Making the connection.
I’ve had the opportunity to travel in some of the poorest people groups in the world, and what I see among those Christian communities is that signs, wonders, and miracles have not vanished. Perhaps it’s because when you are poor in countries that do not provide any help such as health care, unemployment benefits, or welfare, you have to trust in God because there are no other options.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 that if you seek Him and His righteousness the answers to all of the issues of life will be given to you… the Bible teaches us how to live rightly, but sometimes life throws a “curve ball” and your situation may seem hopeless. It is especially during those times that we need to turn to Jesus.
What are you focused on?
Perhaps you have noticed that what you’re not focused on you tend to miss. I’ve missed things because I was distracted from what I should have seen. That which we don’t expect or are unaware of we often overlook. Sometimes it is the thing right in front of us that we can’t see! We become so conditioned to it being there we become blinded to it.
This also can apply to smells. We become “nose blind”, a new term, that means the body has the capacity to shut-off awareness of a constant smell or odor. Ever notice that when you first put on perfume or cologne you can smell it on you, but after a while, you don’t notice it. That’s what I am talking about.
The same is true of words. I remember learning the word “ubiquitous”, which means to appear or be found everywhere, in other words – to be common. I had one of those 365-day calendars and on each day, there was a new word to learn. The word ubiquitous was a word I never heard or read before. Yet once I learned the word, I saw that word popping up in conversation and especially in my readings. What that showed me is that my mind would skip over a word that I didn’t know. It was there but I didn’t notice it.
Have you ever purchased something that you thought was unique or not common only to find that afterward everyone had one!
We can be oblivious to that which we are overly familiar with or overlook those things we don’t know. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12, that he wanted to make us aware of spiritual things, in particular spiritual gifts. His words were “I don’t want you to be ignorant of…”. Ignorant in this sense simply means “to not know”.
Missing the Supernatural
Miracles, signs, and wonders are important events in the life of a Christian, but they can be completely missed or overlooked because:
- We are ignorant of the fact that we are spiritual. I’ve said this before, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience”. How you see yourself determines how you see life and how you see your relationship with God!
- We are not focused on spiritual things. It is as I said earlier if you are not seeking the spiritual realm you will miss it.
- The opposite can also be true. We become casual about spiritual things. What I mean is we simply take it for granted. It becomes more of a ritual or religious thing than a dynamic relationship with Jesus.
You must be plugged into the source.
Jesus makes it quite clear in John 15:1-7, we must be plugged into Him. You can’t run a power tool unless you plug it in or charge up the battery first. Jesus/Holy Spirit is the power source for the supernatural.
Jesus speaking to people who lived off of the land spoke in agricultural terms and uses the vineyard as an example. He says in John 15, 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”. John 15:1-7
Remember you have already received the first miracle in your life. When you accepted Jesus into your life. You are loved by God, forgiven of your sins, and accepted into the family of God! Don’t ever overlook how great your salvation is! However, we are expected to grow and mature and as mature individuals we are expected to be fruitful.
Fruitfulness
What does a fruitful Christian look like?
- He or she is not ashamed or embarrassed about telling others about Jesus- that’s evangelism. Just do it!
- He or she is manifesting or showing the Fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
By the way, showing the fruit of the spirit begins at home and then grows outwards. It is always more difficult to demonstrate the fruit of salvation at home, where everyone knows you!
Finally, remember you can’t be truly fruitful through your own efforts alone. Jesus makes it clear, “you need to plug into Him, for without Him you can do nothing”.
