The REAL Epidemic: Christians Who Don't Know Jesus

I started this blog post four months ago.

And although I didn’t intend to have it sit on my computer as a “draft” for 120 days, I can clearly see now why I did.

Sometimes, the Lord has to let things “percolate.” He has to let them build… accumulate… grow. And this post was definitely one of those things.

When He first whispered the statement of “Christians who don’t know Jesus” to me, I thought I knew what He meant. And I did… sort of. I got the bigger picture, the larger idea. But, I didn’t understand the depth of it until now, many weeks later.

Before He “released” me to share this, He had to have me experience it myself, first-hand and up-close. He needed me to see what He sees. And feel what He feels. Because that’s what this is all about - sharing His heart. Not my ideas.

So, even though it’s been an eye-opening and sometimes painful few months, I know I had to walk through it, so I could really understand what He means by not “knowing” Him, how He feels about it and what He wants to say.

If you’ve read the last couple posts/words He’s had me release, you’ll know there’s been a build-up to this and can see where they all sort of build upon one another (you can read the “What it Really Looks Like to Follow Jesus” post, “Strong Delusion” word and “What Do You Believe?” posts here.)

But, it wasn’t until now that He really began to put it all together.

As I shared in the post about following Jesus, He showed me how there is a big difference between knowing about Him and knowing Him. And how His Church has gotten caught up in systems, procedures and programs because they don’t know Him. Not really. Not like He wants them to.

And again, that wasn’t said out of condemnation. It was revelation and preparation. Because He knows how religion, pride, deception and the flesh have crept in without many believers even realizing it (I was one of them!) and He wants to “revive” His Bride. He wants to break all of those things off of her and bring her into the true freedom, power and authority she was meant to live in.

But, first, He had to break this down - what it means to know Him. So, like always, He used my personal experience to illustrate what He meant.

Although I had been saved for 13 years already at the time, I would say my real relationship with the Lord didn’t actually begin until 2017. Which goes to show right there, that it is quite possible to believe and consider yourself a Christian, and still not have an actual relationship with Him.

I wasn’t aware of it. Because you don’t know what you don’t know. But, once my real relationship with Him began in 2017, then I knew what had been missing all that time - intimacy.

I started to actually hear His voice. I started to read His Word and actually understand it. I started to learn about who He is. I started to be freed from all kinds of false beliefs and misconceptions. And most importantly… I started to experience Him as a Father. Truly.

So then, fast forward a couple years… I felt like I have a solid Father/daughter relationship with God and I’d even grown in my relationship with the Holy Spirit… recognizing and using my spiritual gifts and really enjoying all the different ways He spoke to me and guided me in my daily life.

But, there was one problem. I realized I didn’t understand where Jesus fit in to the picture.

I hated to admit it and I felt awful about it. But, it was like I understood that Jesus was my Savior and I believed He had suffered, died and was resurrected and that His sacrifice had covered my sins. I knew all the stuff I was supposed to know… but, I didn’t quite understand where He fit in to my life.

So, you know what God’s (the Father) response was?

“Learn about Him.”

That’s literally what He told me. He had given me two directives for this particular season - to dive deep into His word and learning about my spiritual gifts, and now… to learn about His Son. So, that’s what I did.

I read the Scriptures and learned about who Jesus was/is. The Holy Spirit gave me dreams and visions about Him. And along the way… before I even realized it, I just began to hear from Him. And I do mean Him… Jesus, specifically.

This is the part that may be hard for unbelievers (and even some believers!) to understand, but even though God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all one, they also have distinct personalities. And I knew that I was hearing from Jesus because it was different than the Fatherly voice of God or the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit.

This was the gentlest, kindest, most patient, loving person I had ever encountered. The way He interacted with me was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had had already had multiple instances where I had recorded “conversations” between me and the Father in my journals. But, when I wrote down Jesus’ words as He spoke them into my heart and mind… it was like a soothing balm to my soul.

It was love incarnate. Pure and simple. I don’t really know how else to explain it.

And as time went on, I began to understand how Jesus “fit into the picture.”

He’s everything! He’s literally why and how I am able to have relationships with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He gives me access to the Father and He gave me His Holy Spirit as a helper. But, beyond that - He is everything.

He is the healing.
He is the provision.
He is the protection.
He is the freedom.

But, I’m getting a little ahead of myself now.

So, as I went through my “wilderness season” and the Lord did a major transformative work inside of me, I got to know Jesus in a way I never knew I could. He is the One who taught me about His Word. Not a man or earthly teacher. Jesus.

He is the one who took me through deep heart healing and healed my wounds. Literally. In the privacy of my own bedroom. No counselor, no workbooks, just me and Jesus. And we dealt with some pretty major stuff (see my YouTube video about that here). He helped me to forgive people, to overcome trauma, to be delivered from spiritual oppression and to be set free of limiting beliefs and lies.

He taught me how to really trust Him to provide. What His idea of a “good steward” is. What His idea of a Kingdom marriage is. What it means to truly be freed from our “self” and be fully surrendered to His Spirit.

It was all directly from Him. And I guess I didn’t really stop to consider it while I was going through it. But, now as He is walking me through this in hindsight, I realize that’s not the case for everyone!

Just simply because of how man and the world operate… most people are probably taught by other men. They go to other men for healing and deliverance. They believe in Jesus, they want to learn about Jesus and they even genuinely love Jesus. But, not everyone knows Him.

How is that possible? How can you love someone but not know them?

Easy! Like I said, I did it myself for years!

Because if you don’t know you’re missing something, than how can you know what’s missing?

I didn’t know I could have this level of intimacy with Jesus until I did. But now that I do, you can bet I want to shout about it from the rooftops! And so does Jesus.

A long time ago, the Holy Spirit gave me a powerful vision about what my ministry was going to be. In it, I saw myself next to a huge canyon (think like the Grand Canyon) and there was this small, little platform suspended out over it. It was ridiculous. Like, it looked like it wouldn’t hold anything.

In the vision, I see myself standing on the ground/cliff off to the side of it and I know that I am supposed to step out onto this little platform over the gorge, but I don’t want to. It is taking everything in me to get myself out onto that platform. After hesitating for awhile, I slowly get one foot out there, then the other. But, even when I’m out there, I am in full-blown fear mode. My eyes are scrunched closed and my teeth are clenched and I’m basically waiting for it to give way at any moment.

But, it doesn’t. And slowly… as I begin to realize this and trust that it’s in fact not going to drop me, I begin to relax. I begin to smile and get excited. And then I get really excited.

I look back toward the land that I just stepped off of and there are a whole bunch of other people standing there, so I start yelling and waving for them to step out. But, they’re scared too and don’t want to. I keep telling them, “You can come out! I promise you, it’s safe! It will hold you! Really!”

But, they’re still scared. They don’t think there’s any way that platform can hold them. But, after some time, eventually one person steps out. They step out in great trepidation and fear like I did. But, once they get out there and realize it IS holding them, they open their eyes in wonder. We look at each other with wide eyes and goofy grins and I exclaim, “I know right?!?” And we laugh, as the whole thing continues with more people trusting and stepping out.

Recently, the Lord brought back this vision back up and elaborated on it - this was me learning to believe and trust that He is enough. (And then showing other people they can believe it too.)

Not in an inspirational, encouraging, words-on-a-coffee-mug kinda way. Or, even as words that you say in prayer or sing in worship. But, in a real, tangible, live-it-out kind of way.

Jesus had taken me through this whole journey myself of learning that He was enough, all on His own, without anything else. And now, I was going to “look back” to the others and show them that the same was true for them too.

That even though it doesn’t seem like it could possibly be true that He is enough to hold us, through every single thing the world throws at us… He is.

So again, what does that look like practically?

Well, Jesus being the master of parables and storytelling, of course, gave me a ton of real life examples to share.

During my own transformation process, I was a hot mess. I was rattled with fear, anxiety, worry and stress about pretty much everything under the sun. But of course, like we all do - I had my “hot spots.” So, what did Jesus do? He went to work on exactly those spots.

One by one, He took apart all my beliefs about money, healing, jobs, housing, food, even my pets’ well-being. Everywhere where I had a “Yes, but…” Everywhere where I said I believed in Him, but also needed something else… He’d remove the something else. To continue to show me, I actually didn’t need anything but Him. Period.

With my dog… where I had believed I “had” to have this particular medicine for her or she’d be miserably sick, He put me in a position where I couldn’t afford to take her to the vet or buy the medicine. I was forced to trust only Him. Even when it appeared that it “wasn’t enough,” I had to wait and trust that it was.

With things like food, housing and gas… I knew intellectually that He was my provider, but I still thought I needed Him + whatever… job, paycheck, client, etc. And, I definitely always thought I needed money. Yet, every time I needed something, it was almost like He went out of His way to get it to me without money.

I’d get invitations from companies to sample their products when I just “happened” to need more protein powder or skincare products. I had someone give me a tablet when I prayed for one for my speaking engagements. I had not one, but two, coaches offer to work with me for free (I didn’t even have to ask). I even ended up “winning” an award for a full publishing package for my book, even though the award never existed before me and hasn’t again ever since.

Every time I prayed for Him to give me provision (meaning, money) for something (because I thought I needed Him + money), He’d show me I actually only needed Him.

He even took my understanding to another level one day when I had been believing Him for provision for gas and instead of giving me money for gas or even supernaturally filling my tank (because by this point, He had done that too!), He just had me drive on nothing but His word.

Literally.

I had no money and no gas and the Holy Spirit just prompted me to get on the highway. To drive at least 30 or 40 miles… after my gas tank was already below empty before I even got on the highway. But, as I drove, the truth of who He is started to set in.

I realized that it wasn’t even about me needing (or believing) Him to provide provision for gas or food or whatever my need was. It was about knowing that all I actually needed was Him. He could make my car run on nothing but His Word if He wanted to. (And by His word, I mean His promise that He is good and that He will never leave me nor forsake me.) He could make my body be sustained without food if He wanted to.

Over and over, He taught me to simply believe Him and move on nothing but His word.

Another time, my roommate’s dog had gotten into two fights with my dog in one day. It was scary and I had closed myself and both my dogs in my room in response. I didn’t want to come out because I was sure if I did, it would happen again. There was no reason for it not to. I had already seen how they were interacting with each other and it wasn’t pretty.

But then, Jesus began speaking to me in my room and told me that hiding away wasn’t trusting Him. I told Him, I thought Him asking me to come out of the bedroom meant that she would get attacked and that I just had to trust Him that it wouldn’t be too bad. To which, He responded, “Does that sound like Me?”

I knew it didn’t. But, I was still scared. But, when He ended up saying “What if I give you My word that I won’t let her touch her? Then will you come out?” I had to say yes, because whenever He told me something, I had to believe Him. He gave me His word and even gave me a sign (after I asked for one) so I knew for sure it was Him and not me imagining it or hearing wrong.

And of course, when we came out… it was fine. My dog even growled right in her dog’s face at one point (which normally, would have DEFINITELY caused her to react!) and her dog just walked away. I was a nervous wreck, but He came through on His promise.

And of course, there was my infamous trip across the country when He had me go to Transformation Church in Tulsa, OK with nothing but 83 cents in my account and 15 miles in my gas tank. Oh yea, and in the middle of a tornado watch, no less.

But once again, it was about me moving on nothing but His word and believing that was enough. He told me to go and trust that He wouldn’t fail me. So, I went. And He didn’t.

Looking back now, I can see where all of this training was to teach me to believe Him. To trust Him. And to know Him. Because you can really only trust and believe someone that you know.

And this has never been more important than right now.

You don’t have to be a believer to recognize that our world as we know it has changed. Things are never going back to “the way they were before.”

There has been a major spiritual shift and it’s only going to keep accelerating from here. And like I shared in the “What Do You Believe?” post, it will never be more important for believers to walk solely by faith and not by sight. As the two narratives - God’s and the world’s - get further and further apart, everyone will have to choose who they believe. And the reality they experience will be a direct result of that decision.

So, it only makes sense then, that Jesus wants His people to know Him. So, they will believe Him. And experience the abundant, blessed, powerful life He died for them to have. And that life is found… in Him.

The way He explained it to me is that it is an actual place - in Christ. So, if you think of it that way, then it only makes sense that you can only access the blessings that exist there if you go there. (If you wanted to eat some of your friend Mary’s amazing pecan pie, but you never go to her house and hang out with Jane instead. Then, you won’t get to partake of Mary’s awesome pie. It’s a simple as that.)

And that, He said, is why so many people who call themselves Christians and consider themselves to be believers don’t actually experience the promises He gives us in His Word. Because they’re not actually living in Christ.

And you can only truly live in Christ by surrendering completely to Him.
And you can only truly surrender completely to Him by trusting Him.
And you can only truly trust Him by truly knowing Him.

Hence, why knowing Jesus is so important. It’s literally the key to everything He has for you.

The things He promises in His Word - an abundant life, peace, provision, good health, protection, a sound mind - they are not just words on a page. They are real promises. But, not only do many (if not most) believers not truly experience these things in their life, but sadly, they’re also the first to try to talk you out of them. Calling it “prosperity Gospel.”

Which, once you do truly get to know Jesus, is about the most ridiculous phrase you’ve ever heard. Because um… yes… that is part of the Good News of the Gospel. He died so you could have a prosperous life. That’s not a secret. And it’s not wrong. (But, it’s amazing how the enemy has convinced SO many Christians to think otherwise!)

(I could go into a whole separate teaching on that here, but that’s not the focus of this post.)

But, if you don’t truly know Jesus and aren’t in true covenant with Him, you won’t be able to experience these things because you won’t be able to “find” them. (And just in case that spirit of offense is trying to get a rise out of you - remember, I’m sharing this from personal experience, not judgment! He had to reveal this to me too!)

And again, as things continue to progress in the times we are in, the spiritual divide is going to become clearer and clearer, very quickly. For those who are in the world, there will be chaos, darkness and many more storms to come. But, for those who are truly in covenant with the Lord and in the protection of His “ark” (see the Jeremiah and the Ark word for more info), they will experience His peace, provision and protection.

It will quite literally be like being either “inside the ark” or “outside” of it, except this time the ark is spiritual - being in true covenant with God (through Jesus).

And the division is already starting to become clear right now. With everything that’s happened in 2020, many believers have found themselves shaken to their core. They’re caught up in the same fear, panic, anxiety, dread and confusion as the rest of the world. But, that’s why Jesus is wanting to “wake up” His Church. Because that right there shows that She’s fallen asleep.

We were never meant to be like the world. We are supposed to stand out quite dramatically from it actually. When other people are afraid, we are supposed to demonstrate peace (Jesus sleeping on the boat). When other people won’t go near the ill, we are supposed to go lay hands on them and pray for healing (Jesus with the lepers, the possessed and so many more). When other people are panicking about not having enough, we are supposed to walk in the confidence that our Father in Heaven is an abundant God who meets all of our needs (Jesus with the fishes and the loaves).

These examples in the Bible weren’t just cute little stories. They were examples for us to follow. And, we are actually called to do even greater things than Jesus did!

We are called to walk in abundance, not lack. Healing, not illness. Peace, not stress. Power, not fear. Unity, not division. Compassion, not hatred. Belief, not doubt.

We are called to be Jesus to the world!

But, like I shared before, the key is not in trying to be like Jesus. The key is in surrendering ourselves fully to Him and letting Him live through us!

Because on our own, we’ll never be able to do it. But, that’s the good news! We don’t have to!

When you truly come into a deep intimacy with Jesus and really know Him the way He wants you to know Him, the rest falls in line. You not only can surrender fully to Him at that point, you desperately want to! Because you really understand that’s what it’s all about!

This life was never meant to be about us. It was always meant to be about Him. The original design in the Garden was for us to not be self-sufficient, self-conscious or even self-aware. We were vulnerable. We were exposed. Literally, naked. And it was a beautiful thing. We were totally dependent on Him and expectant of Him and didn’t think there was a thing wrong with it.

It was only when the enemy deceived Eve, they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and sin entered the picture, that everything changed. But, when Jesus came, He broke the curse of Adam. He came to restore the original order of things. And we’ve just taken a long time to catch up to that truth.

But, thankfully, God is moving things now. It is time. He is waking up His Bride and bringing her back into His original design. Where we can be in intimate relationship with Him. Where we are “vulnerable” to Him, but in complete safety, protection, prosperity and power under His wings.

It’s what will make the Church shine in these final days as the world around her gets deeper into darkness.

When we truly know Jesus, we have nothing to fear because we have a foundation within us that is shakable. Truly. Not just figuratively.

So, we no longer have to believe the lies of the world or the enemy because we can see them for what they truly are - lies. Smoke and mirrors. And we no longer have to agree with them.

That is the power and the authority that the enemy doesn’t want you to remember that you have. But, Jesus does.

He wants you to know Him so you’ll remember who you are in Him. So, you’ll know the true freedom that you actually have and so you’ll start to walk and live fully in it.

It’s like I said near the beginning of this post… once you really know Jesus, you realize He is the provision. He is the protection. He is the healing. He is the peace.

They aren’t things you have to search for or reach for or hope for anymore. They are yours in Him. And once you have Him, you have them. And no one can take them away from you.

Jesus wants to really know you.

He wants you to really know Him.

And He’s waiting to go deeper with you right now.

He wants to give you life. He wants to give you love. And He wants to give you freedom.

Will you take it?

The choice is yours.