TRAINED, BUT TERRIFIED TO TRY

Ephe 1:15-21  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Ephe 3:14-19  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

• Ephesians speaks of blessings we have in Jesus Christ
• God lavished us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm
• And we read about how that al things in the end of time, the maturity of the ages, dispensation of the fullness of times, God would unify everything that exists and head it up under Jesus Christ.
• We read about an inheritance we will receive and how we can be enlightened to understand it all.
• God gave us the Holy Ghost to guarantee our inheritance to us.

• Paul speaks of a certain prayer he made.
• He prayers we receive enlightenment or revelation about two things.
• Enlightenment to know the inheritance and how great it really is at the end of the world.
• AND the exceeding great power He has for us.

The AMPLIFIED version reads like this:

3:18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints (God's devoted people, the EXPERIENCE OF THAT LOVE) what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
3:19 [That you may really come] to know -- practically, through experience for yourselves -- the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fulness of God -- [that is] may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filed and flooded with God himself!

Paul is talking about EXPERIENCING something that many may only know about mentally and theoretically.

• Seeing this happen in your very life!
• We must receive the ultimate benefits from Jesus presence in us.
• EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES THAT WE CAN SEE IT HAPPENING IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

Another note in the midst of this discussion Paul makes is pointed out.

• Jesus was referred to as the fullness of the godhead bodily.

Colo 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And Paul makes quite a powerful statement about our possible relationship with God.
 

Ephe 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Jesus was God, and we will never be God, but Jesus also saw DEITY move through Him and work in His everyday life as a human man.

• There is this experience Jesus had as a man that Paul is telling us we can have.

Jesus often said, "The Father in me, he doeth the works."
or, "I can do nothing on my own, the Father does it all."
 

John 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Paul lived that kind of life that Jesus, as a man, lived.  He saw wonders in his life.  He experienced these things, and did not just believe in them.  He was a person who knew and experienced, also.  He just did not KNOW about it.  He went beyond mere knowledge without experience.  If asked what was the key to the success of Paul the Apostle's powerful hold on God, he would probably reply with a verse he wrote:
 

Gala 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gala 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Substitute  "LAW" with any human efforts people might implement in order to improve themselves.

• And essentially Paul said what Jesus as a human said.
• Without Him I can do nothing.

Paul saw miracles happen.

• Paul experienced it.
• He did not just know about it, but EXPERIENCED IT.

Paul really came to know -- practically, through experience for himself -- the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience)

PAUL KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT!
 

Acts 13:6-11  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name [was] Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

God helped Paul in situations.

• To know the love of God practically and in experience, beyond mere knowledge without experience, is to see God move for you.
• We can experience it first hand.

My wife mentioned this when we were discussing it.

• A nurse trains for nurse duty for a few years.
• And after learning the theory, the nurse enters practical training.
• This is where the theory is actually put into practice with real people.
• They are trained and then must DO what the training taught them to do.
• Why go to nursing school if the nurse is TOO AFRAID TO TRY what the nurse has been TRAINED to do?

Most people look back at their salvation and the only real change they can say they experienced was being taken from the world of sin and put into the Body of Christ to live a Christian life and they spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost.

• That is the extent of most people's EXPERIENCE.
• Outside of experience, they KNOW a lot.
• They KNOW God can work wonders for people.
• They KNOW if they are in a bind, God can provide the need.
• THEY ARE TRAINED BUT ARE TERRIFIED TO TRY.

• You face a situation and there is no way that help can come naturally.
• TRUST IN GOD.
• Most are terrified to try it.

Picture a God who has a child in this world, and is ready to provide any need this child would ever have in life.

• Now look at the average believer and observe how they struggle and doubt God.

SOMETHING IS WRONG.

JACOB'S SECRET

We have got to learn the secret of Jacob.

Gene 32:24-26  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Jacob did not stop even though something broke in him.

• He got his answer AFTER THE BREAKING.

• Everytime I received a miracle, and I have received several, it was when I made my mind up to believe God for an answer to prayer, and to not let Him go until I got it.
• Jacob was facing a fearsome situation.
• He left home having made his brother, Esau, murderously angry.
• And he was on his way home again.
• He needed help!
• (Just like bad situations we find ourselves in).
• He saw an angel.
• He saw an opportunity to get something from God.
• WE MUST GRAB HOLD OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE WITH GOD AND BELIEVE AND NOT LET GO UNTIL WE HAVE THE ANSWER.
• THIS CHURCH SERVICE IS ONE OPPORTUNITY.
• WILL YOU TAKE IT?
• Jacob grabbed that angel and would not let go of it until Jacob got a blessing.
• Jacob prayed through something.
• He broke through something.
• A breaking point occurred.
• You could say he wrestled the doubt completely out of his flesh.
• Jacob's thigh broke.
• The hardest part of the body is the thigh.
• And the hardest thing to break in us is our own unbelief.
• Jacob broke through.
• Do not stop praying until all your doubt is smashed and you know that you broke through and your answer is on its way.

• We do not have top wait until we see an angel.
• Jesus is here all the time and said He would never forsake us (Matt 28:20)
• Have a need?
• Grab hold of Jesus right now!

We read about a God who performs wonders and meets the needs of His people.

• We hear preaching about it.
• We hear testimonies about it.
• We read books about it.
• We are so trained in it that we could show people the scriptures that teach it.
• AND YET WE ARE TERRIFIED TO TRY IT FOR OURSELVES.
• We have to KNOW the love of Christ with something that is beyond head knowledge.
• This kind of Knowing reminds me of the KNOWING we read about when Paul said THAT I MAY KNOW HIM IN THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.
• The kind of knowing that we read of when we read ADAM KNEW EVE.
• It is so intimate and close that it is PRACTICAL AND means something to our everyday lives.
• We see a need financially or physically and we are in trouble.
• But do we step out and pray the prayer of faith to believe God for a miracle, or are we trained, but terrified to try?
• We KNOW that God CAN answer these needs.
• We KNOW that God CAN give us financial miracles in times of hardship.
• We KNOW that God CAN perform a miracle for our families.
• But we may be trained, but terrified to try.
• If we are going to believe the Bible, and believe in the God of the Bible, so much so that we get Baptized in Jesus' name because we are serious about this, when many will not believe it so seriously to obey it, we might as well leap out into the situations we face in faith that God is going to provide the means.

• Elijah left and the mantle fell upon Elisha.
• Elisha never worked one miracle beforehand.
• He saw the prophet before him do great works for God.
• What about Elisha now?
• Elisha cried out, "Where is the God of Elijah?"
• And Elisha, after being trained, stepped out and tried it for himself.
• God was not on trial, but Elisha was on trial.
• Elijah had faith for wonders, but Elisha had to have faith now.

• But will you remain trained, but terrified to try?
• We might as well go all the way with the Bible and believe that Jesus really did mean it when he said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Mark 16:17.
• You will hear excuses for unbelief when people say these things are not for us today, but Jesus put no time limit on them, and said they follow, not just the apostles, but them that believe.
• Are you a believer or aren't you?
• Are you terrified to try for yourself?
• We will run to the doctor in a frenzy because of illness, and run to the government for money when in a financial bind, but why don't we TRY what we've been spiritually trained to do, instead of being terrified?

ANOTHER ASPECT OF KNOWING FOR OURSELVES

The parable of the sower and the seed gives us more insight about this.
 

• The Lord spoke of the shallow ground that shows so much rapid growth in so little time.
• But when the sun came out the heat scorched the plant and it died.
• Jesus said this is like the people who seem to be so overboard and in love with God.
• But when outward trouble comes their way, we find their love was outward, and since outward circumstances do not fit the criteria they demand in order to love God, they leave God.
• But the ones who have a DEEP love are the ones who do not turn Him away when outward situations are not good.
• Their love is deep.
• It is inward.
• And their love for Him is not bothered by outward troubles.
• THEY TRULY KNOW HIM.

It shows DEEP LOVE and what it means.
 

If I have the language perfectly and speak like a native, and have not His love for them, I am nothing.  If I have diplomas and degrees and know all the up-to-date methods, and have not his touch of understanding love, I am nothing.  If I am able to argue successfully against the religions of the people and make fools of them and have not his wooing note, I am nothing.  If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans, and not his love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing.  If I give my clothes and money to them, and have not his love for them, I am nothing.  If I surrender all prospects, leave home and friends, make the sacrifices of a missionary career, and turn sour and selfish amid the daily annoyances and slights of a missionary life, and have not the love that yields its rights, its leisures, its pet plans, I am nothing.  Virtue has ceased to go out of me.  If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease, but wound hearts and hurt feelings for want of his love that is kind, I am nothing.  If I can write articles or publish books that win applause, but fail to transcribe the Word of the Cross into the language of His love, I am nothing."

James said....
 

Jame 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

This goes along with Paul's words that speak about knowing God practically.
 

• I talked about miracles and needs being met, but what about plain old loving God in a real way?
• Sometimes the Lord will not answer our prayers.
• Sometimes what we pray for is not His will.
• In those times of hardship when the Lord chooses to allow us to hurt, do we experience this instead?...
• When trouble comes our way, we forget all about Him?
• To act as though we do not have a heavenly Father above who loved us so much he totally changed our lives?
• To come to church to hear someone preach and never get the burden of the Lord to see this city won to God?
• We may know about God's love, but do we EXPERIENCE IT PRACTICALLY?