Last week I was flying through the Chicago airport. I walked into a restroom to wash my hands. After I put soap on my hands, I looked for a handle to turn on the water so I could rinse. But, the faucet had no handle. I waved my hand under the spout and magically water began to pour. The water was motion-activated. In the same way, God is motion-activated. When we move, God begins to pour out His Spirit.
Yesterday my wife sent me to the supermarket to buy some groceries. As I approached the door, the motion detector above the door detected my movement and the door automatically opened. In the same way, movement opens the door of your destiny.
Your success is motion-activated. Until you move, doors remain closed, but once you start to move, God opens doors in response to your movement. Paul gave us a perfect example of this concept when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:12, ‘I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me.” Notice, Paul went to Troas, then he found that God had opened a door there. The door was opened by Paul’s action of going to Troas.
God is a God of action. He is a verb, not a noun. When you do something, God will do something. When you take action, He takes action on your behalf. The greatest obstacle to fulfilling God’s plan for your life is a lack of movement. If you start moving in the direction you already know you should go, you will begin to see miracles happen. Even if your movement is small, give God something to work with!
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Are you sitting around or are you moving towards God’s destiny for your life? Some people sit around paralyzed with fear because they worry they might miss God’s perfect will. Let’s look at the life of Paul to see if he was a “sitter” or a “mover.” Many people have the impression that Paul was so close to God that he never moved without God’s specific guidance, but when we examine Paul’s life we discover that he was not sitting around waiting to hear God, instead he was actively moving. Acts 16:6-10 reads, “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
In this passage, Paul decided to take his evangelistic team to Asia but the Holy Spirit prevented them from going. Then Paul traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia until they came to the border of Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia but Jesus did not allow them to enter. Finally, God sent a vision of a man in Macedonia calling for Paul’s help.
Notice, Paul did not sit around wondering what God’s will was. He did not stay in one place trying to discover if there was something he had done wrong that was preventing him from going to Asia. No. Paul was traveling and ministering. He was taking action. As Paul was moving, God provided direction. Paul tried to enter Asia; the Holy Spirit said “No.” Paul tried to enter Bithynia; Jesus said “No.” Finally God the Father put him to sleep so he would stay still long enough to see the vision telling him to go to Macedonia. Paul was so busy moving around; the whole Trinity got involved in guiding him!
Often when people preach about knowing God’s will, the vision of the Macedonian man is used as an example of how God guides, but Paul was not just laying around waiting for God to give him a vision. He was actively moving to find a place to preach. Once Paul was moving, God was able to provide guidance by saying “no.” This is guidance by prohibition.
Once you start to move, unless God specifically says “no” then proceed as if it is a “yes.” God will respond to your movement, even if your movement is in the wrong direction. Always give God the power of veto, but unless He specifically stops you, proceed. Assume a green light unless you are specifically given a red light.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
1. God is in control. Some believe God is in control of everything that happens on the earth. This cannot be true because bad things frequently happen. Hurricanes, tornados, floods, tsunamis, wars, car accidents, and disease are not part of God’s nature. God is a good God, yet bad things still happen on earth, this proves that God is not in control. God also “wants all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), yet people die unsaved every day. God’s will does not always come to pass. The teaching that God is in control is misleading.
2. Satan is in control. The second belief is just as wrong. It says that Satan is in control. This cannot be true because there are still pastors that are alive. If Satan was in control, do you think he would allow any pastor to continue to preach? If the devil was in control, there would be hell on earth.
3. I am in control. The third belief is that I am in control of what happens to me on this earth. My choices create my circumstances. God does not control your decisions. God has only predestined the consequences of your decisions. The decisions I make shape my destiny. If I make good decisions, God’s will for my life comes to pass. If I make poor decisions, then Satan’s will for my life becomes a reality. The only power that can trump the will of God is the decisions of man. The truth is that God’s will is seldom done on earth as it is in heaven. But, if the choice of a human trumps the will of the God, imagine what our choices can do to devastate the enemy.
Your decisions decide your destiny. Your decisions decide your wealth. Your decisions decide your health. Your decisions decide your relationships. You decide who you marry. You choose where you will live and how much money you will make. Your life is exactly the way you want it to be. Your choices have brought you to where you are today. If you truly wanted your life to change, it would. Do you really want your life to be better? There is only one way for that to happen. Take action and move. Notice I didn’t say more Bible reading. Or prayer. Or going to church. Or waiting for God to open a door. Or having an anointed preacher lay hands on you. All these things are fine and they can’t hurt, but they alone will not change your circumstances. Change can only come when you put action to your decisions.
Your ability to put action to your choices is the most powerful commodity in the universe. Do not wait around until God decides to bless you, take action so God can bless you. God does not bless your waiting, he blesses your steps. Your Faith decides divine timing. When you discover the faith to take a step, God begins to move. Many say they have ‘faith’ but they do not really have faith because they never take action. James 2:17 says, ‘…Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead’ Action equals movement. We know that faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17), but recently God told me that miracles come by doing God’s Word. Faith without action is dead. James 1:22 says, ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says’ Doing requires moving. We must put what we believe into action in our lives.
Many people say they believe God’s Word; few actually put God’s Word into practice in their daily lives. Let me give you an example. Your pastor mentions Luke 6:38, ‘Give and it will be given to you.’ Everyone cheers, claps their hands, and shouts ‘Hallelujah.’ Then the offering plate is passed. Instead of putting the verse into action, many keep a death grip on their wallet or purse. Why? Because they say they believe this verse, but they really don’t. If they really believed, they would give every time the opportunity presented itself because they know they cannot out give God.
Your movement reveals what you truly believe. God has a plan for this world. But His plan is dependent upon humans who have been given free choice. Our choices determine whether or not we participate in His plan. God’s plan is set, but the people who implement it are fluid. Your life is part of God’s perfect plan. But, God is not the One who makes that plan come to pass in your life. Your choices decide if God’s plan will be manifested in your life. God allows us to make our own decisions. As we make decisions, He walks beside us as a Friend and a Guide. As a Friend, He offers advice. As a Guide, He points us in the right direction. The voice of the Holy Spirit shapes and guides our decisions, but your decisions decide your destiny.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
God celebrates your choices, as long as they line up with God’s revealed will as found in the Bible.
God gave Adam and Eve a great gift. It was the gift of free choice. We are not robots. We have the ability to make our own choices. God is excited to go along with many of our choices.
The good God has planned for you is not limited by one choice. Your wrong or imperfect choices can still produce good outcomes because according to Romans 8:28, “God works all things together for our good.” You were not born to make right or wrong decisions.
You were created to make decisions, then to make those decisions the right ones. God gave us dominion on this earth. When we take dominion, God backs our choices, as long as those choices are within God’s will as revealed in God’s Word. God celebrates your choices so much that all of heaven will back your decisions. When you choose to head in a particular direction, God starts sending angels to prepare your way. But the angels do not move until you take the first step.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Are you expecting God to give you a road map or a compass heading for your life?
A road map contains specific directions to a specific destination. If we sit around asking for God to give us a map we will wait around for years. Waiting for God to give you a detailed map for your entire life is unrealistic. God is more likely to give us a compass heading to follow rather than a map. Each of us is given an inner compass which reveals God’s will for our lives. The direction this inner compass is pointing is revealed by our innate talents, interests and gifts.
Your strengths and dominant focus reveal your calling. For example, if a teenage girl enjoys spending time with children, this is an indication she might be called to be a teacher, a mother, or a children’s minister. Or, if you are always thinking about how to make money, you might be called to be an entrepreneur or businessman. I always had a passion for the lost and was successful at public speaking so this was a good indication that when I decided to become an evangelist, I was headed in the right direction. If I tried to become a worship leader, I would fail because I have no musical talent. Recognizing this fact saves me the trouble of wondering if God has called me to be a music leader.
When God called Abraham, God did not give him detailed instructions; instead God just said to leave the city of Ur. God promised to show him his ultimate destination on the way. God gave Abraham the first step, but not the full picture of where he was going. God does not tell us what to do until we begin to move. However, if we start to move we will hear the next step, and then the next, and so on. In order to discover God’s plan for your life, do not sit in a locked room praying until you have a complete vision of where you are going. Start moving in the direction of your greatest interest. Once you start to move, God will guide your steps. God is drawn to movement.
Let’s look at what the Bible says.” Psalm 37:23,“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way.” Notice it says, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered.’ Once we start taking steps, God is able to show us where to go. God cannot order our steps if we are standing still. You drive and God gives directions, but there are no directions until you start driving. A parked car never goes anywhere even if it is on the right road. Will Rogers said, ‘Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.’ Reinhard Bonnke says, ‘People who forever SEEK the will of God are overrun by those who DO the will of God!’ In other words, do not wait for A-Z to be revealed. Step out with A-B and God will reveal B-Z as you move.”
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
There is a general will of God and a specific will of God.
The general will of God is like a circle. The specific will of God is like a small dot within that circle. The Bible reveals the general will of God; our actions help us find the specific will of God for our lives.
The difference between the general and the specific aspects of God’s will has produced two different theories as to how we should go about discovering God’s will. The “Dot” theory believes that in every case there is one specific action God wants us to take. One person we are supposed to marry. One place we are supposed to go to college. One mission trip we must go on. One color of socks God wants us to wear today. People who always wait for the “dot” to be revealed are usually “sitters.”
The “Circle” theory believes there are a variety of actions that please God. There are boundaries (revealed by God’s written Word) but within that circle there are a variety of choices that God celebrates. For example, the Bible says we should not marry unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14) but within the circle of potential spouses who are born-again and love God there might be many who would please both God and you.
People who are willing to make choices within the circle of God’s will are usually “movers.” New believers are often “dot” Christians. When my youngest brother was ten years old, I had to tell him, “David, don’t run out onto the street.” He needed very specific instructions. But now that he is in college, I don’t worry about him chasing after cars. Why? Because I can trust him to make wise decisions. A baby must be told not to touch a hot stove, but an adult knows better. Similarly, a baby believer often needs specific instructions about how to live the Christian life. A mature Christian generally does not need detailed instructions because they have learned enough about the character and nature of God to know what is right and wrong.
Mature Christians have learned to follow the advice of St. Augustine who said, “Love God and do as you please.” If you really love God, you want to do what pleases Him. You should, “Love God with all your heart and do whatever else you want.” As long as you are in the “circle” of what God wants, there are many choices within that circle that please God equally. When we are within the general will of God, we have great freedom with our specific actions. As you walk in the general will of God, you will discover the specific will of God for your life. The way the specific will of God is revealed is through your actions. As you move, God is able to guide you to the specific point He wants you at.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
There are two kinds of Christians: the sitters and the movers.
“Let’s talk about ‘The Sitters’ first. Their motto is, ‘I do not move without God’s guidance.’ Those who hold to this philosophy wait and pray until God shows a way. They rarely move without a clear sign or instruction from God. Those who follow this viewpoint sound very holy and proper. They often say things like, ‘I am waiting on God. I am trusting God to take care of me. I do not want to miss God and go in the wrong direction. I have faith that God will provide.’ Year after year, they sit in the same place, doing the same thing, hoping and praying for God to move.”
I call the second group of people, ‘The Movers.’ They live their lives by a different mantra. If they had to put it into words they would say, ‘I expect God’s guidance when I move.’ They do not sit around waiting for a word from God; instead they begin obeying the commands God has already given them. They expect to receive guidance while they are in the process of moving.”
Here are some of the differences between sitters and movers:
* Sitters sit; movers move.
* Sitters listen to God’s voice; movers obey God’s voice.
* Sitters are quickly overtaken by movers.
* Sitters talk about doing great things for God; movers actually do great things for God.
* Sitters are still asking, “What should we do?” when movers announce, “Look at what we have done.”
* Sitters critique and complain; movers are too busy to attack others.
* Sitters point out problems; movers fix problems.
* Sitters say, “I am trusting God.” Movers say, “God is trusting me.”
Several years ago, I asked a pastor if we could hold a special series of evangelistic meetings in his church. He said, ‘Let me pray about it.’ Now years later, he is still praying about it and wondering why his church has not grown.” “I held a meeting with another pastor and six new families started coming to his church. The next year we held another evangelistic outreach and again his church grew. What was the difference between these pastors? While one was praying, the other was doing. One pastor prayed, ‘God save the lost.’ The second pastor was giving away hotdogs to people in the park on a Saturday morning and demonstrating the love of Christ in a tangible way. The second pastor is a mover. As he takes action, he trusts God to bless his actions.”
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
We can plan what we are going to do, but once we start moving, God will direct our steps.” Proverbs 16:9, “‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” God wants to direct our movement or steps. God cannot steer a parked car. God will use your movement, even movement in the wrong direction. If you start taking steps, God will guide you into the right direction.
Once you begin to move, then God reveals His will for your life step by step. Your miracle is in your movement! When you start to move, God begins to move on your behalf. Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you? Almost any movement should do. Just point your life in the general direction (the compass heading) you think you should be going. Then take a step.
Many churches say they want a New Testament church. What was the distinguishing characteristic of the church in the Book of Acts? A clue is found in the name of the book! The apostles acted. It is not called the ‘Book of Intentions.’ Yes, they prayed and waited for the Holy Spirit, but that is only the first chapter. Once they were filled with God’s power, they began to move. If you act, God will move, but if you do not act, God cannot move. Jesus says, “You are My hands, you are My feet, you are My voice, take Me to the ends of the earth!’”
Some people want to hear the thundering roar of God’s voice, see a choir of angels, get singed by a burning bush, and receive a note written by the finger of God and delivered by the archangel Gabriel before they move. If you could hear God’s voice right now, you would probably hear Him shouting, ‘Do something!’ If an angel knocked on your door, he might say, ‘Do something.’” Two-thirds of God’s Name is ‘Go.’ Two-thirds of God’s Name backwards is ‘Do.’ So, if you want to be like God, then ‘Go Do.’ The supernatural is when God adds His ‘Super’ to our ‘Natural.’ God has already done all the ‘Super’ He is going to do. Now we must do in the natural what we are supposed to do. God has done His part; now we must do our part, by taking action.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Do you believe God allows us free choice concerning the person we are supposed to marry? Do you think there is one perfect spouse for me or do you think that there are many different girls I could choose to marry that God would approve of?
Once I was interested in girl. I felt God say, ‘She is not My best plan for your life but if you pursue her, she will be yours.’ In other words, God gave me permission to have a relationship with her if I wanted to do so, but God did not feel she was the best. She was not outside of God’s moral will (I can date whomever I choose as long as she is a believer) but she was outside God’s advice. I did not end up marrying her either.”
“So how did you finally decide to marry Jessica?”
“When I met Jessica, she fit me and my life calling perfectly and I fit hers. She was already experienced on the mission field. She loved God; she loved people, and she loved me. During our courtship, I only had green lights and confirmations that we were right for each other. I never felt a yellow light or check in my spirit that something was amiss. A year later, I took action and proposed. I know God celebrated my decision to marry Jessica. We ended up being perfect for one another.”
Jessica’s Story in Her Own Words
“I graduated from a Bible school that taught every believer is called to obey the Great Commission to ‘go into all the world and preach the Gospel.’ I was taught that any believer could go to the mission field for a time even without a prophetic word that said ‘Thus sayeth the Lord, go’ because Jesus commanded all believers to go. When an opportunity came for me to go on a one-year trip to India, I did not feel called to be a missionary. But one night I responded to an altar call for those who were 100% dedicated to doing the will of God.
While I was kneeling at the front of the church, I heard God whisper to me, ‘Do you believe in the Great Commission?’
‘Of course I do,’ I responded. Then I heard Him say, ‘Do you believe in the Great Commission enough to go and do something about it?’ That night, out of simple obedience to God and His Word, I made a commitment to go to the mission field for one year.
My first few months in India were miserable. I just wanted to finish my twelve months and go home. But I vividly remember the night God called me to be a missionary. I was laying on a thin mattress on a concrete floor in southern India. The electricity had just gone off and the overhead fan no longer moved the hot, humid air in the tiny room. Laying in the darkness, soaking my pillow with sweat, I counted over sixty mosquito bites on my body. God gently spoke to my heart in the darkness, ‘Jessica, this is the life I have called you to.’
I did not know whether to laugh or to cry. All I knew was that God wanted me to work on the mission field for the rest of my life. I felt relieved to finally know my lifetime calling regardless of what it was or the hardships I was bound to face.
The next morning I jumped out of bed and walked to a nearby Internet café to e-mail my headquarters and make a commitment to return to India for a second year. I stepped out onto the mission field with nothing but a simple desire to obey God’s Word. But, once I arrived in India, God gave me a clear direction that would last the rest of my life.”
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
We can plan what we are going to do, but once we start moving, God will direct our steps.” Proverbs 16:9, “‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” God wants to direct our movement or steps. God cannot steer a parked car. God will use your movement, even movement in the wrong direction.
If you start taking steps, God will guide you into the right direction. Once you begin to move, then God reveals His will for your life step by step. Your miracle is in your movement! When you start to move, God begins to move on your behalf. Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you? Almost any movement should do. Just point your life in the general direction (the compass heading) you think you should be going. Then take a step.
Many churches say they want a New Testament church. What was the distinguishing characteristic of the church in the Book of Acts? A clue is found in the name of the book! The apostles acted. It is not called the ‘Book of Intentions.’ Yes, they prayed and waited for the Holy Spirit, but that is only the first chapter. Once they were filled with God’s power, they began to move. If you act, God will move, but if you do not act, God cannot move. Jesus says, “You are My hands, you are My feet, you are My voice, take Me to the ends of the earth!’”
Some people want to hear the thundering roar of God’s voice, see a choir of angels, get singed by a burning bush, and receive a note written by the finger of God and delivered by the archangel Gabriel before they move. If you could hear God’s voice right now, you would probably hear Him shouting, ‘Do something!’ If an angel knocked on your door, he might say, ‘Do something.’” Two-thirds of God’s Name is ‘Go.’ Two-thirds of God’s Name backwards is ‘Do.’ So, if you want to be like God, then ‘Go Do.’ The supernatural is when God adds His ‘Super’ to our ‘Natural.’ God has already done all the ‘Super’ He is going to do. Now we must do in the natural what we are supposed to do. God has done His part; now we must do our part, by taking action.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
If you had to purchase a new car, how would you decide what color to buy? Would you wait for God to speak to you in a booming voice, “BUY the BLUE car.” Let me tell you how I would make that decision. If buying the blue car is Option A and buying the red car is Option B, I do not think God would have a preference either way.
Sometimes we sit and agonize over whether we should choose Option A or Option B. But, the blessing of God is not on “A” or “B,” the blessing is on ME. As long as my decision does not go against God’s general will as revealed in the Bible, God will bless no matter which option I choose.” Recently, our team was trying to decide if God wanted us to do a crusade in a big city in Brazil or in a nearby smaller city. We prayed for guidance, but never heard a definitive word from God. Finally, we decided to do the crusade in the big city because we recognized that God would bless us no matter where we decided to do the crusade.
So, when you are wondering if Option A or Option B is better, it is not ‘A’ or ‘B,’ it’s ‘U.’ Whatever you decide, God blesses. Walk in the freedom you have in Christ. God has given us boundaries, but within those boundaries we have great freedom. Even if there is no guarantee of success, move. Be willing to take a risk. Take a step into the unknown. If you do not know what direction to go, just generally align your life to be for what God is for and against what God is against. Just do something; anything that you think would make God happy. If God says ‘no’ then take a step in another direction. If not, then continue forward and expect God to give you success.”
Many people find it hard to make decisions, they say “But I don’t want to miss God.” God says, “I’m so big, you can’t miss Me! God told us ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel’ (Mark 16:15). Once we start moving in that direction, He will influence our choice of where to go, but for the most part, He is just happy when we go. It is hard to be out of God’s will if you go to the mission field and start telling people about Jesus. People often wait to be called by God and never go. They say, ‘I am waiting to receive my call from God.’ In reality, you are already called. As T.L. Osborn says, ‘The need is the call.’ When you see a need, you are probably the one called to fill that need.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Some people stop doing anything for fear that they would do the wrong thing. But I think we should take action and move, even if we might make a mistake. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” The next verse, Psalm 37:24 says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Notice that it does not say we will never fall. What it does say is that if we fall, God will pick us back up. Falling is never a period on the end of our sentence, only a comma. You wonder, ‘But what if I make the wrong choice and head in the wrong direction?’
The Bible promises, ‘We know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28). Even if you make the wrong choice, God will turn it into something good, because He is a good God.” Failure is not necessarily an indication you are out of God’s will. Thomas Edison failed over ten thousand times when he was inventing the electric light bulb. When asked why he kept trying after so many failures he replied, ‘I knew I would eventually run out of ways it would not work.’ Some fail once and think they are outside God’s will, but sometimes we need to keep trying until we succeed. If you fall down, get back up. You don’t drown by falling into water; you drown by staying there. Because we live in an imperfect world, bad things can still happen even when we are in the center of God’s will for our lives. But God will cause good to come from negative situations.
When Paul was thrown into prison, God used him to minister to the prison guards. He said ‘…I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel…’ (Philippians 1:12 NKJV). When his own brothers sold Joseph as a slave into Egypt, God used him to save his whole family during a time of famine. Joseph explained, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV).”
You are not where you need to be, but thank God you are not where you used to be. If you were perfect, you would not need a Savior. God is not surprised at your mistakes and imperfections. He knows everything; your faults don’t faze Him. I’m not perfect either. I have made mistakes, been distracted, and lost my focus at times; but God still loves me and chooses to use me. Self-doubt is a weapon from the pit of hell. Be bold! Make decisions. When you decide not to decide, you’ve made a decision at that moment. It is better to move and be wrong than to never move at all. God would rather have an imperfect performance than a perfect heart that never moves. Often we are so scared we will get it wrong, that we do nothing. You can be sure that while we are doing nothing, the devil is doing something.”
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Some think being in God’s will is like walking across a tightly-strung tightrope over a deep crevasse. They start at one end of the rope and gingerly take tiny balanced steps until they reach the other side. Even a slight deviation to the right or left can lead to a nasty plunge as they cautiously proceed step-by-step across the rope.
But, I think that being in God’s will is more like being a player on a football field. The ultimate goal is to get the football into the end zone on the other side of the field. There are many different plays and ways of getting the ball there. Some run the ball, other players pass the ball, and some kick a field goal. All these methods of getting the ball to the other end of the field make the coach happy, as long as the goal is achieved.
There are many paths and many plays that get you to where you need to be. God the Father has put us on a winning team and given us the best equipment and training. His Playbook is full of winning strategies, and He sits in His skybox cheering us on. The angels and saints are in the stands cheering at the top of their lungs. The opposing team is weak and puny. Our star quarterback, Jesus, has already defeated them. After soundly trouncing the opposition, Jesus was pulled out of the game to go sit next the team owner. Now it is our turn to play. The score is ten thousands points ahead in our favor and we are just playing out the clock.
You and I are not walking a narrow tightrope of faith where disaster looms with each tiny misstep. The tightrope is like the dot; it represents only one pathway to our destiny. Instead, we are on a wide football field running plays. Our Coach, the Holy Spirit, is calling out encouragement. We are calling audibles, picking our plays as we go. If one play fails, we just get up and try another. Our team has permanent possession of the ball. The field represents the circle of God’s will. As long as we stay in the game and do not leave the field, then our heavenly Coach is happy with us.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
Is it better to wait on the Lord or to move on the Lord’s behalf?
Those who want to wait on the Lord might point to the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10? Martha was stressed running around and preparing food for Jesus. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus spending time with Him. Martha was upset and asked Jesus to make Mary help in the kitchen. Instead, Jesus rebuked Martha and complimented Mary. Doesn’t Jesus speak more highly of the sitter in this story than the mover?” Does God want us to be still or to do His will? Does God want us to stay still waiting for His presence, or does God want us to take His power to the world?“
In the story of Mary and Martha, Martha was rebuked for being too busy to sit at the feet of Jesus. Because of this, some people have taught that it is much better to sit in the presence of Jesus then it is to be busy doing the work of the ministry. This mentality has paralyzed some Christians and prevented them from taking action. Some people are seventy or eighty years old, still seeking the will of God. They have not accomplished much of anything. It is true that there is a time and a place for soaking in the presence of God. But while we are soaking, we must not forget that Jesus gave us a job to complete here on earth. Right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples to go to the upper room and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, they were all filled with power from the Holy Spirit. Until they were filled, they waited. After they were filled, the wait was over and it was time for them to go. As one preacher said, ‘Until you are filled, don’t go; after you are filled, don’t stay.’
Often people make spiritual excuses for sitting still. They say, ‘I’m waiting on the Lord’ or ‘I don’t go because I am waiting for the Lord to reveal His will.’ ‘Ever since the day of Pentecost, we never again wait for the Lord, the Lord waits for us.’ I’m not saying we should not pray. Even Jesus went off by Himself every day to speak with His Father. However, we should pray as we move instead of using prayer as an excuse for not moving.
Oswald Chambers said, ‘See that you do not use the trick of prayer to cover up what you know you ought to do.’ Our praying, our listening to God, and our moving is a continuous process. As we move, we pray, then listen to God, then move again. Contrast the story of Mary and Martha with this this story in Mark 5. After Jesus cured the demon-possessed man, he begged Jesus for the opportunity to follow Him and sit at His feet. However, Jesus did not permit him, but instead commanded the man to go tell all his friends about his miracle. So, the man departed and proclaimed in the area of Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. The word ‘Decapolis’ means ‘ten cities.’ The man who had been demon-possessed traveled from city to city, telling people about Jesus.
Later in Mark 7:31 when Jesus visited this region, He was able to perform great miracles because the faith of the people had been prepared by the testimony of the man who was set free from demons.” Psalm 46:10 says ‘Be still and know that I am God?’ But, did you ever read the second half of that verse? “It says, ‘I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.’ How will God be exalted among the nations unless we take action and go proclaim His glory in all the nations of the earth? There is a place for sitting at the feet of Jesus and for being still in His presence, but the purpose for this time is to prepare us for taking action!” There are three types of people in the world. Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder, ‘What just happened?’” I do not want to sit around waiting for things to happen, I want to make them happen. What kind of person do you want to be?”
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
God’s will for your life is hidden within the pages of His Word. If you obey God’s Word, you will be fulfilling His will for your life. It is never God’s will for us to do something contrary to His Word. If your course of action is against God’s Word, then it is against God’s will for your life. According to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, lying, killing, and committing adultery are clearly outside of God’s will. Obviously, if you do any of these things, you are outside of God’s will. Nothing that is against God’s Word can ever be God’s will. Period.
The simplest way to discover God’s will is to ask, “What does God’s Word tell me to do?” Many people ask, “I understand the Bible reveals God’s will, but how do I know what God wants me to do today? I know I should not sin, but how do I know how to choose which mission trip I should go on? As you obey the general will of God for your life as revealed in the Bible, you will discover the specific will of God for your life. You will never discover God’s hidden will for your life until you first do God’s known will. God’s Word is the beginning point for knowing God’s will. Usually those who do not obey His Word find it difficult to hear His voice.”
Some people was so paralyzed by fear of missing God’s will, that even simple decisions became difficult for him to make. “How do I know if I should go to the grocery store first or fill up my gas tank?” “What do I do when God’s Word does not specifically address my current situation? After all, there is no commandment that says, ‘Daniel, thou shalt marry Jessica.’ So, how was I supposed to know whether I should marry my girlfriend Jessica? Within the confines of God’s Word, God gives us great freedom. The Bible reveals God’s moral will but in relation to the area of volitional will (our personal choices) we are allowed freedom of choice.
You can Discover God’s Will for Your Life – Read Daniel King’s book on How to Fulfill God’s Will for Your Life:
The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s fire can be vividly seen in the account of the day of Pentecost. John the Baptist had promised that Jesus would “…baptize…with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus promised this baptism of the Holy Spirit to the disciples immediately before He ascended to heaven. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8). He commanded His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were waiting and praying in an upper room for many days. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4).
What seemed to be flames of fire rested on the head of each disciple! This fire was the visible manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. One hundred twenty disciples were instantly empowered to begin spreading the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told the disciples they would become witnesses to the ends of the earth when they received the Holy Spirit! He declared, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Fire must spread! The Holy Spirit’s fire gave the disciples the power they needed to take the gospel around the world. This heavenly fire gave the uneducated fisherman, Peter, the boldness to stand up in front of a huge crowd and begin preaching.
Peter began preaching with fire! Peter, quoting from the prophet Joel, proclaimed, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days…” (Acts 2:17-18). Joel also tells us that one of the signs of the last times will be fire (Acts 2:19).
Peter preached the good news that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). He told the crowds, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…” (Acts 2:38-39).
Three thousand people were saved as a result of Peter’s fiery sermon that day (Acts 2:41). The story of Acts is the story of the spread of the Holy Spirit’s fire. The fire inside of the individual disciples quickly became a wildfire no one could contain. The religious leaders of Jerusalem tried to stop it, but they failed. The Romans tried to stop the fire and they did no better than the priests. The fire spread and spread until the entire Roman Empire had heard the Word of the Lord.
Fire gave the disciples a boldness to witness. This same fire will also give you the boldness to be a witness. When you are filled with God’s fire, there is no need to be timid in sharing your faith.
The Bible promises that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In addition, everyone who repents and is baptized, will be filled with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fills you, He will come with fire. This fire will begin to spread to the people around you. You will begin to see people saved, healed, and delivered as they come in contact with your fire.
The purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit is to be a witness. It is vital to spread the fire once you have caught it. Fire must spread or it will go out. Fire will give you urgent, burning compassion to save the lost.
How Revival Fire Spreads
Every substance has a temperature it must reach before it will burst into flames. Firemen call this temperature “flashpoint.” Every substance on this earth has a flashpoint. There is nothing on the face of the earth which can not be marred, altered, or changed by fire. Every substance will burn at some temperature.
When any substance reaches its flashpoint, it will begin to burn. Paper ignites at 200-210 degrees Fahrenheit. Wood has a higher flashpoint. Steel and concrete must be extremely hot before they burn. Something hard (like steel) is more difficult to ignite than something soft (like paper). Every material will burn if it is hot enough.
Every natural substance has a flashpoint. In the spiritual world, everything has a flashpoint too. There is a point when the revival fire of God will cause a wildfire to break forth. Every individual heart has a flashpoint. Every city has a flashpoint. Every nation has a flashpoint. A spiritual flashpoint is the supernatural temperature a spirit must reach before it will burst into flames.
Every Christian has the potential to be the spark which will start a mighty revival! For a fire to start where you are, you need to be burning hotter than your area’s flashpoint. The passion inside of your life can suddenly cause your home or city to burst into flames.
Different places have different flashpoints. In the same way that a soft substance burns easier than a hard material, a soft heart will reach its flashpoint and start burning much quicker than a hard heart. This is why it is important to keep your heart soft toward God.
The Bible often describes people with hard hearts. Some hearts are hard and some are soft. Some areas are spiritually sensitive and some areas are cold. Some places only need a spark to set a fire going, and some places are going to need a blowtorch.
It is possible for a single, passionate, sold out, follower of Christ, to change the entire spiritual climate of an area. One pastor can change a city! One family member can turn an entire family towards God. One church can change the world if they would only fan the dying embers into red hot flames!
Revival fires will only burn to the degree that spiritual temperatures have surpassed the flashpoint. The key to changing the temperature from a lukewarm Christianity to a raging fire is prayer! Prayer always precedes the Holy Spirit’s fire. Before the day of Pentecost occurred, the disciples prayed intensely in the upper room. Revival is going to require massive amounts of prayer from the saints.
Every fire burns hotter if it has more fuel. Every Christian who begins to pray for revival, tosses a new log into the fireplace. This is why we can not rely only on our leaders to seek God, we must seek Him ourselves. For the wildfire to spread across the world, every Christian must be burning hot!
The more prayers prayed, the hotter the Christians saying the prayers will burn. The more you pray, the more fire you will experience. If you want to burn as hot as the flashpoint in your area, you must pray, pray, pray!
Total, consuming, unquenchable Revival Fire
In some forest fires, fire will spread slowly through the underbrush. But if the wind picks up and begins whipping up the flames, the fire quickly changes. It begins to leap from treetop to treetop. It almost instantly becomes a roaring wall of flame which can move faster than a man can run and suddenly the forest fire consumes everything in its path.
The Holy Spirit appeared like a rushing, mighty wind on the day of Pentecost. He blew heat into the fires which had been started in the disciples lives. They suddenly became an unbelievable force which could not be stopped. A gust of the Holy Spirit’s wind in your1ife will do the same thing. Once a fire starts burning strong nothing can stop it from spreading.
Firemen know they only have a limited amount of time in which it is possible for them to stop a fire. Once a fire has reached a certain point, firemen can only attempt to contain the fire and hope it runs out of fuel. Flashover is the term firefighters use to explain this phenomenon. Once a fire experiences flashover it becomes impossible to quench.
It is time for the church to experience flashover! Fire will consume, cremate, and incinerate every work of the devil. Once the church stops smoldering and starts blazing, it will accomplish great and mighty deeds for God.
Do you remember the nuclear meltdown in the Russian powerplant at Chernobyl? The meltdown was caused when some plutonium accidentally overheated. The plutonium will burn for thousands and thousands of years. In an effort to extinguish the burning, radioactive material, the Russian army poured over 300,000,000 tons of concrete over the burning nuclear fuel but the plutonium is still burning. Basically it will burn for thousands of years. It is impossible to quench.
It is impossible for Satan to quench a burning Christian. The fire of God should continue to spread from person to person for thousands of years. The only one who can prevent the spread of the Spirit’s fire is you. I exhort you, in the words of Paul, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire”! (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Once upon a time, there were a bunch of monkeys living in a forest. When men came to the forest, the monkeys were intrigued by the fires the men built. As the men sat around their campfire, the monkeys would longingly watch the beautiful, sparkling fire. When the men went to bed, the monkeys would sneak down from the trees and sit around the fire to warm up in its glowing. The monkeys enjoyed the fire, but they did not know how to put logs on the fire to keep it going. Even though there was plenty of firewood available, the monkeys would allow the fire to slowly die out. How many Christians enjoy the fire of God, but they fail to do what it takes to keep that fire going?
We must preserve, maintain, tend and protect the hot, intense, burning, all consuming power of God. We can only keep the fire by staying in God’s presence.
I thank God for my parents, Robert and Susan King. They are the reason I have kept the fire of God. Many teenagers have a period of rebellion in their lives when they stray from their godly upbringing. I was blessed by not having to experience the pain of backsliding. Ever since I was a child, I have loved and served God with everything within me. I attribute this to my mother’s dedication to a practice we called “Morning Praise and Worship.” Every morning, my mother would wake me and my brothers and sisters up and we would spend time worshiping God, praying, and listening to powerful sermons on cassette tape. These daily times of worship kept the fire burning bright inside of me.
In the midst of busyness, tiredness, self-pity, discouragement, worry, or distractions; we must maintain our fervor for the things of God. This is accomplished by spending time praying, reading the Bible, praising God and associating with people who are on fire for God. Here are four logs we can throw on the fire to keep it burning bright.
Prayer keeps the fire bright
Prayer always precedes fire! Before the fire fell on the disciples on Pentecost, they had spent many days in prayer. “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” (Acts 1:14). Every great revival began when a core group of believers began to pray. Prayer always sparks divine intervention in human affairs.
No prayer equals no fire. Prayer is the link which allows us to commune with God’s Spirit. To be on fire is to be in prayer continually. We are exhorted to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). If you want to catch on fire for God, first you must pray. If you want to stay on fire for God, you must continue to pray.
When one stops praying, it is like putting a stop to breathing. Your physical man must breathe in order to stay alive. In the same way, your spiritual man must pray in order to survive. Praying should be an automatic part of life. Prayer should come as easily as breathing. Without contact with God, the spirit man begins to die. Jesus instructed the disciples to “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Paul also instructs us from across the centuries to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). How long would you survive if you decided to take a couple of days or even a couple of minutes off from breathing?
Someone once asked the powerful minister Smith Wigglesworth how much time he prayed each day. Mr. Wigglesworth regularly saw unbelievable miracles occur in his services and he raised several people from the dead. This man wanted to know the secret to Wigglesworth’s success. He probably wanted to discover the magic number of hours Wigglesworth spent in prayer each day. Wigglesworth surprised the man by saying, “I never pray for more then fifteen minutes at a time. . . but I never go more then fifteen minutes without praying.” In other words, Wigglesworth had a continual relationship with God.
It has been pointed out that, “It is better to pray a little bit a lot, than it is to pray a lot a little bit.” I believe the essence of being on fire involves being aware of God all the time and developing the habit of consulting Him about the little details of our lives.
Jesus is looking for followers who pray. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was deeply distressed about His upcoming crucifixion. He asked His disciples to pray, and instead they fell asleep. “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Mark 14:37-38).
Without prayer you will never stay on fire for God. Prayer is important at every stage of spiritual fire. Always remember the door to your prayer closet is also the door into the throne room of God. Prayer is the key to keeping the fire.
Reading the Word keeps the fire bright
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). When the psalmist wrote this verse there were no electric flashlights. The light he was referring to was a blazing, fiery torch and the lamp was a clay dish filled with oil which gave off light as the wick burned. God’s Word is the fire that leads and guides us on the path of righteousness.
“…His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot” (Jeremiah 20:9). Imagine a steam engine. An engineer builds a fire under a large boiler full of water. As the water heats, it begins to boil. As it boils it begins to build up huge amounts of pressure. If the steam is not released, the fire will cause the boiler to explode.
“’Is not my word like fire,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:29). Jeremiah was so full of God’s Word, he felt like a pressure cooker. He absolutely could not stay quiet any longer. The Word was in his heart like a fire. Hearing the Word builds up faith inside. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
God’s Word will build up inside of a Christian, until he is burning hot! This heat causes the Word of God to literally explode out of an on-fire Christian. When a person has enough of God’s Word built up inside, the Word will begin to be spoken. “…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
The Lord told Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Joshua was successful in everything that he did because he meditated on the Word day and night. He was a mighty man of valor who relied on God’s Word to lead a million people across the Jordan River in order to take the land of Canaan. Joshua declared, “…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Joshua had the faith to declare this because he was full of God’s Word. He knew the value of keeping the fire.
Praising God keeps the fire bright
Two men were thrown into prison even though they had done nothing wrong. They were cruelly whipped until their backs bled. Their feet were forced into stocks. These discouraging events were enough to damper anyone’s fire and leave them disillusioned and depressed.
Despite their troubles, the two men would not allow their fire to be puffed out so easily by the devil. Instead of despairing, they began to praise God. Even though they were chained up, surrounded by guards, and in a situation that looked hopeless, they rejoiced in God’s goodness. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). The prisoners were not the only ones who heard, God was also listening to them sing praises and when God heard their songs, He began to tap His foot along with the beat. When God began to tap His foot, it caused an earthquake. The earthquake shook the chains right off of Paul and Silas. “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:26).
The Bible tells us that the jailer and his entire family were saved that night. If Paul and Silas had not praised God, the jailer would not have been saved. When they began to praise God, it stirred the fire within them. In the midst of terrible circumstances, praising and worshiping God will keep the fire burning.
Praise prepares our hearts for fire. It will also rekindle a fire that has started to cool off. When we tell of the great and mighty things which God has done, it changes our attitude. We stop thinking about ourselves and we begin thinking of God’s greatness. Praise enables us to keep the fire of God burning bright.
Being around people who are red-hot keeps the fire bright
Have you ever been around someone who throws water on your wood? The people you associate with will determine the level of your passion for God. Lukewarm people are often critical of radical followers of Christ. They attempt to bring people down to their level of indifference and mediocrity. As Billy Joe Daugherty says, “Lukewarmers are not overcomers.” If you want to be an overcomer, stay away from those who are lukewarm. The fire of God has no fellowship with icicles.
The best way to stay on fire for God is be around people who are zealous for God. Fire is contagious. It is like an infectious disease that people can catch just by being near someone who enthusiastically serves God.
If you hang out with people who are always talking about reaching out to the lost and worshiping God, you will be motivated to act like they do. On the other hand, if you keep company with people who are cussing and watching bad movies, you will begin to imitate them. Your life will become a reflection of the people you spend time with. Do you want to be around people who light your fire or who wet your wood? You must make a choice.
Paul commanded the believers in Philippi, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17). A joining together of Christians will produce a synergy which will increase the temperature of the entire group. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:25). A group of believers joined together will accomplish great things for God.
Being in the presence of Jesus will definitely keep the fire bright. After his resurrection, Jesus walked with two men on the road to Emmaus and explained the scriptures to them. Afterwards, they asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
You will become like those you are around. Stay near people who have fervency, energy, intensity, and enthusiasm for God and you will be on fire as well. Praying, reading the Bible, praising God, and mingling with fired up Christians are all essential ingredients for remaining in God’s presence.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Satan will attack the on-fire Christian with everything in his arsenal. If outright trials and tribulations do not work, he will employ subtle distractions and excuses to slowly quench the original fire. Here are some of the tricky techniques Satan will use to try to quench your sensitivity to the Spirit.
Busyness If Satan can not make you bad, then he will make you busy. Sometimes people get so entangled in the web of life, that they stop spending time with God. Working, shopping, making dinner, going to soccer practice, and watching TV can make your life so hectic, that it is impossible to keep the fire burning. If you want to keep the fire hot, make God your first priority. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Tiredness I have a friend who was once on fire for God. He regularly went out witnessing, and he was excited about being a Christian. Sadly, he is now living in sin and never goes to church. When I asked him why he was no longer serving God, he told me, “I was tired of resisting all the temptations.” Some people become tired of going to church or of reading the Bible. This attitude produces apathy. “…never tire of doing what is right” (2 Thess. 3:13).
Self-pity When things begin to go wrong, Satan quickly attacks the emotions by whispering thoughts of insignificance and inferiority. As the on-fire Christian begins to listen, self-pity wells up and quickly strangles the fire. Self-pity occurs when someone removes their eyes from Jesus and starts focusing on their problems. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Discouragement A newly, born again Christian enthusiastically begins to share the gospel with others. When there is little or no response, it is easy to get discouraged. The original fire begins to go out, leaving nothing but a memory of the first fervor. Do not be discouraged, Jesus is with you. He promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Worry What am I going to eat tomorrow? What am I going to wear? Am I going to have enough money? These tiny, everyday questions can act as a fire extinguisher. Stop worrying, God will take care of you. “…Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…” (Matthew 6:25).
Distractions The world around us demands our attention through cell phones, e-mail, television, music, newspapers, and advertisements. It is all too easy to be distracted from spending time with God. These distractions can quickly snuff out one’s enthusiasm for serving God. Keep your eyes on Jesus instead of on distractions. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).
Strife Jealousy, envy, and fighting – such is the currency of the devil’s realm. Since the beginning of time, Satan has been stirring up strife. Wars, murders, and church splits all stem from this deadly disease. The fire of God can not fall when people are bickering with one another. The solution to strife is to walk in love with those around you. “For where envying and strife is, there is every evil thing” (James 3:16 – KJV).
Unforgiveness, Bitterness, and Hate Your spiritual passion for God can not coexist with your unforgiveness towards others. An old saying tells us that love is blind, but I think hate is even more blind. Hate can actually prevent you from seeing reality. When you build a wall of bitterness around your heart, it cuts you off from God’s blessings and guidance. Unforgiveness blinds you to what life is really like. If you walk in unforgiveness, you walk in the dark. “Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” ( I John 2:10‑11).
How to resist Satan
How can we resist these cunning strategies of the devil? First, we must recognize what the great deceiver is attempting to accomplish. Each of these potential fire extinguishers take our minds off of Christ and place the focus on ourselves. So, the solution is to be continually focused on God. If we submit to God and resist the devil, the Bible promises that the evil one will flee from us (James 4:7).
Second, we must be fervent in the Spirit. “Never lag in zeal and in honest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11 – Amplified).We should never be lax in our relationship with God. We should maintain the same zeal we had for God when we were first saved. We must always keep our first love for God by glowing and burning with the Spirit.
Third, we need to remember that God’s presence is precious. Esteem and value the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Strive to never do anything that would quench the fire of God. There are several things we need to do to remain in God’s presence. In the next chapter we will examine several keys to keeping the fire bright. These include: prayer, Bible reading, praise, and staying around those who are on fire.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Jesus, the faithful and true witness, spoke these words to the church in the city of Laodicea. Apparently, the church had once been on fire for God, but they had cooled off. They had allowed the embers to chill, and the flames to die out.
Jesus condemned them harshly for forgetting his power. Someone who loses the fire of God is worse in God’s eyes than someone who never even experienced the fire of God. This is because they have had a taste of God’s fire, and they have lost it. Anyone who returns to the bland diet of the world after tasting the magnificence of God’s glory deserves to be spit from God’s mouth. This type of person has a form of godliness, but they deny the power of God. They talk about what God has done in the past, but they never see God move in the present.
Jesus goes on to tell them, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire…” (Revelation 3:18). Even though the Laodiceans had become lukewarm, there was a solution. Those who have lost the fire of God can find it again. If you have become lukewarm, it is easy to burst into flames again. Jesus will meet you where you are, and reignite a flame in your heart. Jesus promised, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
It is vital to keep God’s fire burning hot in your life. As long as a hot air balloon stays hot, it continues to rise. However, if the air inside the balloon begins to cool off, it will start to sink. The cooler the air, the faster it descends. If a balloon gets lukewarm, it will never fulfill its purpose. Keep the fire burning!
Fan God’s gift into flame
Paul urged Timothy, “…I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). Notice, the fire originally came from God when Paul laid his hands on Timothy, but now Paul is instructing Timothy to make a conscious effort to keep the fire burning. If the fire of God is neglected, it will slowly wane and eventually be quenched.
After a fire is started it needs to be nurtured. Paul’s imagery suggests a tiny flame which must be blown until it is burning strong. Fanning a flame provides oxygen which causes the fire to burn hotter. This oxygen is the breath of the Holy Spirit, blowing away cobwebs and causing dying embers to glow once again. The more a fire is fanned, the hotter it will burn.
Do not quench the fire
“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1 Thess. 5:19). It is possible to lose the fire of God. This can be a slow, deadly process which begins with apathy, proceeds to stagnation, and ultimately ends with the ashes of spiritual indifference. The King James Version says, “Quench not the Spirit within you.” Quenching the Spirit of God causes lukewarmness. Keeping the fire burning bright is the result of a decision we make to maintain our relationship with God. The Spirit is quenched when we take our eyes off Jesus, and begin to focus on the lies of Satan.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Throughout the Bible, fire is used as a symbol to portray God. As I was writing this, I asked myself, “Why is fire used to represent God?” After thinking about the question, I realized that God reveals Himself in the physical world as a fire, because the hot, intense, burning of a fire expresses, in a poor way, God’s true awesomeness. Just as a flickering fire mesmerizes the imagination, God staggers the thought processes of mankind.
There are two different ways the fire of God is used in the Bible. First, God’s fire can symbolize the power, the presence, and the anointing of God. Second, fire can also represent God’s judgment on those who are wicked. We will be exploring the judgmental aspects of fire in a later chapter. Here we will examine some of the places in the Bible where God revealed His presence as a fire. Each occurrence of the fire highlighted in this chapter has a lesson for those hungry for the fire of God, so pay close attention as you read.
Adam and Eve saw the fire of God in the form of a flaming sword which flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. This flaming sword was defending the garden because of the sin of Adam and Eve. God’s fire protected the first man and woman from eating from the tree of life, which would have caused them to live forever in the midst of their sin. God’s fire will protect a Christian from sin.
Abraham saw God as a smoking firepot and a blazing torch. The Lord desired to make a covenant with his servant. He instructed Abraham to prepare a sacrifice of a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a young pigeon. These animals were to be a symbol of an eternal covenant between man and God. In the ancient Middle East, when two men made covenants, they would sacrifice these animals and then they would walk between the pieces to symbolize their covenant relationship. Abraham obeyed God by cutting the animals in half, and God appeared to Abraham. “When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram…” (Genesis 15:17-18). God’s fire sealed the covenant between Abraham and God. Today God still makes covenants with mankind through Jesus Christ; these covenants are sealed when the fire of the Holy Spirit comes to burn in our lives.
Moses saw the fire of God within a burning bush. Moses was out in the middle of a desert, watching his father-in-law’s sheep, when suddenly he saw a fire. “There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight — why the bush does not burn up.’” When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’…” (Exodus 3:2-4). Moses found his destiny when he discovered God’s fire. You will find your destiny when you discover God’s fire.
The children of Israel saw the Almighty as a pillar of fire which led them by night (Exodus 13:21). This pillar was like a huge nightlight. God’s fire led the children of Israel for forty years in the desert. The same fire that led the Israelites will lead us today.
The children of Israel also saw God come down on Mount Sinai as a fire. After a three day period of consecration “…Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently” (Exodus 19:17-18). When the people saw God’s fire, they trembled in fear. There was thunder, lightning, and a loud trumpet blast which frightened them. They stayed as far away as possible and they told Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:19).
The people did not want to hear the voice of God. Even though they were interested in what God was saying to Moses, they did not want to hear God themselves. Later, Moses chided them when he said, “The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain…” (Deuteronomy 5:4‑5).
The people were content to stay in the valley. They did not want to ascend to the top of the mountain of Sinai. “To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain….” (Exodus 24:17-18). The Israelites saw the glory of the Lord, but only Moses experienced the glory of the Lord. Some people are content to sit in the valley and hear stories about what God is doing, instead of climbing to the mountaintop to visit with God themselves. It is possible to see God’s fire and to hear reports about it without actually experiencing the fire.
After the Israelites heard the voice of God, while the mountain was still ablaze with fire, they came to Moses and wailed, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey” (Deuteronomy 5:24‑27). The Israelites were scared they would die if they listened to the voice of God, and in a sense this is true. Today if we want to experience the fire of God, we must die to self, so Christ may live within us.
Here are some more encounters Moses had with the fire in his lifetime:
* Being in the presence of God’s fire left Moses with a radiant countenance (Exodus 34:29).
* Moses discovered God is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24).
* God spoke to Moses from the midst of fire (Deut. 4:36; 5:24).
* God commanded Moses to destroy idols with fire (Deut. 7:25; 9:21).
* God promised Moses that His fire would go ahead of the Israelites to destroy their enemies (Deut. 9:3).
* God proclaimed the ten commandments to Moses out of the fire on the mountain top (Deut. 9:10).
The psalmist, while proclaiming the glories of the Lord exclaimed, “Fire goes before him…”(Psalm 97:3). The Almighty is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Fire still precedes the arrival of God.
Elijah the prophet saw the fire of God fall from heaven (1 Kings 18). He had challenged the prophets of Baal to produce fire by building an altar and calling upon their false god to send fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. For several hours these false prophets danced, cut themselves, and prayed for fire to fall, but Baal did not answer. Elijah taunted them by asking if their god was asleep or on vacation. After they grew tired, Elijah set up an altar to the Lord and placed a sacrifice on it, and then he had people drench the altar with twelve huge jars full of water. When Elijah prayed, God answered with a bolt of fire. God’s fire consumed the sacrifice and the altar, and it left a huge hole in the ground. False gods can not bring fire down from heaven. Only God Almighty can answer His people with fire. God’s fire is what sets the true God apart from fake gods. Others may claim to have fire, but they are only putting on a show by dancing around their altar. In contrast, our God is real. We worship the God who answers with fire!
Elijah was also taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:8-11). This came at the completion of Elijah’s ministry. The fire accompanied Elijah during his promotion to glory. God’s fire will take you up to a new level.
Isaiah prophesies Jesus (the Light of Israel) will become a fire which will burn away all thorns and briers. “The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers” (Isaiah 10:17). In a single day, Christ can burn away years of filthiness, contamination, and pollution in someone’s life. His fire is the solution to pollution.
Isaiah the prophet, in a moment of trouble, called for God to come down like fire. “As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!” (Isaiah 64:2). When one is in trouble, it is time to call for the fire of God to fall like never before.
John the Baptist baptized with water but he promised that someone was coming who would baptize with fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus was the fulfilment of this promise. When we invite him into our lives, he will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus proclaimed, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). Jesus brought the fire of God down to earth in a tangible form. Through Jesus everyone can experience the fire of God.
On the Day of Pentecost, the fire Jesus longed for was ignited by the Holy Spirit in the upper room in the lives of one hundred and twenty disciples. Tongues of fire came to rest upon their heads. That same day, almost three thousand people were saved. Signs of the Holy Spirit’s arrival are fire and changed lives.
Saul, the persecutor of Christians, was on the road to Damascus when suddenly he saw a bright light from heaven. The light was so bright, it blinded him. Was this light a tiny glimpse of God’s fire? Whatever it was, it changed Saul’s life forever. Saul became the man we know as Paul, who wrote the majority of the New Testament. In the same way, God’s fire will change our lives.
The servants of God are like a fire. “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire” (Hebrews 1:7). The servants of God literally become infused with the fire of God and they shine bright like the sun. Those who serve God become flames of fire.
John the Apostle saw a vision of the risen Christ (Revelation 1:12-16). In the vision, the eyes of Christ were like a blazing fire and his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. It is this same Christ who will return in the clouds, coming like a wildfire, sweeping the earth clean.
Get ready
As you can see, God has repeatedly revealed Himself to mankind as a fire. This earthly metaphor illustrates how intense and powerful He really is! When God reveals Himself as a fire, lives are changed. Get ready for the fire of God.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s fire can be vividly seen in the account of the day of Pentecost. John the Baptist had promised that Jesus would “…baptize…with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus promised this baptism of the Holy Spirit to the disciples immediately before He ascended to heaven. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8). He commanded His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were waiting and praying in an upper room for many days. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4).
What seemed to be flames of fire rested on the head of each disciple! This fire was the visible manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. One hundred twenty disciples were instantly empowered to begin spreading the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told the disciples they would become witnesses to the ends of the earth when they received the Holy Spirit! He declared, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Fire must spread! The Holy Spirit’s fire gave the disciples the power they needed to take the gospel around the world. This heavenly fire gave the uneducated fisherman, Peter, the boldness to stand up in front of a huge crowd and begin preaching.
Peter began preaching with fire! Peter, quoting from the prophet Joel, proclaimed, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days…” (Acts 2:17-18). Joel also tells us that one of the signs of the last times will be fire (Acts 2:19).
Peter preached the good news that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). He told the crowds, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…” (Acts 2:38-39).
Three thousand people were saved as a result of Peter’s fiery sermon that day (Acts 2:41). The story of Acts is the story of the spread of the Holy Spirit’s fire. The fire inside of the individual disciples quickly became a wildfire no one could contain. The religious leaders of Jerusalem tried to stop it, but they failed. The Romans tried to stop the fire and they did no better than the priests. The fire spread and spread until the entire Roman Empire had heard the Word of the Lord.
Fire gave the disciples a boldness to witness. This same fire will also give you the boldness to be a witness. When you are filled with God’s fire, there is no need to be timid in sharing your faith.
The Bible promises that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In addition, everyone who repents and is baptized, will be filled with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fills you, He will come with fire. This fire will begin to spread to the people around you. You will begin to see people saved, healed, and delivered as they come in contact with your fire.
The purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit is to be a witness. It is vital to spread the fire once you have caught it. Fire must spread or it will go out. Fire will give you urgent, burning compassion to save the lost.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Fire by its very nature spreads. A fire that is not spreading will go out. In the same way, a Christian that is not spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, will begin to cool down and eventually go out.
Fire spreads
When I was nine years old I saw a house on fire. With bells clanging and sirens screaming, firemen quickly pulled up in front of the house. After they unrolled their hoses they did something very interesting. They did not squirt water at the burning house right away. First, they used the hoses to wet down other houses.
I remember thinking, “Why are they squirting water on those houses? They are not on fire!” I concluded that the firemen were really dumb.
Later on I discovered that the firemen had a good reason for what they had done. Firemen wet down buildings that are not on fire to prevent the fire from spreading! First they contain the fire, then they put it out. The last thing firefighters want is an out of control wildfire!
The last thing Satan wants is an out of control wildfire! The fire inside of a Christian is actually controlled by the Holy Spirit. It only appears to be uncontrollable to Satan, because he can not control it. Satan tries to contain the fire by preventing its spread to other people. He seeks to quench the fire of God inside your heart. However, if he can not put out the fire inside of you, he will do everything in his power to keep the fire from spreading to other people. Satan does not want the fire of God to spread.
The devil prevents the spread of God’s fire by isolating Christians who have tapped into God’s supernatural power. This occurs when he cuts them off by building walls around them. Just like the firemen will first make sure that none of the houses around a fire catch on fire, Satan will begin to attack the people near the Christian who is on fire.
It is our responsibility to spread God’s fire to the people around us. Once we are filled with a burning desire to know God better, we need to look for a way to spread the fire. We have been blessed with God’s fire so we can be a blessing to others. We do not want a little camp fire that will only warm us. No! We want a raging forest fire that will be a shining light that draws people irresistibly to God.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Recently, I went on a mission trip to the country of Jamaica. Our group experienced powerful ministry at churches and evangelistic crusades. Hundreds of people were saved and many miraculous healings were reported.
The days in Jamaica were extremely hot and quite humid, so as we walked through neighborhoods inviting people to church, we quickly overheated. By the time we arrived back at our hotel that evening, we were a sticky mess. Unfortunately, the showers at the hotel were broken. We fixed this problem by deciding to go for a late night swim in the pool.
As we swam, I noticed there was a panel near the edge of the pool that looked like it was smoking. I was curious, so I foolishly swam over to check it out. I was treading water right by an underwater light when – zap – I was shocked. The electricity shot through my body and numbed my feet and hands. Terrified, I leapt out of the pool. Immediately, I became concerned for the safety of the other members of my team. I started screaming at them to get out of the pool as fast as they could.
None of them knew what was wrong so they just looked at me. As I kept yelling at them about the danger, some began to get out, but most of the people thought I was playing a practical joke on them so they stayed in the pool. I frantically began grabbing people and pulling them out of the pool. I pointed at the smoking panel and screamed, “Get out!” I yelled repeatedly about the danger until I was hoarse.
When everyone realized how serious I was, they climbed out of the pool. Several stubborn boys refused to fall for what they still thought was a practical joke. I was frustrated as I watched them swim in a dangerous situation. I began to talk to them and show them the danger they were in. Finally, my sense of urgency compelled them to climb out of the pool. I was so relieved when I had saved everyone’s life!
God stopped me right then and He told me, “You need to save people from hell with the same passion that you saved those people from an electric shock.” This word from God has given me a passion to see the lost saved. This passion is God’s fire inside of me. By the grace of God, I had been saved from being electrocuted. After I had been spared, I began to yell and scream, and pull people out of danger. I experienced an intense urgency about it. I did not rest until everyone was saved, because I was concerned for their lives.
God revealed to me that I need to be just as concerned about the lives of people who are headed for hell! I have to do whatever it takes to rescue someone from the grasp of Satan. If I have to speak loud and boldly, I will. If I have to talk them into salvation, I will. I made a commitment to myself that day that I would do whatever it takes to help save a soul from hell.
Someone has described the Christian walk as “One starving man who has found food, telling another starving man where he can find food.” I experienced salvation, and now my duty is to help save others! After someone discovers God’s fire, spreading that fire as far as they possibly can becomes their responsibility. God gave me a revelation about the urgency which I need to have in my spirit to save the lost. The sinner who has recently been saved is the most motivated person to go out and save others. It is important to continue to burn intensely. Our job is to catch the fire, keep the fire, and to spread the fire!
Fire gives boldness! I was not worried about what people thought about me when I was trying to save their lives. I did not care what I looked like or how my message sounded. I became bold and I pulled people from danger. When it is a life and death situation, you must burn with a compassion that forgets about all the normal details of life.
I have caught the fire of God, now it is time for you to catch the fire of God!
“God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is thine, I seek not a long life, but a full one like yours, Lord Jesus.” – Jim Elliot
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
The fire of God is the burning passion which exists in the hearts of those who are committed to serving God. This fire creates an appetite for righteousness. Fire produces love, reverence, and passion for God. Fire is found in the fervor and intensity of worship. Fire falls when God’s children yearn to be consumed with a divine adoration for God. It creates a craving hunger for God Himself.
God’s fire drives the preacher to preach. God’s fire forces the teacher to teach. God’s fire compels the evangelist to evangelize. Fire gives birth to an obsessive enthusiasm for winning the lost. God’s fire sustains the soul when trials and tests come your way. God’s fire enables the Christian to live a holy life.
The fire of God judges between right and wrong. The fire of God purifies that which is not worthy and destroys imperfections. The fire burns away chaff and leaves gold. It challenges, compels, and produces mighty men and women of God. The fire of God is not given to make us cozy, but holy.
The fire of God is like the fire in the belly of a steamship; it provides the thrust for the voyage upstream. The fire of God is like the fire in a hot air balloon, uplifting the spirit to higher heights. The fire of God is like a campfire, supplying warmth on a cold night. The fire of God is like the flame in a lighthouse, giving direction and warning of danger.
The fire of God is the difference between dead religion and a living relationship with Christ. The fire of God separates those who play at church from those who are the church. The fire of God differentiates between those who preach life changing sermons and those who only share comforting monologues. The fire of God divides the worshipers from the ones who only want to be entertained. The fire of God is the difference between the impotent and the powerful. The fire of God is the defining characteristic of the passionate follower of Christ.
The fire of God rings the death toll for the forces of the kingdom of darkness.
The fire of God energizes God’s people with His power and truth.
The fire of God burns away sinful thoughts, motives, and desires, and leaves behind a renewed mind.
The fire of God removes sadness and replaces it with the joy of the Lord.
The fire of God is the sign that true revival has finally come.
The fire of God calls sinners to repentance and inspires people to live a life of holiness.
The fire of God enlists, trains, and empowers believers for world evangelism.
Ignite Genuine Passion for Jesus and a Revival Fire in Your Heart as you read Daniel King’s book on the Fire of God.
Jesus was full of both grace and truth. John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Our preaching should also be full of both grace and truth. When we preach about grace we reveal God’s mercy. When we preach about truth, we reveal God’s holiness and need for justice. Preaching truth without grace is harsh. Preaching grace without truth misleads people into thinking they can abuse God’s grace by continuing to live a life of sin. Truth without grace becomes brutality; grace without truth becomes hypocrisy.
When Jesus is preached, grace is revealed. Acts 4:33 says, “With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” When the apostles began sharing about the supernatural resurrection of Jesus, the early church experienced “great grace.” Not “normal grace” but “great grace.” The same thing happens today when we preach about the resurrection of Jesus. You might even translate this term “great grace” as “radical grace,” or even “hyper-grace.” It is the type of grace that Paul was talking about when he wrote, “the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant” (1 Timothy 1:14). It is overwhelming, supernatural forgiveness of sins and freedom from the old forms of religion.
In Jesus, we have received grace on top of grace, favor on top of favor, and blessing on top of blessing. John 1:16 says, “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace” The Amplified Version translates the last phrase of this verse as “grace on top of grace.” This verse gives us a picture of “overwhelming grace.” When we give our lives to Jesus, we receive all of His fullness.
If you want to know more about God’s Grace and why Grace Wins, order a copy of Daniel King’s book about the Grace of God today!
Romans 8:1 proclaims, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” After I preached on this verse one time, a friend asked me, “But doesn’t the Holy Spirit convict us of sin?” “Yes,” I had to say, “That’s true. But there is a major difference between Satan’s condemnation and the Holy Spirit’s conviction.”
Condemnation tells you how bad you are, conviction tells you how good you can become through Jesus. Condemnation is Satan trying to make you feel guilty. Conviction is the Holy Spirit reminding you that through Jesus you are righteous and have no need to sin any longer. Condemnation pushes you to desperation; conviction pushes you to repent and rely on Jesus.
Let’s look at John 16:8-11, “And when He [The Comforter] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:of sin, because they do not believe in Me;of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” The Holy Spirit is a comforter, not a condemner. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, (singular) the sin of not believing in Jesus. But for the believer, the Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness.
You don’t need to be worried about sin because you have an advocate: “…If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). And Jesus is not our only advocate. The word “comforter” used by Jesus to refer to the Holy Spirit also means “advocate.” And what greater picture of advocacy on our behalf is there than that of God the Father—giving up His own Son for the sake of sinners. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—all of Them are on your side. We often see our lives as a series of up and down moments. Some days we do good, other days we make mistakes and fail. And, if we rely on our own works for salvation, that is what life looks like. But if we put our faith in Jesus’ perfection, allowing Him to stand in our place before God, then the Father sees our lives as one steady line at the top of the chart…because that’s what Jesus’ life looked like.
If you want to know more about God’s Grace and why Grace Wins, order a copy of Daniel King’s book about the Grace of God today!
I don’t think the grace empowered believer should throw out the Ten Commandments.
Several times, Paul mentions the Ten Commandments. For example in Ephesians 6:2, Paul tells children to honor their parents. If the Ten Commandments were passed away, why would Paul be mentioning them? However, our understanding of the Ten Commandments is to be rooted in love.
We could express the law of grace by saying, “Love God, Love people.” This is our new version of the Ten Commandments. However, it is impossible to do this until after you have a revelation about how much God loves you. The more you focus on how much God loves you, the more you will love Him. The more you love Him, the better you will be at loving those around you.
How will you do it? Just as God saved you by grace, He now empowers you to walk the love-walk by grace. Why do you obey God? Is it because you fear He is going to strike you dead? Or is it because you love Him and are thankful for everything He has done for you? 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love casts out fear.” We obey God’s laws, but now our motive is completely different. We are not scared of punishment, we obey God’s laws because of our love for Him.
St. Augustine said, “Love God and do as you please.” He understood that once you love God everything else in your life falls into its proper place. If you truly love God, you will not want to sin any longer. Love is the driving force behind grace.
Because of grace, we now have the freedom (liberty) to serve God through love. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Liberty from the Law is not an excuse to sin, instead it empowers us to live above the Law: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
While we are indeed free from the requirements of the old covenant, we are only freed from a lesser law so that we can serve a higher one. There is no law against love because there is simply no higher law. By this means, love is able to do what the Law could never do: make us blameless and holy before God. How much then should our heart’s cries echo those of Paul when he wrote, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
Laws let us know when we are doing something right or something wrong. In order to illustrate this, let’s consider the speed limit. Often when I am driving around town, I see a sign that says, “45 MPH.” The sign informs me of the speed that experts think should be maintained for that particular street.
When I was younger, I would often ignore the speed limit. I would go 55 MPH or 65 MPH. I knew I was doing wrong, but I didn’t care. However, one day I was pulled over by a policeman. I received a ticket. Because the ticket was so expensive, it caused me to drive more carefully. I still sped from time to time…but I kept a careful eye out for police cars.
More recently, I became a father for the first time, and I find that I am much more conscious of driving safely. Now, whenever my son Caleb is in the car, I find myself driving under the speed limit. Caleb is 100% effective at making me drive the speed limit—and it’s not because he is writing me any tickets. In fact, with my son in the car, I don’t even need any speed limit signs. I operate under a different law, the “law of protecting my son’s life.” Or you could call it “the law of love.”
In the same way, the Law lets us know when we are doing wrong. Because disobeying the Law has consequences, it is occasionally effective at forcing us to be good. But, no one can obey the Law 100% of the time. By breaking even one law, you become a lawbreaker, worthy of punishment.
But, when you come out from under the Law and start a relationship with Jesus, you become motivated to do what’s right, not because of the threat of punishment, but simply because you don’t want to hurt the relationship. Suddenly, you are living under “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” When my son Caleb is in the car, I drive safely, not because of the law, but because I don’t want to hurt my son. Relationship is a much greater motivator than the Law ever can be.
You can do right because you obey the Law, but you can also do right apart from the Law. In this illustration, what is “right” is safe driving. The law (speed limit) can make you drive safe sometimes, but the greater law of relationship (love for a son) can motivate you to drive safe all the time.
The Law is not effective at keeping us from doing wrong. It is effective at showing us when we do wrong. But, relationship is good at motivating us to do what is right. We know right and wrong because of the Law, but we know how to do right because of grace.
Law governs actions, but a grace relationship affects the heart. The Law can make you go to church, but grace compels you to worship. The Law can forbid divorce, but love between a husband and wife is a matter of relationship. The Law reduces adultery, but it can do nothing about lust. The Law can keep a person from stealing, but not from coveting. The law prevents discrimination, but not hate. In order for attitudes to change, grace is needed. My attitude toward safe driving radically changed once I had a son.
If you want to know more about God’s Grace and why Grace Wins, order a copy of Daniel King’s book about the Grace of God today!
Recently, I was invited to share at a Bible study. One man stood up and prophesied that God was about to judge America. He announced, “Because America has allowed abortions, homosexuality, and blatant sexual sins, God is angry at America.” He continued, “In Deuteronomy 28 there are five curses for every blessing. If you do not repent, you will be under a curse. Because of America’s sin, sickness and poverty will come upon you.”
I interrupted him and said, “Sir, all of God’s judgment was poured out on Jesus at the cross. Jesus took the curse. God now looks at us through the blood of Jesus. God does not curse us, He looks at us from a place of mercy, love, and forgiveness.”
The man was offended at my words but I continued, “In the Old Testament, we see God’s judgment. His wrath burned against the Israelites during the time of Moses. Fire and brimstone rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. Elijah called down fire from heaven. But, in the New Testament, Jesus revealed God as a loving Father. All of God’s judgment was poured out on Jesus at the cross. The cross makes all the difference in the world. It is the dividing line between God’s judgment and His love.”
I finished by turning to the most radical verse in the Bible, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
In Old Testament times, God was angry at those who broke the Law. But Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law. So God is not angry anymore! God is not mad at America or the world, God is smiling at the world. God is not judging America. God is not judging you. His mercy triumphs over His judgment. God is not up in heaven trying to beat you up. He is in heaven reaching out to you. Even when people are living in sin, God still loves them and offers them the hope of salvation. We are not “sinners in the hands of an angry God,” we are sinners in the hands of a merciful God.
Jesus did not come to condemn, curse, or judge the world. Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Why do I call Romans 8:1 the most radical verse in the Bible? Because it completely sets the believer free from condemnation for doing wrong.
On another occasion, right when I was celebrating the fact that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ,” a holiness preacher quoted the rest of the Scripture to me, “There is no condemnation to those…who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”
“See,” he said, “if you walk in the flesh and start sinning, you will be right back under condemnation.”
This interpretation bothered me so much that I went and looked the Scripture up in my Greek New Testament. Did you know that this phrase “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” is not found in the original Greek? So, what is it doing there?
The translators were so blinded by their legalistic theology that they could not believe the verse as it was originally written—its declaration of freedom was so large. So they added a qualification to the verse. The good news of our absolute freedom in Christ was too radical for those translators to handle. And for many today it is still too radical. There is therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation! Think about that for a little while.
If you want to know more about God’s Grace and why Grace Wins, order a copy of Daniel King’s book about the Grace of God today!
