Is Something Missing?
Everyone follows, trusts, and worships someone or something in their lives, but the real question is always, "WHO?" Once it can be determined WHO you are actually trusting in and following, there is the need to keep growing and learning and yearning for more.
Jesus said, "For whoever has, to him MORE will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" (Mark 4:25).
When Paul showed up in Ephesus, he came across 12 disciples but it didn't take long to realize that something was "spiritually off". He discerned that there was definitely something missing in the lives of these professing believers so he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Their response showed their ignorance since they didn't even know whether there was a Holy Spirit...even though He is mentioned all throughout the Old Testament, beginning with the second verse of Genesis, and through the various prophets and by Jesus Himself who promised that the Holy Spirit would come to all those who believed.
Sometimes, those who have a simple faith in God are missing more of what God has in store for them. This could be due to: IGNORANCE, simply being uninformed, as was the case for these disciples who knew only the baptism of John. Other times, something is missing due to the INTERFERENCE by the practice of sin or by being led astray by other pullings. Finally, it can be due to INDIFFERENCE, where the professing believer simply does not care enough.
Sadly, there are far too many people who are carelessly missing out on what the Spirit desires to do in and through their lives. We know every person who receives Christ becomes a child of God and has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them. A person cannot be born again of the Spirit without the Spirit of God making His home in them, since He makes each one alive in Christ.
Romans 8:9-11 says, "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...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."
BUT JUST AS WE CAN GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND EXPERIENCE MORE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, THE SAME IS TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit first comes alongside us to convict us of sin and draw us to Christ and is therefore "with" us (Grk. "para"). Then, when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and God does His regenerating work, the Spirit of Christ comes to dwell "in" us (Grk. "en". But the Holy Spirit also desires to anoint us with fresh power to serve the Lord as His witnesses. This can be described as the Spirit coming "upon" or "on" us (Grk. "epi").
The three Greek prepositions show the growth and experience that can take place in a believers life. With the coming upon of the Spirit or overflow of the Spirit, we become endowed with power and divine strength whenever we experience this filling. This is why Paul would later tell the Ephesian believers to "be [continually] filled with the Spirit" rather than being drunk with wine (Eph. 5:18).
Now there is a difference between MISPLACED FAITH and UNDERDEVELOPED FAITH. Many people have a genuine faith in the wrong thing and they fail to see and receive Christ. But many other infant and immature Christians just need to be further taught and explained the way of God more accurately (as was the case for Apollos). Paul later writes: "For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?" (1 Th. 3:9-10)
How about you? Do you feel that something is lacking in your faith? Are you hungry for MORE?
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." (Matt. 5:6) and "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)
So ASK away dear saints, but BE READY FOR CHANGE because God's power never leaves us or others the same as we were before! For the Spirit of God is transforming us to be more like Christ and enabling us to live more for Christ than what we would do on our own.
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
Jesus said, "For whoever has, to him MORE will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" (Mark 4:25).
When Paul showed up in Ephesus, he came across 12 disciples but it didn't take long to realize that something was "spiritually off". He discerned that there was definitely something missing in the lives of these professing believers so he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Their response showed their ignorance since they didn't even know whether there was a Holy Spirit...even though He is mentioned all throughout the Old Testament, beginning with the second verse of Genesis, and through the various prophets and by Jesus Himself who promised that the Holy Spirit would come to all those who believed.
Sometimes, those who have a simple faith in God are missing more of what God has in store for them. This could be due to: IGNORANCE, simply being uninformed, as was the case for these disciples who knew only the baptism of John. Other times, something is missing due to the INTERFERENCE by the practice of sin or by being led astray by other pullings. Finally, it can be due to INDIFFERENCE, where the professing believer simply does not care enough.
Sadly, there are far too many people who are carelessly missing out on what the Spirit desires to do in and through their lives. We know every person who receives Christ becomes a child of God and has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them. A person cannot be born again of the Spirit without the Spirit of God making His home in them, since He makes each one alive in Christ.
Romans 8:9-11 says, "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...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."
BUT JUST AS WE CAN GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND EXPERIENCE MORE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, THE SAME IS TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit first comes alongside us to convict us of sin and draw us to Christ and is therefore "with" us (Grk. "para"). Then, when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and God does His regenerating work, the Spirit of Christ comes to dwell "in" us (Grk. "en". But the Holy Spirit also desires to anoint us with fresh power to serve the Lord as His witnesses. This can be described as the Spirit coming "upon" or "on" us (Grk. "epi").
The three Greek prepositions show the growth and experience that can take place in a believers life. With the coming upon of the Spirit or overflow of the Spirit, we become endowed with power and divine strength whenever we experience this filling. This is why Paul would later tell the Ephesian believers to "be [continually] filled with the Spirit" rather than being drunk with wine (Eph. 5:18).
Now there is a difference between MISPLACED FAITH and UNDERDEVELOPED FAITH. Many people have a genuine faith in the wrong thing and they fail to see and receive Christ. But many other infant and immature Christians just need to be further taught and explained the way of God more accurately (as was the case for Apollos). Paul later writes: "For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?" (1 Th. 3:9-10)
How about you? Do you feel that something is lacking in your faith? Are you hungry for MORE?
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." (Matt. 5:6) and "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)
So ASK away dear saints, but BE READY FOR CHANGE because God's power never leaves us or others the same as we were before! For the Spirit of God is transforming us to be more like Christ and enabling us to live more for Christ than what we would do on our own.
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
- Ask God to show you what is lacking in your faith.
- Be open for whatever help God may provide for you.
- Seek to help others experience the fullness of God.
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