We can experience God in many different ways.
We can experience God in the safety of our own homes, in the safety of our church walls. We can experience God in a position we’ve been dragged along in (by way of someone else’s deeper intimate relationship with God). And we can experience God by walking in the fullness of the good plans and the promises He has for us.
This is where we have a choice. Passive faith vs Active faith
God requires our participation in securing His promises. Don’t misunderstand - our participation does not minimize God's ability. He doesn’t need our help. He wants it though because He knows it’ll deepen our faith in Him. If we want access to our full inheritance here on this earth, we have to engage in active faith - action that illustrates our faith in God’s ability - where we move forward in full confidence that God is going to show up.
There are many examples in the Bible where people experienced God. Intimate, personal, experiences.
I don’t want to settle for a little experience with God. Against all fear, I want to experience God to the fullest. I want the Promised Land experience with Jesus. And I want that for my kids. I don’t want them settling for an hour on Sunday morning where they might experience Jesus in a room full of other people. I want them to experience a lifelong journey with Jesus that is the wildest ride they’ll ever take. One where He parts the waters. One where He provides nourishment no matter the circumstance. One where He fights the battles on behalf of them and they need only say yes and be obedient.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt, and God chose a man named Moses to go and set God’s people free. And through a series of miracles, God released these people from slavery only to have them enter a desert where they then doubted and questioned God. They witnessed God do these amazing things, then they let fear creep in and they questioned God’s ability.
We’re told that there were about 600,000 men that journeyed out of Egypt, not counting women and children, giving a total approximation of two million people (Ref Exodus 12:37-38; Number 1:46).
When it came time for them to initially go into the Promised Land, and twelve men scoped-out what they were up against for battle in this land God had promised them, only two men (Caleb and Joshua) had the active faith and courage to report back that they should proceed as God had directed them…while the other ten men cowered in fear and didn’t have the faith that God would allow the Israelites to reign victorious in their pursuit. Their unbelief spread like wildfire throughout the Israelites and fear consumed them, to the point that they ended up wandering in the desert for 40 years because of it.
After 40 years of wandering, Caleb and Joshua were the only 2 men from their generation - out of the original 2 million - that were allowed to enter the promised land. Talk about one in a million!
I want that kind of active faith.
Where I don’t miss out on the best that God has for me.
Where my courage speaks louder than my fear.
Where my trust in God is greater than the situation that appears before me.
But that kind of faith requires my participation.
Are you with me?
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