Dissatisfaction

In the introduction of When Heaven Invades Earth (by Bill Johnson), there is one sentence that has particularly gripped me:
"I needed to see the gospel in life as it is in print".

I have read this book before, and am now re-reading it...or at least trying to. I can't get past the introduction. I started into chapter one, only to find myself flipping back to the page that is now getting somewhat wrinkled and ragged....and meditating on the need to see the gospel in life, as it is in print.

Yes, Bill, I'm there, too. I've read the Bible for as many years as I can remember - my folks had one of those huge Bible-story books, and we used to read that at night when we were kids before I could read the Bible itself. So I've become very familiar with much Scripture through the years. But do I see it in my everyday life - the same way I read it on the page? Do I see lame men getting up and dancing on new legs? Do I hear the blind man begin to praise God as he now sees pink booties on a newborn baby for the first time? Do I hear the sobs of a mother, as her once-dead son is now alive and well?

At our church, we've had a unique outpouring of God's amazing power within the last 8 months or so. And yes, we've had testimonies of people being healed and set free. It's awesome, and God deserves all praise!

But it only scratches the surface. I know there is more. And not just more for us to observe!! Heaven forbid we become casual observers!! We are to be participating in the move of God, co-laboring with Christ for the advancement of His Kingdom....The King's Domain, if you will. If we were not to participate, then Jesus would never have said in John 14 , "Anyone who has faith in ME will do what I have been doing; he will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in MY name, so that the SON may bring glory to the Father. You may ask for anything in MY name, and I will do it." But since Jesus made this proclamation, His plan is for us to work with Him. And that means healing the sick, casting out demons, and yes, even raising the dead.

I know I probably just lost some of you right there...raising the dead? C'mon now, really?

Look at what Jesus said - we will do what He was doing...and even greater things.... So we just need to look at what He did, as He was in intimate fellowship with the Father and dependent on the Spirit's power to flow through Him. He didn't perform miracles because He was God, or else there would be no chance for us to follow in His footsteps. He set aside all of His "Godness" to be born on this earth and live life as a man. But, He opened blind eyes, caused the lame to walk, cast out demons, raised the dead - just to name a few.

This is the gospel I want to see - no, need to see. It's no longer enough to simply read about it. My heart has been pricked with a holy dissatisfaction.