THE SIZE OF YOUR GOD Part 2

# LIVING IN THE SPIRIT SERIES

##*(continued)*

### The God of Scripture Is Not Limited by Human Resources

Look at the people through whom God worked in Scripture.

Moses had a rod. David had a sling. Gideon had an army that God deliberately reduced. The widow had only a little oil. The disciples had five loaves and two fish. Peter had an empty net.

Yet God demonstrated His sufficiency through what appeared to be insufficient resources.

The recurring lesson is this: God does not need what is sufficient in your hand before He can demonstrate what is sufficient in His hand.

Jesus did not need the disciples to have enough bread to feed the multitude. He took what was available and demonstrated the sufficiency of God's provision.

Therefore, never measure God's ability by what you currently have.

Your lack does not mean God is lacking. Your weakness does not mean God is weak. Your inability does not mean God is unable.

### But Why Do We Experience So Little?

If God is this great, why do so many believers experience so little of His reality?

Why are there so many cries about lack, stagnation, confusion, fear, and frustration? Why do many believers know the promises of God but struggle to experience the life those promises describe?

One major reason is that we have neglected the Person who was given to us to make the reality of Christ known in our daily lives: the Holy Spirit.

He is not merely a doctrine to believe in. He is not merely the One we mention in church. He is the Spirit of God dwelling within the believer. And yet many believers acknowledge Him without actually knowing Him.

### The Silent Friend and Witness

The Holy Spirit does not force Himself upon you. He is not overbearing.

He can remain in the background while you make decisions, conduct business, pursue relationships, and live your daily life. He can be present without being recognized. He can speak without being listened to.

You can know that the Holy Spirit lives in you and still not know how to fellowship with Him. You can know about the inner witness and still fail to recognize it when it speaks within you.

The question is not merely: "Do I have the Holy Spirit?" The deeper question is: "Do I know Him?"

- Do you recognize His inward witness? - Do you know when He is leading you? - Do you recognize when something within you is resisting what you are about to do? - Do you make room for fellowship with Him?

### The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life

The Christian life cannot be successfully lived by natural intelligence alone. God did not save you and then leave you to figure out the Christian life by yourself. He gave you His Spirit.

Romans 8:14 says: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

The Holy Spirit leads. The believer must learn to follow. But before you can become skilled at recognizing the inner witness, you must develop a relationship with the One who bears witness. You must learn the Holy Spirit.

### What Is Keeping You From Knowing Him?

Many believers say they want to know the Holy Spirit, but they do not have time for Him — time for entertainment, social media, business, conversations, pleasure. But very little time for fellowship with the Spirit.

Ask yourself: What is in this world that I am still clinging to? What is competing with my affection for God?

Scripture says: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." — 1 John 2:15

The issue is not that every material thing is evil. The issue is what has captured your heart. The more attached you become to the world, the less sensitive you become to the things of the Spirit.

### Make Room for the Holy Spirit

Slow down. Become conscious of His presence. Talk with Him. Listen. Meditate on God's Word. Pay attention to the inward witness. Obey Him in small things.

You move from merely knowing that the Holy Spirit lives in you to knowing Him in your daily experience — from asking, "How can I do this?" to asking, "Holy Spirit, what are You saying?"

### The Challenge

Do not allow your present circumstances to determine the size of your God. Challenge yourself with a faith target. But above everything else, return to the Holy Spirit.

Your pocket does not define His provision. Your ability does not define His ability. Your past does not define your future.

The question is whether you will become familiar enough with the Holy Spirit to recognize His leading — and humble enough to follow it.

### Reflection - What limitation have you placed on God because of the way you currently think about your circumstances? - What is competing with your time, attention, and affection for fellowship with the Holy Spirit?

### Prayer Holy Spirit, I want to know You more deeply. Forgive me for the times I have lived as though everything depends upon my natural ability, resources, and understanding. Teach me to trust God beyond what I can see and to follow Your leading. Make me sensitive to Your voice and willing to obey You, even in the small things. In Jesus' name, Amen.

### Declaration God is bigger than my circumstances. My resources do not limit God's resources. I will not measure God by the size of my pocket. The Holy Spirit lives in me. I will know Him, fellowship with Him, recognize His inward witness, and follow His leading. In Jesus' name, Amen.a

**Hassan Thomas Nenger** Author, *My Divine Identity as the Righteousness of God* Living in the Spirit Series