Divine Reality And Our Inner Being - Part 2: The Prayer Series

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. The Spirit’s ministry is supernatural. And He gives us an understanding that we cannot obtain by our study and natural effort, alone. 

“The power for which Paul prays is mediated through God’s Spirit” in our inner being.(1)

That’s where all spiritual transformation takes place. This ultimately results in a change in our outward behavior. As believers, we must ask God to reveal himself to us, so that as the NIV translates it: “you may know him better.” 

We first come to know him through our initial salvation experience, but that’s only the beginning of our spiritual journey. The knowledge of God is a never-ending process for those who pursue him. And, God desires for us to know the depth of his love, wisdom, and power in ever-increasing ways. 

He’s a holy but very personal God.

Intimacy with God will produce spiritual fruit in our lives if we won't give up. 

The apostle Paul prayed, “…my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” - Galatians 4:19 ESV. His prayer is that we will grow more into the likeness of Christ.

Like a good Shepard, Paul cared deeply for the spiritual maturity of his sheep.

We have been set apart by God as his holy people so that our behavior will be in harmony with his will for our lives. 

We are His inheritance. 

And his will is that we will become more like Jesus (over time) through the transformation of our character. Paul’s prayer is that Jesus would take up residence in our hearts. That he would live in our hearts ungrieved. Jesus never leave us forsake us. Sin hurts our communion with Jesus. 

The theological word for this is sanctification. We have been set apart. But, growth in Christ doesn't happen apart from our pursuit of God. As followers of Jesus, we are God’s inheritance. And we have his resurrection power living inside of us. 

We must ask (pray) for an understanding of the “immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might,” which is what God has given us in Christ. For the most part, the full extent of this power is untapped in our lives. 

We overcome the evil impulses of the world, the flesh, and the Devil by allowing the resurrection power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to dominate our thinking. 

As we discover God’s power in us, we are more effective in ministry. Without personal contact with the Holy One - spiritual growth is not possible.

The Ephesians understood that the spiritual atmosphere was evil and they were up against dark powers – that controlled unbelievers. 

Those same dark forces still operate in our world today. The early Church understood that they were fighting a spiritual battle. 

But, sadly many in the modern Church don’t have even a basic understanding of spiritual warfare. Paul was reassuring Christians that all these evil entities are under Christ’s feet. 

But we still have to resist this present darkness through prayer.

Pray for yourself and others for greater understanding of the resurrection power that God has given us.

And this is imparted to people of prayer.

So let’s keep asking.

(1) Praying With Paul, D.A.Carson, page 161 

Sitting With God In Our Pain: The Prayer Series

 

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62: 1-2 (NASB 95)

(The NASB is a very literal translation.)

“For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me. He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.” - Psalm 62: 1-2 (NET Bible)

There is a rest that comes when you ask God hard questions and then sit in silence. God is not offended by our questions and our disappointments - and what we perceive as unanswered prayer. 

As we read through the Psalms - we discover that King David, a man after God’s heart, had many questions.

Feeling disappointed with how some things have turned out in life is not a lack of faith. The Psalms are painfully honest. David had a secret history with God. Even though shaken his faith would not be upended. Only those who have experienced God as Father will have the faith to endure trials.

Running from God should never be our first option. He desires for us to run to him. And sit with him in our pain. That is true faith. 

God is looking for trust, even in the midst of our spiritual darkness. Joy will come if we learn the art of waiting on him. 

Metaphorically speaking God is our Rock. In reality, he is our shelter, a place of rest for our souls.

In that quiet secret place as we pour out our hearts to the source of our salvation - we quietly wait with confidence.

Trusting in His deliverance for ourselves and those we love. 

If we are still praying - God is still working.

In his time and his way.

A Spiritual PSYOP?

 

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23 

“As we use our power of choice to turn our minds to God, we have greater contact with God throughout our day, developing a conversational relationship with him. We bring the reality of God into our lives by making contact with him through our minds, and then our actions are based on the understanding that results from the fullness of that contact.” ~ Dallas Willard (1)

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” - (Gen. 6:5 NET)

” People had taken their God-given capacities and used them to devise evil.” (2)

We find a sobering warning in Romans 1:28: 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

An individual or society as a whole can turn to evil as a result of rejecting the revelation God gives. The mind is the target of both physical and spiritual enemies. When boundaries God has established for our benefit and flourishing are ignored, chaos ensues. God destroyed the earth once with a flood.  The next time it will be by fire. And God will give us the new heavens and a new earth with no more sin, sickness, death, or war.

“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” ~ 2 Peter 3:7 ESV

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” ~ 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

The most important job a follower of Jesus has is to guard their heart. A heart full of anger, pride, envy, lust, etc., will eventually act on these impulses. Indwelling sin is part of the human condition. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5 KJV). Sin dwells in our bodies, but those who learn to watch over their minds experience an increase of freedom in their lives. The Holy Spirit was sent to give us power to testify to the resurrection of Jesus with our words and our lives.

A.I., social media platforms, and news media outlets disseminate propaganda to foster division in our society. 

Some argue that PSYOPs are aimed at the United States by foreign powers or elites that seek to cause armed conflict in the U.S. I believe that is true. Even so, ‘doom scrolling’ on the internet is causing high levels of anxiety in our population. Below is the definition of PSYOP from Wikipedia.

“Psychological operations (PSYOP) are military operations designed to influence the beliefs, emotions, and behaviors of foreign governments, organizations, and populations to achieve U.S. objectives. They involve the strategic dissemination of information to persuade or manipulate target audiences, often during both peacetime and conflict.” (3)

I've been shocked to see how many people celebrate the death or wish death upon those they disagree with. This is the result of dehumanizing them. The leader of this PSYOP is Satan himself.

The enlightenment didn’t erase the reality of the spiritual world. Satan is real; he’s called ‘the god of this world.’ He’s not God’s equal but a lesser adversary who controls those who reject the Son of God. 

I’m not trying to be harsh. We all need the grace and mercy of God. But Jesus claimed to be God, and I believe him. His Resurrection proves it.

How do we survive in such a toxic society? I think the answer is to “... seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…” 

To seek God’s righteousness is to seek his character. This type of lifestyle requires us to sell out to Jesus.

Only a close relationship with God will sustain us in these times of uncertainty. Reality is hard to discern, and we desperately need discernment. 

Your friend on Facebook who disagrees with you is not your real enemy. Now is the time to rid ourselves of the toxicity of our society by learning to trust in and rely on our Savior, the Prince of Peace.

Make contact with your Creator. Watch over your heart.

1. Dallas Willard, The Scandal of the Kingdom, page 48 Kindle 

2. Bible Gateway

3. Wikipedia

Hunger For God

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 4:6 NASB 1995 

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The two little ones above were hatched in my family's yard a few years ago. This is a vivid picture of hungering and thirsting to be filled by a source other than ourselves. 

When we experience regeneration ( born again) - we immediately look to God for spiritual nourishment. The kingdom of heaven is made up of those with childlike dependent hearts. 

A sign of true hunger for God is our desire to read Scripture. It becomes a glorious obsession. 

The condition of our hearts determines what we get out of daily Bible reading. The Spirit is present to guide a humble obedient heart.

When we receive this gift of righteousness we develop a hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit's transforming presence. God makes us righteous. Righteousness is received not earned (we don't deserve it). It begins as a legal transaction, but the Holy Spirit leads us in a lifelong process to become more like Jesus. The transactional becomes experiential. Although we never achieve sinless perfection in this life. We must not lose heart! God promises to conform us to the image of Christ - if we don’t give up. 

Another way to say it: God wants us to live a righteous life and do righteous acts. This kind of life can only happen when we totally trust Jesus. We start our salvation journey with faith in Jesus which leads us into the faith of Jesus. Which is complete confidence in the Father’s ability to provide.

God is attracted to those with childlike faith. He promises to draw near to those who draw near to him (James 4:8).

If you have lost your hunger and thirst for him - why not ask God for more? Jesus’ invitation still stands. He's knocking on the door of our hearts. He wants to fellowship with us. Are you tired? He will give you rest. True satisfaction is found in a life fully surrendered to Jesus.

God's Power Transforms Us

                                                     Addison's Walk 2023 

The Scripture:

 "To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." -  2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV

A Reflection:

 Salvation is a gift from God; we do not earn or deserve it. The Father draws us to Jesus through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, opening our hearts to believe the gospel. We make a genuine choice (not salvation by works) when we repent and trust Jesus as the Lord of our lives.

Regeneration is the beginning of our spiritual journey. Through faith, God saves us and justifies us. 

I often hear that "God has a wonderful plan for our lives," and indeed, He does. His plan and purpose for us are to glorify Jesus. He gives us gifts and assignments to advance His kingdom and - to edify His Church,

While how-to books can be helpful, spiritual practices alone cannot equip us for ministry without God's power. We desperately need His presence. God created us for good works. Although we may resolve to do good, true spiritual transformation occurs when we live in union with Him.

He has given us spiritual practices to draw near to Him. Prayer, Bible study, fasting, fellowship, meditation, service, and contemplation are essential for spiritual growth. The key is to keep Jesus at the center of these practices.

We go astray when we focus on spiritual disciplines more than on God's abiding presence. With the abundance of how-to books available, it's easy to become overly focused on spiritual disciplines or the latest techniques we have read about. 

God’s power enables us to live life to the fullest when we understand that we can achieve nothing of eternal value without His presence. We are empowered by His presence.

**A Prayer:**

Father, make us worthy of Your calling. May our resolve to do good be accomplished by Your power, and may Jesus be glorified through our actions. 

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Experiencing The Presence of God

 

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:4-5 ESV

Christianity is uniquely rational and mystical, historically accurate, and experiential. "Christ in you the hope of glory" is factual and can be perceived by our senses. All followers of Jesus have the spiritual capacity to "taste and see that the Lord is good."

The key to the Christian life is to stay connected to the Vine. The Apostle Paul writes: 

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4 ESV

 

Our spiritual life flourishes when we realize we are in Christ and Christ is in us. The truth of being in Christ is both biblical and experiential. We can't earn God's manifest presence; we can only position ourselves spiritually to perceive Him.

A mind focused on Christ will attract the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

 

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." - Psalm 16:11 ESV

Joy can't be learned or earned; it can only be experienced. Joy is one of the benefits of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11 ESV)

God gives us the means to experience his presence.

Some warn against meditation and contemplation, and rightly so. It's possible to fall into error if we lack truth and sound doctrine. Meditating on the truth of Scripture and praying it back to God (not emptying your mind) is a safe passage into God's presence. The focus of our meditation is Scripture. Our contemplation is on God himself. Meditation should lead to contemplation. Taking Communion (also referred to as the Eucharist)  deepens our experience with Christ.

Contemplating the cross of Christ, with the sobering realization that our sins necessitated his sacrifice, is a profound truth. Jesus is our source of strength, and the cross serves as his means to transform us. When we embrace it daily, the power of the cross revolutionizes our lives. On a practical level, the transformation into Christ-likeness is a lifelong process.

My Prayer:

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God." - Psalm 42:1