The amplified version of John 1:16 says this:
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
It's almost too easy. God lavishes us with gifts! And He wants to be this generous with us. The problem begins when we start to take Him for granted. When we start to despise the "day of small things". When we stop intently seeking Him because He's blessed us so much. There is so much lost in spiritual plateau.
"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me." Hosea 13:6
Let's not get to this point. Let's stay hungry for God. Let's keep searching, keep seeking. Today the Lord is saying, "Seek my Face". Will you respond in obedience?
There comes a time when some will fall prey to distractions. I've done it. There comes a time when the enemy gets a stronghold and we lose our focus on Jesus. What does God do then? He alerts us! He makes known to us our mistake, and withholds Himself just long enough for us to realize our own desperation for Him. So we start to miss Him, so to speak, and then we begin seeking Him again.
We may start seeking Him, though, and only find crumbs (see Matthew 15:23 and on). We may only receive spiritual milk. We may not feel His presence like we did in the past. And we may not have our hope fully restored--not right away at least. There is a time for begging and wrestling with God. The correct response is to be desperate for God
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me." Psalm 142:6
Let's beg for His mercy, if we need to. Let's plead for more than crumbs. We have already entered into the fullness of God in Christ, but let's beg Him to allow us to live in this knowledge. Even though we already have every spiritual blessing, let's eagerly desire the spiritual gifts that He holds out for our taking (1 Corinthians 12:31). It is by faith in Jesus that we take hold of all of our heavenly inheritance. It is by faith in His unveiled character that we realize we can wrestle with God.
Confirmed: Yesterday I was listening to Christian radio and I overheard the story of the Canaanite women who insisted that the Lord at least give her the crumbs. Didn't she have great faith? It was this faith that pleased God. When we have faith, we can ask for more. We don't have to settle for just crumbs! If we are reckless in our trust towards Him, it will be done as we wish. Wigglesworth said, "Asking is receiving." Glory to God!
Confirmed: I was talking with Vanessa today about wrestling with God, and when it is appropriate to really plead with Him. She, too, had heard the story of the Canaanite women yesterday, except she read it in the Word.
Let's come to God with a boldness and empowerment by His Spirit. Let's come with pure hearts and trust that He has allowed us to stand before Him. He has made us clean! He wants our future to be prosperous, and He wants us to be fed with the finest of spiritual foods. Let's believe what Jude 1:24 says. Let's believe it and act on it!
"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
It's almost too easy. God lavishes us with gifts! And He wants to be this generous with us. The problem begins when we start to take Him for granted. When we start to despise the "day of small things". When we stop intently seeking Him because He's blessed us so much. There is so much lost in spiritual plateau.
"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me." Hosea 13:6
Let's not get to this point. Let's stay hungry for God. Let's keep searching, keep seeking. Today the Lord is saying, "Seek my Face". Will you respond in obedience?
There comes a time when some will fall prey to distractions. I've done it. There comes a time when the enemy gets a stronghold and we lose our focus on Jesus. What does God do then? He alerts us! He makes known to us our mistake, and withholds Himself just long enough for us to realize our own desperation for Him. So we start to miss Him, so to speak, and then we begin seeking Him again.
We may start seeking Him, though, and only find crumbs (see Matthew 15:23 and on). We may only receive spiritual milk. We may not feel His presence like we did in the past. And we may not have our hope fully restored--not right away at least. There is a time for begging and wrestling with God. The correct response is to be desperate for God
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me." Psalm 142:6
Let's beg for His mercy, if we need to. Let's plead for more than crumbs. We have already entered into the fullness of God in Christ, but let's beg Him to allow us to live in this knowledge. Even though we already have every spiritual blessing, let's eagerly desire the spiritual gifts that He holds out for our taking (1 Corinthians 12:31). It is by faith in Jesus that we take hold of all of our heavenly inheritance. It is by faith in His unveiled character that we realize we can wrestle with God.
Confirmed: Yesterday I was listening to Christian radio and I overheard the story of the Canaanite women who insisted that the Lord at least give her the crumbs. Didn't she have great faith? It was this faith that pleased God. When we have faith, we can ask for more. We don't have to settle for just crumbs! If we are reckless in our trust towards Him, it will be done as we wish. Wigglesworth said, "Asking is receiving." Glory to God!
Confirmed: I was talking with Vanessa today about wrestling with God, and when it is appropriate to really plead with Him. She, too, had heard the story of the Canaanite women yesterday, except she read it in the Word.
Let's come to God with a boldness and empowerment by His Spirit. Let's come with pure hearts and trust that He has allowed us to stand before Him. He has made us clean! He wants our future to be prosperous, and He wants us to be fed with the finest of spiritual foods. Let's believe what Jude 1:24 says. Let's believe it and act on it!
"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."
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