Before I get into the main topic of this post, I figured it would be good to update you on what God is doing while I’m down here in Georgia at CGA. I’ve got about 5 blog ideas running right now, but I wanted to write them in order of significance as God is teaching me.
At CGA, I’m a part of what’s known as the “worship track,” which has involved us leading worship for the AIM office on Monday mornings, and recently, leading worship for last week’s Training Camp for 5 squads of upcoming World Racers. It was a delight to be a part of that and to see things from the other side since my own training camp over a year ago.
The people in the worship track have quickly become family, and over the course of Training Camp, we had to depend on the Spirit to show us what He wanted to do, and what was on His heart for the Racers that evening. Discernment was stretched, joy was increased, dancing and rejoicing exploded, and new worship songs were created/written on the spot. God was showing off last week and blowing our minds! I’m sure the Racers thought we were a bunch of weirdos at first, but our joy of what the Lord was doing in our hearts couldn’t be contained! Thankfully, over the course of that week, the Holy Spirit broke down some walls and filled them with such joy and freedom.
One of my friends from college was at this Training Camp and had an unusual experience that night, one that stretched my theological understanding, and challenged some things I’d believed prior. Before the Racers came to camp, a pastor came and did some deliverance training with us, knowing there could be demonic activity that would attempt to attack or prevent the freedom that God wanted to bring in that place. Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical, even after all I’d seen on the Race, that Christians could be possessed or heavily influenced by demonic spirits.
Well, then I saw it first hand. My friend was having some things manifest that night, and praise God, was delivered and set free from some bondage. The next morning I caught up him and asked how he was doing. He told me that he had never experience such joy as he experience after being set free. Immediately the Lord downloaded a kingdom principle to me.
He said, “The extent to which you were possessed before is the extent to which you are now possessed by my Holy Spirit. When I set someone free, I don’t leave them void. I fill them with my presence.”
NUTS!!!
This triggered a week of processing this one concept. He’s been speaking to me over the past few months, lovingly, how He is with me, and in me IN FULL!
Beloved, we don’t get an incomplete presence of God indwelling us when we enter into a covenant relationship with Christ. We get Him, in His fullness. The fullness of his love, his healing, his wonder, his power and authority.
How much we tap into this, and allow him to work through us is directly tied to how much permission we give Him, because He’s a gentleman!
This week, He followed up with me and spoke such sweet, but powerful words over me. He said, “Chip, I want to possess you with the full weight of my glory. But you if you want it, you have to give me permission. And if you want it, it means that it’s going to push out any remaining part of you and your flesh.”
Woah! How do I even respond to that? I’m becoming more certain of this. The Lord was serious when he said we have to lay down our lives at the cross. But His reason for that, is so that He can dwell in us, in full.
We have to lay down our flesh, our desires, our plans, to make room for Him. And I’m finally beginning to understand the full weight of it.
Because if this is true, if we really believe His fullness is inside of us, then wherever we go, whomever we are with, people should be able to encounter the living, powerful presence of God, just by praying for them.
Talk about a faith check.
I am still seeking prayer and financial support for my time at CGA. I have about $1200 left to raise for the next few months. Whether its $10, $25, or $50, all of it helps as I continue to work with AIM in the Lord’s kingdom work. Please feel free to email me or contact me if you have any questions.
If you feel led to give financially…
• You can give a one-time donation with your credit/debit card by going to my ‘Support Me’ link under my blog picture.
• You can give online monthly with your credit card going to my ‘Support Me’ link under my blog picture.
• You can give automatic payments monthly through your checking account by going to:http://adventures.org/dynapay/
• Or you can write at check and send it to PO Box 534470 Atlanta, Ga 30353. Make the check out to Adventures in Missions and put my name, Chip Carnes, in the memo line.
***All donations are tax-deductible
