Going Deeper with Jesus

My personal journey

Two weeks ago, I kept it real regarding the future of the blog. Let me share what’s going on inside of me.

Seeking More

Recently, I came to the end of a three month period of seeking more from God. More what? Mostly more of himself, but earnestly desiring a greater influx of his love and holiness. It has been a rich experience. I believe I’ve learned some life-changing lessons.

The more I focused on God in prayer, scripture meditation, and periodic fasting, the more I was able to hear from him. Each bit of manna scattered along the path kept me on track. But at the end of the three months, I thought, “OK, I did it. Not sure I got what I was longing for, but thank you, Jesus!”

The very next day was Sunday. The church I attend is quite amazingly blessed by the Spirit of God—a blessed atmosphere where it seems I can hear and occasionally see from the Spirit. But on this particular Sunday, a strange but familiar haze came upon my spiritual senses.

That evening they had their monthly prayer service known as the Upper Room Prayer Meeting. My past experiences on this night have been a sweet taste of heaven. But on this particular night, my deafness to the voice of God seemed worse.

My conclusion? My three months of seeking God was not meant to be a season. It was simply the life with God he intended for me to pursue every day in this new phase of my journey. Wow. So the trek has continued.

Already, But Not Quite Yet

Likely you already know that we live in this kingdom of in-betweens. We are tasting the first fruits of heaven right here on earth but the banquet table of all kingdom benefits awaits us above. Even though we pray for his kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven, there are some benefits that await us in eternity. This is the lens through which we view much in the New Testament.

In my scripture meditations, I have settled in on a selected few from Paul’s writings. Note what he teaches in Colossians 2:9—10.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. (NRSV)

In short, Jesus is 100% deity. In him we share that fullness of deity, a position of shared authority over all dark forces. That is absolutely true! We have fullness! But he goes on to say in the next chapter . . .

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:1—3 NRSV)

We have fullness! But not quite yet! That fullness is part of our position in Christ, seated in the heavens. So it is already, but not quite yet a reality in this life.

But notice what he wrote to the Ephesian church, a group of believers in the midst of much spiritual warfare:

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:18—19 NRSV; emphasis mine)

His prayer for them is to know the unknowable love of Christ. In coming to comprehend that love, he states, they will be filled with all the fullness of God. He is actually praying that the kingdom fullness already theirs in the heavens, would become a reality for them on earth. I understand this to mean we can experience this on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven reality of fullness once we can fully comprehend God’s love.

That seems to be asking for too much, doesn’t it? More than we can hardly imagine, in fact. How would God even accomplish this? Look at the very next two verses:

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20—21 NRSV; emphasis mine)

His power is at work within us right now! He is able to help us know this unknowable love of Christ in this life! That’s Paul’s prayer for them. Shouldn’t it be our prayer for ourselves?

If you’ve read this blog for very long, you know of my continued burden for victims of the Sexual Tsunami. But with each person who finds healing from abuse, new freedom from sexual addiction, or God’s wisdom and power for their sexual confusion, I am always aware that there are millions more.

There is power to bring healing to every last one of them. That is the power of the kingdom of heaven! And it is that power that I pray becomes a greater reality on this earth, in my life and in yours!

Next week I’ll post a few more insights on how to experience this fullness here on earth. For now, consider your own walk with God. For me, my passion is to see an army to bring healing to the broken. What’s your passion? Perhaps it is evangelism or discipleship. Our passion for kingdom work will be realized best as we experience his most!

That’s where I’m at today. Any thoughts from you? All are welcome to leave their comments.