Practically, How Can I do That?

Give me the 5 Steps!

When I was a new Christian (in my early 30’s), my pastor preached a sermon about faith that rocked my world.  The scripture he used burned in my heart.  I heard his call to action: have faith.  That’s what I wanted more than anything in the world.   But my pastor didn’t tell us how.

So while shaking hands on the way out of Church, I told him I loved the message.  He beamed.  I asked, “Uh, how can I do that?”

After several awkward moments of hemming and hawing, he said to just do it.  I shouldn’t ever play poker.  Dismay was written all over my face. He saw this was important to me.  He invited me to his office that week to talk about it.  I went. He didn’t have answers then either.  I was shocked.  And dismayed.

I’ve heard dozens of messages (actually more) like that over the years. Messages with a call to action, but not a clue as to the process of walking in that truth.

Practically How?

More recently, in a small group a dear friend was deeply troubled and the message shared that day was exactly what she needed.  In tears, she said she so wanted to be like that but didn’t know how.  She asked, “Practically, how can I do that?”

Several well-meaning friends gave advice or shared wisdom.  Most of it was good general advice. Some was, well, contradictory.  And I noticed that the advice reflected the personality and character of the advice givers.  My friend continued to weep.

And then I heard God tell me that none of that was what she needed.  God encouraged her and told her to rest in Him. I told her what God had said.  You could feel the shift in the atmosphere in the room.  Others confirmed what God was saying to her.

For months, God kept highlighting this question.  So I pursued Him.

Practically How Can I do that?   

Through many examples in the Bible, God shows us a relational process that shows how. The first example is Moses.

God “made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.” (Psalm 103:7 NIV)

Revelation:  Moses wasn’t content just to see what God was doing.  He wanted to know God’s ways.

Moses asked God: “teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” (Exodus 33:13, NIV)

Encounter: Not content with knowing about God, Moses asked for an encounter.  “Show me Your glory.” And God gave him one! God showed Moses His glory, His goodness.  (Exodus 33, NIV)

Application:  God gave Moses practical instructions on where to take the Israelites – steps to take. But  Moses insisted that if God wasn’t going with him, he wasn’t going anywhere!

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

God liked that.  God granted Moses’ desire. He went with them.  God wants to go with us too.

Life/Light: That encounter changed Moses.  People could see it on his face. Moses’ face reflected the reality of God he had experienced. (Exodus 34:29-31, NIV)

Revelation invites us to encounter God.  It is Him, inviting us to come near.  As we are with Him, we become like Him.  And then we can’t wait to do things with God.  The process changes us.  We become REAL – Christlike.  As God becomes real to us, we reflect the real God. And through us God becomes real to others.

“Life doesn’t come from revelation, it comes from the encounter brought about by the revelation.” Bill Johnson

Your thoughts?