The Full Gospel Life

"Are we living the full gospel life or not" I wish I could take credit for this question, but I cannot. My wife spouted out this little nugget while we were talking about church culture and Christian culture. She said I could use it so I am going to . This question really made me think. When we read in the Bible we see healing and miracles taking place. We don't see a preacher really preaching a sermon and a worship team laying down some sweet lyrics before these happen either. The miracles and healing happened as a response to something much greater than a sermon or a song. The power of the full gospel was experienced when faith met with action and created a response.

The response of sickness in the response to faith and action was that sickness could not continue on and gave way to the power of the creator restoring creation. The response to depression and demonic possession was that demons could not stay where true faith and power were under operation. Depression gave way to joy and hope and a desire to help others rather than concentrate on oneself.

Many people have been under the impression that the full gospel life is just about freedom in worship or the freedom to speak in a prayer language that only God can understand, but that impression leaves the full gospel life extremely one dimensional. Yes we have the freedom to worship. Yes we have the communication with God, but what are we doing with it? Do we have faith in action or just actions spurred by our own ability to get ourselves hyped up?

Unless we actually live the full gospel life and incorporate all the different areas and benefits into one living breathing practicing faith that leads us to the realization that the world is on a path to destruction and it is up to us to do something about it, then we are just exploiting the full gospel life for the areas we think are important enough to use. What is the full gospel life? Find out and apply the scriptures to your life. Let your prayers be seasoned with power that comes from believing that when we pray we are actually praying on earth as it is in heaven. When we talk to people, allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you with passion and zeal. When we walk in the world, let the world see transformed individuals empowered by God Almighty.

Sadly, many choose not to live the full gospel life, not because of doctrine or theologies but a much more intimate thing conviction. If a person truly gives over to the full gospel life, the sin of flesh will sting like a wasp. Disobedience will cut like a knife to the soul. The spiritual senses of a person who is trying to live the full gospel life are heightened to recognize the attacks that come against them. The full gospel live will drive you to your knees, however on your knees you find freedom, love, grace and mercy, and most of all hope.

God wants to be bigger than your imagination. He desires for us to know him fully and live the full gospel life. Will you do it? It is totally worth it.

A measure

This morning as I was jogging, I heard something that almost stopped me in my tracks. I was sort of happy about it because I was out of breath, but I cannot stop thinking about it. "If you are still measuring your offerings then you have yet to understand His true worth.) Think about that for just a minute or two. How often do we measure our offering. We can become so concerned with the 10% that we begin to place that value on God. Isn't God worth more than 10%? I know what some of you are thinking. The Bible only says give a tenth to the storehouse. You are right, but that is what is required. In Psalms we read that, a sacrifice that costs us nothing is not really a sacrifice at all. Enough said about the money thing. Here is where my mind really started to ponder this statement. What about the other things of God?

In worship, do we measure what we give? Many of us allow our body and physical state to dictate what we will give without even pressing ourselves for just a little more. We keep our hands at the same level as other people so we do not appear to be to fanatical. We pray privately at our seat when we feel compelled to come forward and pray openly. We glue ourself to the seat when our spirit wants to stand. We get in our mind that if the worship team sings one more fast song then we will clap and enter in. We can get so caught up in measuring that we forget we serve a God who is without measure.

When we comprehend His true worth in our life, we loose the restraints of the world and we want to give. The chorus that says Lord I give you my heart, I give you my soul comes to mind. The writers of the worship songs we sing in our churches today are trying to invoke that sense of awesomeness and greatness. No matter how prolific the pen connected to the thoughts might be, the realization of God's awesomeness and majesty is still up to us. Are you ready for something more than what you have already? If so, God is ready to make is presence in your life bigger than you can imagine.