Truett McConnell Assignment
“What is the goal of the Christian life? It is godliness born of obedience to Christ. Obedience unlocks the riches of the Christian experience. Prayer prompts and nurtures obedience, putting the heart into the proper “frame of mind” to desire obedience.”
The main goal of every God-fearing follower of Jesus, is to be more like Jesus. Everyone knows that Jesus, the son of God, was sent to Earth to save sinners from eternity in hell, and instead, live in harmony in heaven. Jesus is the perfect image of obedience. He left complete solace in heaven, to come to a sinful world, because his Heavenly Father instructed him. Jesus is equal with God; He had the power and authority not to obey, but He chose to.
Because of this devout obedience, the spirit of the living God flowed through Jesus causing amazing miracles to be performed; this is the definition of “Christian experience.” Christian experience is the possibility of seeing the fruit of previous Christians. There’s no guarantee of seeing the harvest, but if the original sowed seed is watered a Christian will reap the bounty. This harvest may be miracles like healings, or it could mean another soul in the Kingdom of heaven. One way to water sowed seeds is through prayer over people or intimate prayer through person and the Father.
Mark 9 is an example of the power prayer. Jesus is brought to a boy who is violently possessed by a demon because the disciples had no power to take the evil spirit out themselves. In Mark 9: 18-19 the father of the boy says, “I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.” Jesus said to them “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”” Part of the Christian experience is having faith in the Lord when interceding on others or your behalf. Prayer is faith, without faith prayer (when asking the Lord for something) is worthless. Jesus then goes on to explain, that everything is possible to someone who has faith. Faith pours out miracles. When the disciples later ask why they couldn’t drive the spirit out, Jesus tells them “This kind of spirit can forced out only by prayer.” Miracles like these, are results of obedience to the Lord and prayer in faith.
A big part of obedience is losing pride and independent-self serving human nature, and having child-like faith when following Christ. When you obtain this obedience, another Christian experience is encountering the Holy Spirit. For me, an experience of obedience led to one of my most intimate moments with the Lord. Currently, I am living in Cambodia for 3 months and current I am in Siem Reap for defrief. My squad was worshipping on a balcony, and I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to go to a connecting balcony, so I obeyed and walked over. Once I was there, the Lord told me to dance. I have never experienced the Lord’s presence in this way, and I never want to go back. The Lord blesses those who obey Him. This causes believers to want to obey Him because He is all knowing and is outside of time.
