Fulfilling Your Destiny Through Knowing Him

by John Webster


Sections:

1. Removing Wrong Concepts Of God

2. Gaining A Correct Understanding Of God

3. Entering Into His Rest

4. The Deepest Level


Removing Wrong Concepts Of God

Introduction

The purpose of this teaching is to reveal that our wrong concepts of God may prevent us from fulfilling our destiny.

Your Desire To Fulfill Your Destiny

What is your desire in God? How would you like to be used by Him? By taking this class, you have demonstrated that you are willing to invest your time and effort so you might be fit for the master's use.

Congratulations! God will reward your efforts as you continue to pursue Him.

Doing Great Works

John 14:12 gives us a key for being used of the Lord.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

In this verse Jesus tell us that we, as believes, will do greater works than He did while He was in His mortal body on this earth. One of the things that He did was raising the dead. In the gospels, Jesus raised four people from the dead. It is hard to imagine anything "greater!" This might reasonably be considered to be the greatest demonstration of power in this natural world. Even the parting of the Red Sea pales in comparison to the restoration of life to the inanimate shell of the human body.

Yet Jesus says that we will do greater things that He did. It is hard to imagine a greater manifestation of the power of God. What could be done that is more powerful, more awesome, more miraculous than raising the dead? If we cannot do anything greater in a qualitative sense, then we will have to do greater in a quantitative sense. If we can't do anything greater to fulfill John 14:12 in terms of power, then we will have to do what Jesus did, but more of it.

Could it be that Jesus is challenging us to do everything He did, and more of it? Do you have a hunger in your heart to be used of the Lord? Would you like for Him to demonstrate His power through you? Peter healed the lame. Paul's handkerchief was sent to the sick and they recovered. Mark chapter 16 says

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, (verses 17-18).

How Do We Fulfill Our Destiny?

You have the desire to be used of the Lord. You know it is in the Bible (John 14:12, Mark 16:17-18). The question is, "How do we get there from here?" How do we get to the place where we are being used powerfully by God and fulfilling all of our potential in Him?

Keep in mind, this doesn't just apply to demonstrations of power such as healings and miracles. It applies to any kind of gifting or potential God has placed within you. God may have called you to prophesy, to rule with justice, to love with mercy, to serve with excellence. Whatever God has called you to do, that is your destiny.

Everything We Need Is Found In God

God has everything we need to fulfill His plan for our lives. In Him we find everything we need. 2 Pet 1:3a "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness...". If we need power, God has it to give. If you need love to fulfill your destiny, it is found in Him. If you need revelation, mercy, miracles, or something else, it can all be found in Him. But how do we receive it from Him?

Not only does Peter tell us that we can find in God everything we need to fulfill our destiny. He also tells us how to get it "...through our knowledge of Him who called us... (2 Pet 1:3b) How do we get there from here? How do we get to the place that we are all God has called us to be, and are doing everything He has called us to do? How do we completely fulfill our destiny?

It is by knowing God, and thereby receiving from Him what we need. Daniel elaborates on this.

Knowing God

Daniel 11:32b ...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

The key to being strong and doing might exploits in God, is to know Him. The concept of "knowing God" certainly includes knowing Him as our Lord and savior. It also includes having an intimate relationship with Him. But we must take it a step further. We must also "know Him" by understanding His nature and character. When we know Him for who He truly is, we receive everything we need to fulfill our destiny.

Misunderstanding God

The reciprocal of this verse is also true. If we don't know God, we can't be strong and we won't do mighty exploits! Another way of looking at it is, if we misunderstand God's nature and character, we won't be strong and do mighty exploits. By misunderstanding Him, we build obstacles to fulfilling our destiny. Before continuing to develop this thought, let's briefly review.

Now, let's look at some ways that we may misunderstand God...

Thinking That God Is Something That He Is Not

How would a God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian misunderstand God's nature and character? Our life experiences often teach us to understand God incorrectly.

Our role models, our church experiences, our own wrong thoughts, can all conspire together to present an image of God that is flawed and marred. In fact, we may hold an impression of God that is very wrong.

Different Levels, Different Thoughts

Is there something inside you that objects to the idea that we hold wrong concepts about God? There are varying depths of thought within us, and they sometimes conflict with each other.

For example, on one level within us, we firmly believe the implied promise of God's Word that says the righteous will never be forsaken, and his seed will never beg for bread. Yet we may feel differently on another level that is so deep and hidden that it is hard to even admit that it is there. On this level, we may feel that God has not provided for us as He should have. We may feel that we have done everything we know how to do, and we are still experiencing lack.

Not An Accusation Against God

In this example, we are certainly not accusing God of failing us. Yet is serves to illustrate that one part of us may feel one way, and another part of us may feel very differently indeed. This same duality of thought may be present in the way we view God. Just a moment ago I said that "we may hold an impression of God that is very wrong". One part of us my object to this. as we explore wrong concepts of God, listen on all levels of your being to see if maybe there is a misunderstanding of the nature of God.

Examples Of Wrong Concepts Of God

Absentee God
God won't be there for you when you need Him. In times of distress, heartache or trouble, He is no where to be found. When the finances dry up, He doesn't provide, nor does He explain why He doesn't.
Perfectionist God
His standards are impossibly high and we can never live up to them. No matter how much we try, it seems we always fall short. With this failure comes feelings of guilt, discouragement, and frustration. We feel God is critical of us for our failure and that nothing we do can please Him.
Drill Sergeant God
He doesn't care anything about you. He's got His own agenda, and He wants to break your will so you will do what He wants.
Spinach God
The reputation of spinach is that it is good for you, but you won't like it. Spinach God says that serving God will be good for you, but you won't like it. God will call you to sacrifice everything, take up the cross and follow Him. He will suck every bit of joy and pleasure out of your life. He will take you through hell to get you to heaven.
Santa Claus God
God won't let anything 'negative' come into my life. He will only allow good things. By exercising faith, there will be no trials, tribulations and unpleasantness from Him.

Did any of these "click"? Was there any part of you that related to some of these wrong concepts? It is common for us to have picked some of these along the way.

Correctly Understanding God

If we have, on a subconscious level, come to believe some of these wrong concepts then they may come between us and God. For example, it we believe God is a critical perfectionist, we may find it extremely difficult to receive God's love, approval and affirmation. The consequences of misunderstanding God's nature are dire. To see them, let's review again.

Why Aren't We Fulfilling Our Destiny With The Power And Anointing Of God?

The last point in the review says "If we don't know Him because we have misunderstood Him, we won't be strong, and we can't fulfill our destiny." Near the beginning of this teaching, we asked the questions "how do we get there from here?" How do we fulfill our destiny, beginning with where we are right now?

On very powerful thing that we can do is to rid ourselves of the misconcepts of God that prevent us from getting close to Him, and even drive us away from Him. The opposite of 2 Pet 1:3 and Dan 11:32 come into play. We don't know Him for who He really is, so we cannot receive from Him everything He has promise to us; and we therefore cannot be strong and do mighty exploits.

Conclusion

The purpose of this teaching is to reveal that our wrong concepts of God may prevent us from fulfilling our destiny. Future classes will help us to correctly understand the nature and character of God so that "...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32b)


Gaining A Correct Understanding Of God

Review

We have a desire to do everything God has called us to do, and to fulfill our destiny in Him. Jesus said we would do greater things than He did (John 14, Mark 16). Jesus promised us everything we need to fulfill our destiny (2 Pet 1:3a). The way we receive what we need from God is by knowing Him (2 Pet 1:3b), and by knowing Him we become strong so we can do mighty exploits.

If we don't know Him because we have misunderstood Him, we won't be strong, and we can't fulfill our destiny. Wrong views of God include:

Introduction

In the Previous class we talked about ways we can misunderstand God. Today we will focus on who He really is. 2 Peter 1:3b says that by knowing God, we can receive what we need for life and Godliness. Daniel 11:32 implies that by knowing God, we become strong and do mighty exploits. It is paramount that we understand the nature and character of God if we hope to receive from Him all that we need for life and godliness, and thereby are empowered to fulfill our destiny. The aspects of God's nature that we are going to explore in this class are God as our father, bridegroom, and friend.

God Our Father

For me, one of the most soothing and yet powerful images of fatherhood is the opening credits of the 1960's "The Andy Griffith Show" where Andy and Opie go fishing. There is something about the picture of them together as father and son that is particularly touching. Perhaps it is Opie having such a fun time throwing rocks. Maybe it is the sense of peace and serenity in the father. Whatever it is, it is heartwarming to me. It causes me to think of the deep, kind and sincere love of a father. There are other images from our modern culture the evoke these same feelings of benevolence, kindness, and gentleness. Marcus Welby M.D., the T.V. show of the grey haired doctor springs unbidden into the mind. Other concepts of a kind, loving father might be found in the idea of the grandfather that always has a pocket full of candy for the neighborhood youngsters. These are some of the things that for me personally, depict a kind, loving father. What makes it real for you?

(Incidentally, you can download the Andy Griffith video clip from http://www.sitcomsonline.com/videoclips/theandygriffithshow.mpg. Ah, the marvels of the Internet!)

Qualities Of A Father

When asked to think of all of the positive qualities of a father, what comes to mind? If you were to describe the 'perfect' father, what characteristics would you include? Take a moment a list a few here, or on a sheet of paper. Keep them handy, because I may ask for them soon...

Perhaps some commonly appreciated aspects of a father include: love, strength, protection, and provision. Now add as many of your own as you can.

Sons And Daughters

As children of God, we are to reap of the wonderful attributes of God's characteristics. When scripture says "God is love" (1Jn. 4:8) it means that "we" are loved. We are also to be adopted, chosen, secure, sustained (Deut 1:31), affirmed, approved, encouraged, protected, provided for, unconditionally accepted, equipped, and enabled. When we understand who God is, we can then receive what we need (2 Peter 1:3). We may also find that by understanding that God is a wonderfully kind, loving father, that we trust Him more.

Correcting The Misunderstanding

In lesson one, we talked about how we might misunderstand God. We gave examples of some common misconceptions. They are reviewed below.

  1. Absentee God. God won't be there for us when we need Him. In times of distress, heartache or trouble, He is no where to be found. When the finances dry up, He doesn't provide, nor does He explain why He doesn't.
  2. Perfectionist God. His standards are impossibly high and we can never live up to them. No matter how much we try, it seems we always fall short. With this failure comes feelings of guilt, discouragement, and frustration. We feel God is critical of us for our failure and that nothing we do can please Him.
  3. Drill Sargent God. He doesn't care anything about us. He has His own agenda, and He wants to break our will so we will do what He wants.
  4. Spinach God. The reputation of spinach is that it is good for you, but you won't like it. Spinach God says that serving God will be good for us, but we won't like it. God will call us to sacrifice everything, take up the cross and follow Him. He will suck every bit of joy and pleasure out of our life. He will take us through hell to get us to heaven.

Laying An Axe To The Root

Let's allow scripture to drive out these wrong concepts. As you read the following verses, categorized by the misconceptions that they correct, let them minister deeply to your heart. Remember, it is the Word of God that changes us: John 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (NKJ) Begin your change now.

ABSENTEE GOD

Deut 4:7
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to Him? (NIV)

Ps 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. (NIV)

Deut 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (NIV)

Rev 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let Him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (NIV)

Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. (NIV)

Heb 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just As we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

James 4:8a
Come near to God and He will come near to you...(NIV)

Gen 28:15
"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (NKJ)

Deut 31:6
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (NKJ)

Deut 31:8
"And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (NKJ)

Ps 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (KJV)

Ps 89:33
but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness. (NIV)

Ps 94:14
For the LORD will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance. (NIV)

Isa 49:14-16
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (NIV)

PERFECTIONIST GOD

Eph 2:4-7
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Rom 5:7-11
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (NKJ)

Rom 5:20-21
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NKJ)

DRILL SERGEANT

Deut 7:13
"And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. (NKJ)

Deut 10:18
"He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. (NKJ)

Ps 42:8
By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life. (NIV)

Ps 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. (NIV)

Ps 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; (NIV)

Ps 146:8
the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. (NIV)

Isa 43:4
Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. (NKJ)

Jer 31:3
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (NKJ)

John 17:23
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them As You have loved Me. (NKJ)

Titus 3:4
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (KJV)

I Jn 4:19
We love Him, because He first loved us. (KJV)

SPINACH GOD

Rom 2:4b
...knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance (NKJ)

Ps 9:9
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (KJV)

Ps 27:5
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. (KJV)

Ps 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (KJV)

Ps 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (KJV)

Lam 3:33
For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. (NIV)

God Is A Wonderful Father To Us!

Did you find the above scriptures encouraging? Did the Lord minister to you from His word? I bet you did because the Word of God is often refreshing and life to our spirits.

There is much I could say about God as a wonderful Father to us. But wouldn't it be better to let the Holy Spirit minister it right into our spirits through His word. The Bible has much to say on God as our Father, and of His great love and care for us, doesn't it? Let's allow what God says about how He sees Himself as our Father to sink into our spirits...

Isa 63:16
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. (KJV)

John 11:52
And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (KJV)

2 Cor 6:18
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)

Gal 4:6-7
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (KJV)

John 17:21-26
That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me. I have given them the glory that you gave Me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent Me and have loved them even as you have loved Me. "Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given Me because you loved Me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent Me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)

Ps 36:7-10
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. (NIV)

Ps 17:7-8
Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (NIV)

God Is Our Bridegroom

In Revelation 21:9 we find that Jesus is the bridegroom, and the church is His bride. This is another aspect of our relationship with the Lord. Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary states "In the New Testament, the analogy is continued: Christ is the Bridegroom , and the church is His bride. The apostle Paul counsels husbands and wives to imitate the spiritual closeness and love which Christ has for His bride, the church ." (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers).

We can learn about God's nature, and how He feels about us, by exploring the bride and groom relationship. To what extent should a husband love his wife? Eph 5:28-29a "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it" ... Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." (NKJ) This is the same way the Jesus loves us, the church. And Eph 5:33 "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (NKJ)

This is how Jesus loves us, the church. Eph 5:29 "For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church." (NKJ) And Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." (NKJ)

The Lord also chose Solomon to express in intimate and delicate terms the depth of a husbands love for his wife, and by extension how strongly He, the Lord, feels about His bride.

Song 7:1-6
  1. How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
  2. Your navel is a rounded goblet; it lacks no blended beverage. Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies.
  3. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.
  4. Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
  5. Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses.
  6. How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights! (NKJ)

Of course, this isn't in the language of our modern day society. The Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary says "...The symbols and images that the groom uses to describe the beauty of his Shulamite bride may seem strange to modern readers. He portrays her hair as "a flock of goats, going down from Mount Gilead" <4:1>. Her neck, he says, is like "the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers" <4:4>. Such compliments today would certainly not be flattering to most women!

"In his use of these symbols, the groom is reflecting the cultural patterns of the ancient world. To those who lived in Solomon's time, the rippling effect of a flock of goats moving down a hillside was, indeed, a thing of beauty. And a stately tower atop a city wall reflected an aura of stability and nobility. The Shulamite woman would have been very pleased at such creative compliments from her poetic groom." (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers).

In our words, we might compare such love with the storybook images we grew up with. Cinderella, Prince Charming, the knight in shining armor, and the like. Whatever the culture, or manner of expression; the bride and groom relationship includes devotion, commitment, and love.

Qualities Of A Bridegroom

What is it that a bride wants in her groom? What is it that is important to her? Men, you might need help with this from a woman in your life. In a college class I taught several years ago, the students offered the following qualities and thoughts: covenant, passion, adoration, intimacy, bride has first place in grooms heart; before father and mother (leave and cleave). Groom finds his hearts desire in his bride, she is the woman of his dreams. He will be good to her. Treat her like a queen. Shower her with affection, attention, romance. Always thinking about her and how he might bless her. Always doing little things to let her know how everyday is special because of her and she is in his thoughts always. Going all out for special occasions so she will know that what's important to her is important to him. If your a woman, this list probably struck a responsive chord in you. If your a man, act on this :)

How Does Christ The Bridegroom Feel About You?

We are the object of Christ's affections. He is as taken with us as a man who is swept off his feet by his bride. Where does the bible say that?! Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; AND AS THE BRIDEGROOM REJOICES OVER THE BRIDE, SO SHALL YOUR GOD REJOICE OVER YOU. (NKJ)

This same word rejoice (7797 suws (soos); or siys (sece); a primitive root; to be bright, i.e. cheerful.) is found in Jeremiah, where God says "I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul" (Jer 32:41 NIV).

Wow! To borrow a modern slang, God is crazy about us! This verse means that God is so happy about us (bright and cheerful), that He rejoices over us. Further, He is committed to bringing us into our promise land with His whole heart and whole soul. All the resources of heaven are behind us, because God is wild about us!

God Is Our Friend

Think about your closest and dearest friend. No matter how long it has been since you've spoken, there is something special and dear about them. Many people have experienced friendship so deep, that it is lifelong. When I think of the very few that I feel this close to, it rekindles warmth in my heart. You might want to take a minute or two to think about a friend before reading on.

Incredibly, Jesus says He is our friend. He said of His disciples "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15 NKJ). God felt the same way about Abraham: James 2:23 "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God." (NKJ) Christ loved His disciples, for He took them into a covenant of friendship with Himself, v. 14, 15. "If you approve yourselves by your obedience my disciples indeed, you are my friends, and shall be treated as friends." Note, The followers of Christ are the friends of Christ, and He is graciously pleased to call and account them so. Those that do the duty of His servants are admitted and advanced to the dignity of His friends. David had one servant in his court, and Solomon one in his, that was in a particular manner the king's friend (2 Sam. 15:37; 1 Kin. 4:5); but this honor have all Christ's servants" (from Matthew Henry's Commentary, John 15:9-17 PP11).

Perhaps the most well known example of the power of friendship is that of Jonathan and David.

1 Sam 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (KJV)

1 Sam 20:4
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. (KJV)

1 Sam 20:41-42
After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together-- but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'" Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. (NIV)

2 Sam 1:26
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. (NIV)

David "...had reason to say that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful; surely never was the like, for a man to love one who he knew was to take the crown over his head, and to be so faithful to his rival: this far surpassed the highest degree of conjugal affection and constancy...nothing is more delightful in this world than a true friend, that is wise and good, that kindly receives and returns our affection, and is faithful to us in all our true interests. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary 2 Samuel 1:17-27 PP13)

Jesus Loves Us As His Friend

Apply now the love that David had for Jonathan, to the love that Jesus has for you. The depth of commitment, the lack of ulterior motives, the purity of love.

How Does God Truly Feel About Us?

He loves us as a father does his children, as a groom does his bride, and as a friend.

Perhaps we will experience radical transformation of the heart when we truly comprehend what Paul felt when he said to the Romans "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom 8:35), and vs. 38 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NKJ)

When we are empowered by a revelation of God's love for us, we can:


Entering Into His Rest

Review

God has everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3-4). If we are cut off from Him, we can't fulfill our destiny. When we do not see God for who He is, this will cut us off from Him. So it is important to know who God is.

Some of us hold wrong views of God, of His nature and His character. Below are six of the most common misunderstandings that people have about what God is really like:

Spinach
God will help us by inflicting pain
Drill Sergeant
God is angry and don't really care about us
Distant
God is not there for us. He only gets involved in major situations
Perfectionist
Requires us to be right and acceptable, impossible to please.
Abandoner
Isn't there for us.

God wants us to have a correct understanding of who He is. He uses different pictures of relationships that we can understand and identify with to describe who He is. In fact, God defines our understanding of who He is in terms of His relationship to us. In particular, He describes Himself as:

Entering Into His Rest

We will finish laying the foundation for this series by examining the concept of "entering into God's rest".

When we understand Him for who He really is, it becomes inviting to enter His presence and dwell with Him. We are attracted to the Father that loves us unconditionally and delights in blessing us. We are romanced by the bridegroom who cares for us and who wants to treat us as the apple of His eye. We seek out the friend that is closer than a brother. We find ourselves willing seeking out His company, and living in His presence.

It is in His presence where we become like Him, where we are equipped and enabled, and where we begin to radiate the light of His glory. This is where we receive His divine enablements for fulfilling our destiny.

God Created Mankind To Experience Pleasure

The fulfillment of the soul is a primary motivation of the human race. We can see evidence of it all around us. From amusement parks to movie theaters; from sporting events to restaurants; from gambling casinos to outdoor recreation. Man was made to experience joy, pleasure and inner fulfillment.

If we have not learned who God is, and we have not learned to live in the presence of God or found this place in God, then we are probably striving for fulfillment. When we accept the Lord for who He really is, and live in His presence, we are in a place of peace because or fulfillment is in Him. The pressure of having to be Christlike, but are alienated from God, is removed. Hebrews 4:9-11 says:

  1. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
  2. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
  3. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (KJV)

Finding Rest In God

In Hebrews chapter four, "rest" can be translated 'abode'. Thus, it is a place for us to find in God. A dwelling place (Psalm 91) that we are to live in, not an emotional state that we visit. In the Old Testament, God's rest for the children of Israel was the promised land. It was a resting place.

Our place of rest is in God, because the striving and tension in our relationship has been removed. We can live in His presence, with rest for our soul, basking in the warmth of our relationship with Him as father, groom and friend. Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High can be the hammock for the soul, the resting place in God where we experience deep inner fulfillment.

Looking For Fulfillment Outside Of God

If we misunderstand God's nature, and feel separated from Him as a result; we are likely to look for 'joy' and pleasure in other places. In other words, if we are not truly happy in our Christian life, we will try to find happiness in other places. We may do things that are wrong if we're really hungry and in need. For example, we may feel the need to fight for what is ours, which is an attempt to protect our domain and interests. Sin such as greed, lust, self promotion for recognition or value are also attempts on our part to assuage the hurting soul. If we feel no one cares, that we're on our own; or that we are hungry for protection, we may become territorial and defensive. If we feel pushed down or hindered we may feel unvalued. We become hungry for opportunity and we may try to prove ourselves. If we are hungry for attention, we may gossip. If we're hungry for love, we may be tempted with lust (see prov. 7, 9:13-18).

These are all examples of not being satisfied in our soul. When we aren't satisfied by God, we look for it in other places. However, when find our dwelling place in God, we experience peace, fulfillment and joy. We have entered into His rest.

God's Forgiveness And Provision

God understand that when we are not fulfilled by Him, we will look in other placed for fulfillment. Proverbs 6:30 "Men do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry". This doesn't mean He condones our behavior, but He is fully aware of the problem. He also makes provision for it. He wants to bring us into His presence, provide us with everything we need for life and godliness, so we can experience rest of soul, and be strong and do mighty exploits.

Meditate on these scriptures as an aid to entering into rest in God:

Matt 11:29
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (KJV)

Prov 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. (NIV)

Ps 116:7
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. (KJV)

Psalm 91
  1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
  2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
  3. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
  4. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
  5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
  6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
  7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
  8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
  9. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation;
  10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
  11. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
  12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
  14. Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
  15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
  16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation. (KJV)

Setting Things Right

Pray this prayer:

Lord, please forgive me for misunderstanding who You are. I have avoided You because I have thought You were a perfectionist, and a spinach God. I have avoided Your presence because I thought it was painful. Please forgive me for looking for love and fulfillment in the wrong places. I have pursued pleasure outside of You, please forgive me.

Please help me to understand that You are my wonderful father, friend and groom. Lord, I enter into Your presence now and I receive all that You have for me. I receive every divine enablement I need to fulfill my destiny. I receive the fulfillment I have been longing for.

I enter into rest in You. Thank You for your wonderful and remarkable provision. In Jesus name, amen.


The Deepest Level

Review

God has everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3-4). If we are cut off from Him, we can't fulfill our destiny. When we do not see God for who He is, this will cut us off from Him. So it is important to know who God is.

Some of us hold wrong views of God, of His nature and His character. Below are six of the most common misunderstandings that people have about what God is really like:

Santa Clause:
God only does good. He would never give me anything I don't want or cause me to walk through anything that might be unpleasant.
Spinach:
God will help me by inflicting pain. Everything He does for me will hurt or will be very difficult to walk through, but He only does it for my own good.
Drill Sergeant:
God is angry and He does not care about me at all. He has His plans and agendas. He may use me to accomplish them, but He is not interested in me personally.
Distant:
God is not there for me and He will not provide for me. I cannot expect Him to be involved in my day to day life because he will only become involved in major decisions.
Perfectionist:
God requires me to be right and acceptable. He is difficult, if not impossible to please; His standards are very high.
Abandoner:
God isn't there for me. He created me, but now He has left me on my own and He does not care what happens to me.

None of these views of God are correct. If we tend to see God this way, it will impar our relationship with Him. We must change our thinking and understanding of Who God is. Here are some correct views of God:

We cannot enter into the place of His rest until we begin to understand what He is really like. It is God's heart and desire for us to enter into this rest. This is the place where our souls are satisfied, where we can stop trying to find joy/fulfillment through natural and/or carnal means. This is God's perfect plan for us.

The Deepest Level

Ask yourself, "where am I in the process of fulfilling my destiny? Am I...

  1. Coming to understand that I have a destiny?
  2. In the process of training and developing to fulfill my destiny?
  3. Stalled out (side tracked)?
  4. Being used?

It does not matter where we are in the process, we need to go further! We need to go to a deeper level!

Houston, We Have A Problem

When I first moved from Phoenix, Arizona to the panhandle of Florida, I learned that our new location had sulphur water. The water wells had enough sulphur in them to make the water smell like rotten eggs. Although it was safe to drink, it was impossible to get past the smell. It was particularly bad in the shower, because the hot water made it smell even worse. Washing my face and brushing my teeth were almost impossible (though I did it). Since we were in a rural area, the well was our only source.

I recall meeting an older man in bib overalls not long after we arrived in Florida. He was clearly a native. When we told Him about our problem with the well water, he tasted and exclaimed "once you get used to it, nothing else will satisfy you". What a horrible thought. Who would want to "get used to it?"

At first, we tried to make the best of it. We drank coffee, soft drinks, anything but water and things made with water. Even the ice cubes smelled bad. After several years, we finally convinced a water purification service to put filters on our homes. Though we were far out in the country, they finally agreed. This took away most of the smell, but it was still objectionable. I no longer gagged while brushing my teeth. It was a wonderful improvement, but it didn't solve the problem. This blessing from God lasted for ten years or more. We eventually put water treatment equipment on the well, and even better filters on our homes. Again, this improved things, but there was still the underlying hint of rotten eggs. After 15 years, the problems still exists, but now we buy bottled water.

Regardless of where we are in our progress in God, He wants to take us deeper. It may be difficult for us to identify the obstacles to our progress. First, we repent of our wrong views of God. We no longer see Him as "spinach God." Then, we learn to know Him as our father, friend and groom.

Once we have enter into this relationship, we feel fulfilled, and no longer strive for carnal fulfillment. We have entered into His rest. Yet after all of this, God wants to takes us deeper. We then look for what is hindering us. What is that stench that remains in our life. Is that rotten eggs I smell? We look for what is wrong. We try any number of things to break through: we examine our hearts, we blame others (mate, spiritual covering, etc.), we pretend there is no problem!

The Solution To The Problem

The solution is readily apparent for those who look. It is the same solution for our sulphurous well. We have to drill deeper. We learned that if we would have dug the well deeper, we would have struck better water. The problem is, no one knows how deep you might have to go on your particular piece of property, and drilling is costly. It is also costly to the flesh for God to drill deeper within us to get a cleaner flow.

Identifying The True Problem

One of the first things we must do is address the true problem. With our bad water, we tried to treat it and filter it; but we never address the true problem. We had bad water. We were trying to treat the problem instead of fixing it.

In our spiritual lives, we must stop trying to treat the problem, and fix it. In order to do this, we must ask God to show us our hearts. This is necessary, because like the old man in overalls, we may become accustomed to what we have, even to the point of liking it. Rather than viewing it as a problem, we may be viewing it as good. But when the Lord shows us what is really in our heart, it once again becomes a stench. God looks deep within us. Consider the following scriptures and notice how God looks on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NIV)

1 King 8:39
then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men), (NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. (NIV)

Psalms 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. (NIV)

Proverbs 5:21
For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all his paths. (NIV)

Proverbs 16:2
All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. (NIV)

Proverbs 21:2
All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. (NIV)

Ezekiel 11:5
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and He told me to say: "This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. (NIV)

Ezekiel 11:19
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. (NIV)

Substitutes

When we are not dealing on the deepest level, we can block God's life flow to us. When we fail to address and fix the problem, we are only trying to clean it up. This blocks God's pure flow in us and through us. With this kind of blockage, we find that if we are not receiving HIS life, we find substitutes. May it is: Food, Status/position, Lust, Material possessions, etc. What might it be in your life? I know what they are in mine!

As God searches our hearts, He shows us what is inside. Much of it may be good and well pleasing to Him. But for those that want all of God they can get, they are willing to look deeper to those things that stink.

God Shows Us The Problem

Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The New International version translates it this way: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Did you catch that last phrase? "It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart". God will clearly show us what the problem is, even if it is deeply buried. Philippians 3:15 has always been a safety net for me. It says "Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."(NKJ). The NIV renders it "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." This means God will show us what we need to see. Rejoice, God will make the problem plain, so we can begin fixing it!

God Will Forgive Us

When we see the deep, inner stench; we can often be struck by a sense of guilt. Yet Jesus forgives us. Ezekiel 36:25 "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols." (NIV) John the Apostle tell us "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I Jn 1:9, NKJ)

God Will Fix Us

Not only will He show us the problem by revealing our heart to us; He will forgive us. And He will fix the problem. Ezekiel 36:26 says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (NIV)

God is a remarkable healer and transformer. He can remake us into His image and His likeness. Isn't that what it all about anyway?

Activation

An exercise that you can do at home is ask yourself the following questions:

Then review God's motives for you that were discussed in the second lesson (father, friend and groom). Finally, ask God to show us what He wants to deal with on the deepest level.

Conclusion

When we repent of our wrong concepts of God (lesson one), then embrace Him for who He really is (lesson two), then we can rest in His presence (lesson three), and allow Him to fix us on the deepest level (lesson four).

May God bless each of you for opening your hearts and allowing Him to deal with you so that you can be all He wants you to be, and you can fulfill your destiny!

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