Abraham obeyed.
Have you ever pondered the moments recorded in the New Testament? The crowds who traveled miles on foot just to see Jesus, to receive healing, or to hear Him speak? THAT’S faith! Their trust rested solely on what they had heard.
Hebrews 11:1 is a Bible verse I believe should be a cornerstone in every Christian’s life.
It reads, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
Faith is NOW! It demands action without delay.
You won’t need faith once you reach heaven. Your life on earth can either overflow with faith or be consumed by fear. The choice is yours.
To unlock your faith, you must first hear. Faith is cultivated by hearing the Word of God. Once developed, you must trust in His Word and rely on it.
Then, faith requires action, and that action is obedience.
This week, I encourage you to begin by listening, trusting, and obeying God’s Word. Witness how your faith blossoms and gains momentum in your spiritual journey!
Over the weekend, I had the privilege of visiting the beautiful nation of El Salvador for a conference where I was a speaker. Like any journey, it left an impact on my heart, especially in El Salvador.
Entering the nation, the noticeable poverty was overwhelming, yet a remarkable transformation was unfolding among the people, guided by God from darkness, addictions, and poverty into His light.
During that time, God laid three questions on my heart, which I believe serve as the catalyst for the ongoing transformation. These questions hold the potential to not only change a nation but also transform your personal heart if embraced.
The questions are:
1. How Far Can You See? – Vision 2. How Deep Can You Feel? – Compassion 3. How Far Are You Willing to Go? – Action
These questions target both your heart and mind. Recognizing that vision without action remains a mere daydream; action is indispensable for turning a vision into reality.
Proverbs 29:18 in the Bible emphasizes the significance of vision, stating, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Moreover, compassion serves as the bridge between vision and action. Compassion is not merely a sentiment but compels us toward meaningful action and connects us with the heart of God.
Throughout the Bible, we witness Jesus moved with compassion, not stopping there but going a step further by taking initiative and effecting positive change in circumstances.
Since my visit to El Salvador, I’ve been contemplating these three questions:
1. How Far Can You See? – Vision 2. How Deep Can You Feel? – Compassion 3. How Far Are You Willing to Go? – Action
Discovering our personal answers to these questions can profoundly impact our hearts, urging us to dive deeper into God’s heart. This, in turn, prompts us to see further, feel deeper, and take action toward what God has in store for us and what He desires us to do for those around us.
May these questions initiate a transformative journey within your heart and influence your world!
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