I Live 4 U: Experiencing Unbroken Connection with GodSample

Pursuing an unbroken connection is an adventure of intimacy, discovering the heart and impact of God. 

On this adventure of intimacy with God, He wants us to live a naturally supernatural life. Everything we need in order to be encouraged by and inspired to live with the Holy Spirit's supernatural impact on our natural life is in the Word of God. 

Perhaps my favorite example of the Holy Spirit's impact is found in the Book of Acts.

The Book of Acts is a record of God displaying the Holy Spirit's impact on the followers of Jesus Christ. The book of Acts gives us access to the miracles of the past. It shows us the way to live a vibrant present, and it reveals how to have a faith-filled hope for the future. This book is an extraordinary depiction of impact and supernatural action. The narrative covers twenty-eight action-packed chapters, where the church of Jesus Christ overflows with substantial Holy Spirit impact.

Jesus gives us the first reference to His young church's source of power in Acts 1:4 (niv): "Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." 

This gift that the Father promises to all believers is the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

I want to affirm that the person and presence of the Holy Spirit significantly impacts our personal lives, as well as the lives of those surrounding us. Countless times I have seen the truth of Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses." The role of a witness is to produce an impact on the people with whom they are sharing.

Without this power, the measure of impact from our lives is severely limited.

In my life, I have found a direct correlation between the measure of my surrender to the Spirit and the measure of impact through ministry. This surrender to the power of the Spirit is formed in the place of intimacy.

The purpose of the first three I’s was to unlock our heart for personal growth and inward power: 

Intimacy (connecting with God)

Inspired (faith expectation)

Informed (to grow)

The purpose of the fourth and fifth I’s are to experience an overflowing heart for the expansion of God's kingdom through outward action. These are as follows:

Illustration (leading by example)

Impact (to discover our spiritual gifts and use them to advance the kingdom)

Living a life of impact means that we have experienced the Holy Spirit's power and are walking out the spiritual gifts that He has deposited in our lives.

People want to discover their spiritual gifts, which are far more than just developing programs. Many times what people desire to accomplish is not where their giftings are to be found. Therefore, they need spiritual leadership that is significant in encouraging and affirming them to acknowledge precisely where their gifts should be applied.

We must discover, develop, and deploy our gifts, which are revealed through intimacy with Christ, to make an impact to the fullest extent with our spiritual gifts and to implement them in serving others.

How does this happen, practically speaking?

1. Be informed about spiritual gifts.

2. Be influenced by the Holy Spirit.

3. Incorporate His love in all your understanding.

4. Identify your spiritual gifts.

5. Implement your gifts in serving.

Let us serve others. 

Let us discover, develop, and use the unique gifts that God has given to every one of us.

Let us live a life of impact on our world.

1. "I live for You" opens our heart to intimacy and connecting with God. 

2. "I live for You” moves our life to be inspired by faith and expectation.

3. "I live for You” inspires our thoughts so we are informed to grow. 

4. "I live for You" loves others so we can be an illustration of honoring God.

5. "I live for You" multiplies His light to be an impact on our world.