July-August 1998
IS GOD RELEVANT?
Are Any Christians Normal?
by Luis Palau
I met Josef Bondarenko, an outstanding hero of the faith, while in Latvia for an evangelistic crusade. As a young man, Josef began preaching the gospel, gaining the title "the Billy Graham of Russia."
The KGB arrested Josef when he was 22. The charge? Preaching. They imprisoned him for more than three years. After one year of freedom, the KGB jailed him again. This happened three times, totaling 10 and one-half years of prison for Josef. By human standards, the best years of his life were wasted. But God worked through him, changing many lives for eternity.
Preaching Christ to the Captives
During his first jail sentence, Josef lived with a notorious Russian killer and thief, the leader of a ruthless prison gang.
After two years of observing Josef, the gang leader got on his knees, prayed with Josef and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. In time, almost everyone in his gang was converted.
| During his first jail sentence, Josef lived with a notorious Russian killer and thief, the leader of a ruthless gang. |
During his last stint in prison, a KGB colonel called Josef into his private office and said, "Josef, I'm the man who put you in jail these three times-for no reason except you insisted on preaching the gospel. Yet you have never cursed me. In fact, people have heard you pray for me. Do you think God will ever forgive me?"
Josef explained the way of salvation, and the colonel asked Jesus into his heart. Without a doubt, Josef has an extraordinary life, but he doesn't have special power, a power "normal" Christians don't have.
His Power in Us
Whatever our circumstances and calling in life, God wants to show his power in and through each of us-just as he did with Josef.
| When God fills us, we get on our knees. We intercede for others and ask God to work in our own heart. We experience agony in prayer. |
What's the secret? Consecration is essential, but by itself isn't enough. Some people have dedicated and rededicated and super-rededicated their lives to God. But they still feel anything but spiritually renewed. "Where's the touch of God on my life?" they wonder. "Why don't I feel his presence at work within me?"
Filled with God
To be spiritually renewed means to be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). To be renewed means to be completely, totally filled with God himself.
What's "normal" in the Christian life?
· First, growth toward maturity. When God fills us, everything changes-but not all at once. Initially, we might not even notice change. Maturity is a lifelong process, not a matter of instantaneous metamorphosis.
But as we look back, we'll notice areas of growth. Slowly we go from being "children" to being "young adults" in the Lord.
· Second, loyalty to the church. When God fills and renews us, we commit to our local church. We speak well of it. Though it has faults, we love it and defend it. It's our "family" in Christ.
As part of the family, we discover and begin to exercise our spiritual gifts "for the common good"
(1 Corinthians 12:7), meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
· Third, hunger for holiness. When God's Holy Spirit fills us, we develop a sensitivity to and hatred of sin.
Not one of us is perfect. From time to time we're embarrassed to have to confess the same sin to the Lord again. But holiness should be the hallmark of our lives. Holiness is God's life seen through us.
· Fourth, love for God's Word. When God renews us, we develop a passion for Scripture. We don't understand it all; no one does.
But because God lives in us, we want to hear what he has to say to us. We long to know what he thinks about every area of life, from family problems to world missions.
So we saturate ourselves with God's Word, reading, studying, memorizing, meditating on and obeying it. And as we obey it, we experience his hand of blessing.
· Fifth, intensity in prayer. When God fills us, we get on our knees. We intercede for others and ask God to work in our own heart. We experience agony in prayer.
The Holy Spirit "intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26). When we have no unconfessed sin and are praying for God's will to be done, we see marvelous answers to our prayers.
· Sixth, service toward others. After we're renewed, we take on the attitude of Christ, who "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
We're "eager to serve" (1 Peter 5:2), looking out not only for our own interests, "but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).
A servant obviously does the disagreeable chores and is sometimes treated spitefully. But if we're faithful to the Lord, he promises to reward us handsomely (Colossians 3:24).
· Seventh, a heart for the world. After we experience the touch of God in our lives, we start growing toward maturity. We become active in our local church. We hunger for holiness, love God's Word and pray with intensity.
But we also develop a passion for those who don't know Christ yet and aren't part of his Body, the Church.
If we lack the compassion of Christ, we know nothing of God's fullness yet.
Potential in Christ
The potential of what Christ can do in and through you and me for his glory is incredible. By his power, we can make a difference in people's lives.
The results may seem extraordinary. But that's what the normal Christian life is all about.
© 1998 Luis Palau
If you have prayed this prayer and committed your life to Jesus Christ, or if you would like further information about knowing Christ, write to us at The Plain Truth, Pasadena, CA 91129 or call 1-800-309-4466 and request Palau's free booklet, What Is a Real Christian? (K128). We look forward to hearing from you.