More Than You Can Imagine Or Think

It is New Year’s Day and I find myself starting a new year with great thankfulness for what God has done and at the same time I am filled with an even greater anticipation for what God is going to do. I am so excited! We have been reviewing all the amazing things that have recently happened and are continually amazed at the increase of our experience with the reality of heaven and God’s presence breaking through into our city, companies, and families in greater measure than has been experienced before. The level of transformation and freedom is increasing. As great as this is, we cannot use what we have experienced so far as a predictor of what He is going to do moving forward. God is not looking for us to build a model or a ministry, but be in relationship with Him to demonstrate His love and His world.

There are many conversations happening on “how to manage revival.” That really isn’t the heart or intent behind these conversations, but that is the result. Christian culture and experience has taught us that Christian activity must be managed and we need to understand and teach others to understand. Knowledge about the encounter with God begins to supersede the actual encounter itself. Revival is different and once again, previous experience is not necessarily the best indicator of what to do moving forward.

Let’s look at what Paul writes to the Ephesians who were experiencing incredible revival and increase. Paul started out with twelve followers at Ephesus and within two years all of Asia, that is the towns you read about in Revelation 2 and 3 which surrounded Ephesus, a population of approximately 1,000,000 people had heard the gospel and a tremendous percentage had believed. Acts 19:10 ‐ This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

In Eph. 3:16‐20 Paul prays for those who are now in the midst of this amazing revival:

• Vs.16 ‐ To be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit in the inner man – The way this is worded is that Father God will grant you, implying you are the destination of, the power of the Holy Spirit. The same word is used two other times in the New Testament in Luke 1:80 & 2:40 to describe how John the Baptist and Jesus were strengthened by the Holy Spirit. That is a good deal.
• Vs. 17 ‐ So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you being grounded in love – You need to have your love on. The love of God is the foundation. A revival culture will stretch you and your ability to love without judgment.
• Vs. 19 ‐ To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. – Paul’s prayer is for the believers in the midst of revival to experience the love of Jesus that surpasses what they know and think. The result of experiencing His love over knowledge = being filled with the fullness of God, not a bad deal either.
• Vs. 20 – Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that work within us. – Beyond what we can imagine or think because of the power He has bestowed on us and put in us. It is a partnership for the impossible. You are an integral part of the fulfillment of the impossible with Him.

Paul’s letter to a group of believers in the midst of incredible revival had no rebuke, just a plea to love Jesus more and to experience what He made available. No programs, just an appeal to continue to discover the more that is available with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Stay Hungry ‐ Go deeper – Realize His power ‐ Get revelation ‐ Live from the overflow