Do you want to be filled with a Spirit who, though he is like Jesus in his gentleness and love, will nevertheless demand to be Lord of your life? Are you willing to let your personality be taken over by another, even if that other be the Spirit of God himself? If the Spirit takes charge of your life he will expect unquestioning obedience in everything. He will not tolerate in you the self-sins even though they are permitted and excused by most Christians. . . . You will find the Spirit to be in sharp opposition to the easy ways of the world and of the mixed multitude within the precincts of religion. He will be jealous over you for good. He will not allow you to boast or swagger or show off. He will take the direction of your life away from you. He will reserve the right to test you, to discipline you, to chasten you for your soul’s sake. He may strip you of many of those borderline pleasures which other Christians enjoy but which are to you a source of refined evil.
Through it all he will enfold you in a love so vast, so mighty, so all-embracing, so wondrous that your very losses will seem like gains and your small pains like pleasure.
~A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
~Galatians 5:22-23
It happened. Somewhere, someone heard Him speaking. They said, “OK, i give up. Really. Please just take it. I CAN’T FREAKING TAKE IT ANYMORE!! I AM SUCH A HOT JUICY STINKING MESS L_RD…. AGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Take it all. Please. i’m begging you. i just can’t do it. not ever. not able. just – take – it – allofit. please just help me. i’ve come undone.”
Then nothing… you just hurt. Except maybe… But, you’re not quite sure.
And you went to bed.
But then you woke up.
And EVERYTHING was different.
What, no Who was that? “Good morning beloved.” What? you said. He repeated Himself, didn’t He? “Good morning beloved. All is well. You are absolutely delightful child! I knew this day would come, but I am so glad it’s here – especially for you.”
The confusion of sleep instantly falls away. You are more awake than you have ever been. More rested. More energetic… more – oh-this-is-just-amazing!
“What now L_ORD? Or is it Friend? Brother? Spirit? … Lover? Which is it?” “All of them,” He chuckles. “All of them and many, many more. But we’ll get to that. We have absolutely forever to figure that out. Just you and me. Even so, We’ll never get to the bottom of it. Anyway, just stay still for a moment. Abide. It is now and never has to be anything other than this moment. Just Me in you, and you in Me.”
“Oh my G_d! You’re wonderful… aren’t you?!” He answers, “Yes I AM, but you can’t see all of it yet. Actually, not even a little bit of it yet. You couldn’t handle it. But, My Lovingkindness will reveal Itself to you more every day, forever. OK?” “YES L_ORD!” just flies off your lips like you mean it. Ooops, you DO mean it! He is your Lord! He is your Lord! He is your Lord!
So, you roll out of bed and grab your Bible and start to read. Suddenly, you close it and look at the cover. “Did somebody swap this for something else?” But no, its the same old Book that has been sitting on your nightstand. But somehow, its totally different… “What’s up?” “OH MY G_D! IT’S TRUE! IT’S HIM!!!! HE’S TALKING TO ME!!!!!!!!”
“Yes beloved. I have been here all along. Ever since you asked me to save you from your sins. It was just that you finally asked me to save you from, well, you. I am Mighty to save. I save everyone who asks. You are now totally free. I have walked you out of the prison cell through the door that I opened some time ago. you DO NOT EVER have to go back in there. Listen to me child. you do not ever have to go back. Not ever.”
“Sounds wonderful Lord,” you say. “What should we do now?” He answers with so much joy in His voice, that you feel as if you might burn up, “Let’s run and play for awhile. Just you and Me. Nothing else matters anymore.”
He’s right. Nothing else matters any more. And it never will.
“One day, in the city of New York — oh, what a day! — I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for 14 years. I can only say that God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand.” Moody was sure that if God did not lift His hand, he would die.
~D.L. Moody (1837–1899)
~D.L. Moody (1837–1899)
