THE EXPERIMENT

 

         Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to actually live the way the Bible instructs us to?  Is it really possible to "walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh", to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding", to "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus"?

          I wanted to find out.  I think the reason we don't see God meeting our needs is that we have so many "plan B's" that trusting God for our needs has become a last resort, so I conducted an experiment. Not a lab experiment with controls, but a social experiment to see if I could live totally submitted to God like the Bible instructs and see Him meet my needs.

           Don't misunderstand - I'm not testing God or the Bible.  I have total faith in them. I'm testing myself.  I'm becoming God's guinea pig to see if I can deny my flesh, consider others above myself, put God's will above my own.  Can I remain faithful when opposition arises?  How big a pull does my flesh have?  Will I try to justify my own will?    I'm talking about a radical lifestyle change of denying myself, taking up my cross and following Christ.  Can a person in today's society really trust God to meet his every need?  

         I embarked upon this experiment in November of 2014, and I blogged the journey.  The blog page is long since gone, but I think the wisdom and insights gained along the way were not only invaluable to me but would benefit others, so I’ve put the journey onto the pages here.  Come along with me as I embark upon an epic adventure known as….  The Experiment.

EXCERPTS

WHAT?  WHY?

 

     I'm embarking upon an experiment - a social experiment, to see if a person can truly live as the Bible commands and see God move miraculously on his behalf. 

     Why?  Because I feel the call on my life to live in a way that pleases God and the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please Him.  But beyond that, God has gifted me to write.  He's called me to use that gift to point others to Him.

     God doesn't fail; His Word doesn't fail so I already know the outcome.  I'm not testing God or the Bible.  I'm testing myself.  Can I resist the pull of the flesh?  How will I respond to opposition?

       I'm blogging this journey so others will see God's faithfulness even if I should prove unfaithful.  So they will see He's a loving, forgiving, restoring God when I fail.  So they will be encouraged to try to live their faith to the fullest.

      

 

INSPIRATION AND ADVICE

 

     So what prompted me to do this?   How did the idea originate?  In the 5th grade Sunday School class I teach, there are a series of books called, Heroes of the Faith.  I figured if they were there for my kids to read, I should know what they say, so I borrowed one: a biography of a man named George Muller.  This book profoundly changed my life.
     George started out as a young man, a gambler, drinker, in and out of jail who found a relationship with Jesus Christ that turned his life completely around.  Reader's Digest condensed version is that in his lifetime George started seven orphanages from scratch, established 117 schools and cared for 1,024 orphans in his lifetime - all while being disinherited from his father's fortune and without asking for or borrowing one penny.  George depended on God directly to meet his every need.

     There was one story in the book that greatly impacted me. One day the headmistress of one of George's orphanages called him and said, "The day has finally arrived.  We have 300 children seated for breakfast and I have nothing to put on their plates."  George called to his granddaughter, "Come and see what God is going to do".  He walked into the cafeteria and instructed the children to bow their heads over their empty plates to bless the food.   He prayed, "God we thank you for this food that we are about to eat and for always providing for us."  Before he said "Amen", there was a knock at the door.  It was the town's baker.  He said the Lord prompted him to get up in the middle of the night and start baking.  He had enough loaves of warm, fresh bread right out of the oven to feed all the children.  Before all the bread was distributed, there was another knock on the door and there stood a milkman whose cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage and the man had to give away the milk before it could spoil.  Could they use it?
     I started to think, Why don't we see things like this today?  And I realized that we don't see God meeting our needs by and large because we aren't in need.  We are self-sufficient.  We have jobs, savings accounts, credit cards, friends and family to borrow from, cash/title loan places, etc.  We go everywhere but to God.  And we includes me.
     That's when God started speaking to me about having the kind of faith George had.  "Come see what God is going to do".  Such bold words.  Such faith.  And He gave me the idea of The Experiment.  It's my way of saying to all who will read it, "Come see what God is going to do".

     As days went by, I became more and more convinced that this wasn't just a hare-brained idea, but something God was truly calling me to.  But I wasn't sure where to start or how to get the word out.  I went to my Pastor for advice.  Scott Richards is one of the wisest men with a sincere passion for God that I have ever met and I value his opinion.  He sat and quietly listened while I poured out what was on my heart one Sunday morning before service.  When I finished, he endorsed my project, but with some words of advice that I am so thankful for.
     This can be a great tool in God's hands, he said, but I'd caution against a few things:  it's so easy for what starts as a calling from God to become a work of the flesh.  He told me to keep my eyes on Jesus.  It has to be about Him and what He's doing and not about me and what I'm doing.  I need to give God the flexibility to change direction even if I think I have how it's to work all mapped out.  I need to be led by the Spirit or it's never going to work.   He reminded me that God isn't calling everyone to this right now, so be careful I don't get haughty and start judging people or start comparing myself to others.  Finally he said, make sure it's a "get to, not a got to".  This is something I get to do to draw closer to the Lord, see Him move in my life, and point others to Him.  It's not something I've got to do because I committed and people are watching.  Once it becomes that, it's a work of the flesh, and I've failed my experiment.
     So, armed with my inspiration and my Godly advice, I believe I am ready to embark on the biggest adventure of my life.  I'm excited to see what God is going to do.  I'm a little bit scared that I might let Him down along the way.  But I know His grace is sufficient for me.  So here I go....
     

NEED OR GREED

 

     I remember the story of the rich young ruler in the Bible.  He asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus listed the 10 commandments for him.  The young man stated that he'd kept these from his youth.  Jesus told him to sell all he owned, give it to the poor and follow Him.  The ruler went away sad because he had great possessions he was not willing to give up.
   In praying about this experiment, I asked God, Is this what you are requiring of me?  Am I to sell all I have, give it to the poor and follow You?  He responded by saying that I am neither rich nor young and I am not a ruler.  I must admit I've never been so thankful to be a poor old peasant!  The Lord proceeded to outline the parameters of this experiment for me.
     "I want you to trim the excess", He told me.  He showed me five areas of my life and told me that in each one, He wanted to show me what was need and what was greed.  I am to incrementally trim the excess in each area until I have only what I absolutely need.  The excess is to go to those who don't have enough.
     The five areas in need of a trim are:   My Finances; My Possessions; My Food; My Leisure Time; and My God Time.

Here's what He said I need:
       Finances:  My paycheck must be used to pay rent, utilities, and obligations including my ministry needs; buy gas and reasonable groceries (see Food).  I am to have no more than $60 in the bank and no savings account, no credit cards and no money put aside if the car breaks down.  God Himself will meet those needs when they arise.  The excess is to go to those in need at His direction.
     Possessions:  Most people would think I already live a pretty simple life.  I don't own a smart phone, have cable or satellite or buy internet service, but the Lord showed me just how much extra I have.  I have summer, fall, winter and spring clothes - a closet full of each.  Much more than one person needs.  Shoes, jewelry, makeup, superfluous decor and trinkets, all in need of a trim.
     Leisure Time:  Defined as any time I am not at work.  The Lord showed me there are things I need to add here and things I need to take away.  I need to add time to exercise, more quality time with family, more time volunteering and in humanitarian efforts.  I need to spend less time watching TV, playing on the computer, reading things that don't benefit.  I need to submit leisure time to the Lord and let Him lead and direct.
     God Time:  Defined as time spent in prayer, in the Word and in worship.  Not to be confined to Sundays and Wednesdays only.  I need to spend more time in the Word and more time in intercessory prayer.  I am active in many areas of ministry: Letters to My Beloved Ones, teaching 5th grade Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, teaching women's Bible studies twice a year, being part of the church's prayer team, etc.  But God showed me He wants ministry to be something I am, not just something I do. My God time needs to be increasing to non-ceasing, so that while I am working or doing leisure time activities I am still in communion with Him and am ministering to others.  All my time needs to become God time.
     Food:  The goal is three healthy balanced meals a day, water or milk only to drink, and no snacking.  Sounds severe, but I think of those who truly don't have enough food to eat and how thankful they'd be for three solid, nutritious meals a day.  I don't need snacks.  That's just a lust of my flesh.  My body will be much healthier if I stick to these guidelines.  Now I know all you nurses out there are going to tell me about healthy snacks and six small meals a day so I won't get hungry and binge.  But this is the plan the Lord laid out for me.  So it must be what I need.  Honestly, this will probably be the most difficult area for me to trim.

     So now I have the plan.  Time to start defining the need and eliminating the greed.  I don't expect it to be easy.  Please pray for me.  I'll keep you posted.... 

LIMITED GRACE

 

       It was my lunch break and I was driving to the bank, excited to cash my first paycheck since beginning the experiment.  I had already figured how much money I'd need to pay my rent, utilities, insurance, gas, groceries and other obligations.  Now my mind was eagerly contemplating how I'd use the rest of the check to further the kingdom of God.  That's when I heard the familiar still small voice speak.
      That's not your money to spend. 
     "Oh, I know, Lord", I replied.  "It's Your money. Just show me what You want me to do with it."  It's not my money either.  Confused now, I asked, "Then whose money is it?"  Northwest Hospital's.  "Oh".
      Last December I went to the emergency room with very high blood pressure, a tight chest and tingling in my left arm. After a dozen EKG's, a nuclear stress test and a night in the hospital it was determined that there was nothing at all wrong with me.  My blood pressure was great, my heart was strong and healthy.  The high readings came from a BP cuff that was too tight.  That also accounted for the tingling in the arm, and the tight chest was from anxiety thinking I may be having a heart attack.  The actual near heart attack came when I saw the bill.  With no health insurance at the time, the bill from Northwest Hospital came to $9,600 (after they took off $3000 for a self-pay discount).  The related services (cardiologist, radiologist, urgent care, etc.) came to just under $3,000 combined.  Within nine months I had the "little" bills paid off and only had the monster hospital bill to attack.  They, however, got tired of waiting for their money and turned me to collections. I had begun paying that faithfully $100/mo. but within 2 months they got a court order against me to pay $250/mo. or they'd have legal recourse.  I kind of resented being sued for debt when I was doing my best to pay it and had never even been late with a payment.  Now the Lord was addressing the issue.
      You owed every penny the minute the service was rendered, the still small voice continued.  The fact they waited nine months for payment was grace.  Being willing to take any payments at all is also grace.  Even getting the court order was grace. All the money you acquire is theirs until this debt is paid in full.  If they are allowing you to use some of it to live on and pay other obligations, that is grace.
Wow!  I'd never seen debt from this perspective before, and I was suddenly grateful that I no longer have credit cards and this is the only debt I have.
     "So I can't use the extra money from my check for the kingdom?" I asked.  My grace is sufficient for the need.  Man's grace is limited.  You may use a portion where I direct and the rest goes to Northwest Hospital until your debt is paid.  When that is paid in full, all your extra income can be used to further the kingdom. Until then, that money does not belong to you, or even to Me.  You never know when limited grace will run out.
     So the Lord has taken this experiment in a direction I did not foresee, but I see the wisdom in it.  I will pay more than $250/mo. on this bill and will get it paid off as quickly as I can.  Maybe I'll be free from it by the time I get all the other excess in my life trimmed off, then God will really be free to move in my life.  Now I just need the patience to wait for that day and the determination to keep trimming the debt and the excess along the way.  But I know I can do it.  God's grace is sufficient for me.  Only man's grace is limited.

LOUDER THAN WORDS

 

     Last night on my way home from work, I stopped at the store to pick up a few things.  I shopped very frugally for only the things I needed and left.  As I was putting the groceries in the car, I was approached by a man asking me if I could spare some change.
      I asked him what he needed it for.  He said to pick up some groceries.  I could smell beer on his breath and was getting ready to tell him I couldn't help him when I heard that familiar still small voice that guides me say, I was hungry and you fed me.  Not wanting to give him money to buy more beer, I told him that I didn't have any cash, but if he's hungry I'd be happy to take him in the store and buy him some groceries with my debit card.  He said that would be great.  So in we went.
       I was not surprised to find that every single item we put in our cart was on sale.  God works like that.  When you respond in obedience, He responds in blessing.  For $13 we got a gallon of milk, 18 eggs, a loaf of bread, bologna, cottage cheese, flour tortillas, refried beans and even a bag of chips!  The man kept expressing his gratitude, saying how long this food was going to last him, and how wonderful it will be to have eggs for breakfast.
       As we were shopping, I was praying, "Lord, should I preach the gospel to him?  Should I tell him about You?"  That's exactly what you are doing, He replied.  I didn't mention Jesus to the man, but as we were checking out he asked me, "So where do you go to church?"  I asked him what made him think I go to church.  He said that only someone who loves Jesus would do what I was doing.
     The Lord was right. (duh!)  Actions speak louder than words.  Jesus said in John 13:35 "By this they will know that you are mine, that you show love one for another."
     I truly don't know who came away from the experience more blessed, the man or myself.  I would have turned the man away because of the beer breath; God looked at the man and saw Himself. "Inasmuch as you've done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."  I am so thankful for this experiment.  I am learning much.

A MOMENT SUCH AS THIS

 

          There are moments in our lives that define us; times when we acknowledge that we are doing what we were created to do.  I have entered into a moment such as this.

     I am so thankful for The Experiment.  It has taught me a lot.  It has enabled me to be ready for this time in my life, my mission, my calling, that which I was created to do.  It has helped me see what is important and what is not.  It has helped me shed things from my life that only hinder and be able to focus on those things that are vital.
     I've known from the start that God has called me to teach and to write and to this point I've used those gifts to minister to the body of Christ and I believe some have been blessed. When we are seeking Him and being obedient to do what He tells us to do we feel fulfilled, content.  And that's when God says, "Wade out into the deep.  I have more for you."  So out I went and discovered that there is a huge ocean out there.  I was wading in the lagoon ministering to the body of Christ.  There is a whole world of unchurched people out there who need to know the truth. "This is where I am sending you", My Lord told me.
    " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."  Jesus said these words in Luke 4:18, 19.  But it is my mission as well:  to relay the truth in a way that spiritually blind eyes will be open, those captive to their sinful nature will be set free, the broken hearted will find healing, that all will be able to look at the world around them and see the bigger picture of God's plan for their lives.
     The purpose of The Experiment was to see if a person could really live the way the Bible calls us to live.  I conclude that we can.  We can be led by the Spirit and deny the works of the flesh and through obedience come to the place where we can be used of God to reach this world for Him.  We aren't perfect; just yielded.  Just what He needs us to be.
     So this concludes The Experiment.  I am moving on to creating works for publication; works intended to reach a worldwide audience. I intend to share the Love of Christ with a lost and dying world, words of wisdom and encouragement to His Beloved ones and set an example for how we are to live in this world. He’s taught me all I need to know.  Now it’s time to apply it.  Love in Christ, Raelynn

Unless God speeds up the timetable, and He's done it before, THE EXPERIMENT should be coming out in 2030.  I hope you will benefit from reading it as much as I did from living it.