True Friendship

Recently, I have been understanding what true intimacy with the Father looks like and acts like.  In my own experience, I have grown up in the Church having a single-dimensional view of what it means to have a relationship with God.  It has overemphasized obedience and underemphasized friendship.  This has resulted in my interactions with the Almighty becoming robotic and soldier-like.  God wants friends, not slaves!  In John 5:14, Jesus says, "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you."  The reality is that unless we understand God's heart of love for us and His desire for true, intimate friendship, we won't truly understand what Jesus is talking about.  We will hear that all he cares about is obedience, and that He is telling us to prove our love for Him by doing what He wants.  If we take on this mindset, we will begin performing and striving to do all the things necessary to prove something to God or do them looking for something in return. This becomes religious and you will be burnt out!  But if we understand what Jesus' relationship with His Father was like, the kind of relationship we've been invited into, we will be able to hear Him saying, "True obedience is simply the natural response from the heart of a friend, and it's simply doing what I'm doing."  The Lord wants to bless us!! We don't have to do anything to convince Him to do that.. just ask!

Therefore, if true obedience is doing and saying what God is doing and saying, then obedience necessarily flows from being with God.  It's just like every other relationship we have.  If we don't spend time with our family or friends, it will be hard to know what they are up to.  Check out John 14:10, "Do you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."  Jesus' obedience is not something He did apart from the Father.  True obedience in friendship with God is a partnership, but a partnership unlike any other on earth.  We must come to understand that obedience itself is not something we do alone, but is something we are doing with the Father, as well as something that the Father is doing through us.  When our actions flow from our intimacy with God, and when we understand that we are doing them together with Him, serving God will be anything but "robotic and soldier-like."

If you are noticing that your Christian walk is boring, tiring, non-existent, etc., just ask the Lord to show you what true intimacy looks like.  He wants a relationship with you more than you a relationship with Him. God is in a good mood and He longs for you!  He is just asking us to realize our union! 

New Journey

For those who don't already know, I am in Redding, CA at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.  The Lord has introduced me to more of His character and power over the last 5 months.  I have seen miracles, had encounters, and have seen His manifested presence through the spiritual gifts that are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12.  Miracles only seem difficult when we think they have something to do with us.  This is the culture at Bethel Church and the School, however, it's not the only value expressed within their culture.  There are many other key core values within Bethel's culture.  Awesome things happen when the Holy Spirit is free and not contained within a box.  The great thing about personal experience and personal testimony is that no matter what, people can't take what you have seen, heard, or experienced from you. Lastly, Jesus is not a respecter of persons.  He will do for you what He does for another!  Lastly, I continue to live by Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." I am not seeking the supernatural realm nor and I seeking the spiritual gifts.  I am seeking Christ and Him crucified and His Kingdom, and these things are being added.  

Next, I am living with 10 guys in a house this year.  There is 2 second year students in this house and the rest of us are first year students.  Our house is very diverse but it creates such an amazing environment and culture.  We have all connected very well and it's going to be an unbelievable year.  We live more on the outskirts of Redding in the country, which provides awesome scenery of God's nature.  The Lord has placed each one of us in this house for a reason.  I know this because we all get along, and most importantly, we all have peace.  

Lastly, on September 14th, I had yet another first day back to school.  However, this time it was the best first day ever!  We started off with about an hour of worship, heard Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton speak, and got randomly prophesied over twice.  It definitely wasn't anywhere near a regular first day of class that I have had before.  However, it was such an amazing time of truth and revelation.  The Lord is so much bigger than we think!  I cannot wait to see what all the Lord does this year through the lives of the students, pastors, teachers, etc.  May this year be dedicated fully to knowing Him more and becoming more and more intimate with Him each and everyday.  

I want to personally thank each and everyone of you for praying for me, supporting me, and encouraging me through this process and throughout my life.  You are all amazing and I thank God for our relationship.  God Bless you!