Author: Steve Nickel

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

We are saved from the penalty of sin – eternal death – when we put our trust in Jesus as our personal Savior. We are saved by faith in Jesus and not by our good works or moral living. We are saved by faith, but we are also to live by faith as Paul states, “the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.”

Followers of Christ are to make life choices differently than those who are not Christians. We are to live by faith in Jesus as our Lord. We used to live by our own understanding, feelings, and or desires. We are to now bring those under submission to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. When my understanding is not congruent with the Word of God or leading of the Holy Spirit, I live by faith rather than by my understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

When our understanding, feelings, and desires are in line with the Word and Spirit of God, living by faith is easy. It is when they are not in line that we face the challenge of taking the next step of faith. In taking that step, we experience the supernatural working of God. Hebrews reminds us, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” YOU WILL ONLY EXPERIENCE THE SUPERNATURAL OF GOD IF YOU LIVE BY FAITH! Too often, we want to see it before we believe it. However, you must believe before you will see!

What is the next step of faith that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to take? Take it and watch God confirm His Word with signs and wonders following.

On this Valentine’s Day it is appropriate to write about jealousy – a godly jealousy that Paul writes about. “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy” (2 Corinthians 11:2a). One of the definitions of jealous is “feeling or showing suspicion of someone’s unfaithfulness in a relationship.” This was the Apostle Paul’s sentiment toward the Corinthian believers as he was sensing they were accepting of messages other than what he had taught them. This acceptance of watered-down truth was impacting their devotion to Christ. Therefore, in his desire for them to have God’s best, he spoke the truth in love.

The Bible informs us that God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:12-14 states, “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” God’s jealousy for His people, including you and me, is righteous, not selfish. Righteous jealousy is reflected in the frustration of a husband deeply in love with his wife who continues to reject him turning her heart to others.

God is jealous for us because He fiercely loves us and will accept nothing less. Whether it be the pagan gods of the Israelites or our modern-day gods from money, vanity, peer approval, etc., God is not interested in sharing the love, devotion, and place of priority that belongs to Him. God’s righteous jealousy is in fact, a blessing. God has the best life for us and is zealous in His wanting that for each of us.

Are you jealous for those in your world to have God’s best – His eternal and abundant life? This passion should lead us to pray more earnestly for and to speak the truth in love to those who are far away from God as well as to those who are drifting in their faith. Being a true “Valentine” is not just being a buddy who says, “Do what you want to do?” It is being a friend who cares enough to lovingly confront when you see someone you deeply care about making wrong and potentially life-altering choices. It is during those times, it is good and even, necessary, to be jealous.

I am jealous for you to have God’s best in your life!

“Just Ok is not Ok”, not only when it comes to wireless connections as the current television commercial asserts, but, in a greater way, when it comes to living out the Christian life.

2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

2 Corinthians 6:16 gives one of these promises that Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 7:1. Paul writes, “We are the temple of the living God.” It is interesting to note that pagans would worship idols because they believed that the spirit of that god inhabited that idol. They would take that idol with them, believing for their god’s protection and provision.

Compare that to the true message of Christianity. God, when we are born again, regenerated us and put His Holy Spirit within us. I AM A TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD! (Say that aloud several times). This truth is an awesome privilege and a tremendous responsibility. God’s Spirit dwells in me to, first and foremost, make me holy – perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. God’s Spirit is known by and referred to as the Holy Spirit – not the Loving Spirit, Gracious Spirit, Empowering Spirit. He is all of the latter, but the emphasis is on the former. The Holy Spirit lives in me to make me holy – set apart from sin and unto God.

The purpose of holiness is threefold. It is pleasing to God. It is the life that God created us for. It becomes a bright and directing light to a dark and lost world. Instead of carrying around an idol that represents a false god, wishing for favor in one’s life, God lives in us by His Spirit. Therefore, wherever we go, God’s presence and favor goes with us. People should sense this presence and be drawn to Jesus because of God in us and shining through us.

Paul challenges us to aim for perfection. Like the commercial says, “Just Ok is not Ok!” Too many times we settle for “ok” or “good enough” when it comes to obedience. God commands instant and complete obedience. This is showing true reverence for God.

What is contaminating your body and spirit today? Today, ”…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1b-2). “Just Ok is not Ok!”

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Paul and his companions continually faced mental, emotional, and physical torment for being faithful in simply proclaiming the gospel. He writes, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:10). It is hard for me to relate to the magnitude of their persecution for the sake of the gospel. However, I am encouraged and challenged by their perseverance as well as their resolve to stay on task.

Even though the torment was taking its toll as he indicates with “outwardly we are wasting away,” he goes on to say, “inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Physically, they were getting weaker, but spiritually, they were getting stronger. This is a supernatural phenomenon that is available to each of us today. It applies to those in their elderly years. It also applies to each of us when going through spiritual battles and trials.

The key to Paul’s ability to overcome was his unwavering focus on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. This is an illustration of “when you look around (temporary glance) you can get bitter, but when you look up (eternal gaze), you will get better.” Hence, the need to keep looking up!

It reminds me of the “oldie but goodie” chorus, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face….and the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” The application for today:  KEEP LOOKING UP!

“God…uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

I grew up in Nekoosa, WI. Nekoosa’s main industry was paper-making. Many have commented over the years of the smell that the mill emitted. We used to say, “It is the smell of money.” A paper mill has its unique aroma. So does a dairy farm. Each industry has its own unique odor.

The Apostle Paul indicates that followers of Jesus are to have a unique odor as well. He calls it, “the pleasing aroma of Christ.” Our obedience to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit is “the pleasing odor of Christ.” It is pleasing to our Heavenly Father, edifying to the body of Christ, convicting to a lost world, and the life you were created to experience.

Is there anything more refreshing than a hot shower that washes off the grit and grime of the previous day. Likewise, a time of introspection and confession, throws off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles so once again, you can be that pleasing aroma of Christ in your sphere of influence.

I want to encourage you to make confession a part of your daily spiritual discipline. It is the deodorant of your spiritual life. There is nothing better than smelling like Jesus!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”   Ephesians 3:20-21

It is natural for God to be supernatural! He is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Jesus confirms this when he says, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

I am amazed how our culture is enthralled by supernatural evil; i.e. horror movies, witchcraft, paranormal activity, etc., but is ambivalent to the fact and activity of the supernatural nature of a good God. I am also amazed how some Christians do not believe that God gets supernaturally involved in people’s daily lives beyond the work of salvation. After all, the last time I checked, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Every so often I have to clean the “gunk” out of our house’s gutters. The gunk prohibits the flow of water and hinders their purpose. Once the gunk is cleared the water can flow freely.

God chooses to accomplish His supernatural work “according to his power that is at work within us.” The source of the supernatural power in our lives is the Holy Spirit. We, too, have “gunk” in our lives that prevents the free flow of the supernatural power of God in and through our lives. There are several hindrances that need to removed in order for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.

One’s limited theology can serve to resist and/or miss the working of the Holy Spirit. Putting “God in a box” can affect one’s faith in determining how and when God will move supernaturally in our present world. Thinking we God all figured out can cause us to miss experiencing Him supernaturally.

Continuing disobedience will lead to a grieving of the Holy Spirit and therefore, hinder the flow and working of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Unbelief or doubt will quench the supernatural working in your life. Paul wrote, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). James reminds us “the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. “ (James 1:6b-7).

It is natural for God to be supernatural. Identify and remove the hindrances that are preventing the Holy Spirit from flowing freely in your life today. Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God reminds us to “Watch and pray.” That is, after you pray, watch for God working supernaturally in and through you for His glory!

P.S. Do me a favor. When God moves supernaturally in and through you, thank Him first. Then, write me a comment so I can rejoice with you.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”                        Ecclesiastes 4:9-12                                          

In Genesis 2:18, after Adam was created, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” God created us to have relationships with Him and others. This brings to mind another principle. You can survive by yourself, but you will not thrive.

Roxanne Stone, editor in chief of Barna Group said, “If you live in a more churched area of the country, it’s more than likely you have a significant number of these disaffected Christians in your neighborhoods. They still love Jesus, still believe in Scripture and most of the tenets of their Christian faith. But they have lost faith in the church. While many people in this group may be suffering from church wounds, we also know from past research that Christians who do not attend church say it’s primarily not out of wounding, but because they can find God elsewhere or that church is not personally relevant to them.”

If anyone could have thrived by Himself, it was Jesus. He said He came to give life to the fullest (John 10:10). That abundant life was modeled for us in the context of relational commitment. He had a large group of 72, a small group of 12, an inner core of 3, and the one close disciple. He told His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).  In order to live in obedience to Jesus’ new command and all the other “one anothers” found in the New Testament, relational commitment is a prerequisite.

I believe in these last days, the Holy Spirit is emphatically reminding us how much we need each other. You will not experience life at its best apart from your commitment to the body of a Christ as lived out in a local church. Individual believers need to have a mentor, an encourager, and a next-generation follower. If Jesus needed these relationships, how much more do we need those in order to be a thriver and not just a survivor!

1 Samuel 20:20, “I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target.”

One of the greatest friendships in the Bible is the friendship between David and Jonathan. King Saul was desiring to kill David. Jonathan, at first, did not believe his father would commit such an atrocity. However, when he found out it was true, his friendship with David superseded his loyalty to the despicable desires of his father.

1 Samuel 20:18-22 gives the plan that Jonathan devised to creatively communicate to David. “Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away.’”

At mealtime on the next day Jonathan discovers that his father indeed was desiring to kill David so he warns David, with the arrows that go beyond the target, to run in order to save his life. David and Jonathan share parting greetings and pledge their friendship to each other.

All of us should have a friend like Jonathan. All of us should be a friend like Jonathan. He risked his relationship with his father and even his own life for the sake of a friend. Proverbs 18:24 summarizes this kind of friendship, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” This is the kind of friend you NEED TO BE and NEED TO HAVE. Consider these friendship characteristics.

The friend that you NEED TO BE and NEED TO HAVE is ACCEPTING. We are to accept one another just as, in Christ, God has accepted us. This is giving someone permission to be who they are. This friend says, “Because I am your friend, I accept you for who you are and where you are in life – especially in those times when this acceptance is desperately needed.”

The friend that you NEED TO BE and NEED TO HAVE is TRUSTWORTHY. In a relationship trust is a must. Therefore, both people in a relationship must be trustworthy. I read this quote that speaks of the opposite. “False friends are like a shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us when we cross into the shade.” True friendship says, “Because I am your friend you can always count on me even if and when others leave you or let you down.”

The friend that you NEED TO BE and NEED TO HAVE is CARE-FRONTING. A buddy says, “Do what you want.” A care-fronting friend says, “Because I am your friend I care enough to confront you by speaking the truth in love.” Oscar Wilde puts it another way when he wrote, “A true friend always stabs you in the front.”

Finally, the friend that you NEED TO BE and NEED TO HAVE is FORGIVING. We are to forgive one another just in Christ God has forgiven us. A true friend says, “Because I am your friend, I am committed to forgiving you even when our relationship is strained…even when you hurt me or let me down.” Forgiveness does not change the past, but it can change the future. Remember, in the middle of forgiveness is the word “give”. Forgiveness is given freely so you can walk in freedom.

Will you be the kind of friend that Jonathan was and that your friends need today?

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

Most of us have been to a cemetery for a time of committal at a graveside. Throughout the cemetery there are gravestones that indicate a name of the deceased with a date of birth and a date of death. It almost seems surreal when you realize that this person was on the earth for a period of time and is no longer here. For some reason, we do not think that we will experience the same fate. Yet, deep down we know different.

The Holy Spirit reminds us from these words in Hebrews that every person is destined to die. The awareness of this serves to teach us important lessons. Death teaches us how to live. The reality of our mortality is a reminder that every day is a gift and therefore, we should make the most of it.

Contrary to belief of some, physical death is not the end. Judgment follows death. For the unbeliever, it will consist of the Great White Throne judgment and a sentence of an eternity in Hell. For the believer, it will be giving account of work done for Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The realization of death and judgment brings me to this principle to live by. Begin with the end in mind. This first involves considering what will be most important at the end of your life. From a biblical perspective, that which pertains to eternity should stand out. Having peace with God through a personal relationship with Jesus is most important. After that, other relationships that are important to you should be included. Finally, remember it is your investments of time, talents, and money in God’s kingdom that will last and be rewarded in eternity.

After identifying your end-in-mind priorities, BEGIN living today with ongoing awareness of the END in your mind. What do you need to do daily to make sure you have a growing personal relationship with Jesus? What do you need to change in your life in order to give a higher priority to your key relationships? In what ways are you investing in God’s kingdom work? A proper perspective of the end helps you begin a fulfilling way to live!

At times I come in contact with a person who does not believe in God. I challenge that person to pray, “God, if you are there, reveal yourself to me.” I also add this, “If He doesn’t reveal Himself, what have you lost. If He does, which I know He will, look what you have gained.” My certainty in sharing this comes from Deuteronomy 4:29. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  This verse is not just for an open atheist. It is also for all believers as it gives us a “recipe” for getting closer to Jesus in 2020.

You will get closer to Jesus in 2020 if you SEEK HIM RELATIONALLY. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  To seek God relationally implies you must first have a relationship with Jesus. Christianity is not meant to be a religion about Jesus. It all about cultivating a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

You seek Jesus relationally when you listen to Him intently and when you share your heart intentionally. Seeking Jesus relationally means seeking Him with your heart along with your head. This incorporates the development of relational trust. In a relationship, trust is a must. Trust in a relationship is developed through effective and constant communication that is fortified by faithfulness and availability. Even when we are faithless, God is faithful. You can trust Him. The question is, “Can He trust you?”

You will get closer to Jesus in 2020 if you SEEK HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  God, in essence, is saying, “You’ll find Me when you get serious about finding me and desire Me more than anything else.”

If you want to get closer to God than you are, you will need to change your priorities and your choices. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. If you want something different, you need to do something different. How is what you are doing working for you?      

Some people have good intentions to change but …

• they are INTERCEPTED along the way by the enticements that this world has to offer.
• their plans fall INCOMPLETE
• they are TACKLED along the way by the unanswerable questions of life
• they MISS THE POINT of how important it really is
• they PUNT when their expectations are not met.

You will get closer to Jesus in 2020 if you SEEK HIM INCREMENTALLY. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  No matter where you currently are in your relationship with Jesus, you can start where you are and take the one step the Holy Spirit is leading you to take to get closer to Jesus. Success does not happen in a day. It is all about your daily agenda and what you regularly do on a daily basis. What is one thing you can do today and everyday in the next week that will draw you closer to Jesus? Begin doing that today!

You will get closer to Jesus in 2020 if you SEEK GOD CONFIDENTLY. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” You can seek Jesus confidently because He is faithful. He will do what His Word says. When you seek Jesus relationally, wholeheartedly, and incrementally, you will find Him. He will reveal Himself to you. He will fill you with His Spirit. He will meet the needs you have even before you ask Him.

I want to encourage you to get closer to Jesus in 2020! Start today! Do it relationally, wholeheartedly, incrementally, and confidently. Mark Batterson challenges, “At the end of our lives, our greatest regrets will be the God-ordained opportunities we left on the table.” Every day is a God-ordained opportunity to get closer to Jesus.