By Dale Shumaker
Most every mission seems impossible in the natural... beyond what we think we can do. We think it would be incredible if it would happen but too incredible to believe it could actually happen. So, in many cases we live thinking of it, and being in awe of it in our minds, but thinking it is beyond possibility.
It takes faith, renewing the mind to believe and acquiring exceptional intelligence, that only God's Spirit can give. So many may look at life only in the natural, but God, when He brought us to earth, wants us to live beyond that... in His Super-natural power. The beginning of all things seems to be a paradox. We start humbly. In our humility and trust in The Spirit of God's power through us, only then, can we go beyond what we ever could think. When it is God's vision and mission through us it does humble us. We think how it could be, how could it be me doing it. Humility is the launching pad as we trust in God for it.
Mission advances through this humility. When a person humbles himself, turns from his own ways, we then can see what God has made us for. Mankind has two problems... we think higher of ourselves than we should in that we are very self-centered, or we think lower of ourselves than what God is planning to do through us. The key is turning to His ways, not ours.
To deny one's self and take up the cross (cause) God has made us for (Luke 9:23; Matt.16:24), be humble as a child (Matt. 18:4...unless we change and become humble), then greatness is expressed. It's by God's Spirit not our own (Zech. 4:6), then greater things happen.
The meek, who rely on God, inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:5). Our mission begins with a change of heart... God first, me second. The mission advances through humility, meekness and reliance on God's unmatchable Power.
All things are possible for those who believe. With faith the impossible becomes the possible. And we can count on God's Power through us to do it.
"Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father"... this old hymn keeps going through my mind. He is faithful, mercies new every morning (Lam. 3:23). Faith is believing in the unseen world to bring about what we hope to be in the seen world. Jesus said, when I came back to earth will I find faith (Luke 18:8). He rated our Faith in Him of very high value. We live by faith, what we hope for in our imaginations, and not by what we see in our circumstances (2 Cor. 5:17). Then the impossible, is possible (Matt. 19:26). To live our mission takes faith.
Instead of watching the Super Bowl this year, as millions did, I opted to watch the movie the Gospel of Matthew. Why... I decided on long-term benefits than a short-term thrill. Temporary experience compared to an eternal growing, joyful experience... with no losers, only winners. Football was my love in the past, but I switched allegiances, to pursing building the Kingdom of Heaven... on earth as in Heaven. I devoted my time to building His Mission, that His Kingdom come in earth as it is in Heaven.
Everything we see, hear, feel affects our mind, and is planted in the subconscious mind. All exposures create a foothold. To live by the Spirit of an eternal paradise, now and on forever, it takes taking control, conscious control, of what is put in our minds. It needs to be fed what stirs His Spirit Virtues Continually. One way is to constantly saturate it with Biblical-based information... reading, reciting it as fact, and living it in all areas of life. It's Knowing Jesus, talking Jesus thoughts, and living as Jesus lived.
The mind must be renewed, daily, constantly. To live Jesus, we must be Jesus created in our mind, constantly replacing non-Jesus data.
Excellence without love is of no value. Performance without having relationship serves no purpose. Paul the Apostle says you can do all these things( prophecy, have faith, give to the poor), but without love have gained nothing. Jesus said if you do all kinds of wonderful things for My cause, but don't have a relationship, know Me, He will say depart from Me. (1 Cor. 13:1-3; Matt. 7:22-24)
When love and relationship combine, much is gained and rewards are great. Yes, be excellent but have love as the driving force, and do great works but live in relationship with the Lord. To know Him, listen to His suggestions of mind, and let His love flow from Him through you to others is the way to live. Living with Spiritual Intelligence is living this way.
I heard two interesting forecasts recently. People will get tired of lies and made up stories and truth will be of greater value and importance. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
And the other was hearing God's voice. As God spoke to the prophets in the Old Testament, we will, with distinct clarity, be able to hear God's voice. "My sheep hear my voice." (John 10:27)
I hope for the first, but am convinced in my Spirit being able to Hear God's voice, His Spirit speaking to us, will be evident and at a High Level.
What we call prayer, ever so simple, is a personal conversation: we hear God's response, acquire His Intelligence. What an incredible thing... to actually hear the All-powerful, All-knowing One of the Universe actually give us direction, and know His Power is behind what He tells us.
All these tie together in living out our mission on earth as designed in Heaven... faith, our belief to move mountains, changing the way our mind thinks, to have the mind of Jesus, and constantly acquiring Spiritual Intelligence that knows everything.
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