Being With Jesus

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13

It doesn’t take an eloquent person. It doesn’t take a seminarian. It doesn’t take a person with a college degree. It doesn’t take a wealthy influential person. It doesn’t take celebrity status. It doesn’t take a big following. What it DOES take is BEING with Jesus.

If you want the full experience of knowing Jesus you must get into His yoke. Get ‘bound’ up with Him and begin pulling in the direction He is pulling. Go where He goes. Do what He does. Listen to His words. So am I speaking practically here? Isn’t Jesus in heaven? Yes. But His Spirit should be living inside of you — if you’ve asked Him to baptize you with His Spirit. Which means — all you have to do is listen to the Spirit of God / Holy Spirit / the Spirit of Jesus. Yes… He IS speaking you — are you listening to Him? Is He giving you assignments in your day? Are you being obedient to the things He is asking you to do? Most haven’t learned to recognize His Voice inside of them. But it’s like any other relationship .. it takes time and lots of conversations, questions, and just hanging out together. And no, it doesn’t require for you to be in any certain building, or position, to have your eyes closed. It is a ‘frame of mind and focus’ listening to Him in your mind as you go through your day. Listening, asking questions, conversing, and then obeying when He asks you to do something. Can you have a conversation ALL within your mind? Yes. Is it real? Yes. The problem most people have is discernment on who is actually producing those thoughts in your mind. That takes a good filter grid of sending all of the thoughts through the filter. Paul says to bring every thought ‘captive to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). That’s the first filter. Then the scriptures are another filter — and whether the thought is in line with them. Then it becomes your own knowledge of who you are and how you think — the Holy Spirit does NOT think like you do. The goal is to become like Jesus — and the Holy Spirit works on helping you with that process. But it will take lots of time and conversations — just like any relationship.

How do you think Peter and John knew who to heal and what to say? It was the Holy Spirit inside of them telling them what to say and do. 

and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:18-20

You are no different than Peter and John when it comes to the Holy Spirit and being used by Him. Is the Spirit of God guiding you? Is He teaching you? Is He directing you? How much? Could it be more? What is stopping you from having a better relationship with Him?

Begin again today. Ask Him to talk with you today. Ask if you can go with Him today — as you go through your day. Ask Him to show you what He sees. Ask Him to tell you what He thinks. Ask Him what He wants to do. Get simple with Jesus. Drop the religious speak — and get honest with Him. Like He doesn’t already know you better than you know yourself. Lose your ‘masks’ and self deception.