It's hard to start this post because it goes against what many believe or practice being believers. At times, in the flesh, I struggle with whether or not I should post such material. Rest be assured that I only post what I know to be by the Spirit and that I am convinced that this is for others also.
Still a struggle exists within my heart that the rudiments of Western Christianity, for many have lost it's passion and have been taken over by complacency once the "golden ticket" home has been gained through faith in Jesus Christ.
When a believer looses the passion of "the Gift of God" complacency becomes simulated by excuse, lies, wrested Scripture, doctrines of man, or just plain laziness.
What is the "Gift of God"?
A lack of Spirit lead understanding/revelation here, (sealed with the Holy Spirit at salvation but not receiving the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit"), disconnects believers from the "full" meaning of what the "Gift of God" is.
A greater revelation of the Gift of God is all these factors intertwined as one:
Jesus Christ is "the Gift of God" and in Him are all things that God the Father gave to man.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, both written and spoken, that became flesh and dwelt among us for a while as a man, who existed before creation with God, to be the vessel for salvation and every precious promise that God mandated for man to receive. He (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, one Spirit being), always existed and eternally will exist, they (one) called creation into being from nothing, the very creation that we now "live and move and have our being" in.
God's written Word is Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life/Light, so all things set in Him cannot change, (He changeth not), and His Word is infallible. Upon these Truths rest all the power of promise in Scripture. In His Word, that means in all it's forms, Words, flesh, and written, which are "one representation" of His Authority, dominion, and power in the Godhead. These Truth's cannot be ignored, censored, or changed, and the implications of them are the "manifestations" proving that our God is the only True and Living God of whom His Word cannot be ignored, period!
Part of the "revelation of Jesus Christ" is an experiencing of the Mastery of His Name. How so?
Jesus Christ is the "Name above all Names", whether on the earth (creation), in the earth (creation), or above the earth (creation).
Jesus Christ is the Name that sustains all things.
Jesus Christ is the Name through which all things were created and nothing was created that was created without Him.
Jesus Christ is the only Name wherein man can be saved.
Jesus Christ is the Name wherein all power is given.
Jesus Christ is the only Name wherein all manifestations of the Father are shown through.
Jesus Christ is the only Name by which we "Glorify our Father in Heaven."
Jesus Christ gives power to His disciples to: heal the sick, raise the dead, give sight to the blind, makes the lame to walk, makes the dumb to speak, and heals all matters of body afflictions.
Jesus Christ shows us the Father.
Jesus Christ is "Lord" of all. Everything that we had or have or will have be it flesh and blood, mechanical, and all invention.
Jesus Christ "gives" us freely of His Holy Spirit. The comforter, empower, instructor, and counselor.
The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ's will so that we can continue to "Glorify our Father", that faith in Him, shown through the gifts and manifestations proves that God is the only True God.
God gave us these promises and manifestations to "show us separate" from other god's. No other god is likened unto our God. The Holy Spirit of "promise" anoints us to be different and sets us aside for His use empowered, and proof that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only True gospel.
The Scripture's are full of promises, manifestations, gifts, and blessings just waiting for someone to "believe" (have faith), as they command so that the Holy Spirit can confer them on us.
The recipient of these promises are said to "have the anointing" and it seems to be completely effortless on their part. So it is in Scripture, Peters shadow fell on the afflicted and they were healed, effortless. 70 disciples preached the "Kingdom.of God is neigh" healing the sick ect., effortless. "Those that are saved and baptized will speak with new tongues, heal the sick, ect., effortless.
Just to make this clear the situation that these took place in involved effort but the actual miracles were as natural as breathing. Not of man but of God. He being the giver we being the "chosen" vessel to "transmit" through.
So if salvation, anointing, power, and manifestation are gifts from God and our part effortless what then is the problem?
Herein is where I labor in prayer and seeking how to participate in these promises being that they should be effortless. Again effortless on our side of participation does not mean that there is no curriculum to accomplish in the way of faith and obedience, but a natural existence in faith and obedience that brings this about.
I know and have seen more times then needed that most believers don't even "care" to go there, I mean the seeking to manifest God's glory His way, by the hand and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Many wonder why passion in the faith wains when they deny or refuse to except the very promises that God has given them in order to "keep them excited" about the faith.
Christianity "IS AN EXPERIENCE" that comes through faith in God's Word, Jesus Christ. It is written so then it is. Not maybe, not possibly, but "Surely" as the Lord liveth. If you believe that Jesus saves you then how can you not believe that the rest of His Word would fail. If God's Word has failed at any point then how can salvation not? God's Word is True and cannot fail.
God has also provided all things for those who believe because He Loves us. If we are to emanate His Love to others then these gifts through the Holy Spirit are the way to do it. He Loves us and we "prove" His Love and existence to others by "meeting their needs" as He has done for our own. Proof of Love through a compassionate, ministering to needs relationship.
We all have the ability to participate in "the faith" at whatever level we find to fit us, but to many times that participation isn't fully Scriptural. We pick and choose what we want to "believe" out of Scripture because of comfort or "fear" that the results might embarrass us if "our will" isn't done. If we pray for others needs we should pray in faith only desiring that God's will would be done. He knows all things and if we trust that His will is done according to His Word then we can operate with compassion not thinking about the outcome. You won't know if you don't pray!
When believers don't participate in the Scriptural mandates (commands) then they hang on to salvation (by faith) but won't get involved in the promises and commands so that they can be helpful to others. They can hope for themselves but the experience of faith for others is forgotten because that has the chance of "not working" for them.
Now I know all this and still fail to see it work as Scripture shows all the time. We pray for the sick, the dead to be raised, limbs to be made complete, ect. and understand it's God's will to manifest His glory, but I haven't had consistently the "effortlessness" of the manifestation. I am sure that any failure is on my part as He cannot fail. So realizing that Scripture is True I continue to seek on my end for the "Truth that will set free" to be shown me.
When we began this journey the working of the Holy Spirit was so incredible that I couldn't wait for the dawning of the new day just to see how God would glorify Himself. I still have the same excitement daily but not seeing the same consistency in those manifestations. The point being that whether or not the manifestations are as active as in the past that doesn't stop us from seeking, praying, and ministering the same. We have to "encourage ourselves in the Lord" daily as He is not the one that changes.
If you are a believer that has become "slack" in the participation of faith as expressed in God's Holy Word, and thereby lost passion about what God will do, then get back into His Word, read the promises made for you, show your Love for Him by "obeying" His commands, and start reaching out in prayer to others so that they can experience the faith that Jesus Christ brings.
Remember that when you confessed faith in Christ you confessed faith in all His written Word (which is Christ) not just a convenient "some of it."
I have been a Christian for 37 yrs now and have never failed to believe all that the Scriptures say or command to do. That doesn't mean that I haven't sinned in the journey or got side tracked at times but always confessed that God's Word is True and all men liars.
God bless and keep as we travel this "way."
Love
J&E in Tn