KingdomNomics Son Power Generating Impact Now and for Eternity Phil Wiegand Copyright © 2017 by KingdomNomics Foundation, Inc. Son Power By Phil Wiegand Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be produced in any form without the permission of the author. The views expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Vision , NIV . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission ® ® of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM ® Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ® Scripture quotations marked The Message are from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. ® Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version . Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ® Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version . Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.KingdomNomics.com 4 h I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. —Philippians 3:10 5 6 Contents  Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................9 Introduction Experience the Son-Powered Life!.................................................11 Rising to Son Power.............................................................................15 Chapter 1 Prerequisites for Experiencing Son Power........................................23 Chapter 2 Barriers to Experiencing Son Power..................................................33 Chapter 3 A True Desire for Experiencing Son Power......................................41 Chapter 4 Son Power 101: Son Power Is Anchored in God’s Word.................51 Chapter 5 Jesus Christ Is Our Power....................................................................63 Chapter 6 Son Power at Work...............................................................................71 Chapter 7 Living the Son-Powered Life Day by Day..........................................83 Chapter 8 Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On...............................................97 Chapter 9 Applying Son Power to the Chapter 10 Use of Your Time, Talent, and Treasure..........................................111 Rise, Let Us Go from Here................................................................123 Conclusion A. Begin Your Relationship with God.............................................125 Appendices B. Sonburst Personal Application....................................................129 C. Additional Power Nuggets...........................................................133 D. KingdomNomics DNA.................................................................137 7 8 Acknowledgments  T he Lord has been so very gracious in providing a great team of people with a unique set of communication skills to make it possible to produce this book. My precious wife, Ruth Ann, is the first person I need to thank for helping me through the years to “road test” the Son Power principles under all types of circumstances. Specifically with this book, she was extremely helpful in providing both the time and a conducive environment for writing. Secondly, Helmut Teichert is a dear friend who is truly a special person with an exceptional set of talents. Without his skills as the project manager, his organization, and his recruitment of the team, this book would not have been published. He is the original catalyst for suggesting the publishing of the three KingdomNomics books from a businessman’s perspective and his vision and perspective have been invaluable. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Sheryl Moon who has been most effective in understanding my mindset. She has wonderfully helped in the wordsmithing of these concepts, helping me to communicate them in a way we hope is easy to understand and easy to apply. Finally, behind every writer is a person or team who puts the book into actual reading format. Where would I be without the talents of Mary Nicholson? Thank you for so tirelessly working to bring this book into eBook format and for entering round after round of corrections and modifications. 9 10 Introduction  Experience the Son-Powered Life! I love to watch the clouds in the sky during the day and in the brightness of the moon at night. Watching those clouds move is an illustration to me of how God is always on the move. He is continually working to change our circumstances and is always available to intervene in the affairs of mankind. Sometimes the clouds appear to be still, but if I watch long enough I see their changing shapes, I notice them moving ever so slightly and silently. I would not even be aware of that movement if I was not focused intently on them. God is like this so much of the time. He is on the move in our circumstances. The landscape of our lives is constantly changing and God is there, directing and guiding, even when we are unaware. The book of Psalms says it well, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19). When I coined the word KingdomNomics I was at the beginning of my own journey to articulate what I believe it means to set your sights on eternal significance. It is one thing to accomplish a great deal in this life. However, in all truthfulness, using the words of King Solomon, “It is all meaningless—like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). We may accomplish great things in this world, but ultimately it is all perishable. After “chasing after the wind” in my own life, I discovered, as so many other people have, that something was missing in my life. There had to be more to life than just living for the moment. It wasn’t until I committed my life to Jesus Christ that I began to sense a greater purpose. In the early days of my life as a Jesus-follower, as I grew in my understanding of what it means to have a new life in Christ, I also learned that God wants us to think differently, to embrace his plan for our lives. He wants us to use everything he has blessed us with to further his kingdom, here on earth and for all eternity. Since that time, God has been moving in my life, sometimes in ways that I can see, sometimes almost imperceptibly. And so, my first book, KingdomNomics was written out of a desire to share how each one of us can achieve significance that will echo into eternity by using all of the resources at 11 our disposal. Making a difference that will last for all of eternity requires wise stewardship and intentional decisions regarding our time, talent, and treasure (the three Ts). Our lives are but a “loaf of time.” Each day shortens our individual loaf by one “slice.” Since the actual length of life is uncertain and no one knows how large their loaf is, it is important that we maximize our lives with eternity in mind, making the most of every day that we are given by being wise stewards of those three Ts. Ecclesiastes 12:4 tells us, “Remember him [God] before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades.” The opportunities before us will eventually end, we must take full advantage of them while they are before us. In the second KingdomNomics book, Converterlator, I identified various ways we can transform each day’s opportunities into eternal treasure. Each one of us has choices to make regarding our resources, and what we choose to do is determined by how much of God’s Word we have working in our lives. When we choose to become a Converterlator, we become an agent of change, an agent who invests the temporary items of this world, including our time, talent, and treasure, in the imperishable values and goals of the kingdom of God. This investment affects our lives now and creates a lasting impact that stretches into eternity. A Converterlator, through the revelation and transforming power of God’s Word, realizes that everything we can see and touch in this world is in the process of perishing. The Converterlator works diligently for the goals and purposes important to God. Here again, time is important. We live in a time bubble that can pop at any moment, moving us into eternity, a place with a totally different paradigm and totally different priorities. Son Power is all about God generating the power for your impact on eternity. All believers have Son Power available to them. This power is found in the work of the Holy Spirit because of the Son’s incredible sacrifice. As Christ takes up residence in a believer’s life, he becomes a conduit for the empowering of the Holy Spirit. This power flows freely when you live a life that is in harmony with his revealed will. And because the Son’s power is eternal, it is this power that we vitally need to accomplish all that God has for us. We must avoid the mistake of trusting in our own limited power to accomplish God’s purposes and instead trust in the eternal power of the Holy Spirit. When we allow Son Power to work in and through us, our lives, desires, and accomplishments will be transformed. Son Power is all about how God, through his power working in you, is generating an impact for eternity. As we experience Son Power, we go beyond a head knowledge of God and actually experience his Word personally operating in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. God wants each one of us to be a “doer” of the Word, not simply a “hearer” of the Word (see James 1:22). He desires that each one of us bear fruit for eternity as we serve him in the newness of the Holy Spirit. 12 One of my favorite verses is 2 Peter 1:19, “You must pay close attention to what they [the prophets] wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star [Jesus] shines in your hearts.” I believe that God’s goal is for each one of us to have “Christ, the Morning Star” rise up in our hearts in a manner that progressively overcomes the self-willed life. Only Christ can overcome the grip that sin has on us. Only Christ can empower us to make a difference for eternity. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Experiencing God’s power will put you on the pathway to achieving a life that is hidden in Christ (see Colossians 3:3), a life that leads to not only a full and abundant life now, but also accomplishes an echo into eternity. The Son-powered life enables us to not only experience the very nature of God now, accomplishing all that he desires for us here on earth, but also empowers us to look forward confidently to the rewards that we will experience in heaven. 13 14 1  Rising to Son Power Lord … may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power! —Judges 5:31 P icture in your mind for a moment a sunrise. Sunrays bursting forth, beautiful color, incredible potential, hope for a new day. The sun, the source of unbelievable and, for all practical purposes, virtually unlimited power. The sun, the focus of our existence as the earth revolves around it. Without the sun, life as we know it would be non-existent. The sun is the source of light and power for our entire planetary system. Without the sun, we would be in complete darkness. Night and day are determined by the sunrise and sunset. The sun gives us illumination that scatters the darkness so we can see and observe by the natural eye the things that are hidden without its light. How confining life would be without its light. The rays of the sun provide warmth, light, and power. Without the sun, we would have no plant life or food to sustain us. Stanford University research professor Philip Scherrer once said, “To the best of our knowledge our sun is the only star proven to grow vegetables.” Without the sun, life on earth would not exist. And yet, following the sun rays, the delicate sunflower lifts its head gently and moves with the sun throughout the day. Through scientific discovery we have learned that the activity on the surface of the sun impacts the earth. Solar storms and solar flares on the surface of the sun can actually cause electrical blackouts and make communications systems inoperable on the earth. In recent years, technology has developed to capture the power of the sun. With this power, we are now able to generate energy for millions of homes and businesses. When a mirror is placed in the right relationship to the sun, it can reflect blinding light for many miles even though it does not have the power to produce light on its own. Batteries of panels, also positioned in the right relationship to the sun, receive the sunlight and then transform it into massive generating power for heating, cooling, lighting homes, 15 and powering industry. We have come to understand that physical laws govern the relationship of the earth to the sun and the outcomes of that relationship. Human activity in harmony with these physical laws results in huge benefits for mankind. However, when we ignore, disregard, or abuse those physical laws, the results can be devastating. As children, many of us learn facts about the sun and how it influences the earth. We also learn how the sun impacts us individually. While we enjoy the warmth of the sun’s rays, we also know that our skin can be burned and we can experience long-term consequences such as skin cancer when we are not careful. A proper understanding of the sun and how to interact with it is critical. Jesus Christ, God’s Son A little more than two thousand years ago, God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, appeared in this world and “broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality” (2 Timothy 1:10). This was a big deal. In fact, it is the most important event in history. Jesus is the source of our relationship with God. Jesus, the Son of God, entered our world, bringing light and life and hope. The Son illumines for us the only way to God, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Without Jesus in our lives, we live in darkness, spiritual darkness. Jesus came to bring us a new way of life. This new life includes his power working in and through us. We don’t need good deeds or self-sacrifice in order to make ourselves acceptable to God. Only Jesus can do that. It is because of his sacrifice on the cross that not only are we justified before God, we also have the gift of eternal life. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” —John 6:47, NKJV Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. —1 John 5:12 Just as the sun is the source of life for the earth, we find that Jesus is the source of our relationship with God. Jesus’ payment for our sin debt provides the way for us to come to the Father. Jesus is the only source of eternal life. Just as the earth cannot recreate what the sun provides, we cannot recreate for ourselves salvation, eternal life, or the power we need to live our lives for God’s purposes. We need Jesus’ power in order to live in harmony with 16 God’s will for our lives. Only Jesus’ divine power and precious promises enable us to tap into the supernatural power God offers us. As believers, our life is to revolve around the Son. The apostle Paul wrote, “He [Jesus] died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Jesus Christ is to be the center of our life, he is the source of our power which is enabled within us through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with God and as Jesus becomes more and more central to our lives, he causes us to bring everything into conformance with God’s will and purposes. As we rotate our lives around the Son, we become more sensitive to his authority over us. As we live in a proper relationship to God through Jesus Christ, we submit to his life-giving power. Jesus, the Son, illuminates to us the way of life both for this world and the world to come. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” —John10:10, NKJV “Don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.” —John 6:27 Son Power The sun provides a broad range of energy, including all the energy that is vital for life on earth. In order for the earth to receive its many benefits from the sun, scientific research has discovered that the relationship between the earth and the sun is critical. Not only is the earth positioned in just the right place to receive all the benefits of the sun without being destroyed by it, its precise position allows for correct gravitational pull between the two entities. The earth receives essential power because of its precise proximity to the sun. Believers who have their hearts properly positioned in relationship to God are renewed and empowered daily by the Son. As we study God’s Believers who have their Word, we learn to trust Christ as he lives his life in us and hearts properly positioned through us by his Holy Spirit. Jesus, God’s Son, beams God’s in relationship to God are power to us just as the sun beams its power to the earth. Paul renewed and empowered wrote to the Colossians in the New Testament, “Christ lives daily by the Son. in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory” (Colossians 1:27). We are talking about real power here—God’s power given to us by his Son and through the Holy Spirit! 17 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. —1 Corinthians 1:18 But to those called by God to salvation … Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. —1 Corinthians 1:24 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. —Romans 1:16 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 The power of the Son is accessible to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. This begins when we trust in Jesus as our Savior. In the book of Acts we read these words, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38, emphasis added). It is the Holy Spirit who enlightens us, empowers us, convicts us when we need correction, and transforms us into the likeness of Christ. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. —Romans 5:5 Just as the earth revolves around the sun, absorbing light and life, we receive light and spiritual life through the Son. This is true Son Power; the saving work of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, working in and through us. We need to learn from the sunflower. It lifts its head gently toward the sun and follows it throughout the day. We will find our greatest joy and purpose and strength when we focus on the Son and follow him throughout our day. 18 Son Power at Work At the end of each chapter, you’ll find three questions to help you apply what you have just read as you consider how you can experience more Son Power in your life. 1. What was the most important concept you read about in this chapter? 2. Is there anything you need to do right now because of what you read in this chapter? 3. How can you begin to incorporate the idea of Son Power into your life? Talk to God A key principle in KingdomNomics is “Soak, Sow, Flow.” Soak your mind and heart in the Word of God, sow the Word of God back to him, and let the Holy Spirit flow through you. Sowing the Word of God involves memorizing Scripture and reciting it. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 45:1, “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king” (NIV). Sowing the Word of God involves reciting that Word back to him in prayer. I often choose a Scripture verse or passage and use the words verbatim or the ideas presented as I talk to God. I often find other Scripture phrases becoming a part of my prayer as well. Even though I don’t usually reference the phrases I use, they simply “flow” out of me, you’ll find the references in small print just for your information. Under this section of “Talk to God,” after every chapter I will include one of my prayers that I’ve written down as God has been teaching me about Son Power. You can either read the prayer as your own or use it to inspire you to pray your own variation of it. I truly believe that this allows me to pray in conformance with God’s will as I use his Word to praise and bring requests to him. Scripture Meditation “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:17) Prayer Father, I have the greatest respect for you and your Word. I am totally trusting in you. I want to make sure that my heart is positioned in a right relationship to you. I know that your eyes are scanning the entire earth, looking to find those whose hearts are fixed on you (2 Chronicles 16:9). I choose to soak 19 my heart in your truth, desiring the roots of my innermost being to grow deeply into the soil of your truth. May you make yourself known and strengthen me with your living presence. You are the dynamic God, always on the move, always transforming all of creation to approve your magnificent will (Romans 12:2). I am calling on you because you promise to answer me and to reveal to me the things that I do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). In accordance with your Word, I have the expectation that the Son will rise in my heart with healing on his wings (Malachi 4:2), first to heal the imperfections in my heart, and then to help heal what is broken in this world. Listen, O Lord, and act. Come and make your home in my heart. Rise in the strength of the Holy Spirit to change me and the world around me. Only then can I be free of the hindrances of this world to serve you in a way that will bear fruit for all of eternity. Amen. Memorize and Meditate Spiritual “M and Ms” were introduced in the very first KingdomNomics book and in Converterlator. They were used throughout the books to serve as powerful reminders. M and Ms are specific verses that we want to memorize and meditate on. You can choose any verse from this chapter as your own Spiritual M and M, but at the end of each chapter, I’ll make a recommendation of a verse or verses to help you remember the key point of what you’ve just read. For this chapter, I’m suggesting the key verse that appeared on the first page of this chapter: 20 21 22 2  Prerequisites for Experiencing Son Power Wake up, sleeper … and Christ will shine on you. —Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) E veryone experiences sun power on a daily basis, but not everyone experiences Son Power. God’s Word reveals to us that certain steps are necessary in order to experience the full power of Jesus Christ. Failure to understand these steps and properly apply them will short circuit the Son Power working in our lives. Jesus brings us a new life and a new light! Step #1: Experiencing Spiritual Birth All things related to our relationship with God begin with spiritual birth. Jesus tells us that one must be “born again” to see the kingdom of God. Each and every person who wishes to see and experience the kingdom of God must experience the spiritual birth he mentioned to Nicodemus. “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” —John 3:3–5, see full story in vv. 1–18 Those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, experience spiritual birth. Have you taken this important first step? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal 23 Savior and asked him to be the Lord of your life? If so, you are a part of the family of God! If not, take time right now to turn to appendix A, “Begin Your Relationship with God.” John tells us that Jesus came into the world not to condemn it but to save it (see John 3:17). Failure to believe and trust in Christ alone for salvation If we want to be reflecting results in judgment for “not believing in God’s one and only the Son and his power in Son” (John 3:18). Jesus said, “I say to you, he who hears My our daily lives, we must word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, have a right relationship with the power source, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death Jesus Christ. into life” (John 5:24, NKJV). This important first step enables us to have the relationship with God that he desires to have with each one of his children. This step allows Jesus to give us access to the Son-powered life. It is impossible for a lamp to produce light on its own without having a proper relationship with a source of power. Likewise, a mirror gives light only when it receives light from another source. In both of these examples, a right relationship with a power source is non-negotiable. If we want to be reflecting the Son and his power in our daily lives, we must have a right relationship with the power source, Jesus Christ. That right relationship is only achieved by becoming a member of God’s family by receiving and trusting in Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior. This is called salvation, saved from one life and given another with an alternate power source. It is critical that we have a proper understanding of what our salvation in the person of Jesus Christ really accomplishes. God, the Father, has “qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12–14, ESV). Our eternal salvation is a done deal. The Father has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness. He has transferred us to the kingdom of his Son in whom we have the forgiveness of sin. These are all works of God, accomplished without our help. I find it interesting to note that each one of these verbs is in the past tense. I believe this indicates that because of those actions, we experience a paradigm shift. Yes, we are still in this world, but we are now living with a new identity. We are under a different law, the law of faith which gives us the law of life in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Furthermore, Paul tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your 24 salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. —Ephesians 1:13, NKJV We are secure in a new relationship with the King of Kings. Christ himself purged our sins. It is a finished work that he has done on our behalf. We are convinced of this when we read these words in the book of Hebrews: The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. —Hebrews 1:3 The Father and Jesus took care of our sin problem. We trust in Jesus alone for our salvation. He daily saves us from the foolishness of trusting in ourselves. In truth, we are “signed, sealed, and delivered” for shipment to the kingdom of God. In the same way that we trust in Jesus Christ’s power on the cross for our salvation, we must trust him for power through the Holy Spirit to live each day in the life he has designed for us. Step #2: Depending on the Holy Spirit When we accept the life God has for us through a relationship with Jesus Christ, everything changes. The Holy Spirit begins to work in us to transform our lives. Without this work, there is no capacity for living a Son-powered life. The When we use our spiritual Holy Spirit is the game changer. He is the great enabler. It eyes, we can see the fingeris he who generates in us the power to live the life God has prints of God all around us. planned for us. A relationship with Jesus is just the beginning, each one of us needs to be empowered by the Holy Spirit as well. When Jesus was on earth he told his disciples he needed to physically leave them in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit who would help them and teach them. John recorded this for us: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” —John 14:26 25 The Holy Spirit comes to live in the heart of every believer, “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Galatians 4:6). We are made alive by the Holy Spirit, and with him working in our lives we have a God-given desire to have a living relationship with the Father. The Holy Spirit shows us that trusting in self-effort is a dead end. I like to think of self-effort as a dependence on my “three amigos.” The amigos are “Me, Myself and I.” We need to say goodbye to those friends and trust completely in Christ to live his life in us on a daily basis. Our human nature is totally rooted in self-effort and the fixation of our culture is on self-accomplishment. “Look at me, look at all I’ve done!” A relationship with Jesus changes all of that. We realize that God has a plan for our lives and he will give us the strength to accomplish his purposes. The Holy Spirit is at work in and through us. It is his job to reveal things to us as we grow in our relationship with God. We rely on his strength. When that happens, the lights turn on, the engines rev up, the Son rises with power in our heart, and we begin to experience a life that is transformed. When we use our spiritual eyes, we can see the fingerprints of God all around us. How does this happen? We have been identified with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection so that we can serve in the new life of the Spirit (see Romans 7:6). We have Christ, the power of God living inside of us! Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. —Galatians 5:25 Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. —Galatians 5:16 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. —Romans 8:10–11 You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the 26 Spirit of God are children of God. —Romans 8:12–14 Our entire perspective is changed. We now focus on God’s desires and the Spirit’s power to accomplish his desires through us. Step #3: Embracing Our Spiritual Identity As believers, we have been transferred permanently into the kingdom of God’s Son. We now live under a totally We have died to the law different law, the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ. We and have been delivered are no longer under the law of sin and death as long as we from it so that we can live in the newness of the Spirit. walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. This is stated clearly in the New Testament when Paul says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1–2, NKJV). This is a totally different paradigm than the system under the Old Testament law. What we are talking about here is a new world with a different set of rules and laws, a world that we experience while in our earthly existence. The law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ now rules in our relationship with God, and not the Old Testament law comprised of the law of sin and death. We are still under a law, but a different law powered and sourced in the person of Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit. This is explained to us in the book of Romans: The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. —Romans 8:3–4 The law of Moses could not save us because our flesh (or self) did not have the power to meet its demands. The law’s purpose was to show us we needed a Savior. Because Christ satisfied the requirements of the law for us by paying the penalty for our sin through his sacrifice in our place, we now have a right standing with God as a gift from him. We are also now identified with Christ in his resurrection. When we accept Christ’s 27 work on the cross, we are raised with him from the dead and our spirit is given new life. The law of the Spirit in which we now live enables us to serve God in a new way. We have died to the law and have been delivered from it so that we can live in the newness of the Spirit. This is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God … But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. —Romans 7:4, 6 This is a critical point, and one that I personally still struggle with. It is difficult to separate works, which are a by-product from the old way of life, and faith, which is the new way. And yet, we must always keep in mind that Christ came to free us from the foolishness of self, self-works, and self-justification. It is through Jesus Christ that we have been given life and immortality. The Old Testament law represents the impossible, what we need to do to please God and come into his good graces. The work of Jesus Christ eliminates all of that. We come to God now because of what Christ did for us on the cross. It is totally because of God’s grace that we no longer need to rely on self. This, to me, represents the difference between darkness and light. It is self-effort versus the power of Christ who works in us. We simply live our life in response to God’s grace, and that my friends, gives us freedom. And yet, some of us still try living under the Old Testament grid. Self-effort tends to plague us, we think we need to earn our way into a relationship with God, or if things are moving too slow, we need to step in and help God out. But it is critical that we embrace our new identity, and celebrate that we are no longer in bondage to the law. Our lives are now established in a new paradigm with new rules. We simply cannot live out the Son-powered life if we do not embrace this new spiritual lifestyle. The Son-powered life is a life possessed by the Holy Spirit of God, controlled by him, and empowered by him. It is only available to us as we trust in him. When we fail to avail ourselves of this life, we become oblivious to what God wants to do through us. Since we are dead to the law, we have been released from the law and its power to keep us captive. We are to no longer trust in self, but trust in Christ to live in us and to empower us to live in accordance with his purpose for our lives. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ 28 lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 When you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. —Galatians 5:18 God is active in the life of the believer who is proactive in his relationship with him. He gives life and empowerment to those who choose to present themselves to him for his service. “For the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14). The life-giving Spirit has freed us from the power of sin so we are not under its control as we were before Christ brought his life into our heart. Once we meet his conditions of waking up and rising from the deadness of the prison of self, Christ will shine on us and the light of his countenance will be on us. When Christ shines on us with his favor, things happen! When the earthly sun shines, plants grow and power is harnessed for prospering the earth. When the Son shines on us with his favor, we will grow in our relationship with God and we will be in a position to harness his power to bless those around us. Son Power at Work 1. In what ways are you already aware of the Holy Spirit working in your life? 2. In what ways do you tend to live your life by self-effort? 3. What one idea from this chapter do you need to apply to your life? Talk to God Scripture Meditation “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12–14, ESV) Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son and for the power I can experience through the work of the Holy Spirit. Help me to understand in 29 a deeper way how you have qualified me to share in your precious promises. You have delivered me from the kingdom of darkness and have transferred me into the kingdom of your Son. You have enabled me to live a victorious life in this world that is totally sourced in the person of Jesus Christ and fully empowered by him. By faith I choose to abandon my own efforts at accomplishing anything for you and entrust my time, talent, and treasure into the strength of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. May this become a reality in my everyday living. Amen. Memorize and Meditate 30 31 32 3  Barriers to Experiencing Son Power For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:10, ESV T he verse from Ephesians 2 that appears at the beginning of this chapter tells us that we have been created to accomplish “good works.” Why then does it seem that so often we are powerless to accomplish great things for God? I believe it is because there are several barriers that keep us from experiencing God’s power through the Holy Spirit. I’ve heard that Seattle, Washington is a beautiful place to live. But I’ve also heard that Seattle’s weather can be downright depressing. When the skies are clear, the weather is beautiful. However, fog is common and often dense and it rains 50 percent of the time. It’s actually been recorded that 239 days of the year Seattle is covered by heavy clouds. There are physical barriers that are blocking out the effects of the sun. The sun is there, shining brightly, but the fog and clouds are obscuring it. I believe that Son Power is also obscured in our lives at times by things that present barriers to our seeing and experiencing that power. Think about it for a moment, what in your life keeps you from being empowered by the Holy Spirit? I’ve lived quite a bit of life and I believe most barriers fall under one of four categories: sin, reliance on self, head knowledge of God’s Word that does not result in heart knowledge, and failure to surrender to God’s will. Sin It is important to understand sin and to deal with it. The Bible tells us that God created humans perfect and in his image: “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). God gave 33 Adam and Eve meaningful work to do and told them the only thing they couldn’t do was eat the fruit of one tree, but they decided to take matters into their own hands and, as a result, sin came into the world. You can read all this in Genesis 2 and 3; Adam and Eve’s choice to do things their own way brought sin into our lives as well as their own. Because of Adam and Eve, all of us have a sinful nature, and it affects every part of us. King Solomon wrote: “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20, NIV). And in the New Testament John said, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (1 John 1:8). Charles Spurgeon once said, “As the salt flavors every drop in the Atlantic, so does sin affect every atom of our nature. It is so sadly there, so abundantly there, that if you cannot detect it, you are deceived.” There is only one person in the history of the world who did not have a sin nature: Jesus Christ. He was the “holy, righteous one” (Acts 3:14) who “never sinned” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This allowed Jesus to be sacrificed on the cross as our perfect substitute, “the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:19). It is through Christ that we are born again and begin a new life in him: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The whole idea of sin is very unpopular these days, even in some churches. The reason Jesus came into the world was to save us from our sins! Sin is alive and well and we must honestly own it and confess it. We cannot expect to experience God’s power in our lives when we choose to sin because sin always short-cirThe reason Jesus came into cuits the work of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Isaiah said, the world was to save us “Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is from our sins! his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore” (Isaiah 59:1–2). Sin manifests itself in all kinds of ways in our lives; pride, envy, self-righteousness, the list goes on and on. The difficulty is in recognizing our sin and confessing it as such. It is important that we learn to detect the voice of the sinful nature. Those who are born again have this command: “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11, NIV). The Holy Spirit takes up residence in each believer and supplies the power we need to overcome the pull of the sin nature within us. “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them” (1 John 3:9). Romans 6 tells us, “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (v. 14). We need to confess our sin to God so our relationship with him can be restored im34 mediately. “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). It is through the confession of our sin that we are telling God that we want to have our relationship with him restored, and it is then that the Holy Spirit will empower us to do God’s work. Be honest with yourself. Are you stuck in a painful past? God’s healing is available to you! Are you stuck in a painful present? God’s power is available to you! Get sin out of the way! Take time today to confess your sin to God and begin to experience the Holy Spirit’s power in a new way. Reliance on Self Years ago, I was in a group experience where we were challenged to have a three-minute conversation without anyone using the words “me, my, or I” … we couldn’t do it! Unfortunately, each one of us has an innate desire to think about ourselves. This self-centered thinking, the “big I,” needs to be broken. It takes Son Power to remove the control of self. This power becomes operative in our lives when we ask the Holy Spirit, by faith, to take control of how we think, feel, and act. We must learn to trust in the power of God alone to empower us and deliver us. Dying to self is painful, but God has promised that he will manifest himself in us. In Proverbs we read these words, “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord” (8:35). If we are to find favor with God and experience the Son-powered life, we must die to self along the pathway of We must learn to trust in life: self-reliance, self-trust, self-sufficiency, independence. the power of God alone to All qualities the world values and encourages. Jesus said: empower us and deliver. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.” —John 12:24–25 In order for a grain of wheat to multiply it must die. Our time, talent, treasure, and desire must be given up totally to God to be used for his world and his glory. If we just spend it on pleasuring ourselves, then we are missing the best that God has for us. Only when we die to self will God be able to multiply all that we are and all that we have. An important KingdomNomics principle is that as we progressively die to desiring the perishable values of this world, we will find the desire to invest in the imperishable values of 35 the kingdom. God’s priorities will become our priorities. We will also experience God’s favor and his abundant life. I have found these two verses in the book of Psalms to be critical as I keep my eyes on God’s will and not my own: Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. —Psalm 5:12, NIV For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. —Psalm 84:11, NIV When we remove the barrier of self, God’s favor is upon us and he protects and guides us. Head Knowledge of God’s Word that Does Not Result in Heart Knowledge Many people make the mistake of thinking that knowledge is enough to experience the presence and power of God. However, such a belief will short-circuit the Son Power in our lives. We need to remember the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness who had knowledge, but no purpose. “For this good news … has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God” (Hebrews 4:2). Is the Word of God important to you? Are you spending time regularly reading it, memorizing it, and putting it into practice? In order to have Son Power operative in our lives, we must commit ourselves to the study of God’s Word. Our knowledge must move from our head to our heart in the form of conviction that impacts our faith and behavior. Failure to do so will certainly make our lives barren and unWe must hear the Word of productive. However, when we immerse ourselves in God’s Word we position ourselves to hear God’s voice. God, we must accept the Word of God, and we must We must hear the Word of God, we must accept the live the Word of God. Word of God, and we must live the Word of God. It is only through this process that we will experience Son Power and become seeds that produce a hundredfold. I have had many experiences in my life when God has revealed his will for my life through his Word. When I immerse myself in that Word, I find that God works in me and through me. Scripture is either true or it’s not … it will either make a difference or it will not. What Scriptures are important to you? What you learn from God’s Word about who 36 he is, about his will, about his character, and about how he works will greatly affect how you experience the Holy Spirit in your life. You must take all that you have learned from God’s Word and apply it to your life circumstances. Failure to Surrender to God’s Will Another barrier to the Son-powered life is a refusal to surrender to God’s will. This is what is often referred to as being a “carnal” Christian, one who is still influenced a great deal by the world and its enticements. This principle comes from the King James version of 1 Corinthians 3:1: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” The NIV puts it this way, “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ,” and the New Living Translation says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.” The bottom line, a carnal Christian is someone who has accepted the good news of Jesus Christ, but does not want to be transformed by it. To become a Son-powered person, it takes an affirma- To become a Son-powered person, it takes an affirmative act of the will to choose to have the Holy Spirit control tive act of the will to choose how we think, feel, and act. We shut off his power when we to have the Holy Spirit control how we think, feel, refuse to let him do so. It takes surrender of self. Let’s review Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been cru- and act. cified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (emphasis added). In order to have Christ living in us we must allow Jesus Christ to take control of us. We must submit to him. Our life revolves around the Son. He lives in us. He is the source of the renewable Son-powered life. He must increase and we must decrease. The power of the Son is unlimited, and he can overcome the mountain of self in our lives when we allow him to do so. Son Power at Work 1. At this point in your life, which barrier discussed in this chapter is the greatest obstacle to your experiencing Son Power: sin, reliance on self, lack of commitment to obey God’s Word, or failure to surrender to God’s will? 2. What immediate steps can you take to remove that particular barrier from your life? 3. Take some time to reflect upon the sin in your life and then confess it to God, asking him to forgive you and fill you anew with his Spirit. 37 Talk to God Scripture Meditation “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:11) Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the relationship I have with you because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I thank you that I have put my trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation. Thank you for saving me from the folly of trusting in Me, Myself, and I. Thank you for my salvation and for empowering me to live life through the Holy Spirit. I confess that there are times when I attempt to live my life through my own power, in my own strength, by my own ingenuity. Forgive me. Today I choose by faith to die to self, as painful as it is at times, so that your life can be lived through me. More than anything else, I want to find the life you have planned for me to experience your favor. Thank you for the promises in your Word. What a blessing for me to know you and to learn of your way! Amen. Memorize and Meditate 38 39 40 4  A True Desire for Experiencing Son Power One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. —Philippians 3:13–14, NIV W ow! Take a look at the powerful verbs in the verses at the beginning of this chapter: forgetting, straining, press on, win. To me, these words all seem to imply some kind of intentionality. Intentionality to do something, intentionality to pursue, intentionality to focus our time, talent, and treasure. As you consider your desire for experiencing Son Power, is it fueled by this type of intentionality? Is your desire a wish or is it actually a goal that you are willing to pursue? Are you simply thinking about the power of God in your life, or are you truly positioning yourself to experience it? The very fact that you are reading this book seems to indicate that you have more than a simple wish to experience the power of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you. And since you’ve made A true desire is something we are willing to work for. it past the prerequisite and barrier chapters, you’ve already learned about some of the obstacles that possibly needed to be addressed in your life. But the question now remains: Do you truly have a desire to experience the Holy Spirit working in your life? I’ve met many people who have wishes for their lives. They are waiting for something to happen. To me, a true desire is something we are willing to work for. I am not talking here about earning God’s favor. I am addressing the need for each one of us to develop a yearning in our hearts for God’s presence and power to actively empower us; a longing that results in us seeking after God. It is an intentionality that sets us on the course for pursuing God. Yogi 41 Berra, the renowned baseball player and coach once said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” When we have a true desire to experience Son Power, we know where we are going. We set our hearts and minds and lives on a path that will take us to our goal. Desire Is Fueled by God’s Word I believe the first step in showing God that we truly desire Son Power is to be in his Word. The apostle Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.” —1 Peter 2:2, emphasis added We can’t grow in our relationship with God, through the Son, or experience the Holy Spirit, without the Word of God. In order for our lives to echo into eternity we need to embrace what the Bible tells us about who God is and how he works. Our entire being is wrapped up in Christ Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. Our desire for the Holy Spirit comes from Jesus and is fueled by Jesus, and we learn about all of this from God’s Word. Just as it is impossible to grow physically without physical food, it is impossible to grow spiritually without the food of the Word of God. When you plant God’s Word in your heart it will accomplish everything that God wants to develop and grow in you. It will actually prosper in your heart. How do I know this? Because God’s Word promises it! “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” —Isaiah 55:11 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest twoedged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. —Hebrews 4:12 We never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as 42 the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. —1 Thessalonians 2:13 We need to consume the Word of God just as we eat food to live. We must read it, eat it, and live it, and then God will visit to perform his Word in us. God’s Word gives life, enlightens, cleanses, produces fruit, counsels, and directs our steps. It accomplishes and prospers wherever it is sent. It teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our source and our power for a fulfilled life in this world and the next. I truly believe that the degree to which we enjoy the benefits of the Son-powered life is in direct proportion to our desire and craving for God’s Word. The prophet Jeremiah said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV). He is talking about intentionality here. A Desire for the World or a Desire for God’s Word? I love to play with words. During my devotional time one day, I placed two words side by side: WORLD WORD It occurred to me that each of these words is promoting a message. The world wants us to embrace its message of “Me, Myself, and I.” This message is in direct opposition to what God’s Word has to say to us. God’s Word is a story of sacrifice and giving. We must make a choice as to which message we are going to listen to and obey. As I sat looking at those two words, I realized that if you drop the l out of world you have word. I thought to myself, The l stands for what I am living for in this life. I need to take that l of the world and Are we going to follow the move it under the Word, bringing what I am living for in this pathway of the world or walk in the way God’s world into submission to the Word of God. Word directs us? In the Old Testament we read, “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies” (Jonah 2:8). The world has a lot of “false gods” to offer. If you Google the term “false gods,” Wikipedia actually says they are “other competing entities or objects to which particular importance is attributed.” There are many things in this world that have the power to turn our hearts away from God. False gods include money, possessions, success, school, careers, friends, and even family. Tim Keller, in Counterfeit Gods, defines a false god this way: “Anything more im43 portant to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”1 And so, each one of us has a choice to make each day. Are we going to follow the pathway of the world or walk in the way God’s Word directs us? Are we going to allow false gods to steal our allegiance or are we going to stay true to the God of the Bible? Are we going to take our directions from the world manual or the Word manual? What is our true desire? Desire Is Transformed through Soak, Sow, and Flow God’s Word will give us direction as we soak our heart in it and then sow it to the Spirit when we recite it as we talk with God about it. We then activate Son Power by an act of our will when we choose to flow with the Spirit in our daily walk with God. At that point, he begins to impart his divine life in us as we depend on him. As we soak and sow, God responds and swings into action by allowing the Son to rise in our hearts to transform us. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. —2 Corinthians 3:18 Note that the Spirit does the changing, not us. We are changed by his transforming power being released in us, freeing us more and more from the self-life and empowering us to do his will. When we do our part by positioning ourselves properly in relationship to God and his Word, he will do the rest. Technology today presents to us many different options for “virtual reality” experiences. But what people really want is a real experience with God. Virtual reality is a “near to real” experience, but God offers us his very real presence. We experience him in our lives when we cooperate with him. The Old Testament tells us that he “rides across the heavens to help you” (Deuteronomy 33:26) and he “makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3, NIV). Those are very real words with very real power. The apostle Paul tells us, Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 44 —Colossians 3:1–3 This is reality! We experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. The Heart-Felt Desire of King Solomon We see in the life of King Solomon a true desire to follow God and his ways. In 1 Kings 3:3, Solomon is described in this way: “Solomon loved the Lord, and followed all the decrees of his father, David.” One night, the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (v. 5). In response, Solomon answered, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” (v. 9). The passage goes on to tell us, “the Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom … ‘I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!’” (vv. 10, 12). First Kings 4 records the details of Solomon’s wisdom: “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt” (vv. 29–30). However, Solomon’s obedience was mixed. He had many wives, including foreign women who influenced him to sacrifice to their gods. His great wealth also contributed to unwise excesses. Solomon began well, as his humble request for wisdom shows, but he later disobeyed God. Because his desire did not remain focused, he ended up living much of his life in dissipation and he discovered by experience that outside the will of God life was totally meaningless and without purpose. He was chasing after the wind. He realized that all of that earthly pleasure was worth nothing without a purpose for life from God. Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. —Ecclesiastes 11:9–10 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” —Ecclesiastes 12:1 The loss of opportunity is real. What might King Solomon have accomplished with his life if he had kept his desire for God at the forefront of his endeavors? 45 Samson’s Rekindled Desire There have been times in my life when I have thought, Is it too late for me to have an impact for the kingdom of God? I have wasted so much of my time, talent, and treasure on temporary, pleasurable, perishing experiences, and I have pursued the goals of this world. Some of you may be having the same or similar thoughts. Let me just remind you that it is never too late to have a desire for God and his purIt is never too late to have poses. However, it is better to move sooner rather than later. a desire for God and his We must take advantage of the time God has given us while purposes. we still have it. It is dangerous to pass up an opportunity. It may not come by again. We find encouragement in Judges 13–16 regarding this very principle in the life of Samson. Samson had a special calling on his life. His problem was that he dabbled in sin along the way and disobeyed his life calling. He became entangled in the pleasures of this world and refused to follow what would be considered by most people to be wise judgment. Dabbling in sin always leads to a downward spiral in our relationship with God. People who do this always lose their spiritual perspective. In Samson’s case his choices led to captivity and imprisonment. He became an object of the people’s derision, and they eventually made him a slave. What a tragedy for a man who had such a special calling of God on his life. However, even though Samson had forsaken his calling, in the last moments of his life, he remembered his life purpose. God had destined him to take revenge on the Philistines, and as Samson turned his desire back to God, God allowed him to accomplish that purpose. Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.” Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. —Judges 16:26–30 46 There is an application for each one of us here. Until we finally leave this world, there is an opportunity for us to do things for the kingdom of God. Samson’s life shows us that it is never too late. In the final moments of his life Samson remembered his God. In a moment, he was back on mission. At his request, God gave him the strength he needed to bring the temple down on those who had brutalized him in captivity. Mission accomplished. Samson had many faults. He broke his vows. He went off mission. He became entangled in sin that eventually destroyed his life. However, at the end of his life, he came to himself and returned to God. He literally finished strong. He is even mentioned as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Trials refine our faith and Finishing life strong should be a major objective for all often rekindle our desire of us. We should want to finish strong. We should want to be for God and his Word. doing the will of God. Our objective should be to finish the work God has given us to do. We want to escape the mistake Samson made in his life. He went after perishing temporary goals in this life. He sacrificed converting his time, talent, and treasure for the temporary goals of a world that was passing away. Are we in danger of making the same mistakes? The false gods of this world are calling out to us. The temporary pleasures of this world are seeking to entice us. However, we are to set our minds on the eternal aspects of life. We must avoid making poor decisions in this life, particularly when it comes to those decisions that have eternal ramifications. I often take time to reflect on my life and consider how the hand of God has been directing me. This is one of the ways that I fuel my desire for the Lord. As l do so, he continues to be very real to me. There was a two-year period in my life when it seemed I spent most of my time attending to my physical health. I was in and out of doctors’ offices, in and out of hospitals, and constantly undergoing tests, procedures, and operations. At one point, it seemed to me God was taking me out of this world one organ at a time. I was in so much pain that I actually thought that if God was in the process of killing me, then why didn’t he just take me out of here and be done with it? I felt like I was being tortured. And yet, God was getting my attention. As I look back at this very difficult time of my life, I realize that all of the pain brought me closer to God and it gave me a renewed appreciation for his Word. I learned lessons that I might not have learned otherwise. My life was transformed. The apostle Peter wrote, Trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and 47 purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. —1 Peter 1:7 Trials refine our faith and often rekindle our desire for God and his Word. Our faith is more important to God than perishing gold. We see throughout the Bible that God works through broken vessels. Paul wrote, “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). The more we realize we are weak, the greater the possibility that God can use us. We learn in trials and tribulations that our sufficiency comes from God alone. We learn to let the power of Christ rest upon us. I share this with those of you who may be going through difficult times and circumstances. The Holy Spirit may be trying to get your attention in some way. You need to ask yourself, What is God’s message for me in this difficult time? The Holy Spirit deals with us in our everyday living, teaching us lessons as we learn to submit to him. As we journey through this world, we are going to be faced with many different circumstances and situations. God’s desire is that our desire be for him and his purposes. Son Power at Work 1. Is the desire you have to experience Son Power a wish or a goal? 2. If your desire is simply a wish, what steps can you take to make it a goal? If your desire is truly a goal, identify what you are doing to fuel your desire. 3. Is your life guided more by the world or by God’s Word? What is one thing you can do to make God’s Word the number one influence in your life? Talk to God Scripture Meditation “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV) Prayer Oh, heavenly Father, how I desire to experience Son Power! By faith, I choose to set my mind on things above. Help me not focus on earthly things. Please reveal more of yourself to me as I plunge into the depths of your Word. I acknowledge that I am continually at a crossroads of having to choose the world’s way or the way of your Word. I see that when I follow your words, 48 I am transformed and you use me to make a difference in your world. I marvel at what you have already done in my life. Truly, you are real and I want to experience more and more of you as I submit to your will. Thank you for activating the hidden life of Christ in me! (Colossians 3:3). Please make me more and more like Jesus as you change me into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18). May Jesus Christ, the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), progressively rise in my heart as I desire your Word. Amen. Memorize and Meditate 1. Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters (New York: Penguin Random House, 2009), xvii. 49 50 5  Son Power 101: Son Power Is Anchored in God’s Word For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest twoedged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. —Hebrews 4:12 D iamonds are beautiful. A group of us can all look at the same diamond and see its beauty in different ways. A diamond has multiple facets. Depending on the light and the direction one looks at a diamond, people will see different properties as the individual facets reflect light. Some will see green or red. Maybe some will see a rainbow of color or simply white. Yet, all are looking at the same diamond. The Word of God is like a diamond; it has many facets. Its applications are numerous. It is living and powerful, and it works in those who receive and trust in it as God’s revealed will for us. We can read passages multiple times, and depending on our needs at the moment, we can discover a new or different application that speaks to our hearts and specific situations. I like to take a panoramic view of the new vistas God is giving us as we access his Word. Once we enter into a relationship with God, an expanded viewpoint of how his Word works in us and through us enables us to take one verse, a series of verses, or even verses that are related but in different parts of the Bible, and study them together, applying them directly to the circumstances in our lives. This approach often leads to a deeper understanding and multiple strategies for making Son-powered living a reality in our lives. 51 Soak, Sow, and Flow In the very first KingdomNomics book I outlined the principle of “Soak, Sow, and Flow.” We need to soak our minds in God’s Word, sow that Word back to him in prayer, and then let his power flow through us. The more scripture we read and put into practice, the greater vision God gives us for applying his Word and the Son-powered life to our everyday situations. As we read God’s Word, we experience life. Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63, ESV). We must immerse ourselves in the Word of God on a regular basis in order to God has given us his Word to empower us to receive instruction and understanding about how to activate live the Son-powered life. the Son-powered life in us. Without God’s Word operating in our lives, we will be unfruitful. God has given us his Word to empower us to live the Son-powered life. However, we must choose to take advantage of his provision for doing so. Experiencing Son Power requires time and commitment. We want an easy way, but there is no easy way to take time to really know God’s Word. We begin by taking the time to hear what is being said. Most of what we have discussed so far in this book is the opportunity to live a Son-powered life. We have been hearing what God’s Word has to say regarding this subject. However, God tells us that each person needs to make a choice regarding what they are hearing. We cannot simply hear God’s Word, we must decide what we are going to do with it. And so, we must go on to accept what is being said to us by the Lord if it is going to make any difference in our lives at all. Many people hear what is being said, but it goes no further than their ears. Each one of us must accept the message if it is to produce fruit. The message moves from the believer’s head to their heart by an active choice in their will to the point that it impacts their entire belief system, birthing a desire to make something out of it. Once that occurs, God does the rest. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. —Romans 7:6, NKJV, emphasis added The 4 Rs And now we come to what I believe is the most important concept in this book. As I consider how Son Power works in and through all believers, I believe it is best explained by what I like to describe as the “4 Rs”: Relationship, Revelation, Reflection, and Redemption. All of these Rs are connected to and interrelated with each other. This is the way that God 52 works in our lives, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). Relationship We have a relationship with almighty God through the Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship is established by receiving Christ as our personal Savior and trusting in his saving work on the cross. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. —John 1:12–13 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. —Galatians 4:6–7 There is no closer relationship than being a child and an heir to someone. Children, and heirs, have rights and privileges that other people do not have. The reason for this is the fact that a very special relationship exists which other people do not have. In addition, when we have a love relationship with someone, we become transparent with one another which eventually leads to more self-revelation. It is because of this kind relationship that Son Power works in our lives. Jesus said, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” —John 14:21 Revelation The relationship we have with God, when it is alive and growing, leads to revelation. As we spend time in God’s Word, he reveals his will to us. 53 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3, NIV But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. —1 Corinthians 2:10 I also love this verse in the book of Revelation where Jesus says: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” —Revelation 3:20 We can be friends with Jesus (relationship), and he will share a meal with us, his friends! What happens when we spend time with friends? We experience revelation of information, ideas, feelings. How exciting to think about spending time with Jesus and allowing him to share himself with us. As we spend time with him, he will guide and direct our steps as we trust in him. All of this becomes a reality in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and transform us from within. Reflection After something is revealed to us, we must reflect upon it. What does this mean? What should we do with what has been revealed to us? How does this impact our lives and the world around us? Does this revelation require action on our part? This really is the beginning of Son Power working its way in and through our lives. We have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son; the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us; and we must reflect on what is revealed to us in order to move forward in the strength and wisdom of the Spirit. Do you see how it is all interrelated? When the shepherds heard the supernatural announcement of the birth of Jesus, their reflection time was short. They made a decision, dropped what they were doing, and went to see the baby Jesus. When the wise men saw the star in the heavens (God’s revelation to them), they reflected on what they knew and they traveled to see the newborn King. When Jesus revealed himself to Paul on the Damascus road, Paul reflected on his experience and dramatically changed the course of his life. Each one of these examples shows us how responding to God’s revelation leads to a changed life. When we are faced with the claims of Christ, we must make a decision. The Bible is filled with examples of people who chose to follow God’s direction and those who did not. 54 Jonah actually ended up in the belly of a whale (see the full story in the book of Jonah found in the Old Testament). We must be careful to act in whatever way God is directing us when his will is revealed to us. In the Old Testament, we read about the life of Joshua and how he had a special relationship with God. God continually revealed his will to Joshua and Joshua reflected on it and obeyed it. He challenged the people of Israel to reflect carefully on God’s Word and to obey it. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Mediate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. —Joshua 1:7–8 Son Power enlightens us in the process of revelation. It directs us to make right decisions and empowers us to follow through on those decisions. Redemption Once we decide to act on what has been revealed to us, we are in a position to redeem our world for God and his purposes. Because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we understand that we are living in a world that in its present form is passing away. Everything we can see and touch is in the process of perishing. But we know that we can converterlate the perishable items of time, talent, and treasure of this world into the imperishable values and treasure of the world to come. The New Testament instructs us, When we decide to move into the redemption phase of God’s revelation, we are not merely making the most of something. We are actually intentionally seizing an opportunity for a special work. Make the most of every opportunity. —Ephesians 5:16 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. —Colossians 4:5 55 If you were to ask a friend, What does the word redemption mean? they might be a little perplexed. The definition of redemption according to Merriam-Webster is the act of making something better or more acceptable, the act of exchanging something for some kind of award. Other definitions include repurchasing something or making a deliverance or rescue. We could also include the idea of exchanging something by using something else of value. To redeem something essentially means to buy it back or regain possession of it. It is a “recover and restore” process. When we decide to move into the redemption phase of God’s revelation, we are not merely making the most of something. We are actually intentionally seizing an opportunity for a special work. Philippians 2:13 tells us, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Revelation is sourced in God. He gives us the mind of Christ so we can understand his will. It is the Spirit who reveals that will to us as we cultivate our relationship. It is in the reflection process that we make the decision, “I want these truths to become personally operative in my life. I want Son Power to give me the capacity and power to incorporate them into my life.” And the more we practice these concepts, the more we grow in our relationship with God. It all comes full circle and we begin the process again. Noah lived these four phases of his life. He had a relationship with God and because of that relationship God revealed to him how the world was going to be destroyed because of man’s wickedness. God told Noah to build the ark and Noah’s reflection of that directive moved him to obey God and build the ark to God’s specifications. Noah experienced God’s power in order to accomplish such a massive goal and he experienced God’s redemption because of it. It is believed that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark; that was a lot of reliance on God’s plan and purpose! A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By Revelation from God is made known to us by the Holy Spirit because of our relationship with him. I said earlier in this chapter that the 4 Rs are essentially intertwined and represent a cycle. They also intersect with the “soak, sow, and flow” principle. Since this is a circular illustration, I’ve also added a “grow” component to the “soak, sow, and flow” that takes the process one step further. I believe this concept is best illustrated by what I like to refer to as a “Sonburst of Revelation.” This is actually a circle that represents a continuing reference to a key revelation from God. 56 57 To illustrate the way in which the Sonburst helps us to understand God’s Word in a deeper way, let’s consider what the Bible has to teach us about salvation. Look at the diagram below. In this particular sequence, our relationship with God is defined by the fact that our sin separates us from him. Romans 3:23 says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” This quickly moves us to revelation as found in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” God reveals his righteousness to us through Jesus Christ. He shows us that we are all sinners in need of salvation which he has arranged to give to us as a gift. Salvation is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is an incredible revelation. We cannot work for it. It is a gift. We are saved by what we receive by faith. When something is revealed to us, we then need to reflect upon it. What does this really mean for me personally? What am I going to do with what I know? Romans 10:9–10 tells us, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” If I take the next step to redemption, I will experience Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 58 When we reflect on something, we generally come to a conclusion to either accept it or reject it. If we accept it, normally we will take a step to make it reality in our lives. The principles of soak, sow, flow, and grow incorporate into this process because as we memorize and meditate on these verses or concepts, they become a part of our spiritual growth. By faith we choose to flow with the Spirit. This is Son Power. The Sonburst diagram can be applied to any situation we are facing. We simply identify the core issue (in the center) and apply Scripture through the four phases. (See appendix B for a more detailed explanation for how to personally use this concept.) Do you have a desire for God’s Word? Christ lives in you and the same power that raised him from the dead is available to you! Sow God’s Word deep into your heart and allow his power to flow through you. Empowered by God’s Word “The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” —John 6:63 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. —Jeremiah 15:16, NIV I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. —Job 23:12, NIV The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. —Psalm 119:72, NIV We all know that technology has become a driving force in our world today. Let’s consider using a computer analogy and computer terminology to illustrate God’s Word becoming active in our lives. Son Power initially facilitates the installation of God’s Word in our minds. The Word is downloaded into our hearts by the 4 R’s along with Soak, Sow, Flow, and Grow. As we talk to God about it, we are pushing the execute button, enabling the Word to become personally operational in our lives. Our Spiritual M and Ms provide key fuel for this process, enabling the Word to run through our hearts and minds and empowering us to effectively participate 59 in the work God has designed for us. This core principle is repeated as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Son Power at Work 1. In what ways are you currently sowing the Word of God into your life? 2. Honestly, how much impact does God’s Word have on your life on a daily basis? What changes do you need to make in order to have that impact be greater? 3. How can you begin to incorporate the 4 Rs (Relationship, Revelation, Reflection, and Redemption) into your life? Talk to God Scripture Meditation “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20) Prayer Heavenly Father, your Word is so precious to me. It becomes more so as I soak my heart in it. I look forward to its life-giving power working in me to bring the transformation in my life that you desire. Thank you for showing me how I can sow your Word into my conversations with you. Thank you that you desire to interact with me as your friend. Thank you that you stand at the door and knock. You don’t barge through the door, you don’t stand there waiting for me to intuitively know you are there. You patiently knock and wait for me to answer. Help me to be open to your invitation at all times. I have a great expectation that you will show yourself to me and empower me to do your will. Thank you for showing me that I am saved simply by responding to your free gift of salvation. Help me to depend on your Word daily to guide me and direct me into the fullness of your power. Amen. 60 Memorize and Meditate 61 62 6  Jesus Christ Is Our Power Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. —Ephesians 6:10 P icture the sun rising on a beautiful, clear morning. We see it slowly peeking out over the horizon. As time passes it becomes more noticeable, the heat increases, the light becomes stronger until it is fully visible, a ball of light casting its intense glow over everything. The earth awakens each day to this light; plants grow and life is sustained. In much the same way, the Son rises in our hearts. We accept him into our lives and he progressively overcomes the darkness of our old lives, lives without him and full of self. As bits of this darkness are forced away through our increasing knowledge of him, the Son blazes forth, in ever greater intensity, into our everyday lives. We become partners with him as we become more and more aware of his power in us. I believe the Bible calls us to this progression of experienced power when it says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14, NIV). We see in this verse a wonderful promise of seeing Jesus Christ work in and through our lives and circumstances. When Christ shines on the life of the believer, things happen! Our focus here is on spiritual power. There are many kinds of power: secular, political, physical, informational, and even personal. However spiritual power, God’s power imparted to us by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, trumps all other power whether it be earthly power or other supernatural power. More and More The Son-powered life is Christ, the power of God, living in and through us. However, knowing this fact and experiencing the reality of that relationship are two different things. The Son-powered life begins at the moment of spiritual birth and develops as we cultivate our 63 relationship with Christ. We learn to trust Christ daily to live his life in and through us. As I’ve spent time studying God’s Word, I have found that many Scripture verses relate to one another even though they may be from different places in the Bible (this is one of the key principles of the Sonburst diagrams). One verse may tell us one thing and another verse amplifies that thought, principle, or picture of who God is or what he desires for our lives. When we actually put these verses together, we can see how God has woven his message throughout the Bible. Here are several verses that illustrate this principle, particularly as it relates to experiencing Jesus Christ as our power. In the Old Testament we read: Lord … may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power! —Judges 5:31 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free.” —Malachi 4:2 And then Paul tells us in the New Testament: I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. —1 Corinthians 2:4–5 But to those called by God to salvation … Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. —1 Corinthians 1:24 In these verses, we see a demonstration of God’s power being brought to those that love him. As an added bonus, we also experience healing and freedom and salvation and wisdom. This is Son Power actively working in us and through us! Paul tells us that this power, from God’s unlimited resources, begins internally. A work must be done on the inside of us in order for this power to be properly operational. Our inner person must be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so Christ can more fully possess our hearts and lives as we trust in him to do so. In this way, the roots of our spirit beings can grow deeply into the soil of God’s love. As this happens, God can bring to perfection in us, the “fullness and power that comes from God.” When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator 64 of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. —Ephesians 3:14–19 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 1:13, ESV As we grow in our relationship with Christ Jesus we experience not only more and more of him, but more and more of his love and power and grace in our daily lives. Less and Less As we experience more and more of Jesus in our lives, we also can start to happily experience less and less of self. In the book of John we read these words spoken by John the Baptist, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30). This process can take place without us noticing, but eventually we should see evidence of this occurring in our lives as we cultivate our relationship with Christ. This is literally the power of Christ beginning to permeate our entire life. The object of our faith is critical. If we trust in the power of self to live the Christian life, we will fail. Self is always ultimately powerless. Self relies on the old “try harder self-effort” model and is intent on meeting the demands of the law through works. We try and try to do and be what God wants, but unfortunately, the flesh is incapable of satisfying the perfect, exacting demands of the law. However, when Christ is the object of our faith, we trust him to live his life in us and we accept his power to achieve it. As we learn to become less and less, Jesus Christ becomes more and more. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). As our life becomes more and more “hidden in Christ,” he takes increasing control. This happens while we progressively focus our attention on Jesus and his desires for us. The true ultimate goal for each one of us is to have a life completely hidden in Christ. 65 A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: THE SON CAN RISE IN MY HEART Just as the sun rises daily to full strength, our desire as Christians is for the Son to rise in his full strength during our daily lives. This can only be accomplished by understanding and applying the truths of Scripture to our lives. Only God can command this light to shine out of our heart as we learn how to die to the three amigos of Me, Myself, and I. Only then can the life of Christ rise in us, bringing forth his power and beauty. This is in harmony with the spiritual truth that he must become more and more, and I must become less and less. Let’s begin with the relationship verse: Lord, … may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power! —Judges 5:31 Do you see that key word right in the middle of the verse? Love. It is such a relationship word! We love God … and he loves us as well. And it is because of his love that we have the promise that we can rise in power. God also uses his love as a vehicle of change in the 66 life of a believer. He loves us, and when we accept his love, it creates in us a desire to know who is doing the loving. Wow, the Creator of the universe loves me! This love is what motivates us to do what God wants us to do. It is cultivated by sowing into our hearts the idea that God loves us, and allowing his love to grow into our lives, the new life which Christ has given us. What we learn about our relationship with God leads us to a new revelation about what he is and how we are to interact with him: “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free.” —Malachi 4:2 One key principle we learn from this verse is that because of our relationship with God, we fear him. But what does it mean to fear God? One of the ways to describe it is to say that we become in complete awe of our heavenly Father. We respect and revere who God is and his authority over all of creation. As we embrace God’s authority over us, we also experience freedom. How can this be? It is precisely because of Christ’s power rising more into our everyday lives, that we are free. We embrace Christ in us and God’s authority over us, and we experience the freedom that God so graciously gives us. Free from the past, free from the law, free to experience all that God has for us, free to make a difference in the world. This leads us to reflection: Prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. —1 Peter 1:13 Prepare your mind for action and exercise self-control … think about those words for a moment! What would happen in your life if you really applied those words to your life? Because of your freedom in Christ, you are not only free, but also full of the power of the Holy Spirit. Look at the verbs in this verse: prepare, exercise, hope, come, revealed. As you fix your mind on the gracious salvation of Jesus Christ you will be empowered to go out and do the work God has for you. And this leads us directly to redemption: 67 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star [Jesus] shines in your hearts. —2 Peter 1:19 This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible because it is filled with potential for both this world and the world to come. We pay attention to the Word of God because it tells us how to achieve our ultimate goal. We live in a darkened world. When we pay attention to the Word of God it provides light in a world that desperately needs it. The sun scatters the darkness. As Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts, he scatters the darkness revealing what needs to be corrected in our lives. In addition, he imparts his life and empowers us to overcome wrongful desires and pursue his goodness. The Morning Star symbolizes hope and guidance. The morning star is the brightest star in the sky at dawn. I like to think that as Christ, the Morning Star, rises in our hearts, he brings healing to our inner person, strengthening us, enlightening us, showing us where we need to conform more with his will, and showing us just what it is he wants us to do. Such revelations bring joy and peace to us as we bring our lives in conformance with his will. The Son rises in our hearts and continues to empower us to not only grow in our relationship with God but to accomplish his will. This brings us full circle to relationship where we inIt is important that our crease our love for God and desire to have him rise in our lives hope rests on the gift of like the sun, fully powerful and fully effective. grace that is brought to us by the revelation of It is important that our hope rests on the gift of grace Christ. that is brought to us by the revelation of Christ. He will illumine things for us both in this world and the world to come as we pay attention to the Son Power at work in us. Son Power at Work 1. Think for a moment, what kind of power is most often your source of strength? What steps do you need to take to make Jesus your source of power? 2. In what ways is Jesus becoming “more and more” in your life? 3. In what area of your life do you need to become “less and less”? 68 Talk to God Scripture Meditation “For to me, living means living for Christ.” (Philippians 1:21) Prayer Oh, heavenly Father, make this my heart’s prayer every day! For the apostle Paul, Christ was everything. I want to pray with him, “Everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I can gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). Paul chose to invest his life in what will last forever, his relationship with you and the special calling you gave to him. He lived in such a way that Christ was magnified through him. This, Father, is what I want for my life. I am asking for your direction and help in living a life that will echo into eternity. David prayed, “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth” (Psalm 73:25). David knew that in the end his only possession would be his relationship with you. I brought nothing into this world, and I am not taking anything out of it when I leave. Help me to live my life in this way, depending solely on my relationship with Christ to accomplish whatever you have for me to do. Amen. Memorize and Meditate 69 70 7  Son Power at Work Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! —Ephesians 3:20–21 T he late Dr. Bill Bright once wrote, “The more we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide and control our lives, the more Christ’s character will shine in what we say and do.”1 That’s what I want for my life, for the Son to be shining in all that I say and do. It is by daily walking in the power of the Holy Spirit that we live our new lives in Christ. We’ve talked a lot in this book so far about what it means to experience Son Power in our lives, but now it is time to discuss what we should actually be seeing in our lives when the Son is working in us and through us. A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow by: My Heart’s Goal I frequently begin my day by asking our heavenly Father to direct my heart toward his grace and love. I want my heart to be prepared so that I am ready to have communion with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows the mind of God, and he is the deliverer of all that God desires for me to know about my life and living for him. He is the one who teaches me all things and also empowers me to do what God desires. It is vital that I keep my heart and mind open to him. He enlightens me, enables me, teaches me, and imparts his life to me. In this Sonburst we see our relationship with God described in the words of 2 Corinthians 13:14, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit all have an active role in a Christian’s life. Their goal is to lead each one of us to the place where we begin to see their objectives as our objectives. 71 Romans 14:17, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” reveals to us that the kingdom of God is not comprised of stuff or things but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Try to explain that concept to those you know who are not Christ-followers. The world we currently live in is not the kingdom that Jesus spoke of when he was living on earth. He spoke of a better world, a better kingdom, a kingdom that belongs to heaven. This world is not our permanent home. We are only passing through. Our everlasting home and citizenship belong to the heavenly kingdom. As we reflect upon Proverbs 8:35, “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord,” we realize that our true lives are found in Jesus Christ. It took me a long time to discover that finding the wisdom of God and experiencing true life means meeting the person of Jesus Christ. It is through a personal relationship with him that we receive the wisdom to do all that God has designed and chosen for us to do. This is life itself. Not only that, but to find this life is to obtain the favor of God—God’s blessing over our lifetime. If I have the favor of God, what else could I want or even need? This is an amazing privilege; I can flow under the favor of God! This leads us to redemption and Ephesians 5:14, “For the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’” 72 When Christ gives us light, things happen! We cannot oversoak our hearts in these truths. As we consistently reflect upon God’s Word, we experience communion with the Holy Spirit and receive his revelation. This positions us to have the Holy Spirit share with us what God wants us to know in any given moment. It is only by knowing and applying the Word of God every day that we can experience consistent Son Power. A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: SON POWER RELEASED This Sonburst shows how Son Power is released in our lives. Simply stated, if we are living by the Spirit, our lives will display his power. When the Spirit’s power is displayed, we will personally experience God’s work in us and through us and see his power displayed in the world around us. Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” The relationship we have with God will create within us a desire to live by the Spirit and to follow his leading. This moves us to revelation and Galatians 5:16, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” We are told we will not go after what the sinful nature wants to pursue if we choose to have the Spirit guide how we 73 think, feel, and act. That to me is a true Sonburst revelation. I want to soak my heart in that verse and have it flow out of me. God tells us how to accomplish this as we reflect upon Romans 8:5–6: Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. We must set our minds on what the Spirit desires. How do we find out what the Spirit desires? We do that by reading the Word of God, discussing it, thinking about it, and letting our insight guide our behavior. Be ready to apply God’s Word to your life situations and allow Son Power to give you the wisdom and strength to act. In fact, if we do that, Romans 8:6 tells us that we will experience life and peace. There you have it. Whoever controls our minds has control of us. This is why Paul said, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV). We take this one more step by applying Romans 8:13, “For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” God gives us Son Power to overcome sin. Think about that. Sow this verse to the Spirit, then as you step into your activity for the day, ask the Spirit to put to death your sinful desires. What a wonderful adventure it is to live life not governed by the desires of the body or the thoughts of the mind. The Spirit promises to bring us freedom if we live life with him, listening for his guidance and acting on his promptings. When we practice what is illustrated in this Sonburst, we will experience the power that only comes from God. A Sonburst of Life to Grow By: SON POWER GENERATES A LIFE OF VICTORY! In reality it is difficult to separate each Sonburst into a single ray. The concepts and verses are synergistic in that they overlap and interact with each other. Properly understood and used, they enable us to follow a spiritual road map that leads us to communion and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. In addition, as we study and reflect on Scripture, we will discover multiple applications for our lives. It is the Spirit who gives us this revelation, “It was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Here is another application of the same four verses used in the preceding Sonburst: 74 We begin in the same place with Galatians 5:25, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives,” but put our focus in a different place. Because God is our Father, we are directed to live under his control as our commander and chief. When we submit to his authority we will not fulfill the passions and desires of the flesh, for Galatians 5:16 tells us, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Such control by the Spirit can be realized when we set our minds on what the Spirit desires for us. Each one of us needs to be eager to do the will of God, rather than focusing our minds on the passions and desires of the flesh. Romans 8:5–6 reminds us: Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. This leads us to Romans 8:13, “For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” 75 The redemptive step of faith is taken when we ask God to take control of how we think, feel, and act. As we practice these principles we will grow in Christ. These are key verses to soak, sow, and flow with in our everyday lives. Reflect on them often. Choose to take a step of faith to make them a reality in your life. Talk often to God about them, asking him to make them a reality in your life. He will do so as you trust him to do it. Growing in Faith To live righteously, one needs supernatural power. This supernatural power comes to us through the Holy Spirit and it is through God’s Word that we learn about this power and what it can accomplish. Faith is the key. Faith releases the Son Power of God. Faith and trust in self will fail for all of our true power is sourced in Jesus Christ. Paul said it well, “Our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Fortunately, God has already made this resource available to us. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. —2 Peter 1:3–4 All authority and power have been given to Jesus Christ both in this world and the world to come. He is the only true King! I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. —Ephesians 1:19–21 This is an incredible statement of the power of God working on behalf of all believers in this world. This is the resurrection power of God used to raise Jesus Christ from the 76 dead. No power anywhere exists that can raise the dead. Even the great power of the sun is powerless to do this. The power of the atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, and EMP device are all powerless to raise the dead. Nothing can be compared to the amazing resurrection power of Jesus Christ. By faith we accept Scripture as a true documentation from God, and we increase our understanding of who God is and how he works when we study it. In the book of Acts we read, “For in Him [the resFaith releases the Son urrected Christ] we live and move and have our being” (Acts Power of God. 17:28, NKJV). Son-powered living flows from Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit to each one of us. Experiencing Power Solomon noted, “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). This verse reminds us that the unseen power of God is always at work. God works in many ways, many of which we cannot see, as his Spirit guides, directs, and leads us. When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives, he is constantly working to transform us and consistently working through us. What does this really mean? It means that as you surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control, he is working in you to accomplish God’s purposes as you … focus on glorifying God through worship, obedience, and service Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. —Ephesians 3:20 … experience freedom to live righteously For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. —Galatians 5:13 … live a life of promise and blessing 77 It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. —Philippians 2:13, NIV … face temptation The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. —1 Corinthians 10:13 … confront times of adversity The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. —Psalm 145:18 … seek direction If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. —James 1:5, NIV … encounter times of fear or anxiety or disappointment God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. —Psalm 46:1 Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the ways in which he is empowering you through the moments of your days. Ask him to fill you with supernatural power to live a life of purpose and passion. Read God’s Word and allow it to fill your mind and your heart so that Son Power might be a force in your life that makes a difference. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! —Ephesians 3:20–21 78 Son Power at Work 1. In what ways do you currently see Jesus shining through your life? 2. In what ways are you currently seeing Son Power released in your life? 3. In what area(s) do you most need the Holy Spirit to work in your life? Ask for Son Power to be released into your circumstances. Talk to God Scripture Meditation “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) Prayer Thank you, Lord, for the life-giving message of the cross and for living your life in me. Thank you that the power of the cross has crucified the passions and desires of the flesh in me as I depend on it (Galatians 5:24). Thank you for revealing to me the foolishness of this temporary world’s lures and temptations. Father, I cannot thank you enough for revealing the power of these truths to me and for the impact they can have on my everyday living. I want to live a life of victory with the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. I ask you to fill me now with him, and I choose to flow now under his control. Thank you for accomplishing this in my life. Amen. 79 Memorize and Meditate 1. Bill Bright, His Intimate Presence: Experiencing the Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit (Orlando, FL: New Life Publications, 2003), 1. 80 81 82 8  Living the Son-Powered Life Day by Day The Lord your God is living among you. —Zephaniah 3:17 O ur relationship with God is not passive or dormant; it is dynamic, full of purpose, active, creative, and productive. In order to accomplish all that God has willed for us, it is critical that we utilize the time we have on earth. We are here for such a short time, and Scripture actually instructs us to “number our days” (see Psalm 90:12, NIV). God has created us in Christ Jesus to do good works (see Ephesians 2:10, NIV). And we need to be busy doing them until he either comes for us or we physically die and go to live with him. It is our responsibility to be the hands and feet and voice of Jesus. God has taken each one of us, transformed us, and now has a plan for how we can make a difference in his world. I personally have experienced how God can take a totally self-absorbed, selfish, self-ambitious person (do you see the word self showing up in every adjective?) who lived a life consumed with pursuing earthly goals, giving no thought to what happens after one leaves this world, and transformed that individual into a person committed to helping fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Prior to Jesus Christ coming into my life, I listened strictly to the message of this world. I had no time for or interest in God’s Word. I had earthly goals to pursue. Surely, earthly treasure was my god. Then, after hearing the good news of the salvation of Jesus Christ, I invited him into my life to be my personal Lord and Savior. In KingdomNomics and Converterlator I wrote about some of the experiences God used to transform my worldview, and subsequently, the use of my time, talent, and treasure. At times, it has been traumatic, painful, and confusing, as I progressed from a person who was pursuing more and more of the world’s riches to a kingdom boy who desires more and more 83 of Christ. But all along God has been renewing and energizing me for a new mission in this life. Over the years I’ve learned a few important principles for living the Son-powered life day by day. Daily Commitment to God’s Purposes Our relationship with God through the saving work of Jesus Christ, his Son, gives us a new mission for life. As we embrace this new mission, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to not only want something new for our lives, but to accomplish that new purpose or goal as well. Isaiah 43:19 tells us, “I am about to do something new. Our relationship with See, I have already begun!” In my life, God has brought people God through the saving across my path who have helped me, a small businessman with work of Jesus Christ, his Son, gives us a new no platform, to help develop what is now a worldwide endeavor mission for life. for reaching the world for Christ. These new friends in Christ were the ones who suggested that I establish the KingdomNomics worldwide ministry. They have partnered with me, providing expertise in technology and marketing that have enabled me to embark on a new endeavor for the sake of Christ. I have seen God take very little, almost nothing, and exponentially multiply it on a scale beyond what any person could possibly have dreamed of or imagined on their own. The prophet Isaiah recorded for us: “Now I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not things from the past. So you cannot say, ‘We knew that all the time!’ Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new, things you never heard of before.” —Isaiah 48:6–8 All of this project is something totally new to me. God has made me hear new things, hidden things from me that I knew nothing about. The exciting part of following God’s purposes is that he is truly in the creation business. He is always doing something new. Isaiah 43:18–21 describes what can occur in the life of a person who has a living relationship with God. “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I 84 have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” (NKJV) Isaiah is telling us to forget the past with all of its disappointments, unfortunate experiences, and pain and concentrate on what God is doing now. We need to pay attention to him and then we will see the opportunities he is presenting to us and will be able to take proper advantage of them. What this means is that we must daily be committed to living for God’s purposes. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. —Titus 2:11–14 Son-powered living is all about embracing God’s plan and purpose for each day. All of us have been given time, talent, and treasure to be used for the advancement of God’s kingdom. It is critical that we learn how to apply Son Power to our endeavors so that we can accomplish all that God has designed for us. Daily Commitment to God’s Word Are you reading and studying God’s Word every day, letting its message soak into your mind and heart? As we consider the lives of the great Bible heroes, we see that they depended on the Word of God to guide and direct them. God told Joshua that if he wanted to be successful he would need to meditate on God’s Word (see Joshua 1:8). David valued God’s Word more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver (see Psalm 19:10). Job said he treasured God’s Word more than his daily food (see Job 23:12). Jeremiah said when he found God’s words he ate them and they became his heart’s delight (see Jeremiah 15:16). Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to lead and direct us. We can trust the Word and the Spirit to guide us. A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: POWER OF THE WORD God’s Word is powerful and we need to sow the truths of his Word into the soil of our 85 hearts, giving it a chance to grow and work inside of us. I like to think of God’s Word as if it is powerful medicine. In order for medicine to work in us we need to swallow it and internalize it. We must do the same with the Word of God. We need to read it, get it inside of us, and actually internalize it. The more we soak in God’s Word and the more we reflect on it, the more we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives. Consider the verses in the following Sonburst: Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Our very relationship with God is given life by his Word. It may seem difficult to think past our daily food, but our life with God is sustained by his Word. I believe this verse is further illuminated for us by John 6:63: “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Jesus is the one speaking in this passage and he tells us, “the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (emphasis added). These are the words of power for our everyday living! Our life is actually empowered by the very words of God. In what ways 86 would your life truly be transformed if you were to read and apply God’s Word to your life situations every single day? As we continue to reflect on the principle of power in the Word of God, I am reminded of Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (emphasis added). Those are powerful words. When I am frustrated or exhausted or discouraged, I think back to this verse and am reminded of the power of God’s Word to act. When I take time to think about God’s Word, the Holy Spirit gives me clarity to deal with the situations going on in my life. I am often reminded of 1 Thessalonians 2:13: We never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. This word continues to work in you. Son Power is released in us through God’s Word! As we read and study and apply God’s Word to our lives, we will be transformed … and we will be empowered. Son Power flows out of us as God’s Word works in us. Daily Commitment to Exalting Christ The apostle Paul was committed to exalting Jesus Christ in all things. In Colossians 1:15–20 we read: We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade— he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and 87 dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. —The Message When we take time to read God’s Word, it reminds us of our focus … God’s glory. In this passage, we see Paul focusing on everything he knew about Christ. Even in the midst of incredible preaching success, Paul stayed true to his message of exalting Christ. However, it wasn’t always easy for Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul had this to say: We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. —2 Corinthians 1:8–10 I love where Paul says, “We have placed our confidence in him.” Paul knew that he had been delivered by God’s power. Hard and scary times are difficult to endure, but God may lead us from time to time to experience them so that the It is the Holy Spirit work- life of Christ might be manifested in us. It is in the tough times ing in us and through us that we learn to trust in the power of God to deliver us. It is that allows us to continue to exalt Christ no matter the Holy Spirit working in us and through us that allows us to our circumstances. continue to exalt Christ no matter our circumstances. Daily Commitment to Prayer Talking to God about all of our life and believing he will answer our prayers is critical for the life of every Christian. As we talk with God about our life situations, the Holy Spirit empowers us with wisdom, guidance, and the strength to deal with each one. The Bible is clear that God will answer our prayers as we take time to soak in his Word. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8, NIV). And later in the New Testament we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to 88 his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14, NIV). So often we want God to accomplish our will. It is important that we align ourselves with his will. As we pray, we need to ask God to enable us to see how he sees our current situation and pray for his solution. Whether we are facing everyday life, difficulties, or ministry opportunities, I believe Son Power is available to us in equal measure. No matter what I am experiencing or what kind of decision I need to make, I use this equation to help me remember to rely on Son Power: Prayer + Supply of the Spirit = Deliverance The principle here is that prayer (talking to God) about the problem or situation plus the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ will result in our deliverance. It is the supply of the Spirit that gives us life and empowers us to confront life. Here is a Sonburst I developed related to this core concept. A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: PRAYER + SUPPLY OF THE SPIRIT DELIVERS ME! 89 Our relationship with God is brought about through revelation from the Spirit of God. Philippians 1:19 says, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). In this verse, we actually see all of the components of the equation: prayer, the Sprit, and deliverance. But this is still all grounded in our relationship with God. You can’t have a conversation (pray) with someone you don’t really have a relationship with. God chooses to reveal himself to us. In 1 Corinthians 2:10 we read, “It was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets” (emphasis added). It is the Spirit who reveals all of these things to us. Only he knows the mind of God. He searches everything including the deep things of God and reveals them to us. When we take time to pray, we position ourselves to receive God’s wisdom through the Spirit. As we reflect on what this means for our lives we read in Philippians 4:6–7: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. The Spirit is constantly working to deliver us from our fears and anxieties, filling us with God’s peace instead. And then we move on to the redemption phase of the Sonburst which leads us to Philippians 4:19: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” God will supply all our needs. As we face each day, we can be confident that God is working in us to take care of us. Daily Setting Our Eyes on the Prize It’s difficult to stay focused. Many things vie for our attention: family, friends, work, hobbies, sports. Many of these things are good, but they can actually get in the way of God’s plans and purposes for us. Paul wrote, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14, emphasis added). As you consider your days, do they just “happen” or do you actually plan how you are going to use your time? Are you focusing on earthly goals or heavenly goals? And how do you balance it all? As we focus on God’s purposes, read his Word and apply it to our lives, and take time to discuss all of it with God, the Holy Spirit will empower us to keep our 90 eyes on the heavenly prize. But it takes time. Time every day with God. And in the process, it is imperative that we choose to bring every thought into captive obedience to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) so we can live in accordance with his will and plan for our lives. One of the ways that I accomplish this in my life is to ask the Holy Spirit to control my mind. Romans 8:6 tells us, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (NIV). There’s a lot of garbage out there to feed your mind. But when your mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit the Bible tells us we will experience life and peace. Philippians 4:6–7 is a favorite passage of mine: “Do not It is imperative that we choose to bring every and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. thought into captive And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will obedience to Christ. guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV). I canbe anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer not tell you how many times the Spirit, by controlling my mind, has brought me great peace, thereby guarding both my mind and heart from fear and anxiety. As we focus on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit guides and directs our everyday decisions, and it helps us to keep our focus in the right place. Daily Perseverance I know God has work to do in my heart. It needs to be cleansed so I can be a fit vessel for use by him (see 2 Timothy 2:20–22, ESV). And so, I daily ask God to shed the light of his presence into the inner recesses of my heart to show me whatever needs to be changed. Then his Word can prosper and accomplish in my heart whatever is needed to be done to strengthen it for his purposes as the Spirit works within me. As his Word grows in my heart, I am set free. I begin to see the finger of God at work in me and in my circumstances. I learn to trust him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit I learn to put to death all of the sinful desires and works of the flesh that want control over my life. However, this can be a painful process, and sometimes I simply want to jump ship. There is so much we do not understand and so much for us to learn. It can be daunting. However, I make it my daily goal to concentrate on what I do understand from God’s Word and what he reveals to me along life’s pathway. My desire, plan, and purpose is to do what he has revealed to me in this moment. I want to make sure I am faithful in doing the work assigned to me by God now. By keeping my focus on what God’s Word is telling me, I keep my focus on God’s plans and purposes. The New Testament encourages us with these words: 91 [May you be] strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. —Colossians 1:11, NIV In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness. —2 Peter 1:5–6 God’s ways are not our ways. He often uses people and circumstances that we could never have imagined to work out his will in our lives. Solomon said it well, “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind … so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). Jesus himself used the same imagery when he told about how a person is born of the Spirit, “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). We cannot understand the path of the wind or the activity of God. However, even though the wind is unseen, we can see manifestations of the wind when it blows. We see the flag waving in the wind. We see a leaf skip down the street. We see the trees swaying in the summer breeze. There is power in the wind, sometimes slight sometimes magnificent. When I consider the many places where the wind is mentioned in the Bible, I see God’s power. God used the wind to blow the plague of locusts onto Egypt, and then he used it to blow the locusts into the Red Sea. He used the wind to hold back the waters of the Red Sea so the Hebrews could pass over on the dry land. He used the wind to bring quail to feed the people in the wilderness. Psalm 104:3 tells us, “You [God] make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.” God used the sound of the wind when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish incredible things for the Kingdom. God works in many different ways. God is still at work through the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers today. We need to adjust the sails of our lives to the winds of the Spirit. We must be discerning. We are not to simply sit around waiting for the wind to change so that it is blowing in the direction we might want it to blow. We must fine-tune our sails to the direction of the Holy Spirit’s movement and say, “The sails are up, and the power is on!” 92 Son Power at Work 1. As you consider your daily commitment to God’s purposes, God’s Word, exalting Christ, prayer, keeping your eyes on the prize, and perseverance, in which area do you need more focus? 2. What steps can you begin to take to grow in any one of these areas? 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to heighten your awareness of his presence and working in your life, and start paying close attention to the ways in which he is moving in your life. Thank God for his presence and power displayed in and through you. Talk to God Scripture Meditation “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) Prayer My Father, I come before you grateful for the many things you are teaching me in your Word. I pray that I would be cleansed in order to be the type of vessel you can use to accomplish great things for your kingdom. I want to be used to accomplish infinitely more for your glory than I could ever imagine. I know you have a work to do in my heart. I invite you to shed the light of your presence into the inner recesses of my heart in order to change whatever needs to be changed. May your Word grow in my heart and accomplish whatever is needed to be done to strengthen me to achieve your plans and purposes. I ask you to empower me through the Holy Spirit to daily focus on your purposes, to daily spend time in your Word, to daily exalt Christ and find time to pray. I ask for the Holy Spirit’s power to enable me to keep my eyes on the prize for which you have called me and to give me the strength to persevere. May the principles presented in your Word become the focus of my life, and may I glorify you in all that I do. Amen. 93 Memorize and Meditate 94 95 96 9  Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. —2 Timothy 1:7 L et’s face it, the difficulties we see and experience on a daily basis are beyond our ability to fix. Satan is doing everything he can to convince us that we really don’t need God or his power working in us, for us, or through us. The world around us continues to become increasingly hostile to anything remotely related to God and his purposes. But the fact remains, a life without God is a life without meaning or purpose. How do we deal with the opposition we inevitably are encountering? We begin by remembering this: “Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live” (Galatians 1:4, emphasis added). The Bible is clear that we are facing a very real enemy. Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). It is for this very reason that it is important for us to understand the Son-powered life. We need to be prepared and ready for war against these unseen powers with the weaponry that God has readied for us in order that we might live a life of victory. However, We don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy 97 false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3–5 Real power belongs to God. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us of this important fact. O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! —Jeremiah 32:17 “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” —Jeremiah 32:27 And then in the New Testament we read: As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. —1 Corinthians 2:9–12, NKJV It is the Holy Spirit that gives us all things freely in a spiritual sense, and only he can search the deep things of God and reveal them to us. It is he It is critical that we depend on God’s power that makes the promises of God work in us. For this reason, it is released in us through critical that we depend on God’s power released in us through the Spirit to face whatthe Spirit to face whatever spiritual opposition is coming at us. ever spiritual opposition I often use 2 Corinthians 13:14 as a personal prayer, is coming at us. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [me].” When I am fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, God the Father can direct my heart into his love and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is from this point that I can receive revelation. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals 98 God’s plans and purposes to us, and by him we experience the power and presence of the Father and the Son. It is this power and presence that gives us the necessary weapons to face spiritual opposition and obstacles. In my life, I have found that I need to engage powerful weapons when it comes to protecting myself against Satan’s schemes. Satan will use whatever means he can to devour my time, talent, and treasure and to keep me from using my resources for God’s purposes and his glory. Over time I have discovered five “Power Weapons” for fighting against Satan. These weapons are entirely dependent on God’s power and not my own. Power Weapon 1: Call on God Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. —Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV This is a statement made by the Creator of the universe himself! When I first read this verse, my first thought was, How can this overwhelming promise become personally operative in my life? The statement seems so simple, but the reality of it is almost beyond belief … almighty God will answer me! All I need to do is call out to him. Second Chronicles 16:9 explains, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” I want my heart to be fully committed to God because then I can be strengthened and empowered by him. We need to remember how great the counsel of God is and how mighty his work is. By his mighty power he created the heavens and earth. Throughout the Old and New Testaments we read of his intervention in the lives of his people. As God has promised to we expand our knowledge and experience of just how great God answer us! is, we will more quickly remember to turn to him when the going gets rough. God has promised to answer us! He has promised to show us great and mighty things! He has promised to strengthen us! I want to pursue God as the first priority in my life. I want to be a Converterlator, an agent of change. I want to fulfill the Great Commission by strategically investing my time, talent, treasure in God’s purposes. I want to call on God … first … when I need help and guidance and protection. Power Weapon 2: Focus on God’s Power through Jesus Christ God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. —Job 26:7 99 He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm. —Job 26:12, NKJV By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand? —Job 26:13–14, NKJV When we take time to reflect on God’s power, we’re amazed. And this in turn expands our vision of what God can do in us and through us. Images of God’s power are presented throughout the entire Bible. And yet, even then, we only see the “mere edges” of his ways. His power gives us great confidence that he can overcome God sent Jesus Christ anything that is causing difficulty in our lives. His presence can into this world to bring us salvation and hope. dissolve any obstacle. Since he is the creator of all things, he knows all about our world and has the creative ability to deal with anything that is in need of repair. God sent Jesus Christ into this world to bring us salvation and hope. I have often heard it said, Jesus is “God with skin on.” Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God embodied in human flesh. Because of Jesus Christ we have seen God at work in our world: loving people, healing disease, doing miracles, raising people from the dead. It is this power that we can rely on. I am a huge fan of acrostics, which are poems, word puzzles, or other compositions in which certain letters in each line form a word or words. An acrostic can help bring to mind important topics. For me, most often my acrostics are words associated with key Bible verses that help me remember key attributes of God. Here is one of the acrostics I have developed that helps me remember that when I call on the power of Christ, he will, through the Holy Spirit, provide what I need. The word is CHRIST, with each letter giving me a key attribute of God. I’ve then associated a key verse with each attribute. This word is important to me, but it is not a formula. You can put an acrostic together on your own. C Companionship God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5–6, NIV 100 H Hope Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. —Romans 15:13, NKJV R Revelation He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. —Daniel 2:22, NKJV I I My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 S Submission For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:4–5, NKJV T Trust Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. —Psalm 37:3–6, NIV When I soak my mind and heart on this acrostic and its accompanying verses, I experience the wonderful peace and power that only come from God. I also use it in my conversations with the Lord, sowing my conversation with its contents. The Holy Spirit has often in his grace quieted my heart and mind. We can be freed and empowered when we use the Scripture in this way. 101 Power Weapon 3: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. —Romans 5:5, NIV That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. —1 Corinthians 2:9–10 We live by the Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will not fulfill our own desires, but those that God has given us. We are talking Son Power here, power that enables us to accomplish all that God has for us to do and be. You and I are like ink pens. An ink pen is an instrument to be used by another. Without ink, the pen is useless. A pen without ink is left on the desk. Only with ink is it fit for use by the writer and prepared for the mission it was designed for. The Spirit is the “ink” in us. In order for us to be instruments God can pick up and use to continue “writing his story” in our world, we need to be filled with the ink of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled, we can flow with the Spirit into our daily lives with his power. This Son-powered life overcomes our sinful nature. For as Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8). A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: SON POWER IN ME! As we consider being filled with the Holy Spirit, it is helpful to take a look at two passages in Ephesians, linking them in a Sonburst diagram. In these verses, Paul is helping us to understand just how great God’s power is. Ephesians 1:17–21 says, Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible great102 ness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. Take a look at the defining words of relationship found in these verses: “those he has called” and “his holy people.” These key phrases provide the foundation for all that we experience because of the relationship we have with God: “spiritual wisdom and insight,” “knowledge,” “light,” “confident hope,” “rich and glorious inheritance,” “understand[ing of] the incredible greatness of God’s power.” All of these are imparted to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we move on to Ephesians 3:17–18 it is revealed to us that “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Continued reflection on this passage leads us to verse 19 which says, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” 103 The “fullness of life and power” leads us to the redemption of verse 20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” God works his mighty power within us to accomplish more than we might ask or think. The key phrase is at the When we are filled with beginning of the verse … all glory to God! Our view of God is the Spirit, we will not frequently far too small. We often fail to believe what God can fulfill our own desires, but those that God has actually do in our lives and circumstances if we truly soak, sow, given us. and flow in currents of the winds of divine Son Power. Imagine being filled with the fullness of God! Let’s take a step of faith and flow with the Spirit while he does more than any of us can ask, think, or imagine according to his immeasurable power that is at work in us. Power Weapon 4: Use the Armor of God Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. —Ephesians 6:10–18 This passage presents one of the most powerful truths in the Bible: we have the ability to protect ourselves against the attacks of Satan. Read the passage again and identify the various pieces of armor: belt of truth, body armor of God’s righteousness, shoes of peace that come from the Good News, shield of faith, helmet of salvation. All of these represent defensive armor; things that will protect us from Satan’s attacks. When we are under attack, we often don’t think about using God’s truth, righteousness, peace, Good News, faith, or salvation. These words seem to lack power. But we need to remember they are not words, they are tools in the hands of the Holy Spirit to empower us. 104 There is one offensive item listed in this passage, and that is the Word of God. Paul calls it the “sword of the Spirit.” It is the weapon used to aggressively counter the overtures of Satan as he attempts to ensnare us in his strategies of stealing, killing, and destroying. It is only when we soak our hearts in the Word of God, so much so that it actually becomes a part of our spiritual DNA that we will be able to use this weapon effectively. I like to combine the Word of God into what I refer to as a spiritual “Molotov cocktail.” A Molotov cocktail is a breakable glass bottle containing a flammable substance with some motor oil added and usually a source of ignition such as a burning cloth wick held in place by the bottle’s stopper. It is primarily intended to set a target ablaze rather than obliterate it. The wick is usually soaked in alcohol, lit, and the bottle hurled at a target. When the bottle smashes on impact, the ensuing cloud of petrol droplets and vapor ignites, causing an immediate fireball followed by spreading flames as the remainder of the fuel is consumed. Due to the relative ease of production, these weapons saw widespread use by all sides in World War II. They were very effective against light tanks and very bad for enemy morale. As we encounter a spiritual attack, we can encapsulate a combination of verses to create a spiritual Molotov cocktail. God has given us an incredible weapon that can and does thwart the enemy’s attacks. Therefore, we constantly need to be soaking our hearts and minds in the Word of God. As we develop these Word of God Molotov cocktails and throw them at the enemy, we will experience a confident sense of expectation for Son Power to be released. When I am facing times of spiritual opposition or trial, specifically when I feel as though I am unable to accomplish anything for God, here are some of the Word of God cocktails I throw at the enemy: He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. —2 Corinthians 3:6 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. —Ephesians 2:1–3, NKJV 105 Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. —Romans 6:14, NKJV You also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. —Romans 6:11 These promises communicate immeasurable power to me. As I take time to soak them into my heart and sow them back to God, I develop a sense of expectation and excitement as I anticipate his work on my behalf. God’s Word will work on our behalf when we allow it to be used as the sword of the Spirit. As the weapon of the sword of the Spirit is released in these spiritual cocktails, the path for us will become brighter as we see the day approaching when Christ returns to earth to set up his kingdom. In the meantime, the course has been set for us. Power Weapon 5: Experience God’s GRACE I believe one of the greatest weapons we have in our arsenal is biblical truth. When we are in the middle of a spiritual attack or trial we can firmly stand on God’s Word. I’m including another acrostic here, GRACE, because the verses remind me that God is working in my life. You can easily adapt this acrostic with verses that are important to you. G God’s Greatness You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4, NKJV R Rejoicing Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! —Philippians 4:4 A Acceptance “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” —Mark 4:20 106 C Compel For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. —2 Corinthians 5:14, NIV E Eternal Rewards “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” —Revelation 22:12 Each one of these verses represents a “power nugget” motivating us to rely on the Son-powered life. Power nuggets are verses that fuel our everyday living. As we learn to use the Power Weapons of calling on God, focusing on God’s power through Jesus Christ, being filled with the Holy Spirit, using God’s armor, and experiencing God’s GRACE, we will lead a victorious Christian life. It can be difficult to remember to turn to God, and to his Word, when we are experiencing difficult times. However, God’s power is what we need more than anything else in those times. Take time to soak your heart and mind in God’s great promises, so that you will have them ready when you need them. Son Power at Work 1. Think of a time you were facing spiritual opposition (it may be now). What strategies and weapons did/are you using to fight it? Which strategies are effective? Which are not? 2. Which one of the five weapons listed in this chapter will be easiest for you to use? Which one will take more practice? 3. What steps can you take to begin to implement the five weapons into your life? Talk to God Scripture Meditation “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:17–18) 107 Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the power nuggets that you provide in your Word. I am grateful for the way they fuel my everyday life. Today I claim for my own life your power that lives in me. I know that your love is wide and long and deep and high. I also know that you can do more in me and through me than I could ever ask, think, or imagine because of your immeasurable power (Ephesians 3:20). You are power personified, and you can manifest that power in any way you choose. This gives me a great sense of assurance and expectation as I go into the activities of my day under the direction of the Holy Spirit. I thank you for the way you are helping me to internalize your Word. Help me today to choose to listen to your Word instead of the voice of despair. Help me to call on you when I am facing spiritual opposition. Remind me to focus on the power of Christ and to ask for the Holy Spirit’s power when I am tempted to satisfy my selfish desires. Help me to rely on your Word and to arm myself with your armor when I face Satan’s schemes. Thank you for the confidence I can have in your power and in the supply of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your provision to supply all of my needs. I trust in you alone. Amen. Memorize and Meditate 108 109 110 10  Applying Son Power to the Use of Your Time, Talent, and Treasure By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. —2 Peter 1:3 J esus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). Jesus Christ is not only the beginning and the end, but he is also everything else in between. The apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21, NIV) and “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Colossians 3:2). We are to live for him, glorify him, and finish the work he has given us to do. So here is my question for you: Are you actually living your life with this purpose? The desire of my heart is to have the Sonbursts of Son Power molding my thoughts and actions. As I reflect on God’s promises and experience the fulfilling of those promises in my life, my relationship with him can’t help but be deepened. As we soak our minds and hearts in the truth of his Word, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to pursue and accomplish God’s work not only in this world but for the world to come. A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED! Every person on earth is given twenty-four hours each day, with sixty minutes in every hour. God allows each one of us to choose what we want to do with those minutes and hours. Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NIV). Because of our relationship with our heavenly Father, we can count on him to give us the wisdom to use our days wisely. 111 Psalm 78:39 reveals to us that our lives are “merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns.” As we continue to reflect on this important principle, Job 14:5 reminds us, “You [God] have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” God already knows how many days we have to live on this earth and nothing you or I do is going to change his plan. What is important is that we are open to making the most of each and every day, because as we move to the redemption phase of this Sonburst Romans 13:12 states, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here.” Time is short! Our days are numbered! The Bible tells us: So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. —Ephesians 5:15 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. —Colossians 4:5, emphasis added 112 Our relationship with Christ determines where we will live in eternity. Our use of time, talent, and treasure determines the rewards and position we will have in eternity. The moment we die our perishable time, talent, and treasure of this world lose their value. If we have invested them in only things that perish, we will end up with nothing of value in heaven. If we have invested them in the things close to God’s heart, such as helping to fulfill the Great Commission and being the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, then we will have treasure stored for us in heaven. Son Power and Time When you think about it, time is the most equalized resource available to us. Some people may have more talent, and some may have more treasure, but we all have the same twenty-four hours in each day. It is natural to look at that time as a resource to be used for oneself, but as we learn to partner in life with God, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the use of our time to fulfill God’s purposes. The question is: Are you expecting and allowing God to maximize your time through Son Power? God can use even the smallest portion of your time to make a difference for his kingdom. The Bible tells us: Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. —Ephesians 5:16, emphasis added How can we make the most of every opportunity when it comes to the use of our time? Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider the use of your time: Perspective • Am I using my time as my own or as a resource entrusted to me by God to be used wisely for his purposes? The overall perspective that we have of our time is critical. Our time has been given to us by God—all of it. As we embrace this important principle, we need to evaluate how sensitive we are to the Spirit’s direction in our daily lives in using our time. Are you using your time wisely? Are you using it as a resource to accomplish God’s purposes? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom as to the use of your time? When our time is infused with Son Power we will find the Holy Spirit giving us wisdom and discernment as he directs our decisions about how to schedule our time. 113 As we continue to follow his leading, we will become sensitive throughout the day as to where and when God is calling us to change direction and when he is reassuring us to persevere with our time commitments. Priorities • Am I focused on the right goals and objectives when it comes to the use of my time? I find that when I ask people about this, they have often never even considered it! What if you let the Holy Spirit guide you through your time commitments? What if his supernatural strength and wisdom and discernment allowed you to accomplish the right things at the right time? What if you allowed him to guide you to actually give up some of your time commitments? God has the ability to bring things into our lives that he wants dealt with, and he has the ability to rearrange our schedules, when we allow the Holy Spirit free access. We often view these types of situations as “interruptions,” but they are in reality “divine appointments!” Dependence on Son Power • In what ways am I expecting the Holy Spirit to maximize my time by his provision and protection? The Holy Spirit is the great provider of strength and wisdom. When you are feeling overwhelmed, you can depend on the Holy Spirit to help you with your time management and time commitments. I have actually found that the Holy Spirit can provide me with more available time by intervening on my behalf so what I need to do takes less time. I have also discovered that the Holy Spirit can give divine flashes of insight that reveal steps to be taken, obstacles to be removed, or resources to be used to make things go faster. The Holy Spirit can also direct people to come alongside me to take on some of my work or responsibilities. Finally, the Holy Spirit can orchestrate events and circumstances that create a favorable environment for accomplishment. The Holy Spirit can also protect us from distractions that absorb time. He can expose the thoughts and desires that get us off track and break our concentration on what God wants us to be doing (see Philippians 3:13–14). He can also guard us from the schemes of Satan who often uses other people to draw us away from what God wants us to be doing (see Nehemiah 6:1–16). Finally, the Holy Spirit can protect us from personal crises that require immediate attention such as health issues, 114 financial problems, or relational tensions that ultimately take our attention away from the things that God wants us to accomplish. Take time to apply the 4 Rs to the use of your time. As you stay connected to God (relationship), he will reveal to you his plans and purposes for the use of your time. Reflect upon his Word and allow the Holy Spirit to redeem your time. As you stay in tune with the Spirit’s leading, he will keep the current of Son Power moving through you. Look for God to use your time in a supernatural way as you trust in the Holy Spirit’s intervention in you as you pursue God’s purposes in the use of your time. Son Power and Talent Every person has been given a gift or talent from God (see 1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Some people may have multiple gifts. The use of talent resembles the use of time in that it can be spent achieving earthly goals like fame, prestige, pleasure, stuff, money, and power, or it can be invested in the kingdom of God. Romans 12:6–8 encourages us with these words: In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Here are several questions to consider as you think about the use of your talent(s): Identification • What talent/s has God blessed me with? This question may not be easy to answer because the things we are good at often simply seem natural to us. However, God has created each one of us for specific purposes and consequently he has designed us so that we can accomplish them. If you are uncertain about the talent or talents God has entrusted to you, ask the Holy Spirit to show them to you through Scripture and fellow believers. Get involved in doing things for God’s kingdom by serving others in various ways. As you do, the talents God has entrusted to you will emerge and become obvious to those around you. Your talent may surprise you. It may be something that is easily recognized, such as musical ability or organization or speaking. It might be something less visible, 115 such as the ability to be encouraging or to show mercy or the ability to see and help those in need in basic, practical ways. Perspective • In what ways am I embracing my God-given talents and abilities as a resource to be used for God’s plans and purposes? The abilities that you have been given are designed so that God’s work might be accomplished and his kingdom expanded. Each one of us has a choice: we can either use these abilities to accomplish whatever we choose, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to use these gifts. God-given gifts can accomplish a lot when they are used naturally, but when we allow the Holy Spirit to permeate those gifts with his power, supernatural results will occur. Are you willing to allow God to use your gifts to bless others? Priorities • Am I using my talents where God wants me to invest them? Your talents can and should be used! God is waiting to use you. You may be busy, you may have responsibilities, you may have little time, but God can and will still allow you to use your talent for the expansion of his kingdom. Let’s be honest, many of us are using our talents and abilities in the wrong places. Why? Partly because a need has come before us and we’ve jumped in without really taking time to listen to the Spirit’s leading, and partly because we haven’t thought carefully about where God might best use our talent. Need does not equal involvement. There is need everywhere! Seek the Holy Spirit’s direction as to where God wants you to be involved. At the same time, don’t be afraid to take on something that really does need to be done that you might not seem totally gifted for. God will provide whatever it is you need to get the job done. Ultimately, ask for the Holy Spirit’s direction and guidance. Dependence on Son Power • In what ways am I expecting the Holy Spirit to magnify my talents by his provision and protection? The Holy Spirit can provide greater impact through the use of your talents. He can create opportunities where your abilities will have far greater results than any116 thing you could imagine. He can also increase your talents for a supernatural effect. I have also experienced the Holy Spirit orchestrating others to join with me to create a synergistic outcome. The Holy Spirit can also protect you from the misuse of your God-given talent. He can show us when fleshly desires are motivating us to use our abilities in the pursuit of fame or fortune. He can also make us aware if our ego is manipulating us to use our giftedness to elevate ourselves while devaluing others. The Holy Spirit can help us overcome the fear of failure that holds us back from situations that might stretch our abilities. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (emphasis added). More than we might ask or think. The Holy Spirit works within us, infusing our talents with his power, and accomplishing supernatural results. Here again, take time to apply the 4 Rs to the use of your talent. As you stay connected to God (relationship), he will reveal to you his plans and purposes for the use of your talent. Reflect upon his Word and allow the Holy Spirit to redeem your talent. Allow Son Power to enable you to use your gift in a supernatural way. Trust the Holy Spirit to provide opportunities for you to use your talent for God’s kingdom work. Son Power and Treasure The Bible clearly says, “Keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts” (1 John 5:21). No matter how you define your personal “treasure,” it is important to remember that these things in and of themselves are not wrong. However, if they take the place of God in your life, then you have a big problem. As our heart and mind becomes more in tune with the Holy Spirit, our desire to invest in God’s kingdom should increasingly trump the desire to keep investing in the perishable things of this world. All that we have been entrusted with needs to come under the direction of God. Son Power can transform us from the inside so that we will be able to discern the ways in which God wants us to use this treasure. Treasure is an amazing tool. But it is a tool that can be used for temporary earthly pleasure or for the imperishable goals of God’s kingdom. I’m quite sure God is not so interested in how much money we have or don’t have, but rather how much we are willing to give away. It is not the amount that matters, but the attitude in which the giving is done. God is more concerned about our spiritual development of faith in him, than he is about the money or treasure that is given away. The heart holds the real value here. 117 As you consider how the Holy Spirit is guiding you to use your treasure, consider these questions: Perspective • What treasure am I willing to invest in the kingdom of God? The encounter of Jesus with the little boy who was willing to let Jesus have his lunch of five loaves and two fishes is recorded in all four gospels (see Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14). This is an important story. It was just lunch. It was just a little boy. It was just five loaves and two fishes. And yet, Jesus took what that little boy gave him and multiplied it into lunch for a multitude. Satan would have us keep our resources for ourselves. But this little boy shows us that in the hands of Jesus our treasure can bless a lot of people. God can multiple anything that we are willing to give him when it is to be used for his plans and purposes. Priorities • What goals and objectives am I currently focused on when it comes to the use of my treasure? Possessions require responsibility and care. The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to maintain. Honestly, do you have a lot of possessions? Are you committed to the accumulation of a lot of worldly treasure? To what end? These questions are not meant to make you feel guilty, but to help you consider the role that your treasure has in your life. Maybe you have very little. Are you attached to what you have? Are you sharing it? Are you hospitable? Are you enjoying it in an appropriate way? These are important considerations to reflect upon as you identify what you are actually accomplishing with your treasure. Dependence on Son Power • In what ways am I expecting the Holy Spirit to help me manage my treasure? The Holy Spirit can protect the resources you already have. He can reveal areas where your resources are disappearing or being wasted instead of being used for his kingdom. The Holy Spirit also has a way of keeping our egos from wanting to buy status and favor. Additionally, the Holy Spirit can help guard your heart from greed and idolatry which ultimately leads to divine judgment and ruin. The Holy Spirit can also increase your earthly treasure. He can create oppor118 tunities that result in the addition of more treasure. The Holy Spirit can bless you so you have a greater return on your investments and efforts. I have also discovered that through his goodness, the Holy Spirit can shower material blessings upon us without any involvement on our part. There are many ways to use treasure. It takes wisdom and discernment to know how and where and why we are investing our treasure in someone or something. Satan is quick to try to deceive us when it comes to the use of treasure. We are constantly bombarded with ways to spend our treasure on ourselves. It is important that we use the 4 Rs of the Sonburst to keep ourselves on track and focused. As we stay connected to God (relationship), he will reveal to us his plans and purposes for the use of our treasure. Reflect upon his Word and allow the Holy Spirit to redeem your treasure. Allow Son Power to enable you to use your treasure in a supernatural way as the Holy Spirit provides opportunities for your treasure to be invested in God’s plans and purposes. Remember when we applied Ephesians 3:20 to the use of our talent? “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (emphasis added). Here again, more than we might ask or think! The Holy Spirit at work within us, using whatever treasure we have, accomplishing supernatural results. Son Power working in and through our treasure can accomplish great things. Are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit to provide insight and discernment in how you can best invest your treasure? If you are, he will give you your heart’s desire and will show you how to use your treasure for God’s glory. Empowered These truths shape our priorities and give us direction in how we should invest our time, talent, and treasure while we are in this world. We can take what we have to heaven if we have allowed it to be used for the advancement of God’s kingdom. However, this takes thought and intentionality. Our time, talent, and treasure lose their compounding value the moment we die and enter eternity. If we are going to invest them wisely, we must converterlate them while we are able to do so. Because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have learned that we are living in a world that in its present form is passing away. Everything we can see and touch is in the process of perishing. However, we have also discovered that through the use of Son Power we are able to convert perishable time, talent, and treasure of this world into the imperishable treasure of the world to come. We will be rewarded if we use this knowledge to govern 119 the use of our three Ts accordingly. We can allow the Holy Spirit to empower us as we invest our time, talent, and treasure in God’s kingdom. Lord, You Have Made Me Glad! The psalmist wrote, “For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands” (Psalm 92:4, NKJV). We must soak our heart in the revelation that it is the work of God that enables us to live the Christian life. He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. He has delivered us from the evil one and his kingdom of darkness. He has transferred us into the kingdom of his Son where we now live by the law of faith and the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which has delivered us from the law of sin and death. And through it all, he makes us glad! All of this is a gift from God to us. When we understand and apply these truths to our lives, they make us very glad. They also impact our everyday living. As we come under the power of the Holy Spirit, we live under his control. As we do so, we will not fulfill the sinful desires of self. The mighty power of God can overcome the influence of the three amigos Me, Myself, and I. This is why, as in the words of the psalmist above, we can say, “I will triumph in the work of your hands.” “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV), “for it is God who works in [us] both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13, NKJV). When we unite our hearts in communion with the Holy Spirit, we will be able to bring our lives into conformance with the will of God by taking proper advantage of his working in us and our circumstances. He will present the opportunities and provide the path for us as we follow his revealed will. Son Power at Work 1. In what ways are you using your time, talent, and treasure to pursue perishing things? 2. What steps do you need to take to allow God’s Spirit to help you see how you can use your time, talent, and treasure to accomplish God’s purposes? 3. In what ways is your life becoming more in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading? 120 Talk to God Scripture Meditation “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:35) Prayer Heavenly Father, because you are my King, I ask you to give me victories in my life in the way I use my time, talent, and treasure. I thank you that I have life in you. What more could a person want? Finding true life and experiencing your favor is beyond anything this world has to offer! I ask you to make my life the true aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14) to those around me. I give you my heart, and ask you to help me set my mind on the things above, and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Nothing can compare with living a life in relationship with you. Lord, I want to have a heart that is loyal to you, that is desiring to constantly and consistently do your will. Empower me by your Spirit to accomplish all that you have for me to do. Amen. Memorize and Meditate 121 122 Conclusion  Rise, Let Us Go from Here S o, what are you going to do with all that you have read in this book? Are you going to say, “Wow, that was a great book, I’ve learned so much about Son Power,” or are you actually going to start living the Son-powered life? In John 14:31 Jesus said to his disciples, “Rise, let us go from here” (ESV). Jesus knew where he was going. He had a plan. He had a purpose. He was on the move. He had work to accomplish for the kingdom and he had only a short period of time in which to do it. I believe Jesus is saying to each one of us, “Rise, let us go from here.” We are his ambassadors to an unbelieving and dying world. We have the good news of Jesus Christ. We have a role to play in the great story of God. It is time for us to put on the armor of God and point the way to the cross and eternal life. Now is the time for our opportunity. We read in the Old Testament, “Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive” (Joel 3:14). We cannot sit by and do nothing. The time is short. We are God’s workmanship created to do the good works he planned ahead for us to do (see Ephesians 2:10). The Lord is counting on us to use our time, talent, and treasure for the advancement of his kingdom and we have been empowered by his Spirit to accomplish his purposes. Eternity is assured for everyone, whether we believe it or not and whether we like it or not. Eternity is the real world to come and there is nothing temporary or perishing about it. King David said, “Whom have I in heaven but you [God]? I desire you more than anything on earth” (Psalm 73:25). David realized that in the end his only possession would be his relationship with God. In the New Testament, Paul tells us: For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our 123 mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Corinthians 15:53–54 We get a glimpse of what that may be like when Jesus took a few of his disciples to a high mountain and was transformed in their very presence: “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light” (Matthew 17:2). This obviously was a supernatural act; the disciples were amazed. It was divine. It was supernaturally powered from above. The face of Jesus “shone like the sun.” Prior to this event, Jesus had said, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” (Matthew 13:43). Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of what we will be like in heaven. We will shine like the sun, and like the Son! In the meantime, let’s not be afraid. Let’s live the Son-powered life. Let’s allow God to use our time, talent, and treasure to make a difference for all eternity. Let’s press forward toward the goal for which God is calling us in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14). What are you going to do with the Son Power that God has made available to you? Are you going to rise, go from here, and live as the Son-powered vessel God wants you to be? Or are you going to settle for a life of mediocrity and low impact? It is a decision that only you can make. My prayer is that you will allow the Holy Spirit to infuse all of your life and that you will make a difference in this world and in the world to come. Because at the end of our lives, our goal is to hear these words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV). 124 Appendix A  Begin Your Relationship with God T he key to living your life by KingdomNomics principles is to make sure you have a living and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Once this relationship is established, the living and powerful Word of God can begin to work in your life as you practice the principles of KingdomNomics. Let’s take a walk together through a few verses of the Bible to show us how we can be sure we have the living relationship God wants us to have with Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus Christ that life and immortality have been brought to light giving us the option to enjoy a life now that will echo into eternity. What Jesus Christ Did for Us The apostle Paul said, I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. —1 Corinthians 15:3–6 This is the gospel. It is of first importance that we understand, accept, believe, and trust in the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins and God raised him from the dead on the third day. The apostle Paul tells us this is the reason Jesus came into the world. What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the 125 world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. —1 Timothy 1:15, NCV Jesus Christ Provides the Only Way to the Father Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” —John 14:6, NCV “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” —John 10:9, NIV I Am Accepted and Obtain Right Standing with God: … When I agree with God that I am a sinner. I have failed to be what God wants me to be, and I have failed to do what God wants me to do. Therefore, I qualify as a sinner in the sight of God; I have failed to meet his standard of righteousness. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. —Romans 3:23 … When I understand that sin, if not paid for, will result in death. God has made provision for the payment of my sin through his Son, Jesus Christ. The payment for sin is death. But God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23, NCV My salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ, and it is a free gift to me if I will personally receive it by faith. Yet we know that a person is made right with God not by following the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be made right with God because we trusted in Christ. It is not because we 126 followed the law, because no one can be made right with God by following the law. —Galatians 2:16, NCV … When I am made right with God by trusting in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation. Eternal life is in Jesus Christ, and it is a free gift given to me by God. I must not trust in myself, my good works, behavior, giving, or any other works for my salvation. This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. —1 John 5:11–12, NCV Now … If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. —Romans 10:9–10 Pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess you are Lord. I believe in my heart you died for my sins, and that God raised you from the dead. I am trusting in you alone for my salvation, not my works, behavior, or anything else. By faith, I ask you to be my Lord and Savior. I thank you for your gift of eternal life. I invite you, Lord Jesus, into my heart to take control of how I think, feel, and act. Thank you for doing so. In your name, I pray. Amen. God’s Guarantee If you sincerely prayed this prayer believing that Jesus Christ is your personal Lord and Savior, you are now secure in him with the guarantee of going to heaven. The following verses, along with many others found in the Bible, give us the assurance that our salvation is a present possession, to be enjoyed now, enabling us to be of service to Jesus Christ in the time we have remaining in this world. 127 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. —Ephesians 2:8–9 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. —John 3:36, ESV So it is with you. When you heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation—you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people until God gives full freedom to those who are his—to bring praise to God’s glory. —Ephesians 1:13–14, NCV Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. —Revelation 3:20, NIV “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” —John 5:24 This is wonderful news! Our sin has been paid for on the cross, our salvation is secure, and we have passed from death to life—a life that now can echo into eternity. 128 Appendix B  Sonburst Personal Application T hroughout this book, I have used an advanced application of the Sonburst diagram to connect key verses to an important concept. Here I would like to illustrate how this tool can be used to study and apply a single verse to your own life situations. Using the 4 Rs of the Sonburst (Relationship, Revelation, Reflection, and Redemption), we can apply any verse or passage to our life at any given time. I truly believe that as we read and hear God’s Word, it is important that we make a decision to apply it to our life and then act on that decision. As we receive instruction from God’s Word and store those words in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will make them operative in our life circumstances. Sow God’s Word deep into your heart and allow Son Power to flow through you. As you read a verse or passage, consider what it is saying to you by asking these questions: Relationship • What is this verse specifically telling me about my relationship with God? • If there are not specific words, what can I learn about God and his relationship with me from this verse/passage? • What does this verse/passage tell me about God’s character? Revelation • What does this verse/passage reveal to me about God and/or his will? • What is this verse/passage revealing to me about Son Power in my life? 129 • What new insight or perspective does this verse/passage reveal to me? Reflection • What does this verse/passage mean? • How does what I have discovered in this verse/passage impact my life and the world around me? • In what ways is the Holy Spirit challenging, inspiring, correcting, or encouraging me through this verse/passage? Redemption • What should I do with what has been revealed to me? • What is currently preventing me from acting upon what God has revealed to me? • What do I need to trust the Holy Spirit for in order for God to work in me or through me? A Sonburst of Revelation to Grow By: EPHESIANS 3:20–21 To illustrate, let’s consider Ephesians 3:20–21: Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Now let’s apply the 4 Rs of relationship, revelation, reflection, and redemption to the Ephesians 3 passage. 130 Relationship: What is this passage specifically telling me about my relationship with God? I can talk to God about all of my aspirations and dreams. I wouldn’t have a conversation with a stranger or casual acquaintance about my personal aspirations. My relationship with God is personal and close and intimate. I can trust him. I can ask him for assistance and guidance. I can share my frustrations. I can pour out my heart to him. Revelation: What new insight or perspective does this verse/passage reveal to me? God can do anything, and yet, he is choosing to accomplish his work in and through me. He empowers me. I am in a partnership with him. If I allow him to work through me, what will be accomplished will be beyond anything that I might dream up. Reflection: In what ways is the Holy Spirit challenging, inspiring, correcting, or encourageing me through this verse/passage? God is not limited by my circumstances. I am limited, but he is not. His options, opportunities, and solutions to my current circumstance are infinite. I need to consult with him and allow the Holy Spirit to assist me with what I am currently dealing with. 131 Redemption: What should I do with what has been revealed to me? I need to consistently take my situations to God first. I tend to choose my own inadequate solutions when I could be experiencing divine intervention in my life. I need to daily apply God’s Word to my life and trust in the power of it. I do not need to be overwhelmed, fearful, or anxious. I can move forward each day in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. God will accomplish all that he has set out to do; he is that kind of Father. He is faithful! 132 Appendix C  Additional Power Nuggets At the Foot of the Cross, Everyone Is the Same Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:27–28 Someone once said, “At end of the game in chess, both the king and the pawn go into the same box.” As far as this temporary world is concerned, we all end up in the same box at the end of life. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ makes a difference for what comes after this life, and it is beyond compare to anything this world can possibly offer. Experiencing God’s Blessing For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. —Psalm 84:11, NIV Our heavenly Father has made it perfectly clear that if we obey him, he will bless us. He will not withhold his wisdom or peace or power from us as we face whatever life throws at us. The Lord God is our shield and Son Power enables us to experience his protection and favor. 133 Spend Time in God’s Word! “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” —Matthew 7:24–27 Living the Son-powered life requires spending time soaking, sowing, flowing, and growing in God’s Word. The power nuggets we apply to our life will help determine whether we will live as a victor or as a victim in this world. They will dramatically influence how much of our life will echo into eternity in a positive or negative way. They will dictate whether we will be successful or not in turning today’s opportunities into eternal treasure. Our Mission Is People Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” —Matthew 4:19 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18–20 Son Power enables us to be used by God to interact with and relate to people as we share the incredible message of God’s love. Throughout the gospels of the New Testament, we see Jesus interacting with people: talking, healing, reaching out, blessing, encouraging, challenging. As we invest our time, talent, and treasure in people, God is showing them his character through us. In what ways are you interacting with the people you come in contact with that shows your mission in life is all about them? 134 Each One of Us Is an Ambassador We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. —2 Corinthians 5:20 As ambassadors for Christ, we have the opportunity to influence and affect change for our King. We belong to a heavenly country and it is our official responsibility to bring the presence of that country into the world that we presently live in. Do the people that you interact with on a regular basis know that you are an ambassador for God? Converterlating the Perishable into the Imperishable! Don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval. —John 6:27 135 The things of this world that we can see and touch are perishable and the things of heaven (eternity) are imperishable. I believe this concept is illustrated in a beautiful way through a Sonburst of Revelation. Our imperishable relationship with God comes from the Son who gives us eternal life (John 6:27). As we soak our minds on these biblical truths, God reveals to us that we are working for an imperishable (eternal) prize. In 1 Corinthians 9:25 we read, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” Further reflection on this important principle for our lives brings us to 1 John 2:15–17: Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. We see in these verses a continual contrast between what is perishing and what will last forever, which leads us to the redemption phase of action found in Matthew 6:19–21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Are you focusing the use of your time, talent, and treasure on the perishable or the imperishable? 136 Appendix D  KingdomNomics DNA T he DNA markers of those who practice the concepts of KingdomNomics differ radically from those who abide by the “wisdom” promoted by the world system. KingdomNomics thinkers: … focus their lives on the person of Jesus Christ. … understand that they have been given a “loaf of time” that is being shortened by a slice each day. … recognize that they live in a time bubble that can pop at any time. … embrace their SPECIAL design by God and live for all his purposes. … apply the core concepts of soak, sow, and flow to their lives on a daily basis. … realize their three Ts—time, talent, and treasure—are resources at risk of being consumed by perishable goals in this temporary world. … discover that they can convert their perishable resources into imperishable treasure that will echo into eternity. … see Christ living in and through them by the work of the Holy Spirit. … believe that God works through the grace-giving principles outlined in 2 Corinthians 9, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things 137 at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (v. 8, NIV). … practice giving while they are living. … are strategic kingdom investors striving to meet the spiritual, physical, and material needs of people in the name of Jesus Christ for the purpose of helping to fulfill the Great Commission. 138 139