They came to my office.
They were searching for God.
“How do you know?”
“How do you know that God is real when things continually get worse?”
“For that matter, how do you know God . . . is . . . God?”
“How is it possible to know?”
While we talked about many other things . . . I suggested to ask God to let them know.
There is a “knowing” that comes from the Spirit of God.
It is through the Spirit of God . . . that we can know . . . we are given eyes to see . . . to know God is present and at work. Paul prayed for the Ephesians to know: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength . . . Ephesians 1:17-19
The Spirit of God gives true perspective, the picture of true reality. The Apostle Paul knew that regardless of being imprisoned . . . of suffering . . . of opposition . . . God was at work. . . . for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ . . . Philippians 1:19
The Spirit of God gave him eyes to see that the good work of God would be completed ( see Philippians 1:6). He knew . . . the work . . . that would overpower his adversity and adversaries . . . would occur through the prayers of the church and provision of the Spirit. In faith, he could repeat the words of Christ, “it is finished” (John 19:30), confident that God would see him through it all . . . that Christ is the Finisher.
Prayer: God, give me eyes to see that it is finished.
Paul had a bold eagerness and anticipation of the future. His deliverance would come through the prayers of the church and the provision of the Spirit . . . the same Spirit that is in union with Christ. He was not worried . . . agitated . . . distraught . . . or depressed . . . he could say, “it is well.”
What was the key to his strength and bold eagerness?
He knew.
Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . knowing.
Pastor Kerrie
(interAct written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)
kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ interAct
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