©2011 Rob Fischer

“We are on a constant search for better methods, more clever plans, and new ways to organize in order to advance the church. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men and women. The church needs men and women whom the Holy Spirit can use—men and women of prayer—mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through people; people wholly yielded to Him.

The personal character of leaders has more to do with the revolution of nations than any other factor. The character and conduct of followers of Christ have more to do with the impact of the Gospel on a nation than any other factor. The individual makes the servant of the Gospel. God must make the individual. The individual, the whole individual, lies behind the work of God. Our work is not the performance of an hour; it is the outflow of a life. Our work for God must be a thing of life. Our work grows, because we grow. Our work is holy, because we are holy.

Everything depends on the spiritual character of Christ’s servant. We must impersonate the Gospel. It is not great talents nor great learning nor great preachers and teachers and leaders that God needs, but men and women great in holiness, great in faith, great in love, and great in fidelity. Such people can mold a generation for God!

Prayer is the greatest weapon of the servant of God. Prayer places us in God’s presence—the place we become holy. Prayer calls upon and takes hold of the power of God. The real work of God is made in the closet. The man or woman of God is made in the closet. Our life and most profound convictions are born in secret communication with God. Prayer makes God’s servant. The pride of learning; the pride of past accomplishment; the pride of the newest trend; and the pride of our own creative genius all set themselves against the dependent humility of prayer. If we do not make prayer a mighty factor in our lives and ministry, our impact for God will be weak, powerless and without effect on the lost world.”

“Devote yourselves to prayer.” Colossians 4:2 There is a danger in reading a challenge like that above. The danger is to feel overwhelmed with a sense of guilt over past or current failures, or to feel inadequate with regard to potential future victories. Lay those feelings aside. Instead, simply flee to God’s presence, let Him change you and enjoy His company. In Psalm 16:11, David praises God, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

God’s Word also plainly distinguishes between the kind of obedience that was demanded of the Mosaic Law and the kind of obedience we strive for as followers of Christ. This distinction is crucial because many well-meaning Christians have merely exchanged the Old Testament set of laws for a New Testament set. This exchange is not God’s intent at all!

The Scripture explains that no one is or was ever “declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20) The law defines what sin is and exposes sin in our life, but doesn’t have the power to make us more like Christ. Romans 7:5 reveals further that because of the weakness of our flesh, our sinful passions are actually aroused by the law. A simple, relevant example of this that we ask today is, “How far over the speed limit can I drive without getting a ticket.” The presence of law arouses in us the desire to push the limits of that law.

The Bible goes on to remind us that our relationship to the law was one of slavery (Romans 7:25) and that Christ has delivered us from that slavery to the law, “so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6) As we’ll see in a moment, the fact that Christ set us free from the law does not mean that we now live lawlessly or without restraint.

Galatians 3:12 informs us, “The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’” Law is not an instrument of faith and grace. Paul pointed out to the errant Galatians that even taking on one part of the law (i.e. circumcision) obligates one to obey the whole law (Galatians 5:3). Paul then sums up by explaining, “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) The law is neither helpful for salvation nor for becoming more like Christ.

Instead of living by law (whether old or new) we are to live by God’s Spirit. The old way of the law was never designed or intended to make us holy and righteous. Only God can do that. As we surrender our lives to Christ and follow Him, His Holy Spirit dwells in us. His Spirit gives us the desire to obey Him. Our chief question is no longer, “How far can I push the limits of the law?” But our chief question becomes, “How far can pursue pleasing my Lord and Savior?”

For a follower of Christ, the way of obedience is the way of faith and grace. We are totally dependent on Him to transform us, so we trust Him to do so and we diligently pursue all means to cultivate our relationship with Him, thereby inviting Him to change us. This is what abiding, remaining, or living in Christ is all about (John 15:1-8). Paul also explains our relationship with Christ in terms of “living by,” being “led by,” and “keeping in step with the Spirit” (see Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).

In our relationship with God as His child, our motivation and desire is to be like Him and to please Him in all that we do. This motivation and desire propels us way beyond a mere adherence to a law. In Christ, we delight to live in the light of His holiness and long to become more and more like Him! This involves more than mere avoidance of sin, but also a seeking and striving to think and conduct ourselves like our heavenly Father.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-9) Our goal as followers of Christ is to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” (Colossians 1:10)

©2011 Rob Fischer

God created us for relationship with him, but what does that look like? How do we interact with God? What does he expect from us? We are to love God, but what is this about enjoying him? Two-way communication is a hallmark of any relationship, so how does communication function in our relationship with God? How does God speak to us? How do we recognize his voice? What do we do with what he tells us? Rob seeks to answer all these questions and more through the Scriptures and lots of examples from his own life, so that you too may be enthralled with God!

Enthralled with God–Cultivating a Joy-Filled Relationship with Him is available on Amazon.com! You will find the book in both soft-cover and e-version.

Below is the brief introduction from this book that I’m sure you’ll want to read.

Introduction

A few years ago, a young woman named Amy was living with us. One evening we heard the front door open and my wife and I went to the top of the stairs to greet Amy. She was returning home from discipleship training at our church. I called down to her and asked her how it went.

Amy had a huge grin on her face and stood there speechless for a moment. Then she blurted out, “I’ve been a Christian for many years, but tonight I discovered that I can enjoy God!—This changes everything!”

It’s true! Enjoying God, being enthralled with him does change everything! My experience and that of countless others have been every bit as dramatic and life-changing.

If you long to know God more deeply, seeing him as your joy and delight, then this book is for you! You are embarking on a great adventure with God!

© 2010 Rob Fischer

To order your copy of Enthralled with God please click on the link: http://www.amazon.com/Enthralled-God-Cultivating-Relationship-ebook/dp/B004CRSSZ6/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290529603&sr=1-4

A core teaching of biblical Christianity is the fact that our salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). We understand that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work through his death, burial and resurrection. An equally important truth is not so well known, or at least understood. For not only are we saved by grace through faith, but our sanctification is also a work of God’s grace by faith.

In Romans, chapters 6, 7 and 8, Paul explains that in Christ we can now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4); we are “no longer enslaved to sin” (6:6); we are to present the members of our body as instruments of righteousness to God (6:13); God’s plan for us in Christ is “that we may bear fruit for God” (7:4); and God’s design for us is “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (8:29).

It’s abundantly clear that God’s plan for us not only involves salvation from the penalty of sin, but also deliverance from its power and control over us. This work of God in our lives we call sanctification and it too is by faith. “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). And Galatians 2:20 explains, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I’m not suggesting that we find complete deliverance from the power of sin in during our earthly life. But we seem to excuse ourselves and expect very little of God’s transforming work in our lives. John explained this tension well when he said on the one hand, “No one who abides in him [Christ] keeps on sinning” (1 John 3:6). And on the other hand, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

In Romans 8 where Paul contrasts living according to the flesh versus living according to the Spirit, he is explaining the futility of trying to live in a manner pleasing to God “in our flesh” or in our own strength. Romans 8:5, “Those who live according to the flesh [i.e., seek to live in the power of their flesh through sheer will-power or self-discipline] set their minds on things of the flesh [how to beat sin by trying harder and through external means and measures], but those who live according to the Spirit [i.e., live in the power of and influence of God’s Spirit] set their minds on the things of the Spirit [what pleases him—both motivations, desires and behaviors].”

Paul explains further in chapter 8 that the mind set on the flesh cannot submit to God’s law and is therefore even hostile toward God and cannot please him (vs. 7-8). To attempt to pursue a moral life or a life pleasing to God in one’s own strength, even if one is pursuing God’s holy standard, is not only futile, it’s rebellion! Indicators that one is operating in the flesh may include: focus on rules and standards instead of on Christ; inability to bring about the desired transformation in one’s life; frustration, defeat, continued sinful patterns and joylessness.

In Galatians 3:3, Paul put it like this, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Our hope against the power of sin in our lives is a life lived by faith in Christ. As we live and abide in Jesus, walking by his Spirit we learn to please God and say “No” to ungodliness and sin.

© 2009 Rob Fischer

A number of years ago, I was standing along the railing on the upper level at a shopping mall. I looked across and saw a young man also just waiting there. The Holy Spirit impressed on me to go introduce this guy to Christ. I was scared, but I obeyed and this guy literally told me he had been waiting for someone to tell him about Christ! He gave his life to Jesus then and there!

Second, the Holy Spirit prompts us what to say. In my opinion, memorized clichés and evangelistic jargon are poor options when it comes to introducing someone to Jesus. We are inviting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is very relational. The more personal and relational we can be, the more real and relevant our speech will be to the person we’re talking with. This means we need to listen to the individual and to the Holy Spirit well. The words a person uses may very well represent the way in which the Holy Spirit is convicting them.

If someone says to us, “I’ve been watching your life and the way you interact with your spouse and I want what you have.” Or, “My life seems to be crashing in on top of me!” Or, “I’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to work.” We need to listen to what people are saying and use their words. Tell them how they can “have what you have;” or how Christ can restore and renew their life that has “crashed in on them;” or how Christ is dependable and “will work” in their life. Tell them how Christ has changed your life.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives us grace to speak to others boldly, but in a winsome way that truly represents what God is like. Peter writes about this in 1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”

In both the manner and message that we speak to others about Christ, they should be able to hear and see Christ’s character in us. May others say of us, “I want to be like you!” “I want what you’ve got!” To which we can humbly say, “What you see in me that is attractive and what you want is Jesus Christ.”

©2009 Rob Fischer

My personal understanding from Scripture is that the Lord does not provide for us a complete list of spiritual gifts. The lists given in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4 contain both similar and unique spiritual gifts. None of these lists neatly overlap. This leads me to the conclusion that these lists provide examples of spiritual gifts, but are not intended to give us a complete inventory of them.

This factor becomes very important when trying to pinpoint the spiritual gifts God has endowed us with. For if the biblical inventory of spiritual gifts is not exhaustive, then we may have spiritual gifts that are not represented in the lists. The Scripture itself suggests this idea in Exodus 31. In that passage, Israel is about to construct the tabernacle under the guidance of Moses.

In Exodus 31:1-5 we read, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.’”

The passage in Exodus clearly indicates that the Holy Spirit gave Bezalel special “skills, abilities and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” Such skills are not listed among the spiritual gifts in the New Testament, but that’s what they were. From this it appears that the gift itself does not determine whether it is a spiritual gift or not. Instead, two other factors come together to signify a spiritual gift. First, the Holy Spirit gives the gift; and second, the household of God benefits from the gifts given to its individual members. These two characteristics jive with the New Testament description of spiritual gifts as well.

What this means for us very simply is that the Holy Spirit has bestowed some amazing gifts on individuals in the church family in order to serve and build up that church family. In our church I think of people who are skilled artists, mechanics, designers, chefs, small group leaders, carpenters, financiers, leaders, servers, greeters, teachers, musicians, writers, and so on.

In the past we’ve gone to great lengths to try to distinguish between talents and spiritual gifts. But if an ability, skill or knowledge is endowed by the Holy Spirit and serves the church family, is that not a spiritual gifting? What would be the value of even trying to distinguish between the two? I’m afraid we’ve attempted to create an exact science of something that is highly relational and therefore highly variable. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.)

Here are some simple questions and suggestions for helping us implement our spiritual gifts:

• What special talents, skills, abilities or knowledge has God given you?
• What were you doing when you and others have observed God using you most effectively?
• What do others say that you’re good at?
• What do you really enjoy doing that serves the church family?
• If you’re not sure where to serve, simply pick an area or step into an opportunity and try it for a few months.
• From time to time all of us may feel unqualified and unsuccessful when employing our spiritual gifts.
• Remember, spiritual gifts must also be developed. You may have an aptitude for a skill, but lack the practice.
• Simply ask God to use you and make yourself available to him and your church family!
• Always exercise your spiritual gift with God’s strength, in his character and with others in mind.

©2009 Rob Fischer

A disciple of Jesus literally followed him around in order to observe him in any and all situations with a view to becoming like him in his teachings and way of life. In those days, becoming Jesus’ disciple meant leaving all other pursuits in order to shadow and imitate him. His disciples had left all else behind in order to follow Jesus.

In many ways, following Jesus today means what it meant with the Twelve. A follower of Jesus learns from and apprentices with him, striving to become like him, aligned with his teachings, character and way of life. As a follower of Christ, we do leave some things behind—our old way of life with its passions and pursuits.

Yet there’s one major difference between what it meant for the Twelve to follow Jesus and what it means for us today to follow him. That difference is that Jesus is no longer physically present among us. Now if you’re like I am, you’ve no doubt thought of that as a great disadvantage at times. We’ve perhaps all wished, “If only Jesus were here!”

But what we see as a disadvantage Jesus planned to our advantage! On the last evening he spent with his disciples they were concerned when he told them that he’d soon be leaving this world. And look at what Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7 ESV)

Then Jesus goes on to explain all the various ways in which the Helper (or Holy Spirit) would work in our lives: convicting, guiding, teaching, glorifying God and revealing God’s truth. Jesus, as God incarnate, confined himself in space and time to a human body. But his Holy Spirit is present with and resides in every one of his followers at all times!

The apostle Paul explains following Christ today in terms of “living by the Spirit,” being “led by the Spirit,” bearing “fruit of the Spirit,” and “keeping in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25) A disciple or follower of Jesus today lives by faith in him and relies on him to live his life out through us in our daily lives (Galatians 2:20).

Today, as back then, we follow Jesus by pursuing him, spending time with him and seeking to become like him!

©2009 Rob Fischer

Another great passage in which Paul deals with this issue is Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Let’s take a closer look at the above Scripture. First, Paul comments that “the grace of God teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.” This is an amazing statement, because God’s grace is the unmerited favor that he freely lavishes on us. His grace exhibits his great love and care for us. Notice that it’s his grace that teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions! He leads us away from this junk because it tears us away from him and destroys us. He always seeks our best.

Second, God’s grace “teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” This is God’s “bigger Yes” for us. He doesn’t withhold the junk from us because he wants to deny us something good! On the contrary, his grace he teaches us to reject what will harm us and to embrace what will nourish us. This is what right-valued living means. God is so good!

Third, we pursue right-valued living “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Jesus himself is our “blessed hope!” We long to be with him. We conduct ourselves right-valued in anticipation of his return. And when he returns he will complete our redemption, freeing us from all sin and wickedness.

Finally, we don’t live right-valued in order to become God’s people. We live right-valued because we are his people. We are “eager to do what is right” because we are his children. We want to please him! “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)

©2009 Rob Fischer

I had her perched on our kitchen island and I asked her the question (not knowing what kind of answer, if any, I was going to receive), “Hattie, what are YOU going to wear to church today?”  She looked up at me with her beautiful, big brown eyes and peanut butter and jelly spread all over her face and emphatically replied, “JESUS!”  I stood there stunned, speechless, silent.  Then it hit me – was I going to “wear Jesus” today?  Conviction rolled over me, because I don’t “wear Him” everyday.  Was I going to wear Jesus today?  Not just at church where it is easy.  What about the rest of the week, where it is not easy?

In the Book of Colossians it says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And overall these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (3:12-14).  Jesus is love (1 John 4:16) and that love is perfect and complete.  And by us abiding in Christ and Him living in us, his transforming power takes the “grave clothes” of death (John 11:44) off from us and dresses us in His righteousness, contrary to the attitudes of this world.

God is perfect in His timing.  And today He used this two-year-old little girl to speak into my life in a massive way.  I thank God over and over for placing her in my life. And today He used her as a vessel for speaking a challenge that I will remember, keep and live out, by God’s grace and power (because He desires for me to change) for the rest of my life.  What the Lord was saying to me through her was, “Clothe yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14).

One day at a time, we must ask ourselves, “What am I going to wear today?”  Christ has a wardrobe picked out for us and it is to change into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).  The question is, “Will we open the doors of change?”  He will give us white clothes (sinless and spotless because of His righteousness) to wear (Revelation 3:18) that we need never be ashamed of.