Victory Life KY

Oh Yeah, I Know Jesus II

Episode Summary

In our culture today, information is a very slippery slope. We assume because we’ve acquired a little info that we know what we’re talking about. No humility = unteachable

Episode Notes

Matthew 13:55-58,NKJV- Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56, And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”
57, So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”
58, Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

MSG, “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. Who does he think he is?” They got their noses all out of joint.”

Familiarity really does breed contempt (Scorn, disdain, depreciate, disrespect) It’s a heart thing.

In our culture today, information is a very slippery slope. We assume because we’ve acquired a little info that we know what we’re talking about. No humility = unteachable

Think about it, because of the people’s familiarity with Jesus they allowed contempt instead of faith, they couldn’t see Jesus for who He was, because they had already concluded who He was and it limited what He could do miraculously.

Let’s not kid ourselves, we will all be loyal to our conclusions just like they were.

Here’s the thought we introduced last week, can the all powerful, almighty God be limited?

Psalm 78:40-41,NKJV- “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.” KJV, “they turned back”

When God's people continually disregarded His guidance, not only does it grieve Him, but when we rebel with unbelief, we actually limit Him.

Here’s the question we all need to consider; could our unbelieving, our ungodly thinking limit what God wants to do in our lives today?

Secondly, are we even willing to let what God tells even get in the way our current beliefs?

Seriously, since we serve a limitless God, maybe the first thing we should address is a change in our thinking. What would thinking limitless thoughts look like?

I promise you, God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

I believe God is patiently waiting for believers that will not only acknowledge the promised life He has for us, but be willing to take the necessary steps of faith to possess it.

Philippians 3:12-14,NKJV- Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I realize we talk about our thought life a lot, but the reality is, our faith goes the way of our thoughts.

And according to our Psalm 78 and Matthew 13, one sure way we limit God is simply with wrong, unbelieving thinking.

And the best way to change our thinking is by improving our relationship with Him and His word.

Seriously, listen to what God says to us through His prophet Jeremiah, "The thoughts I think toward you are of peace, hope, and success, giving you an expected end."

Think about it, what if God actually expects us to live beyond our humanity, to actually live supernaturally?

What if we honestly, faithfully started praying for this kind of life?

Believing God to help us to be more confident in the fact that something happens in the spirit world when we honestly, intentionally start believing God.

This is why Jesus made statements like, "Whatever you ask for believing, you'll receive it."

So back to one of our key points, the only way a person starts believing differently is by thinking differently.

And make no mistake, this kind of limitless, God inspired thinking is a direct result of time with Him and His word. Remember, never out of an, “oh yea, I know Jesus” approach, but one of reverence and humility.

Any of you like me, you find yourself so busy, so occupied with the every days of life that it limits your ability to hear Him?

Thing is, when we can't hear from our Father, it absolutely limits our faith, which once again results in us limiting Him.
Keep in mind, it’s not that God isn’t speaking and leading, Jesus told us, His sheep know His voice. Most of the time it’s simply other things interfering.

1 Kings 19:11-12,NKJV- Then He said, Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, A STILL SMALL VOICE.

The normal revelation from the Lord isn't dramatic and spectacular, but subtle and simple. "A still small voice."

Psalm 46 tells us, The Almighty is our protector and strength. The God of Heaven’s army is our fortress. Calm down, be still and know that He is God. Meditate that!

This is a challenge for our modern, multitasking culture that we're use too.

Truth is, making ourselves available to God, to spiritual realities isn't something that comes natural to our human nature.

This is why we have to be proactive with our thinking. Making our soul available to the Lord is an absolute when it come to not only hearing, but proving out what His will is for our lives.

I know I say this repeatedly, but free will is one of humanity's most powerful forces God gave His creation.

And for the born-again, our new lives can only be found in Him, willfully giving our lives to Him is the key to our success.

One of the greatest things the Psalm 46 revelation will do for us is simply keep us from ever getting to the place where our familiarity has made us complacent, “oh yea, I know Jesus”.
“Be still and know Him”

Here’s the harsh reality is, as long as we continue living, thinking, responding solely out of our human nature, we limit Him.
We’ve got to be still in His presence long enough that our perspective of Him changes, because He doesn’t.

This is why what Paul tells us is so vital to our life of faith, “As we behold Him, we are transformed into the same image as Him.”
He takes us from glory to glory as we put on our new man in Christ.

Romans makes it very clear, those who live spiritual, set their minds on spiritual things.

Romans 8:11,NKJV- “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Why not make today the day you let what God says get in the way of what you currently believe? Are you even willing to let Jesus interrupt your routine? Interrupt your security? Your familiarity?

Ephesians 1:11,MSG- It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.

A truth every Christ follower has come to terms with is the fact that a life "In Christ" will never be discovered by passively waiting for Him to do His miracles, while we continue doing life the way we've always done it.

God gave us three simply principles for success in the "In Christ”

Psalm 37:3-5,AMP- Trust, lean on, rely on, and be confident in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Ken Blanchard, One Minute Manager, wrote, "When you're interested in something, you'll only do it when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you'll accept no excuses, only results."

When we trust, delight, and commit our ways to God’s, our life becomes a little more Holy Spirit inspired each day. The Holy Spirit quickening our mortality so that we see transformation.