Divine Encounters

CONSIDER
One day as I (Kirk) sat in my office, I was feeling particularly powerless, vulnerable, inadequate, and worthless. In my desperation I began to pray, “God, be real to me. Show me Your power. I need to experience You as real.” Truthfully, I did not anticipate the response I encountered from God. The Holy Spirit promptly said to my heart and mind, “The issue of My reality is not in question. Look at the birds, trees, and all of creation, even the fish in your aquarium. Do they not declare My glory? Why then do you say to Me, ‘Be real to me?’ I am as real as I am ever going to be! The issue at hand is not My being real to you, but when will you be real with Me?” I could not be aware of God’s relevance in my life until I was real with God.

BIBLE TRUTH
"The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven" (Heb. 1:3 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Operating under the guise of submission, we petition God to make a difference in our lives. But when His Spirit speaks to reveal His plan, we continue on our own way, pretending not to hear His guidance. “Come on, get real!” Do you really want what God wants, or do you just say you want what He wants? When we assert that we want God to be ruler in our lives, we must become real with God by implementing the plan He has laid before us. Unless we are willing to employ His resources, we will never experience Him in a relevant manner.

PRAYER
God, I do not want to be a person who just honors You with my lips while my heart is far from You. I don’t want my worship to be a farce. Enable me to teach and live by Your plans and Your commands instead of my own. . . . (Matt. 15:8–9)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

God Is Real, Therefore He Is Relevant

CONSIDER
God desires an intimate relationship with His creation. He is not merely an impersonal creator who has left His creation to fend for itself. He is a real God who desires humanity to experience Him as relevant to every aspect of life. John spoke of the joy that results when we encounter Christ as real and relevant.

BIBLE TRUTH

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. (1 John 1:1–4 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Webster’s dictionary defines relevant as “having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand; affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussion.” Is there significant and demonstrable evidence that God is real in your life? If we say we believe God is real, then His reality will be reflected as we demonstrate His image in our lives. As we daily experience God as relevant, our lives offer proof of His existence to a watching world. There must always be an interaction between what we profess and what our lives evidence. The essence of Christianity is not mere profession of faith, but rather possession of faith, where the truth of Christ is confirmed by the reality of our lives.

PRAYER
Lord, when I turn to you I begin to see more clearly because the veil is taken away. Because You are the Spirit, wherever You are there is freedom. I want to live in Your freedom so I may more fully see and reflect Your glory. And Lord, may Your Spirit make me more and more like You as I am changed into Your glorious image. (2 Cor. 3:16–18)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

A Giveaway

CONSIDER
How do you view God? If asked, “Do you have a distorted view of God?” most likely you would promptly respond, “No, I do not have a distorted view of God. I love the Lord. I know He loves me. I trust Him. And I do not know what I would do without Him.” But if you were asked, “Have you worried this week?” More than likely you would have to confess, “Yes, I have.”

How can we know what we believe about God? The Bible teaches that our behaviors reveal our hearts. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus taught His disciples how to discern the difference between the real prophet of God and those who are deceivers.

BIBLE TRUTH

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (Matt. 7:15–20 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
What does your worry say you believe about God? The answer may consist of responses such as “I don’t believe God will take care of me”; “God does not have my best interests in mind”; “I do not trust that God will do things my way.” Responses such as these indicate you have distorted views of God that shape your understanding of how God will interact with you. As we live within our distorted views of God, our hearts are molded according to the likeness of our distortions, motivating us to live independently of God. Jesus teaches that behaviors reveal the soul as easily as a tree is known by its fruit. To obtain a clearer picture of how you view God, ask yourself this question: Based on my behavior, what do I believe about God?

PRAYER
Lord, I believe that what comes from inside defiles me. I don’t want evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness to come out from my heart. Help me to view these things as vile and recognize that they defile me. . . . (Mark 7:20–23)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

The Way in a Manger

CONSIDER
Because of the sin that was passed to us, we are unable to be in a relationship with God. Violating God’s law and usurping His authority requires a death penalty. But God still desires to be in a relationship with us. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, willingly became a human baby in order to pay the death penalty required on our behalf. Consider the sacrifice that was required to leave the throne of heaven to become a helpless baby! I cannot image reverting from an adult to an infant! How much more inconceivable to move from having all power and authority to having someone change your diapers!

BIBLE TRUTH
“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. ” (Eph. 1:6–8 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Christ’s sacrifice does not automatically bring us into a relationship with God. Who will be God of me world? You are free to make the choice to continue in your independence or to choose to live a life that is desperately dependent on God.

PRAYER
God, I am so glad that You have revealed to us Your mysterious plan regarding Christ! I know this plan fulfills Your own good pleasure! It is a wonderful plan! I praise You for the glorious grace You have poured out on us who belong to Your dear Son. You are so rich in kindness and grace that You purchased our freedom with the blood of Your Son and forgave our sins. You have showered Your kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Thank you! I look forward to the day when You will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. (Eph. 1:6–10)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Confident in the Lie

CONSIDER
Convinced God’s plan was not the best plan for her, Eve decided to elect Satan as the ruler of the world. Her subversive plan became preeminent. God had created the world and established all that is, but it seemed He was depriving her. If she followed Satan’s plan she could have more without God than she had by following God’s law. Satan instilled within Eve a heightened sense of self, and then manipulated her into thinking she was not given adequate appreciation.

BIBLE TRUTH
“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves” (Gen. 3:6–7 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Persuaded she was incomplete with God, Eve ate the fruit. Spiritual death resulted from the choices Adam and Eve made. Their sin broke humanity’s relationship with God, and the devastating consequences trouble us daily. As a result of the Garden encounter:
      - Humanity disconnected from truth and connected with perversion.
      - Humanity developed a distorted view of God’s image.
      - Humanity created a delusional view of themselves.
      - Humanity began exploiting others for personal empowerment.
      - Humanity altered their purpose for living.

PRAYER
God, I don’t want Satan, the god of this world, to blind me because I don’t believe. Help me to see the glorious light of the Good News. I want to know and understand the message about the glory of Christ, who is Your exact likeness. . . . (2 Cor. 4:4)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

The Deception

CONSIDER
Lucifer initiated the subversion in heaven. In the perfect environment of heaven, Lucifer was created.

“You were the model of perfection,
     full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.
You were in Eden,
     the garden of God.
Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone—
     red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,
     blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,
     blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—
all beautifully crafted for you
     and set in the finest gold.
They were given to you
     on the day you were created.” (Ezek. 28:12–13 NLT)

Lucifer served in God’s perfect presence.

“I ordained and anointed you
     as the mighty angelic guardian.
You had access to the holy mountain of God
     and walked among the stones of fire.” (Ezek. 28:14 NLT)

But even in the perfect environment of heaven, in God’s perfect presence, Lucifer believed he had a better plan than God.

“Your heart was filled with pride
     because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
     by your love of splendor.” (Ezek. 28:17 NLT)

“How you are fallen from heaven,
     O shining star, son of the morning!
You have been thrown down to the earth,
     you who destroyed the nations of the world.
For you said to yourself,
     ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.
I will preside on the mountain of the gods
     far away in the north.
I will climb to the highest heavens
     and be like the Most High.’” (Isa. 14:12–14 NLT)

Lucifer perpetrated his faulty belief system that he should be god. He convinced one third of the angels that he had a better plan than God (Rev. 12:4).

“So I banished you in disgrace
     from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
     from your place among the stones of fire.” (Ezek. 28:16 NLT)

BIBLE TRUTH
“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Rom. 1:18–20 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Still believing he could be god, Satan devised a plan in an attempt to subvert God’s design for humanity. By distorting Eve’s view of God, the trap was laid for all humanity. Every temptation that threatens us is a temptation to live independently from God. Believing God cannot be trusted to govern our lives as we see fit, we must complete ourselves—we must be god in our lives. This idolatrous belief perpetrates arrogance and selfish ambition as we follow our own way with a distorted view of God and reality.

PRAYER
Lord, You are my Master. Every good thing I have comes from you. Troubles multiply for me when I chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods. Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! . . . (Psalm 16:2–6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

The Truth about the Lie

Even before the world began there was a debate about how God should operate. Angelic beings and humans alike have contrived multiple ideas about God and how He should conduct the affairs of the universe. Similarly we erroneously contrive our own portrait of God based on how we believe He should rule the world. Convinced that we have a better idea, we envision life from our skewed perspective.

BIBLE TRUTH
“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. . . . They traded the truth about God for a lie.” (Rom. 1:21–23, 25 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Reality is based in God’s absolute truth. If we don’t see the way God does, it cannot be said that we are in reality. Therefore, we are living in delusion—a lie. The only power Satan has is the power of the lie. If we can get rid of the lies, we get rid of his power. Neil Anderson states, “Satan has no authority or power over you except what you yield to him when you are deceived into believing his lies.” Few people live in reality. Most live in delusion based on lies.

PRAYER
Jesus, I know You spoke in parables so those who desired to know the truth could know the truth. I do not want to be like those seeing, but they do not see; nor like those hearing, but they do not hear or understand. I do not want the prophecy of Isaiah quoted about me that I will be ever hearing but never understanding; ever seeing but never perceiving. Lord, help me always seek to hear Your truth, understand Your truth, and live in Your truth. . . . (Matthew 13:13–14)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.