Just a thought: This past Sunday night as I was listening to the sermon of a precious brother in my church, I found the Holy Spirit’s presence to be so palpable that I just could not stop smiling. His sermon was inspired by his life. He was feeling a bit depressed after being subjected to many severe trials within his family, making it necessary for him to be away from the pulpit for quite some time now. He recently came to the realization that he needed to regain his intimate walk with God, i.e., return to his first love.
I did not pay much attention to its significance until I received an Email the very next day from a long time friend of this ministry, and a dear brother and friend to me. He is a disabled veteran who told me he was going through a time of depression that he could not shake off; until our Lord spoke a couple of words to him in what seemed like an audible voice. I knew exactly what he meant about an “audible voice,” because it happened to me when my Lord called me into His ministry. It has happened to me only once, but if it ever happens to you, you will never be able to forget it.
In essence, the message – God’s words to my dear brother in the Lord were the same as the sermon the night before: Restore your intimacy with Me – return to your first love. He went on to tell me that during the past several months, he has been studying hard for an advanced degree in Theology, and yet, he found himself going deeper and deeper into depression. Yes, he was learning much about God, yet at the same time, he was losing his peace and joy.
He wrote specifically to me, because he began to read my book again, The Portrait of a Christian, and he also read a few of his favorite verses from his Bible. As he did this, his peace and joy started to return to him. I guess my Lord knew that I also needed a bit of encouragement. I was so blessed to learn that the Holy Spirit was using my book to help restore his intimacy with God (to God be the glory). I have always felt the main purpose for the book, that I believe God wrote through me, was not to tell people “about” Him, but to bring people back to an intimate knowledge of Him – to an intimate relationship with Him, i.e., return them to their first love. Again, to God be the glory!
I’m reminded of the Pharisees who knew a lot “about” God, but never really knew Him on an intimate level. Why? Well, perhaps it was because they treated the Word of God as an instrument of study – an instrument of Theology. But the Word of God is really God’s written conversation to and with mankind. And it should be treated as exactly that, a conversation. When you have a conversation with someone, do you study and memorize their words, or do you use it as an opportunity to get to know them? Believe it or not, God is a someone who wishes for you to get to know Him on an intimate level. God is not an “object” which you need to study and memorize each and every written word as a Theology. Indeed, with that approach, the Pharisees could not recognize God’s Word in flesh, Jesus. If we Christians want to truly be set free and possess His peace and joy despite our circumstances, we must, through His Holy Spirit who now dwells within, not only walk close to God, but also know and talk with God intimately on a daily basis.
Prayer: My Father, every time I lose my peace and joy, may I realize that it is the first warning sign that I need to return to my first love. May Your Holy Spirit help me to know You more intimately every day for the rest of my life here on earth. May Your Holy Spirit also help me to truly understand how precious and intimate the words “my Father” are. In fact, so precious and intimate it’s hard for my heart and head to believe it. Father, thank you for adopting me into Your family through the precious sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Amen and Amen!
Website: www.SoppMinistries.org
The Truth Shall Make You Free!
