The Answer to your Question
(The Three Big Questions — By John David Hicks)
Romans 8:28–29, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
We know that God is committed to your highest good and welfare. We also know that bad things happen to good people. When this happens, it is easy for your focus to be on the problem and to fret over how you might overcome the situation. There are times in life when nothing makes sense and you want to ask, “Why me?” “Why is this happening?” The “Why” question will mess with your emotions and trap you into grief and misery; hindering your growth spiritually. God does not answer the “Why” question in the bible. The book of Job establishes that fact. But God does say that He will be with you in the situation and is working within you to reproduce His nature and is working for your good.
Our text (above) says that your problems are taking you through a process that will make you into the “image of Christ.” Your troubles and difficulties are an opportunity to change your focus from off yourself and give you the occasion to enlarge your concept of God. God shows up in your weakness (1 Cor. 2:2-5). God is bigger than your sin, stupidity, ignorance and failure—grace abounds more (John 1:16). Even “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
Three questions are asked in the book of Acts which God will answer, giving us direction about His purposes. The first two are asked on the day of Pentecost, “What does this mean?” and “What should we do?” (Acts 2:12, 37). The third is asked by Paul to the Ephesian Church, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). In the circumstances of your life, these are the questions you need to ask the Lord.
The first big question at Pentecost came when the people cried out, “What does this mean?” There were many languages being spoken, causing great confusion which got their attention. In your confusion you need to ask the Lord, “What does this mean for me now?” There are many voices, opinions and options out there. But you need to hear from God. This question explores God’s heart towards you. It’s about relationship, His presence. Your faith in God is established by a loving relationship. Your faith and trust are based on “who” God is, not “why did this happen?” The “who” is Jesus, who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
As you look unto Jesus, He is the “author and perfecter of your faith” (Heb. 12:2). When your focus is on the relationship you will find the pathway to answering that question. It was Paul who wrote, “For I know WHOM I have believed and am persuaded…” (2 Tim. 1:12); rather than, “For I know WHAT I have believed and am persuaded…!” The WHO we know takes precedent over WHAT we know when attempting to answer life’s questions! For “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor.3:6). When you open up to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will empower you to overcome your circumstances from within.
Remember: the focus should not be on the trial or circumstances, but on your relationship with your Lord. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Eph. 3:20 NLT). The Lord’s desire is to move you into His wisdom and with the courage of faith to step into His ways, authority and power. The Lord has promised that His presence will be with you always (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5).
The second big question at Pentecost was after Peter’s sermon, “What should we do?” The people needed to put their faith into action. Peter said that they needed to “repent” and be “baptized,” then they would receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” Repentance means to change your mind and direction. To be baptized means to die out to your old life and to live by resurrection power. For many this is called “the death of a vision.” You felt called by God, but now it looks impossible for you to accomplish your calling. Even Jesus asked that the cup of suffering would be taken away. But then by faith He said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” When all seems hopeless, God has the last word and raises even dead situations by His resurrection power.
Psalm 118:22-24 speaks of Jesus at the cross: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Know that God’s resurrection power works best in dead situations (Acts 4:33). The book of Acts is called the “Acts of the Apostles.” After the apostles changed their thinking and died to their old life, the power of Holy Spirit was unrestricted.
The Third big question is asked by Paul to the Ephesian Church, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” In Acts 19:1-7, Apollos helped establish the church at Ephesus and then moved on. He only knew the teaching of John the Baptist. When Paul arrived, he asked the question “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They stated they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit. Paul followed up and asked them about their baptism. They had been baptized by John’s baptism. So, Paul gave them instructions about the Holy Spirit and the cross. When they repented, changed their thinking and were re-baptized so they could live by the power of Holy Spirit, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is to “govern” your life as you experience what it means to live “in Christ.” A truth is not real to you until you experience it. This is where you will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). By experience you learn that you are the Lord’s Beloved (Rom. 1:7), deeply loved, highly favored and greatly blessed by Him (Num. 6:24–26). His love for you has been unchangeable, unshakable and unfailing (Jer. 31:3). He wants you to receive His abundance of grace and His gift of righteousness. With no condemnation, He said that you will reign in life (Rom. 5:17). “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Rom. 5:2 NLT).
Colossians 3:3 says, “your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” The Lord’s presence, authority and power is what is transforming you into “His image.” “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
It is the Lord’s passionate love for you that gives you your identity. It is the nature of God, the Holy Spirit, that gives you the anointing, power and wisdom of God (2 Pet 1:3).
Thus, it is out of your tribulation, opposition, warfare, persecution and trials that you can learn to become more like Jesus. On this journey the Lord will bestow on you countless blessings, gifts, opportunities, presence, anointing, power and authority to name a few! “Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!” (Ps. 68:19 NKJV).
The three big questions are: (1) “What does this mean?” In your confusion you hear many voices around you. So, you need to hear from God. Seek His presence and rest in your relationship. (2) “What should we do?” Put your faith into action. Repentance means to change your mind and direction. Be baptized by dying out to your old life and live by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. (3) “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” The Ephesians only knew the baptism of John. They need to be introduced to the Holy Spirit. When they repented, changed their thinking and were re-baptized they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians he told them to make verses 1:17–23 their prayer: “Lord, I pray that you will give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know you better. I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and your incomparably great power for us who believe. You said that power is like the working of your mighty strength, which you exerted in Christ when you raised him from the dead and seated him at your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. As the Lord God Almighty, you have placed all things under Jesus’ feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Then in Ephesians 3:16–21 the Lord answered that prayer: “I have given you out of my glorious riches, My strength, with authority and power through the Holy Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within you, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
You experience God’s grace by faith. As you are “in Christ,” you walk in the Spirit. As you meditate on your identity in the Lord, the Lord will produce a harvest of wisdom and revelation as you experience His fellowship and grace. This grace has the power to overcome every obstacle and to develop your character into the image of Christ. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).