Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 02.22.2017” on Spreaker.
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2–4).
We think in terms of addition. God empowers in terms of multiplication.
As I read today’s focus verses, I was immediately smitten with the fact that most of us think so small. When many of us pray, we are satisfied with, “Please give me strength to make it through the day, Lord.”
Seems good, right? Well, in our minds, “getting through just one more day” is a huge accomplishment considering all we face in a day. We add getting through one more day to our achievements. We add one more victory over temptation. We add one more time of giving thanks for all the Lord has done for us. Again, seems cool thus far, right?
What if we assumed the thoughts of God in this regard? What if our prayers more reflected His abundant mindset? What if we took Paul’s description of God’s grace and peace being “multiplied” through the knowledge and power of God in Christ Jesus? How would that look? Let me give you an example.
Elijah Rocked
Prophet Elijah came to the point in his ministry when God revealed that he would be going straight to heaven. He would not die and be resurrected like most. God would send a heavenly caravan of fiery chariots to take him beyond Orion to God’s house. He would be transformed in body to match his spiritual transformation so He could live in the direct presence of a holy God in all of His glory.
He had a prophet understudy named Elisha who loved to serve him. To make a long story short, the word was spread among the prophets that Elijah was going to heaven. Elisha wanted to be granted one blessing before Elijah went away. When Elijah inquired, Elisha asked for a double portion of the Spirit who accompanied Elijah. Yes! I did say, “double portion.”
This young prophet thought from God’s perspective. Most of us would have said that we wanted God to empower us, or to know that He was with us. Most would be satisfied with the vague request of addition. But dear Elisha recognized that God would give exceeding, abundantly above all he could ask or think according to the power that worked within him. He knew that no eye or ear has ever sensed, or mind imagined what God has in store for us.
Expect Exponential Power
He sought grace, peace, and power to be multiplied in his life. He wanted double! He wanted double of all God did in a man who was so submissive to Him that he went to heaven thousands of years early. Elijah was a partaker of the divine nature and literally escaped the lustful corruption of the world, and Elisha desired that, and then some. God answered Elisha’s prayer.
I don’t know about you, but I am making a mind adjustment. I am choosing to think in God’s terms of multiplication. I want to do exceedingly greater works in the power of the Holy Spirit than any of the generations before us. I want to experience the fullness of the latter rain of God’s Spirit, which will dwarf the power He exhibited during the blessed Day of Pentecost. I want to live such a holy life that His testimony of me is that I please Him. I am no longer satisfied with just getting through a day. I need YHWH to abound in my life, to do ALL He intended from before the world began.
Will you accept God’s thoughts of multiplication for your life? I certainly hope so.
