According to His Will

Do you feel sometimes that you need more? That the Lord seems so distant? You know He is right inside of you, but no matter how much you study, how much you turn to God, how many songs of worship you sing, that sense of fulfillment is missing. And can we turn enough? Can we worship enough? Study enough to find God? No, it is by faith that we find Him. And that faith worked out in experience of Him. The Lord has a perfect plan of revelation, a perfect path of growth for you and I.

In the transformation of my heart, there are periods of time when I feel like something is missing. I long for a manifestation of God, some deep reassurance beyond my comprehension. But He is increasing my faith at these times. What once quenched my thirst, what fed me spiritually, is like a light snack, hardly enough to get by. The desperation for more of Christ builds quickly, that longing for the saturating presence of the Spirit. We must call on Him in these times, seeking Grace to move forward, examining our walk for potholes and ditches.

In this place I find the most amazing juxtapositions in my conversations with God. The Spirit highlights what would appear on the surface to be contraditions, yet lead to peace. Today was one such day, and one such message. I have looked for the flow, searched for the water. Yet in myself I can not even sustain that effort. The soul is easily dismayed, easily trapped by distractions. But He is guiding to greater faith. I could not get over this verse:

"... was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will..."

Oh how incredibly rich is this verse! And how clear the path for each of us! Yet He highlights this, the hearing of His son, in the midst of my distraction. Emphasizes the manifestations of Himself in this realm, while I am grasping for comfort! Transform me Lord, according to Your plan.

Those that heard Jesus (in this verse, the ones physically listening to His ministry pre-assention) bore witness to Him. And God chose along with those witnesses to display signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Spirit according to His will. Saints of the most High God, do you see what His will is? When we find the voice of the Messiah, and hear Him, and attest to what we hear, God moves in power and mystery as confirmation along with that!

Now, there are those who would claim that this was a one time deal, and necessary to seed out the religion of Christianity. So then what? It's over? It's up to us to continue on doing the best we can? Ridiculous! Or there are others who say that the Holy Spirit imparted now is active, but those events surrounding the formation of the followers was unique, and somehow beyond what God intends for today.

If you are close to one of these, open your ears and hear! The unique event was Jesus himself, offering up the ultimate sacrifice. Establishing a new temple, one that will never be destroyed. What manifests here in the physical realm among men is the reflection of that spiritual reality. It is a new generation we live in today, yet the will of God is the same. He is committed to the Body of Christ! He will bear witness to Jesus now! Can you believe that He will? Can you expect signs and wonders? Miracles and gifts?

My heart longs to be nearer the Lord. And we ask not for signs, miracles, wonders, or gifts so that we, of ourselves, can prove unto ourselves that our faith is justified. Testing God is impossible and futile. Yet to not expect these things, to limit your faith to the acceptable experience of the world is a stunted existence. Grasp hold of this word! Believe it, declare to God that you have heard the voice of His son, and believe! Proclaim that word, in the expectation that God with be the true witness of the Messiah!

Lord, open my ears to hear you, my heart to increased faith. Even this very moment I cry out in need of a fuller existence. My own being is empty and weak. Cloth me in Your garments of praise, fill my heart with testimony of Your love. Touch with renewed faith every reader, speak in to the void and let new life come forth.