IMAGINE WHAT GOD COULD DO...
The possibilities seemed endless and breathtaking! Imagine what God could do! On the other side it advertised some Christian gathering and the theme of course was just that - Imagine what God could do and expanded that a bit with the word "if".
IF you attended this conference...imagine what God could do in your life!
IF you gave an offering...imagine what God could do for you in return!
IF you just fell in line with the belief system and theology and behavior and dress and if you just fell in step with this ministry and it's teachings...imagine what God would be willing to do for you.
Flash forward about 8 years. I don't remember much about the ad on the other side, but every time I open my refrigerator and without my even really being aware, I'm "seeing" that picture and those words. Even the time we've been in the RV traveling it was taped to the fridge, it had so captured my imagination! Then this week it hit me! IMAGINE WHAT GOD COULD DO??? Nothing is impossible with God! There is NOTHING God is not capable of doing nor is there anything He withholds from His children. And praise God, it most certainly isn't dependent on ME what God could do or we would be in some serious trouble. And we are in serious trouble, when we've come to the place where, even subtly, we think of God in terms of our control or subject to our actions.
Everything that every human being does is in RESPONSE to the Almighty God, Creator and Master of all heaven, all earth and everything in it. This prevailing, subtle, sneaky and extremely DANGEROUS idea that God moves, works, thinks, feels or acts in response to us is the devils most clever lie EVER since the Garden of Eden! In II Timothy specifically the end of chapter 2 and into chapter 3, Paul is warning against just this kind of captivity of lies an deceits that man is of the utmost importance and the universe behaves in response to man. You should read all of this book for a full picture, but let's take a look at a piece of it.
II Timothy 2: 26, 3: 1-9 ...and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power and from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
Paul goes on to instruct Timothy not only how to avoid this foolish behavior but to follow righteous behavior leading to true godliness. Please bear with me while I repeat myself for instructions sake. Everything a human being does is in response to the Almighty Father in Heaven. Whether that response is acceptance or rejection, WE DO THE RESPONDING. We are instructed to pray, yet Jesus clearly tells us God already knows what our needs are (Matthew 6: 8). We believe Christ died for us and receive the gift of salvation according to Gods plan (Ephesians 1:4), not ours. God already has everything in place and IF we respond according to His instructions we receive the blessing. The land of Canaan already belonged to the Israelites, God had already declared He had given it to them. They needed to respond to Gods gift in order to receive it. It is subtle, but important. It is a heart matter, that the very thought pattern, to be righteous, must be "God has provided, so I will ask and receive" and not "I will ask so God will provide".
So it struck me hard the other day, when I passed by the fridge and glanced at the familiar postcard that we have it wrong! It isn't and can not be IMAGINE WHAT GOD COULD DO...for there is nothing impossible with God, but really ought to be IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD EXPERIENCE if we trusted and believed GOD and responded accordingly and obediently. We would experience the JOY of the Lord that is our strength, the power of the Holy Spirit in our situations, the PEACE of God that passes all understanding and the FELLOWSHIP with our Heavenly Father that knows no bounds!
II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, thoruroughly equipped for every good work.
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD EXPERIENCE IF YOU TRULY TRUSTED
AND BELIEVED GOD TO THE END THAT YOU OBEY HIM IN ALL THINGS!
Turn the Tide Ministries is dedicated to changing lives one at a time for the increase of Gods Kingdom and the Glory of God the Father. Starting with our own lives and moving outward, we obey our Lord as surrendered living epistles of His great and glorious grace. Join us every Sunday for practical applications to your everyday lives of Gods rich and wonderful WORD OF TRUTH to His children until He comes to gather us HOME.
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