2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As new creatures in Christ, we have a greater depth of understanding and knowledge about the ability of God, granted to us. We had previously discussed things that displease God and one of those things is our limiting God from doing the things He desires in our lives. God is only to bring those things we can and will believe for to pass in our lives. We've been taught to limit the things we ask God for.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely) beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams To Him, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
We have so limited out God and Father, by not believing Him to show Himself as He really is. We've stifled His power and ability, by being carnal in our thinking and limiting Him to our own realm, instead of allowing Him to lift us into His realm of Super-natural might. The healings and miracles (both now and in the old covenant) were only done by men and women who believed God to do what only He could do. We read about Abraham and his wife, who were both beyond their child bearing age, in Romans 4:18-22 (Amplified) which says, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations as he had been promised, 'So (numberless) shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the (utter) impotence of his own body which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or (when he considered) the bareness of Sara's (deadened) womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly, question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave glory and praise to God. Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why is faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
Abraham was not even a born-again man, but he removed any limits from God and believed God to do "abundantly more than he could ask or think." God pronounced that Abraham's "faith made him in right standing with God Himself." Because Abraham didn't limit God, the promise God made to Abraham, has now become ours through Jesus, according to Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) which says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus the (blessing promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy Spirit."
Abraham was a natural man, who had enough faith in God's ability, that he not only believed for a son, but for a multitude of children. This impressed God so much, that He declared Abraham to be "righteous" and in "right standing with Himself," by faith. Because Abraham believed God to do something that only God could do, his faith brought forth Jesus and through Jesus, has has brought forth a new creation.
Abraham removed the limits of his natural mind and put faith in the fact that God could (and would) make good on His promise. Now we enter the promise in our day and age. How much of God's promise do we limit in our lives, today? Do we believe God can prosper us, like He did Abraham? Do we believe God will grant us long life here on earth? Do we limit God's promise of the Holy Spirit, by denying the Gifts of the Spirit, the Super-natural works of the Spirit, the language of the Spirit (speaking in other tongues) and the very Super-natural ability of God in our lives? We can only get the job done, on and in this earth, through faith in God's ability.
Man's ability without God, has brought forth somethings, but not always "God things." Do we dare take the limits off from God and allow Him to BE GOD, today? When the people ran out of provisions in the wilderness, they believed God either didn't care or couldn't provide for them. This displease and grieved God, to the point where He finally left them to their own devises.
The spies in Numbers 13 couldn't trust in God, more than the giants they could see. They refused to enter the Land God had given them. And, God called their limiting Him and His ability, an "evil report." We read in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified), "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the Law (of God, which includes that of man) blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
Until we can see into what our redemption encompasses, we will only allow God to what we believe, instead of what He wants done. Somehow, we have arrived at a place where we think God will simply do whatever He wants to do and that He doesn't need our faith. Or we believe God doesn't want us to have unlimited knowledge about His will and intent in earth. Why would God have us preach the Gospel, if men and faith weren't required to get people born-again? Why would God ask Mary's permission to bring forth Jesus? Why would God need men and women to remove their limits and just let Him BE GOD?
As Christians, we believe in God and confess that we believe in Jesus and this is how faith brings about the new creations. Why then does our faith in an Almighty God, stop at simply just being born-again? Why do we believe God to get us in Heaven, but then limit Him and His ability to work here on earth" I truly believe that what pleases the Lord more than anything, is our removing any limits we put on Him and believing Him to move in His Own will as He chooses. Isn't this what Jesus did? God's response concerning Jesus was, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
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