Faith|Fear
Living in the Fullness of God: Faith, Fear, and Reverence
As we embark on a new year, it's time to reflect on our spiritual journey and consider how we can live more fully in God's presence. This year holds immense potential for growth, transformation, and revelation – but to truly experience these blessings, we must understand and embrace three crucial concepts: faith, fear, and reverence.
God's Desire to Bless Us
First and foremost, we must recognize that God deeply desires to bless us. Too often, we carry a negative perception of God, imagining Him as a stern figure waiting to punish us for our mistakes. This couldn't be further from the truth. God seeks pleasure in keeping us, shining His face upon us each day. As Christians, we need to not only understand this intellectually but believe it wholeheartedly and walk in this truth every single day.
The challenge lies in living out this fullness beyond the walls of our church. We have permission – even a mandate – to live in God's fullness at school, at work, in restaurants, and everywhere we go. People should be able to see the fullness of God in our lives, even in the most mundane activities like clocking in at work.
The Early Church: A Model of Self-Giving Faithfulness
To understand how to live in God's fullness, we can look to the early church as described in the book of Acts. They exhibited a remarkable quality of self-giving faithfulness, which allowed them to walk in the fullness of God and experience His power and presence in their daily lives.
Three key elements characterized their approach:
1. Faith
2. Fear (in its proper context)
3. Reverence
Let's explore each of these concepts in depth.
Faith: A Response to God's Grace
Faith is not something we do to get God to respond. Rather, it's our positive response to what God has already done in our lives through His grace. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is immediate – we can exercise it right now. It's not about waiting for the perfect moment; it's about responding to God's goodness in the present. As Romans 1:17 reminds us, "The just shall live by faith." This isn't a suggestion; it's a divine command for those who are in right standing with God.
Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real
While faith is crucial, we must also address its opposite: fear. Fear is often described as "false evidence appearing real." It's the anxiety we feel about losing something, even if that something isn't truly important in the grand scheme of eternity.
Fear stems from a lack of lordship in our lives or from giving the wrong things lordship over us. Remember Peter walking on water – he succeeded as long as he focused on Jesus, but began to sink when he shifted his attention to the waves.
Importantly, 99% of the things we fear never come to pass. God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). When we experience fear, it's because we've allowed it to creep in, not because it's part of our true identity in Christ.
Reverence: A Level of Awareness
Reverence is perhaps the most challenging concept to grasp, yet it's vital for our spiritual growth. It refers to the appropriate level of respect and honor we should show to God. It's an action, a level of awareness that acknowledges the seriousness of our relationship with the Divine.
While we shouldn't live in constant fear, a healthy reverence reminds us of the gravity of our calling as Christians. It's about maintaining an awareness of God's presence in every aspect of our lives – not just in church or during prayer time, but in our workplaces, on the roads, and in our everyday interactions.
Putting It All Together: Living in God's Fullness
To truly live in God's fullness, we need to cultivate a balance of faith, proper understanding of fear, and reverence. This combination allows us to step into a level of faith we've never experienced before. When we add practical action to this faith, that's when transformation and revelation occur.
Consider this analogy: If you saw a downed power line on the ground, your response would be different than if everything was normal. You'd be acutely aware of the danger, the sound, the movement. That heightened awareness is similar to the reverence we should have for God – an constant acknowledgment of His power and presence in our lives.
A Call to Action
As we move forward in this new year, let's challenge ourselves to live more fully in God's presence. Here are some practical steps we can take:
1. Identify what you're in faith for this year. What are you believing God for?
2. Recognize and address any fears that are holding you back from fully embracing God's blessings.
3. Cultivate a spirit of reverence by maintaining an awareness of God's presence throughout your day.
4. Put action to your faith. Remember, many in the Bible were healed "as they went" – not as they stood still.
Living in the fullness of God isn't just about Sunday mornings or prayer meetings. It's about allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives, transforming us from the inside out. As we embrace faith, conquer fear, and walk in reverence, we open ourselves to the incredible blessings and revelations God has in store for us.
Let's make this year one of unprecedented spiritual growth, where we truly experience the power and presence of God in our everyday lives. May we be a people who not only understand these truths intellectually but embody them in such a way that others are naturally drawn to the light of Christ shining through us.
As we step out in faith, may we always remember: our feet don't stand a chance when we stand in His love. Let's stand firm in that love, allowing it to cast out all fear and fill us with a reverence that transforms not just our lives, but the world around us.
As we embark on a new year, it's time to reflect on our spiritual journey and consider how we can live more fully in God's presence. This year holds immense potential for growth, transformation, and revelation – but to truly experience these blessings, we must understand and embrace three crucial concepts: faith, fear, and reverence.
God's Desire to Bless Us
First and foremost, we must recognize that God deeply desires to bless us. Too often, we carry a negative perception of God, imagining Him as a stern figure waiting to punish us for our mistakes. This couldn't be further from the truth. God seeks pleasure in keeping us, shining His face upon us each day. As Christians, we need to not only understand this intellectually but believe it wholeheartedly and walk in this truth every single day.
The challenge lies in living out this fullness beyond the walls of our church. We have permission – even a mandate – to live in God's fullness at school, at work, in restaurants, and everywhere we go. People should be able to see the fullness of God in our lives, even in the most mundane activities like clocking in at work.
The Early Church: A Model of Self-Giving Faithfulness
To understand how to live in God's fullness, we can look to the early church as described in the book of Acts. They exhibited a remarkable quality of self-giving faithfulness, which allowed them to walk in the fullness of God and experience His power and presence in their daily lives.
Three key elements characterized their approach:
1. Faith
2. Fear (in its proper context)
3. Reverence
Let's explore each of these concepts in depth.
Faith: A Response to God's Grace
Faith is not something we do to get God to respond. Rather, it's our positive response to what God has already done in our lives through His grace. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is immediate – we can exercise it right now. It's not about waiting for the perfect moment; it's about responding to God's goodness in the present. As Romans 1:17 reminds us, "The just shall live by faith." This isn't a suggestion; it's a divine command for those who are in right standing with God.
Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real
While faith is crucial, we must also address its opposite: fear. Fear is often described as "false evidence appearing real." It's the anxiety we feel about losing something, even if that something isn't truly important in the grand scheme of eternity.
Fear stems from a lack of lordship in our lives or from giving the wrong things lordship over us. Remember Peter walking on water – he succeeded as long as he focused on Jesus, but began to sink when he shifted his attention to the waves.
Importantly, 99% of the things we fear never come to pass. God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). When we experience fear, it's because we've allowed it to creep in, not because it's part of our true identity in Christ.
Reverence: A Level of Awareness
Reverence is perhaps the most challenging concept to grasp, yet it's vital for our spiritual growth. It refers to the appropriate level of respect and honor we should show to God. It's an action, a level of awareness that acknowledges the seriousness of our relationship with the Divine.
While we shouldn't live in constant fear, a healthy reverence reminds us of the gravity of our calling as Christians. It's about maintaining an awareness of God's presence in every aspect of our lives – not just in church or during prayer time, but in our workplaces, on the roads, and in our everyday interactions.
Putting It All Together: Living in God's Fullness
To truly live in God's fullness, we need to cultivate a balance of faith, proper understanding of fear, and reverence. This combination allows us to step into a level of faith we've never experienced before. When we add practical action to this faith, that's when transformation and revelation occur.
Consider this analogy: If you saw a downed power line on the ground, your response would be different than if everything was normal. You'd be acutely aware of the danger, the sound, the movement. That heightened awareness is similar to the reverence we should have for God – an constant acknowledgment of His power and presence in our lives.
A Call to Action
As we move forward in this new year, let's challenge ourselves to live more fully in God's presence. Here are some practical steps we can take:
1. Identify what you're in faith for this year. What are you believing God for?
2. Recognize and address any fears that are holding you back from fully embracing God's blessings.
3. Cultivate a spirit of reverence by maintaining an awareness of God's presence throughout your day.
4. Put action to your faith. Remember, many in the Bible were healed "as they went" – not as they stood still.
Living in the fullness of God isn't just about Sunday mornings or prayer meetings. It's about allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives, transforming us from the inside out. As we embrace faith, conquer fear, and walk in reverence, we open ourselves to the incredible blessings and revelations God has in store for us.
Let's make this year one of unprecedented spiritual growth, where we truly experience the power and presence of God in our everyday lives. May we be a people who not only understand these truths intellectually but embody them in such a way that others are naturally drawn to the light of Christ shining through us.
As we step out in faith, may we always remember: our feet don't stand a chance when we stand in His love. Let's stand firm in that love, allowing it to cast out all fear and fill us with a reverence that transforms not just our lives, but the world around us.
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