Out of Africa – The Father’s Love, Power, and Holiness

We have been back in America for 10 days now. I am still processing what I saw and heard the Lord tell me in Africa. Over the next few days, I will try to capture some of my thoughts and feelings in this space. Here is my first post since we returned.

As I leave Africa I am taking with me with a strong sense that my faith, like a three-legged stool, rests on three pillars: the love of God, the power of God, and the holiness of God. They are related and one cannot exist without the other two. God intends each of us to grow in Christ-likeness which means to me that God intends for us to grow in each of these three areas.

We were created to be loved by our Father; we are His adopted sons and daughters with the same rights and privileges as His son Jesus. He loves us as much as He loved Him. He wants us to receive the Father’s infinite and unshakeable love. We can never grow into the men and women God intends us to be without knowing and appropriating this extraordinary truth. We must, literally, let His love wash over us each day. The most destructive lie of the enemy is that we are not loved by Him. Do you hear that voice “you are not good enough to be loved”? It is a complete lie. Walk in the truth today. Sit down. Repeat after me, “I receive the Father’s love”.

God is not only a God of love, but also of power. He has made the same power He gave to Jesus available to us. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 21:21, 22 and John 14: 12. Paul tells us this in Ephesians 1: 19. We need this power to accomplish His purpose’s for our lives and for His Kingdom: to push back the darkness, reclaim the territory, and defeat the power of Satan in our lives and the world. As we walk in power, we are able to release the love of God into the lives of people around us, even our enemies. Without the power of God, we can never be the conquerors that God created us to be. We must understand and appropriate this power. Yes, God is sovereign and yes, Christ won the victory on the cross. But God uses His people to enforce this victory on earth. This requires us to walk in His power for His purposes and glory.

The extent to which we can receive the love of God into our hearts and move in the power of God depends upon holiness. The author of Hebrews tells us that we are holy. “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” (Hebrews 10: 10). But, we also read “for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10: 14).  The mystery is that we are becoming what we already are. Holiness is essential for each Christian. As we grow in holiness, we also grow in our capacity to receive the Father’s love and operate in His power. To become more like Jesus is to grow each day in holiness. But, we have a role to play in our growth in holiness.

I think our role in this journey to rest securely in the Father’s love and grow in power and holiness is what Paul meant when he said “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. Fortunately, we do not make this journey on our own, but “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2: 12, 13). Or, it is what Paul meant when he said “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5: 20) even though in verse 18 he said “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ”. It has been done for us; but we have to accept and appropriate the gifts through humility and gratitude. We have work to do. That is why Paul admonishes us “therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6: 12).

One of the great deceptions of the western Church is the idea that we have no responsibility for our growth into Christ-likeness. It is true that our salvation is by grace alone – “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2: 8,9). Many interpret this passage to mean it has all been done for us. Just believe and then live your life anyway you choose. In my life there is a fine line here. I cannot earn God’s love nor do I need to justify His grace. “God look at me. When You adopted my as your son, You made the right choice. I am reading my Bible every day, praying 2 hours a day, etc, etc, etc. All for you God; to show You how worthy I am”. No! Without this grace, we have nothing and can do nothing on our own to please God. But Jesus also said “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33). I need to seek. As I seek and cry out to God, He draws me deeper into His heart. God, in general, will not take me where I do not want to go.

I experienced this seeking in Africa. In spite of grinding poverty, corruption, violence, especially against women and children, and disease people who had every right to choose hopelessness, instead chose everyday to receive the love of God as His adopted sons and daughters, walk in and use His power for His purposes, and live in holiness when the culture all around them condoned ungodliness. This choice, which can only be made in the power of the Holy Spirit, was the root of the joy and peace I saw in the people I met in Africa.

There is much  more to write about holiness. Maybe I will in a later post. If I had to describe in a few words our role in becoming holy, the words would be cooperate, ask, and receive, along with the prayer “Jesus, give me your holiness”. He wants to give it to us. We receive His holiness when we want it (ask) and when we cooperate by continuing, abiding, tarrying, lingering, living in His Presence; always aware that this gift of holiness is shear grace. Holiness comes from Jesus; but we must participate, and we must receive it.

Holiness is God’s way to restore the whole person. God’s ultimate plan is the restoration of His creation. This restoration begins with the restoration of me and you. One person at a time. The path to restoration is holiness. To become the person God intended you and me to be requires healing and you can’t get to healing and wholeness without holiness. John Eldredge’s book ‘The Utter Relief of Holiness – How God’s Goodness Frees Us from Everything that Plagues Us’ is a good place to start learning about holiness; that is, apart from the Bible – the ultimate book on holiness.

Brothers and Sisters, receive the Father’s love today, even if you feel unlovable; ask for and walk in His power to accomplish His purposes in your life, and strive for holiness (not perfection) knowing that Jesus is working with you. Remember, Jesus told Peter “those who have had their bath need only to wash their feet, their whole body is clean”. All Peter needed was to have his feet washed by Jesus. And so it is with us.

Grace, peace, and freedom

John