The Call To Believe
When out and about sometimes I am approached by someone wanting money, and since I typically do not carry cash on me, it is simple for me to say “I’m sorry, but I do not have any cash to give you.”
You cannot give to another what you do not possess. If you are unaware of what you have been given, you can’t offer it to someone needing it. You have to know what you have in order to be able to give it to others.
In the Bible it tells how Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. Daily a lame man was put there at the gate Beautiful. He was there to beg. On this day Peter looked at the man and said, look on us. Then he said something profound to that man.
Acts 3:6 “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
This is not a formula for making the lame walk. This reveals something far more important. Had Peter not known by faith what he possessed in in Christ, he would not have had anything to offer the lame man. Peter had no natural solution to offer. But in Christ Peter had something he could offer that man that was worth far more than silver or gold. Had Peter not known what he possessed in Christ, that man would have spent the rest of his life lame and begging.
If Peter were alive today and trained according to some of the popular ideas in Christianity, he would not say or do anything like what we read in Acts. Peter might still say, “silver and gold have I none.” But instead of saying, “what I do have I give to you” and taking the man’s hand to have him stand to his feet healed, Peter would wear himself and others out implementing natural solutions to at least do something for the man.
Many in churches today have been lulled to sleep by well meaning, but powerless speakers. As a result, many have, often times, been cheated out of a walk in the Spirit as the concern is more about whether or not they could pass a Bible quiz and live morally, than it is about Christ in them, and who Christ really is. Holy Spirit revelation concerning Jesus and His accomplishments produce faith and empowers me to live from the source of Life that Christ is, and by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus baptizes with. Leaders who instruct according to the natural, more than the spiritual, can't empower you to manifest the you Christ says you are, or to tap into the power of Christ in you the hope of glory.
1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The things of the Spirit is much more than morality. If the things of the Spirit are limited to morality then there’s no point to this Scripture at all.
Be advised, if a sermon to the church does more to expose the sin in a saint that it does to reveal the indwelling Son in the saint, it has departed from he gospel and is now appealing to the strength of pones flesh for solutions and freedom.
The fact is, confidence in my natural understanding or ability can hinder me where the kingdom of God, and who I am in Christ is concerned. Over-emphasis on my natural abilities, or the lack thereof, is a hindrance. Everything to do with Christ and His kingdom is received by faith in the word of God spoken to me by the Holy Spirit. That’s why I need the Holy Spirit always! Jesus said something of tremendous importance in,
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.”……….
Jesus is always looking to speak life into me. His desire is to wash me with the water of His word which establishes me, gives me confidence and activates my faith. He wants me to know and experience the fullness of God. He is always out for my good. I just need to believe it.
