Unbound (Part 2): Wading Into Deeper Waters
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Steranka
the key to your destiny
“There are some among you who have exalted themselves as if I were not coming back to you. But I will come soon, if it pleases the Lord, and I will find out not only what these arrogant ones are saying, but also if they have power to back up their words!
For the kingdom realm of God comes with power, not simply impressive words.”
1 Corinthians 4:18-20 (TPT)
There was a lot of empty noise taking place amongst the Corinthian believers, and as such, they were beginning to venture down some deceptive rabbit holes. As you read the surrounding context of these passages, you get an even-clearer sense of the frustration the Apostle Paul was experiencing. This frustration leads Paul to remind us of one the greatest age-old truths:
Talk is cheap.
Take note that Paul doesn’t get caught in the weeds of every “supposed truth” being exchanged. He doesn’t waste his time trying to put out every fire. Instead, he cuts through the noise & takes a brass-tax approach. He says, “don’t just tell me but show me”. He reminds us that the Kingdom of God is not defined by clever conversation, but rather—
The Kingdom Of God is defined by transformation.
As Believers, how do we avoid the various pitfalls that try to bury our faith? How do we correctly discern & differentiate between what’s true & what’s not? We partner with the Holy Spirit to transform our minds according to the Author of Truth, Christ Jesus. Romans 12:2 (BSB) says it this way:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
To gain an appreciation for the depth of this transformation, it’s worth noting that the word “transformed” used in Romans 12:2 is the same exact word that is used to describe Jesus’ literal transformation that took place prior to His crucifixion. We have to remember that our calling is not about following a denomination, our best intentions, what somebody else’s opinion is, etc. We have been called to follow a person.
God has called us to follow Jesus Christ.
And if you trace His footsteps, you will find that one of the stops on His journey included the Mount of Transfiguration. Meaning, the Perfect Son of God had to make a divine pit-stop. Before He could reach His God-given destination, Jesus had to undergo spiritual transformation. As Disciples of Jesus, we press into the “upward call of God” (Philippians 3:14) by—
Pressing into christ’s journey of transformation.
“[Therefore]…I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead…”
Philippians 3:9-10
The reality is, we will never know God’s Power apart from His Presence. God’s Power is not an outside, peripheral benefit—it’s personal. When we live a life dedicated to intimately pursuing His Presence, we will never live the same. It’s time to declare that “enough is enough” with anything that’s undermining your faith. It’s time to wade into deeper waters. It’s time to unlock the next door of your God-given destiny &—
The key to God’s destiny is Christlike Intimacy.
closer than a brother
In today’s world, the term “friendship” has been eroded to an extremely shallow place. But based on Jesus’ teaching, there is no greater example of Love than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). In Proverbs 18:24, we find “…there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” By definition, that’s exactly who Jesus is.
Any genuine relationship continues to grow & deepen over time, and our relationship with Christ is certainly no exception. When we begin to recognize that friendship is synonymous with intimate fellowship, it makes it impossible for us to simply remain a “fan” of Jesus. We begin to realize that, in order for us to experience this depth of friendship with Jesus—
We need to be a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Be encouraged, the Lord of all Creation wants to “know you” & He wants you to truly know Him. Christ is calling you closer to Himself. He wants you to be yoked (joined) to Him & to stop carrying the unnecessary burdens of life. Don’t ignore His invitation; don’t grow deaf to His knock. Embrace Him as your friend—
Let Jesus be your rock.
*We know that “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world”. So when we find life’s challenges becoming greater than our ability to endure & overcome them, we have to acknowledge that we have a problem.
We have to choose to get back in His Presence.
There can be any number of things that keep us from experiencing God & the power of His Presence. But fundamentally, there are a few key areas that our issues fall under. The goal of this post is to take an honest look at a few specific areas so you can identify anything that’s infringing on your intimacy with God.
As with every message in this series, we simply ask that you invite the Holy Spirit to help you wield the Sword of the Spirit of Truth, so you can cut through anything that’s keeping you from moving forward in the Lord.
defeat deception
Deception is the devil’s favorite tool & he loves to “bait” us into lies that disrupt our ability to grow closer to God. One of the ways he does this is by convincing us to adopt a shallow-belief system. He’ll often use a piece of truth to bait you & then a distortion of truth to sedate you. In James Ch. 2, we’re shown an example of this tactic as James confronts the issue of “faith without works”. In verse 19-20 (NLT) he says:
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” How foolish!
Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”
James isn’t arguing that salvation is earned through works, but rather, highlighting how the work of God manifests & reveals itself in the life of a Believer. By using the example of a demon, James gives us a greater contrast to more easily identify the truth of God he was imparting. Because as we know, the differences between a demon & a Believer are “night and day".
Demons have a fear of being in God’s Presence; Believers are called to walk in His Presence. Demons have an expectation of His righteous wrath; Believers should have an expectation of His righteous work. Demons have been appointed to Hell; Believers have been appointed to Dwell.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being…”
As Believers who have been spiritually reborn, we need to be immovable when it comes to our identity in Christ. We need to reject any form of “faith” that operates in the same stratosphere of a demon. We need to take Philippians 2:12 to heart & “walk out our salvation with fear & trembling”. Meaning, we need to be walking in the overwhelmingly, powerful Presence of the Lord. We need to know that He loves us & we belong to Him. We need to know—
“…God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (BSB)
go after god’s goodness
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Many times, Hebrews 11:6 is understood as a verse that’s simply about believing in the existence of God. When we understand it this way, we rob ourselves of the other 1/2 of the equation that creates the kind of faith that truly pleases the Lord. We should believe in the existence of God “and”—
We should believe in the goodness of god.
Why would we pursue someone if we didn’t sincerely believe they were worthy of our pursuit? We wouldn't. Which is why it’s critical to understand that our God is a Rewarder of those who passionately seek Him. Our God is so good, that He never exaggerates or fails to live up to what He has to offer. Our God is so good, “eternity” is the only adequate timeline for experiencing His unending goodness. In His Presence is fullness of joy.
In His Presence we find perfect peace.
Jesus came so that we could have “life & life more abundantly”. When we obey His Voice, we walk in the promises of His direction & His protection. Deep down, every single one of us are searching for something more. The good news is—
Jesus is Everything you’re looking for.
pay the price
“A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:20-22 (BSB)
As the verse from 2 Timothy shows, it’s our willingness to sacrifice, sell-out, and be “set apart” that elevates us to an honorable place before God. We’re reminded that, a relationship that never costs you anything, will also never be worth anything. True relational intimacy is the most special privilege we can experience in our relationship with God, but like any relationship, intimacy isn’t automatic.
Meaningful Connection comes at a cost.
You may find that, in order to experience greater intimacy, you have to sacrifice some personal productivity. You may become aware of things in your life that need to be cleaned up or cut-out entirely. You may find that you’ve grown so accustomed to steering your own ship, that you’re limiting God’s Power & Provision. But by the Grace of God—
You’re ready to make a different decision.
You’re ready to simply say “yes” to whatever the Lord may be saying to you. You’re ready to stop sinking into a self-help frenzy & begin stepping into a Spirit-led friendship. You’re ready to find relationships with others that have substance & help steer you closer to Christ. You’re ready to pursue the Lord—
No matter what the price.
STep out of the shallow end
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit”
The illustration of the tree illuminates the path of living a fearless & fruitful life. Because its roots are sent out, it’s unaffected by drought. Because it’s planted by the water, the heat leaves it unbothered. The tree doesn’t worry nor does it fail to bear fruit, because the tree is secure in its root.
Jesus Christ is the Living Water that every Believer has been planted in. Jesus is the One who told us, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. We need to step out of the shallow end & step into the depths of God’s Grace. We need to stretch ourselves out & grow closer to Christ. Though the heat of the world will come, and with it the year of drought, we can live above all fear & every bit of doubt. And we will never cease to bear fruit—
As Long as Jesus Christ Is our root.
Keep growing in your walk with Jesus
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today’s Takeaways
The key to your destiny is christlike intimacy.
be a friend who “sticks closer than a brother”
Pursue Christ no matter the price.