1 John 2:6
whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
This is a rough one since today we are living more with the motto of “do what thou wilt” (Alastair Crowley – Satanic Law) than “your will be done.” There is a fine line here but Crowley’s “thou” is self-indulgence and “your” from the Lord’s Prayer is God. So we are praying for God’s will to be done, as long as it’s our will to be done. This is a tough idea but we want our prayers to produce the fruit in the Bible like healings, miracles, revivals and blessings without following Jesus.
I know this is a continuation of a thread about going and doing, but we need to strive for faith and righteousness before the “treats”. We need to eat our broccoli before getting cake!! We have to pick up our cross and follow the narrow road. I know it’s impossible to be exactly like Jesus, but we don’t focus enough time to strive for His character. We figure it’s impossible and continue what we are doing, be it drinking, partying, lustful ways, porn, greed or not controlling our tongues.
Often the sin becomes a way of life where we never try to break the bonds, since it’s an addiction or doesn’t hurt others. When it becomes so every day that we forget it’s sin, that is a big problem. We need to be rooted in Christ and live for him every day, not just Sunday. We want all the miracles, signs and wonders without being obedient. 1 Peter 3:12 give us some insight on why our prayers may go unanswered:
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
We really need to take the words of the blind man to hear when questioned about Jesus in John 9:31 and do his will, not just say we love Jesus:
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
The key word is “AND” in this sentence. Churches today get us worked up in the spirit and give us an idea we do not have to do works in the name of Jesus. Jesus destroyed the merit based system that came before, but we still need to show fruit to gain access to his power. Jesus told his disciples in John 14:12 to go and do greater things:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Today we want all the signs, wonders and power that this verse promises us without living the righteous life Jesus and his disciples did. Sure we are not perfect and we will slip, that does not justify slipping always. If we shoot for the power without going after a life like Jesus we will get neither. Ever wonder why your connection with God was incredible when you first believed and now it has seemed to wane? You knew God was there because He answered prayers and showed you signs and wonders. Then “He” dropped the ball and things stopped happening like they did. As new Christians we need the Holy Spirit to revel Himself to us, but as we grow we need to FOLLOW the Holy Spirit more.
In my life I ignore the Holy Spirit more than I like to admit. One instance I was standing in the front row worshiping God and singing with love during an alter call. People were coming down and accepting Jesus, being baptized. It was wonderful. A girl stopped in front of me and the staff was busy with others, the Holy Spirit said HELP and I worshiped instead. I watch that girl wander with a need to talk with someone now only to turn away and leave. I watched her walk out the door and I did nothing … NOTHING. How can I keep asking God for signs and wonders when he “asks” and I do NOTHING?
This is where we need to be now; stop expecting signs and wonders but rather stepping out in faith! Power will come to the righteous, not the other way around. We need to live like Jesus before we can expect to heal like Jesus. Praying for power and blessing without picking up our cross is dangerous. Our focus becomes on the gifts and supernatural experiences, not the GIVER. We demand signs in church, we don’t care because we want something supernatural. We just don’t want to be bothered with doing this afterwards.
Pastor Miles told a story about his young daughter praying for a butterfly. His faith was to get a net and capture one to help God. Instead while in the park with Mom a butterfly came and spent an hour with her, without him catching one. God came to prove Himself to her! Now that we know, we must follow and not expect the butterfly every time we pray without doing the hard work.
Why is this dangerous? Remember Satan and demons can perform miracles. Pagan culture have a history of miracles, even Moses had pagan sorcerers perform many miracles similar to God’s. God just one upped them! We cannot be so desperate to be insearch of signs and wonder that ignore following Jesus. Revelations 16:14 is a stark warning of this:
For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
The key is follow Jesus first, strive for His righteousness, and do what the Holy Spirit tells you, then the signs and wonders will return. We cannot expect the same relationship and power without carrying the cross. Do not be deceived by demonic spirits looking Holy. We need to read, pray AND do for the miracles to follow. Don’t expect the pray and worship only formula to work.