My Dear India

He:

You who dwell in the gardens

with friends in attendance,

let me hear your voice!

She:

Come away, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or like a young stag

on the spice-laden mountains.

- Song of Songs 8:13-14

My Dear India,

Come away with me, my beloved, for I yearn to hold you in my arms.  Come away with me, my beloved, and know what it's like to experience my touch.  Hope is what binds us, hope in eternal rest in our love.

You doubt that one God can love you, is enough for all the love you have to give.  That's why I first sent Thomas, the one who doubted me until he saw me with his own eyes and touched me with his own hands.  If that is what you require, like Thomas, I will reach for you, I will show myself to you so you can see my glory. 

You think that since everyone is created uniquely, there is nothing unique about you.  You doubt that each person was planned and formed in Me from the beginning of time, and will be with Me for all eternity.  You doubt your own actions can help or hurt you, because your past life is from another, one you can't control.  You doubt you are of importance to me based on who you were born into, what earthly family you belong to.  But you belonged to me from all eternity, you were pressed together with my own hands.  I gave you the uniqueness that is yours and yours alone, and it cannot be taken from you.

When I sent my Son Jesus to earth, to be a sacrifice to the world for all eternity, I saw you.  I chose to die for YOU because I saw my bride, one that would love me, one that would seek me.  So put away your seeking, for you have found Me.

I wish to heal you from all sickness, shelter you from all darkness. Nothing is too strong for me to overcome.  My precious one, stick to me like the lotus blossom sticks to the dew, and I will refresh you for all time.

My blood was the sacrifice for you, so you have no need for your blood to be sacrificed.  You worship all things, so worship me only.  In this will you find the path to Truth.

I want to bless you with all good things that a Father can give, but I do not exist only to hand out blessings.  I seek to be honored, to be loved, to be set apart as your only Love.  If you surrender yourself to me, my grace and mercy will abound in you, and you will receive all you should receive.

Come away with me, oh beautiful people of India. and let me show you what true Love is.  Invite my Son Jesus to show you the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He will give you My Heart.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

- Daddy God

The Lord shared this message with me to the people of India.  I can feel his deep love for India, and His desire to be with the children He has created there, as He desires the hearts of all humanity to be drawn to the love of their Father.  His compassion and unfailing love are new every morning.

-Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

Holy Spirit Baptism - Are You Ready for More?

I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. - Matthew 3:11

One of the pleasant surprises of my ministry experience on my church's Healing team is the time we spend with each individual not just with physical healing needs, but in other areas of need in their desire for more with God.  I've been privileged to walk several people through the process of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and I get more excited about seeing people walk away with that gift than anything they may see physically.  After salvation through accepting Jesus as your savior, being baptized in the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift God has given us, and it really is a game changer.

I get many questions about Holy Spirit baptism that I hope to answer for you in this article:

• What is Holy Spirit baptism? Why is it important?
• Am I still saved if I'm not baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• How can I get baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• How do I know that I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What happens to be me when I am?

We will look at the experiences of three church leaders - Smith Wigglesworth, Agnes Sanford, and Francis MacNutt - as well as my own experience, to help answer these questions and encourage you to seek this important gift.

What is Holy Spirit baptism? Why is it important?

I don't intend to spend time here going into the theology of Holy Spirit baptism - some people believe you get baptized in the Spirit when you are saved, but I believe Holy Spirit baptism is a separate and distinct experience.  There is plenty of Bible Scripture to support this, and you can do your own research, or read Robert Morris' book, The God I Never Knew, for more insights.  Regardless of your view, the important thing is experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Holy Spirit baptism is important because it makes us a complete person in Christ.  Jesus said He had to leave so the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:7), and we know from the Acts of the Apostles and Pentecost the impact the Holy Spirit has had on the church.  The early disciples couldn't do what they did on their own, and neither can we.  We need the Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth of relationship with the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Am I still saved if I'm not baptized in the Holy Spirit?  Can I still have a relationship with Jesus without it?

Yes! Salvation comes through belief in Jesus Christ and surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected so that we could have eternal life.  But His sacrifice also paved the way for the Holy Spirit to be freely shared to all who ask for this gift, to serve as our comforter and guide in our walk with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To emphasize this point, let talk about our church leaders.  Smith Wigglesworth was already a pastor who preached alongside his wife prior to Holy Spirit baptism.  Agnes Sanford had a healing ministry and wrote the best-selling book, The Healing Light, decades before she was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  And Francis McNutt was a Catholic priest for many years prior to experiencing Holy Spirit baptism.

But even though all of these church leaders were serving in a ministry capacity, and some had strong gifting prior, they all acknowledged that something was missing in their walk with the Lord.  They were missing a certain "power" that comes from the fire and presence of the Holy Spirit, and once they received this baptism, they and their ministries were never the same.

How can I get baptized in the Holy Spirit? How do I know that I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What happens to be me when I am?

Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes from simply asking Jesus for it - that's all it takes! Like salvation, opening your heart to this amazing gift is all that's required, and Jesus will do the rest!  If you are uncertain about this, ask a prayer partner, pastor, or other Christian friend who understands Holy Spirit baptism to pray with you.

So does something happen immediately or at another point in time? Like salvation, some people experience something immediately, others have a noted physical or spiritual experience at another point in time, and others realize they have grown into this baptism gradually as they mature in their walk with the Lord.  Don't worry about a specific experience or indicator - if you've asked, Jesus will be faithful in sharing this gift.  And trust me, when you have it, you'll know!

Holy Spirit baptism brings many amazing benefits - power (Acts 1:8), love (Romans 5:5), the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness (Galatians 5:22), and spiritual gifts like prophecy and speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).  Some people are scared off by thinking it's all about the "weird" spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues (which is actually wonderful by the way), but the other fruits of the Spirit like joy, peace, etc. are also very noticeable changes.

To bring this into real life examples, let's see how our three church leaders experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit:

• When Smith Wigglesworth told his wife about his baptism and the ability to speak in tongues, she told him, "I have been preaching for twenty years, and you have sat beside me on the platform, but on Sunday you will preach yourself, and I'll see what there is in it."  As she sat in the back of the church that Sunday, Smith was filled with the Spirit and gave an incredible message.  He describes his wife as being "terribly disturbed" and said in a voice that all around could hear, "That's not my Smith, Lord, that's not my Smith!" He went on to have a powerful ministry and traveled the world with the message of Jesus, with a wife who was continually amazed at his transformation.

• Agnes Sanford describes feeling drained, along with two of her prayer partners, after the many years of praying for others and traveling for her ministry.  They asked God what they could do to get their strength back, and all heard, "Pray for the Holy Ghost."  When they did, "the power of the Spirit fell upon us immediately.  First of all, we felt a deep and intense burning in the middle of the head and with it a drawing feeling, as though the hair were brushed the wrong way, or as though one had on a hat that was too tight."  She goes on to say they were given three specific gifts of the Spirit - a joy they had never known before, an understanding of truth, and the gift of peace.

• As a Catholic priest, Francis MacNutt says "it was as if there was a power in Jesus and His followers that was missing in my life."  He could see that those he met who claimed to be baptized in the Spirit had the fruits of love, joy, and peace in their eyes.  After praying for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, to which he felt no change, Agnes Sanford, who was also present, suggested, "I think it would be better to pray for you for a release of the Spirit and the charismatic gifts that are already in you through baptism, confirmation, and ordination."  When that was done, Francis was overcome by a wave of laughter, and "it was as if a spring of joy had welled up from within me, the joy of the Holy Spirit. Wave upon wave of joy engulfed me."  Francis went on to start a powerful healing ministry that thrives today.

My personal testimony is similar to Francis MacNutt. I accepted Christ at seven years old and was baptized in the Spirit soon thereafter, and I recall growing up with spiritual gifts.  But as I got older I drifted away from these gifts.  Thankfully, five years ago I was revitalized and asked God for more, and it was as if a switch was flipped in my life.  I had a very clear moment of change that came upon me.  I haven't been the same since, as I experience the fruits of the Spirit, greater revelation of the Word, and many other spiritual gifts.

Reverend Tommy Tyson defined the baptism of the Spirit as an "event in our lives through which we become more continually aware of the presence, the person, and the power of the risen Christ." No matter where you are in your walk with God, or even if you don't know Jesus yet, there's always an opportunity for more, for the fullness of Christ in you.  

I hope you'll consider asking Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit - the Acts of the Apostles are alive and well today, and there's a great adventure in store for all who ask for more!

A Hindu came up to a preacher in North India and said, "I want to ask a question, not through criticism but for information.  I have been reading the New Testament and am especially struck with the Acts of the Apostles.  These men seemed to have a wonderful power and fullness of spiritual life.  Sir, have you found what they had?"  The preacher was speechless.  Though he was a graduate of a university and was a missionary, he knew in the inmost depths of being that he did not have what the early disciples seemed to have found.  He went home, fell on his knees, yielded himself fully to Christ - and found! - E. Stanley Jones

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

PS. Click the links here for more information on the books/references quoted above:

Agnes Sanford, Sealed Orders

Smith Wigglesworth, Baptized in the Holy Spirit

Francis MacNutt, The Nearly Perfect Crime

Robert Morris, The God I Never Knew

Ever Be - Will You Answer the Call?

"For many are invited, but few are chosen." - Matthew 22:14

Free will is a great gift that can be unappreciated or misunderstood at times.  Many of us watch as others come up with great ideas or ministry opportunities that turn into whatever definition of success we have (fame, fortune, a big church following, God's favor, etc.).  We think "why can't I ever get that lucky break?"  or "Hey, I had that idea too a few years ago, why didn't I take action on it?"  We then blame God for showing favoritism to others or not giving us the same opportunities, when in fact we should be taking accountability for own inaction when God did open the door.  He gives all of us a chance to work in our calling and purpose in partnership with Him, but few are obedient to the call.

A small example of this in my own life was a day when I heard the song "Ever Be" by Aaron Shust.  It's still one of my favorite songs, and that day I felt the impression that I should share the song on social media because someone else needed to hear it.  Being new to the social media world and still worrying about how many "likes" I got from posts, I noticed that nobody had "liked" the post after several hours and removed it, being embarrassed at the lack of response.  

But the following day, I saw the exact same post from another person, who said they felt led to post the song "Ever Be" for someone to hear.  It instantly made to realize that if I'm not willing to be obedient to something God had assigned to me, He would find someone else willing to take the risk.

In a bigger example, Darren Wilson, a filmmaker who has produced several documentaries such as Finger of God, Father of Lights, and Furious Love, tells a similar story in his book, Finding God in the Bible.  He had never made a movie before but was obedient to God's calling to do so.  This has led to incredible success as his movies have made an impact across the world.  

Darren writes in his book, "When He asked me to start making a crazy movie about miracles, I was at my lowest point and honestly had nothing to lose by stepping out.  It was only years later that I began receiving emails from producers and directors around the world - people who had far more talent, resources, and ability than me - admitting to me that for years God had been asking them to make a documentary about the things He's doing around the world, yet because of reputation, finances, schedule, fears, or whatever other excuse they could come up with, they all put it off or said no.  Then they looked up and saw that here I had done it.  Little old me with my borrowed camera and $20,000 budget.  I was not God's first choice for this.  I was simply the one guy dumb enough (or smart enough) to say yes."

What has God put into your heart to do? What excuses are you making to not take action? It may be something as small as paying for the person behind you in the drive thru line, but that one act of obedience will open the door to more, as God now sees He can trust you with bigger and bigger assignments.  He has big plans for each of us, if only we will realize we have the choice to take action, to take the leap into the unknown.  You'll be in for a fun ride if you will only say "YES"!  

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" - Isaiah 6:8

P.S. Check out Darren's movies and other projects at wpfilm.com.

-Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

The Key To Your Heart

"My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him." 

- Song of Songs 5:4

A few days ago I was going for a run, one of my favorite times to listen to praise and worship music and hear from God.  As I was sifting through the song selections on my phone, I decided to do something I've never done before - I asked God what He wanted to hear.  And just like so many other times I've heard from God, His answer was totally unexpected and taught me another important lesson in my relationship journey with the Father.

The song I heard God say was "Let My Love Open The Door," a song by Pete Townshend, lead guitarist of the famous classic rock band The Who.  I knew the song, but I also knew it had to be God, since I haven't thought of or heard that song in years.  With it being a secular song, I wondered if I had heard right, and couldn't wait to look up the lyrics to see why God had chosen this song.

Not surprisingly, the lyrics were a perfect message for me, and really for all of us, when put into the perspective of this song coming from God:

When people keep repeating

That you'll never fall in love

When everybody keeps retreating

But you can't seem to get enough

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

When everything feels all over

Everybody seems unkind

I'll give you a four-leaf clover

Take all worry out of your mind

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

I've got the only key to your heart

I can stop you from falling apart

Try today, you'll find this way

Come on and give me a chance to say

Let my love open the door

It's all I'm living for

Release yourself from misery

There's only one thing gonna set you free

That's my love

That's my love

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

When tragedy befalls you

Don't let it drag you down

Love can cure your problems

You're so lucky I'm around

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

And just for good measure, in case some of you (including myself) wonder if this song was just a random thought, here was a quote of the day I read later that evening from E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India:

"Where other keys get jammed, love opens the door, for it fits the heart - every heart."

Wow! Isn't God amazing!  I learned some important lessons about God from this experience. First and most obviously, was the message from the song that God's thoughts about us are those of love, that He holds the key to our heart if we will open the door and let Him in.  We are always on His mind, and He loves each of us!  And even though I know He loves me, I never get tired of hearing it, just like we always appreciate the reinforcement when our loved ones say, "I love you!"

But the other important takeaway was the fact that God used a "secular" song to communicate with me.  You may miss out on hearing from God if your mind is closed to what you view as "non-Christian" sources. Be open to all the ways God can talk to us - God created it all, and He can use it all for His glory!

So take the time to ask God how He wants to share His love with you - and be open (and amazed) at His answers!

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." 
- Psalm 139:23

-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

God Is Love

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:8

No matter what you believe, or who you believe in, all people believe in Love.  At the core of humanity, we all want to be loved, and love others.  The Beatles sang, "All You Need Is Love."  And the Bible says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

What is love?  The dictionary defines love as "an intense feeling of deep affection."  But love goes deeper than this.  My favorite description of love is a Bible Scripture read at many weddings, including my own, from 1 Corinthians 13:

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

I think most people, Christians and non-Christians alike, would read this and agree with the author, Paul, on this description of love.  We read or hear these verses and our spouse, children, or other loved ones come to mind.  But let me challenge you with another twist to this Scripture, one that may make you squirm in your chair a little.

We also read in 1 John 4:8 that "God is love."  He is the very essence of love.  But do you really believe it? Let's look at 1 Corinthians 13 with a new lens:

"God is patient, God is kind.  God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud.  God does not dishonor others, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs.  God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  God never fails."

What's your reaction to this verse now? Does it feel the same as before?  If not, why?

What has been your experience with God?  What is your relationship with Him?  

• Do you believe God is patient with you, that He is kind?
• Do you believe God does not envy, that He doesn't boast, that He is not proud?
• Do you believe God does not dishonor you, that He is not self-seeking?
• Do you believe God is not easily angered with you?
• Do you believe God keeps no record of your wrongs?
• Do you believe God does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth?
• Do you believe God always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres?
• Do you believe God never fails you?

I think most of us, if we are really honest with ourselves, have a difficult time answering "Yes" to all (or even most) of these questions.  We've been hurt, disappointed, let down, experienced loss, wondered why something had to happen the way it did.  We think we've done too much to really be loved unconditionally.  How can God allow all these bad things to happen to me, or to the world around us, if He really loves us?  

But if you will let Him in, and seek God with all your heart, soul, and mind, you'll discover there is no room for doubt in any of these areas.  Because God is love, we are believing a lie if we accept any other belief about who He is, and how He sees us.  

God created each of us to be in a loving relationship with Him.  So much so that He willingly sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for us, so that we could be in a love relationship with our Creator, an unconditional love that frees us from the bondage of death, to spend eternity with our one true Love.  Accept this today and experience God, experience Love.

"All you need is God."

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

My Encounter With God

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  - 1 Kings 19:12-13

I always enjoy reading stories about near-death experiences and other encounters people have with the heavenly realm.  It encourages us in our faith, and gives us hope in a future eternity with God. I shared one such story from a friend in a previous blog entry, The Day I Touched Heaven.  And I'm currently reading an amazing book, Imagine Heaven, by John Burke, which relates several incredible stories of people's miraculous journeys to heaven and meeting God or Jesus (or both).  

Reading this book reminded me that I have yet to share on this site my own amazing story of meeting God (I shared it in my book); it changed my life and continues to give me confidence and hope daily, and I pray it does the same for you.

Many years ago, I dozed off to sleep one night, unaware that I was about to encounter the Creator of the universe. I dreamed I was at my grandparents’ home. Everyone in my core family was there in the dream with me - my parents, brother, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. Suddenly, someone in the group told me that God wanted to speak to me, and it was as if I knew just what to do or expected it. I had no fear. 

I was in the family room, and a fog or mist, low to the ground, came out of the hallway that led to my grandparents’ bedroom. The fog came right toward me, and I somehow knew that God himself was approaching.  I covered my face with my hands as He drew near, and I knew in my Spirit that I could not look.  

I squeezed my eyes shut just as I was engulfed in the brightest light I had ever seen. There was warmth around me that made me so comfortable and free; the warmth may be the thing I remember most vividly.  Then I felt a hand on my right shoulder, and I was aware that it was God’s right hand. As I reflected on this later, I knew this was a purposeful and orderly act, because this would not be the natural placement of someone’s right hand as they were reaching out to touch someone’s right shoulder.  Scripture also confirms this:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” - Revelation 1:17

While He was touching my right shoulder, I heard a voice in my right ear speaking these comforting words, "It's okay; it's okay."  Amazingly, His voice was both different and as familiar as my earthly father's voice.  The voice was speaking into my right ear.  This was strange and unbelievable.  Why? Because I've been deaf in my right ear since birth!

It was a perfect moment - blinded by light, enveloped in radiant warmth, a hand on my shoulder, and the familiar, paternal voice of my Father. The experience only lasted for several seconds.  I was so upset when I woke up because I never wanted to leave that moment. I was so comforted and at peace.

This dream changed my life forever and serves as a foundation of my faith today. I now have the confidence of knowing that in the heart of it all, the God whose presence I experienced, whose hand touched me, and whose voice I heard, is alive, He is real, and He loves me as a father loves his child. I also no longer have a fear of death - if leaving this world means getting to be in His presence and having that same experience for eternity, I’m ready to go at any time! That’s how amazing and real my dream was.

I hope this testimony encourages you to know that God loves each of us in a very real and personal way.  As you walk through life's journey, He is with you every step of the way, encouraging you with the comforting words, "It's okay." Because an eternity of joy, peace, love, and God's warm presence awaits you.  

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. - Matthew 4:16

-Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

What Color Were Your Shoes?

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

In the natural world, time dominates much of how we operate our lives.  We wake up and go to sleep at certain times, we celebrate another year of being alive on our birthday, and we see the impact of time as our own mortality comes into view in our later years.  The idea of eternity is so difficult for humans since our lives are time bound, with a defined beginning and end.

So what will our eternity look like?  What will we remember from our time on earth?  It boggles the mind to think about the concept of our existence never having an end, forever living in our spiritual bodies.  What will carry through from our time in this life?

During my participation in Gateway Church's freedom program called "Kairos," a story from one presenter still sticks in my mind and has changed how I view my priorities during my time on earth. 

The presenter asked God these same questions about eternity, and God answered:

"You were in second grade, right?"  
"Yes," the man replied.  
"Do you remember what color your shoes were the first day of second grade?"  
"No," was the response. 
"Do you remember what you had for lunch the first day of school?"
Again, "no."
"But you were there, right?"
"Yes," was the reply.

Then God said, "This is what eternity will be like. You will know you were on the earth, that you were there, but that's all you will remember over the span of eternity."

This story really shook my world.  What it made so clear is that our day-to-day life, and the things we worry about most of the time, don't really matter in the long run.  My focus should be on eternity, and my relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who will be with me on the eternal journey.  And what can I be doing during my short time on earth to impact eternity - who else can I help introduce to Jesus?  How can I be a light to the world? I can see now why Jesus and his disciples were focused solely on bringing people into repentance, into a relationship with the Savior - because in the end that's all that matters. 

Knowing this truth about eternity, and the few things that will remain from this earthly experience, what are you focusing your time and attention on?  Are those things going to last, will they have eternal impact?  If not, maybe it's time to take a fresh look at your true calling and purpose as a follower of Jesus.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. -Ephesians 1:18

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

For more information on Gateway's "Kairos" program,  click here.

Strawberry Fields

"Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4-5

I have to admit, I have a rebellious tendency that can get me into trouble.  I recall a personality test I took at work years ago, where the watch out for my manager was to "understand his need to rebel."  I also rated high on "mischievous" on another assessment, defined as a "fondness for causing trouble in a playful way."  This can make for a dangerous combination, but also has some positives in that I'm willing to take risks and challenge the status quo when a different direction may be needed.

So why do we rebel? It's because we resist control and authority.  We see it as teenagers when we resist our parents' control and authority over our lives, and as adults in the workplace when we resist a manager's direction or a company policy.  And we see it in the Bible, with many examples of people who resist submitting their will to God because of their desire for control and independence.

I was spending time with God recently during a period of heightened rebellion in my relationship with Him, when He said, "Strawberries."  I was left with the impression that He was using this to describe me, so I looked up strawberries to discover what it was about them that He attributed to me.

Sure enough, I learned that strawberries can be very high maintenance.  When in growth mode, strawberries produce "runners," or vines that extend from the "mother" plant and try to grow new "daughter" plants.  The problem is, these runners take energy away from the mother plant, and farmers typically trim most of these runners back to allow for more growth of the mother plant.  So while strawberries have many outstanding health benefits and taste great, farmers who grow strawberries know they are dealing with a fruit that takes more care than others.

What does this mean for those of us who tend to be more rebellious? It's actually great news, because God created each of us to be special and unique, and He knows that He has to tend the "garden" of His creation in unique ways.  It's no surprise that He began creation with the Garden of Eden, with its large variety of plants and trees.  He loves tending to His garden of unique personalities with each person He created, and He's not scared or intimidated by your unique personality traits.

But now that I know I'm a strawberry in God's garden, I want to be more mindful of the potential "runners" in my life that keep me from bearing the best fruit possible. For me it's rebellion and the desire to have control.  I can ask God to expose and trim back these runners, so I can better submit to His perfect plan and will for my life.

What runners are getting in the way of your best life?  Ask God, the perfect Gardner, to expose and trim these areas, so you can bear the fruit God intended.


-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

Man Overboard!

"Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith." - 1 Timothy 1:19

In the Christian community, we like to talk about our ability to cast our cares upon Jesus.  1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  And Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."  For me, when reading these verses I always had an image of taking whatever cares or burdens of our lives - worries, grief, hurts, anger - and placing them on Jesus' back as I walk with Him on life's journey.  As I hike up the mountain or down into the valley, Jesus is walking ahead of me, guiding me along the path with my heavy backpack of burdens on his shoulders.

But that implies that our burdens are still with us on the journey, that Jesus keeps those burdens as we walk together.  And our burdens actually need to be cast away, or released, since they get in the way of a full relationship with the Lord. 

Recently, God gave me a vision that has changed my perspective on what it really means to cast our cares on Him.  He showed me the image of having to throw the cargo overboard on a ship during a storm.  And it made me wonder, why did people do that during Bible times?  We see in the story of both Jonah and Paul that they were on a boat that was in danger of sinking because of a storm.  The crew starts throwing its cargo overboard, so why did they do this?

To lighten the ship.  A heavy cargo makes a ship sit deeper in the water, which is dangerous in shallow water.  The crew threw the cargo overboard so the ship would sit higher in the water in case they were blown near land, where their boat would get destroyed on the shallow reefs, rocks, and harbors.  If the bottom of the ship ran aground miles from any shore, they faced the prospect of being tossed into the sea.  Thus, when you are faced with life or death, everything (even the food) becomes expendable.

Lightening the ship also stabilizes it in rough seas.  If the ship got tossed to one side and became unbalanced, a heavy ship would be more likely to follow the energy and due to inertia (the law where objects in motion want to stay in motion), it would tip over.

Further, throwing cargo overboard makes the ship go faster in case the men wanted to try to outrun the storm.

With this analogy, God was showing me that there were some things I was holding onto, that I needed to throw away to lighten my ship.  The storms that will hit all of us at some point or another, can serve as a way to force us to throw away some things we view as "precious cargo," such as a job, money, pride, rebellion, or anything else that keeps us from relying solely on Him.  When the seas are quiet and the ship of life is cruising along smoothly, we aren't challenged to let go of some things that could make us stronger in the long run. 

What cargo do you need to throw overboard to lighten the load?  Ask God to reveal this to you through the Holy Spirit, and watch your ship pick up speed past the storms, and into the calm seas of God's presence.  And you'll find that the cargo you thought was essential to your journey, were actually a hindrance to being who God created you to be...

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." - Hebrews 6:19-20

-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

An Ocean of Secrets

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

I was watching the movie Titanic recently, one of my favorites.  The main character, Rose, tells the story of her romance with Jack, which ends when he dies in the Titanic sinking.  Nearing the end of her life, Rose confesses to her granddaughter this secret love she had before meeting her husband later in life.  In this moment of confession, she says to her granddaughter and the others listening to the story, "A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets."

This was such a interesting statement, and my first reaction was to think, "Not just a woman's.  We all have an ocean of secrets."  And while the movie portrayed her secrets as part of her adventurous, romantic mystique, most secrets create a bondage in our lives.  People keep secrets because they are ashamed, and don't want others to know about the sin committed, lie told, or law broken.  We have an image to uphold in front of others, and we are afraid of what people may think about us if they were to know about these secrets. 

Fortunately, God knows everything about us - what we have done and what we will do - and loves us as sons and daughters.  He sent Jesus to forgive us from our sins, and if we will receive it, we are washed clean from our ocean of secrets.  I know I am comforted knowing that He is aware of everything I've done and will do, and loves me all the same.

But sometimes that's not enough to heal us from our ocean of secrets.  As we see in James 5:16, God tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."  Confession releases power in your inner healing, as God honors the Body of Christ as a conduit for his work in each member of the Body.  In other words, we were not meant to "go it alone." 

One person who learned this powerful truth was Agnes Sanford, a founding member of the Charismatic Movement in the mid 1900s.  Agnes had a powerful healing ministry, and her first book, The Healing Light, was a best-seller.  But she found herself drained of her power as she gave more and more of herself in prayer for others, and from traveling around the country speaking.  One day she asked God how her strength could be restored, and He revealed to her that confession was the answer.  As one of her friends told her, "The confessional sets free in you the power of God through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. It releases power in the way that is the most simple and wholesome and human."

So Agnes, coming from a church background that did not practice confessionals, split her life into seven periods of time.  She asked the Holy Spirit to reveal to her any unforgiven sins, hurts, or other memories from each of those seven time periods, writing them all down.  Finally, she shared everything from her list with a priest from another church, who prayed with her for her forgiveness.  The priest said, "Although so few people know it, the church through Jesus Christ really does have the power to forgive sins."

Sure enough, Agnes said she "had hardly gone out of the place before I was flooded from head to foot with the most overwhelming vibrations...and indeed a healing process did begin in me at that time."  She was able to continue her ministry with vibrancy and power after learning to take advantage of confession.

My home church, Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, aligns to this approach and includes a confessional time in its "Kairos" freedom program.  I participated in this myself, and agree with Agnes that there's something powerful about telling another person about a sin you have never told anyone about, that's been kept buried inside.  It was very liberating.

If your "ocean of secrets" is keeping you from being the whole person God intended you to be, I would encourage you to explore a confession of those secrets to a member of the Body of Christ - a priest, pastor, or other Christian brother or sister.  And watch Jesus work in His promise to heal you and set you free.

-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

Wait

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

When I was told ten months ago that my position was being eliminated at the company where I had worked for over ten years, I wasn't too worried. I was confident in the experience I had built over a 17-year career, and knew the economy was strong in my area.  God had warned me about the change by telling me He would give me "strength for the days ahead," and that He would "close my wound with new skin quickly" (Isaiah 58:8).  The company offered me a lower level role, but I turned it down, confident in God's word for me and excited to see what God had in store for my next adventure.

Little did I realize the challenge I was going to face in finding employment, and had I known the long and difficult road that lay in front of me, I might have made a different decision.  Most of the time I've felt the strength promised by God, but I've also had periods of anger, confusion, and doubt.  I don't understand why God's timing has to include a wait of several months for the next part of my journey to begin.  I've enjoyed the time off from a busy work environment to spend more time with family and friends, and in quiet time with God.  But we were made to work, to have a purpose. So why do I have to keep waiting?

In the midst of this struggle, I was going through some old files on my computer, and I found the following poem that I had saved from 1999.  I don't know why I was attracted to the poem at that time - I graduated from school that year and landed a job right away, and was engaged to be married, so I didn't have a reason to be drawn to it.  But now, in this season, it is perfect. Looking back, it seems as though God called me to this poem as a prophetic look into a future time when I would need it, and then prompted me to search through these files at just the right time.  He is amazing!

I hope this poem, written by an unknown author, encourages you during a season of waiting.  That may be now, or could be many years from now, so save it for whenever you may need it.  It shows us that waiting may, in the long run, be the greatest gift we could receive in this season, and we'll look back later and be thankful for God's perfect timing as our life's plan unfolds.

WAIT

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
and the Master who gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!," my indignant reply,
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe,
we need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting....for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want - but you wouldn't know Me."

"You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love
as the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.
You'd know that I live and I save....(for a start),
but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true.
But, oh, the loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
my most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT."

May God give you strength and peace in your seasons of waiting, as well as a closer walk with Him!

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

Children of Light

Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark,

it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” - Luke 11:36

Jesus told his disciples to be a light to the world.  But what does that mean?  Is it just a figurative expression for demonstrating God's love by showing the joy we have in Him as Christians?  That's partially true, but do you realize that there is also a very real light shining in you that comes from accepting Jesus as your Savior?  Two incredible stories have changed my view of what it means to have Jesus living inside me, and the power I have through Him to make an impact on both the natural and spiritual world.  If you accept this truth, you will never be the same!

About five years ago I heard the story of a witch doctor who had the ability to leave his body and travel in the spirit to people's houses to place a curse on them.  People would pay this witch doctor to do this to their enemies, and he made a good living at it.  But one day, he left his body and went to a man's house he was supposed to curse.  When he arrived at the window, all he could see was a blinding light coming from inside.  The light was so strong, and so powerful, he could not enter the house.  He could see the man, but surrounding him were three figures shining in a bright light,  Puzzled, the witch doctor later learned that there were three Christian missionaries at the man's house that night, sharing the gospel with him!

The second story reinforces this incredible truth.  Agnes Sanford, in her autobiography Sealed Orders, tells about growing up in China with her missionary parents.  She describes how the Chinese were able to easily comprehend the idea of Jesus Christ having the power to drive out evil spirits, because they believed in and even saw them.  She goes on to say, "Not only that, but they perceived, in a way that we are unable to perceive, that those who accepted Jesus walked in a circle of light that protected them from evil spirits.  Knowing this, a heathen family would sometimes invite a Christian family to live in a haunted house rent free for a few months, believing that after a while the Spirit of Christ abiding there would make it untenable for evil spirits."

Of course, being the light of the world also means living in such a way that others see and want what you have.  Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  But I hope these two stories give you the confidence to see who you are from another perspective.  As a Christian, when you walk into your office at work, go into the mission field, or just sit having coffee with a friend, you are emanating the light of Jesus Christ, which has the power to "demolish strongholds."  You are driving out darkness wherever you go!  And with this knowledge, walk boldly in your inheritance as a son or daughter, and shine brightly in a world filled with darkness.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

- Matthew 5:14

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light."  

- John 12:36

- Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

Jesus, Help Me! The Power of Three Words

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. - Matthew 15:25

One of the earliest and most unexpected lessons I learned when God "activated" my life for more with Him, was that the devil doesn't like it when someone starts living in their destiny with God.  I started experiencing very difficult spiritual encounters, and one night in March 2014, I was awakened at about 2:00 a.m. I heard the growl of an evil sound or voice, and then suddenly felt myself being seized with numbness on the top of my head.  When the numbness got to my neck, I could sense that it was making its way down my entire body. In desperation, from deep within my spirit, I cried out, “Jesus, Help Me!”  It was an automatic response, and even I was surprised at what I blurted out.

Instantly the numbness went away and I was able to go back to sleep. While frightening during the experience itself, I was so encouraged and amazed to discover what crying out to Jesus can instantly do, and to know that in the end, Jesus has all of the power and authority in the universe.

To reinforce this point, I was surprised recently when reading a book from Francis MacNutt about the history of healing ministries in the Church.  Before the Charismatic Movement of the 20th century, healing ministries were all but dead in the Church for a variety of reasons.  However, there were some exceptions, with one being a Lutheran pastor from the Black Forest area of Germany named Johann Christophe Blumhardt (1805-1880). 

Johann had no intention of getting involved in healing work. His church was spiritually lethargic and his congregation regularly slept through his sermons.  But there was a woman in his small town of 500 who had a variety of illnesses, and was so temperamental that people crossed to the other side of the street to avoid her.  She had bleeding coming from places in her body, and the doctor asked Johann to get involved, since he could not cure her.  None of this had been covered in his seminary, so he didn't really know what to do.

With a big crowd gathering outside of her home due to the loud noises coming from the woman's pain and suffering, Johann decided he could not do any harm by asking her to repeat after him, "Lord Jesus, help me."  When she did this, to everyone's astonishment, the bleeding stopped!  Johann went on to experience many healing miracles in his town and beyond, with people lining up from far and wide to see him beginning every day at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 11:30 p.m.

I was amazed to read about someone getting the same result of healing from saying the same words I had said in my encounter - Jesus, Help Me.  I'm not saying this is a "formula" for healing - we know from the Bible that Jesus and his disciples saw people healed in a variety of ways, and I've witnessed the same thing from my own experiences.  My point is that many times, healing comes at the point of desperation, when we run out of all other options, and submit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus.  We are finally able to give up control from our rebel hearts, and have no choice but to give credit to Jesus for our healing. 

Have you tried all other options? Are you finally ready to say, "Jesus, Help Me" from the depths of your spirit?  In His compassion and unending love, Jesus is ready to lift you up and bring healing to your situation, whatever it may be.

Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love. - Psalm 109:26

2018 Update: I was given a copy of The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan, and he tells the following similar story: "My daughter was napping in her dormitory one day when she awoke with a start.  An oppressing sense of evil invaded her room, and she felt a physical force descending upon her, pressing her into her bed as though to suffocate her.  Terrified, she cried, "Lord, help me!"  Instantly the malevolent force vanished, leaving her weak and weeping...I've read or heard of a number of such incidents."  It was interesting to find yet more confirmation of this type of spiritual attack happening to others, with the same response consistently bringing relief - a call to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

You Will Be Amazed

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." - Habakkuk 1:5

About a year ago, I had reached a low point in my life.  I was sitting on a plane returning home from a work meeting I had just attended.  My company announced some big changes to the organization, and I had spent the week in a fog, hearing rumors about my job being impacted as new leaders were introducing themselves to the team.  The prior six months had also been a difficult time, with a palpable feeling of favor being lifted from the company I had spent a decade with.

But then, as I sat staring at the tray table in front of me, wondering what the future held, I heard God say, "You will be amazed!" 

That one word from God immediately changed my mood and gave me a boost of excitement.  My thoughts went from worry and fear to hope and promise, wondering what God had in store for this season. 

Sure enough, 2016 truly was an amazing year, but not in the way I expected.  While my position was eliminated at the company a few months later, God gave me encouragement and peace, and prepared me for the change that was coming as I spent quiet time with Him.  Even though I had never earned better than a "C" in college English classes and never thought I would be a writer, God motivated me to write a book that was published in the summer, which just won a literary award.  He gave me favor to participate in radio and TV interviews, speak at a women's leadership conference, and join my church's healing ministry team.  He opened doors to connections with incredible people of faith that I would have never met in other seasons of my life, and allowed me to provide Bibles and other supplies to Christians in Pakistan.

God was true to the word He gave me early in the year that I would be amazed, and in doing so He completely changed the trajectory of my life.  Sitting on that plane, I could have never imagined the adventures in store for 2016.  And this is just the beginning of the story and a lifetime of being AMAZED.

Most of us know the scripture from Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises to give us "a future and a hope", but do you realize that He wants that future to be filled with "amazement"?  He doesn't want to just pick you up off the ground and set you back on your current course; He wants to lift you up onto a new trajectory, one where you are able to know and be who you were originally created to be, filled with joy in the purpose God has for your life. 

No matter where you are in life's journey, God is saying to you right now, "YOU WILL BE AMAZED!"  Claim this message and take your first step into the great adventure of an amazing life with God,  His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!

"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..." - Ephesians 3:20

- Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com