Kenneth Olson.org

Activating Hidden Power

A couple weeks ago I came across a new word that I was intrigued by. It's the word nutrigenomics, a mouthful for sure. Nutrigenomics is a relatively new field of study in science where researchers are uncovering evidence that all human beings possess dormant genes. Genes that can be activated by the food we eat.

Scientists have recently discovered that eating the right foods enables the expression of certain genes in our body. Interesting huh? Spiritually speaking, there are things such as hidden potential and a greater dimension of God's power, that will remain dormant in our lives unless we do what is necessary to unlock them.

I believe the first thing necessary to activate these spiritual genes is to understand the power of God is available to us right now. The writer of Ephesians expressed that an unlimited and immeasurable supply of resurrection power would be available to and for those who believe.

Secondly, trade religion for relationship. Many people sacrifice God's greater potential and power simply because they're going through the motions. They are living out of ritual and past experience and never consistently connecting with the heart and Person of their heavenly Father. It's so important we seek intimacy and true heart connection with God.

Learn to die to yourself. Not a popular message, especially in America, but honestly, I think it's one of those missing ingredients to revival in the Church today. As long as we're comfortable and satiated with the carnal and material aspects of life, we'll not experience God's power. 

Sacrificing any craving or interest in your life that conflicts with the purpose of God seems counter-intuitive to the human intellect, but trust me, it's one of those higher thoughts and ways in the mind of God that's undeniably effective at releasing power in your life.

In the Kingdom of God, death always precedes life and an increase of power.

Lastly, prioritize God's purposes. Someone once said, God's power is never independent of His purposes. When we look beyond the temporal realm and base our decisions and choices on what matters eternally, we're prioritizing what's important to God. Said another way, when God's "A" issues become our "A" issues, His power will be available to get the job done!

I love what a minster who inspired D. L. Moody once said, the world has yet to see what God will do with, and for, and through, and in, and by the man who is fully consecrated to Him.

Sunday Reflection

Really loved our service yesterday, we enjoyed such a clear and pronounced presence of God. I love those times! There's something about being in God's atmosphere that helps you identify with His heart for you and others. It imparts His perspective and priorities.

For me, I was really overtaken by an experience of supernatural love for God's people. Call it a pastoral moment or whatever, but I truly have a deep commitment and love for those God has called me to serve. Hard to wrap thoughts around it or fully express it in words, but I can identify with something the Apostle Paul once said, It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart - Philippians 1:7 (NIV)

There's nothing like letting God's love in you for people, be the motivating factor of your life. That's my modus operandi for both life and ministry. Even preparing preach, I often pray, Father help me to love people through what you who have me to say and do. 

Love should be our truth north in every aspect of life. Scripture tells us, three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)

Church Planting Movement

I'm in Orlando, FL attending the Exponential Conference this week. It draws people from all over the nation who are passionate about planting churches. Over the past few years this conference has been a catalyst for church planting which has become a serious and bonifide movement crossing into every area the of the church in America.

Without a doubt it's timely and of God. I recently heard about a study that showed 60% of the American population is currently unreachable by the church. 

Surprising for sure, but one thing is true, America is ripe for a spiritual awakening, for new, innovative and impacting presentations of the Gospel that reach into every arena of our culture.

It's evident God is getting our attention and calling people everywhere to get on mission. To impact our generation for Jesus. A generation that is not only growing, but dynamic and diverse requiring us to be light on our feet, spirit-led and fully engaged.

A Mentality for Success

In science there is a law called the law of entropy. It states that everything in the natural world over time tends toward disorder, decay and death. Essentially it's a scientific description of the curse of sin and it's effects in the natural world.

The force of death and defeat are so persistent in our world you can't afford to turn your back spiritually even for a day. This is so true when it comes to our thoughts. 

Without intentional effort it's easy for our minds to drift toward doubt, unbelief and playing out the worst-case scenario. This is exactly what the enemy wants us to do, to spend our time and energy envisioning limitations, what we can't do and how we're going to fail.

Recently, while on vacation, I challenged myself to make a shift in my thinking. I realized If I'm going to go to the next level of God's blessing and plan for my life I need to plant and cultivate some new thoughts. 

When I was a young boy I used to love sitting on an old, rusty tractor seat that was behind an old barn on my parents farm. Because it was shaded, many hot summer days you would find me sitting on that old tractor seat dreaming of my future. I would dream up infinite scenarios of what I wanted to do in life. I would think about all the different ways I would succeed and do something significant. 

That's  a good example of how God expects us to use our imagination. Instead of allowing our minds to run unchecked, dominated by past experience, our physical senses and playing out 1001 ways we're going to fail to reach our goal. I believe God wants our minds inspired by His Word, to run free with expectancy and creativity, imagining the possible ways we'll experience victory, breakthrough, and the dream in our heart.

Be sure to take time to develop a mentality for success, to dream and think of possible ways you're going to succeed in God's mission for your life. Resist and root out every thought and imagination of failure, doubt and defeat.

First, Ten

I found the following blog post by Seth Godin about the new face of marketing absolutely fascinating - enjoy!

First, ten.

This, in two words, is the secret of the new marketing.

Find ten people. Ten people who trust you/respect you/need you/listen to you...

Those ten people need what you have to sell, or want it. And if they love it, you win. If they love it, they'll each find you ten more people (or a hundred or a thousand or, perhaps, just three). Repeat.

If they don't love it, you need a new product. Start over.

Your idea spreads. Your business grows. Not as fast as you want, but faster than you could ever imagine.

This approach changes the posture and timing of everything you do.

You can no longer market to the anonymous masses. They're not anonymous and they're not masses. You can only market to people who are willing participants. Like this group of ten.

The timing means that the idea of a 'launch' and press releases and the big unveiling is nuts. Instead, plan on the gradual build that turns into a tidal wave. Organize for it and spend money appropriately. The fact is, the curve of money spent (big hump, then it tails off) is precisely backwards to what you actually need.

Three years from now, this advice will be so common as to be boring. Today, it's almost certainly the opposite of what you're doing.