Are we there yet?
Have you ever longed for something only for it to turn out to not really meeting your expectations? Have you ever wanted or recently perhaps got excited about something or maybe someone only for the reality to turn the expectations and excitement cold, disappointment again? Have you ever desperately wanted, needed and not received not even come close to meeting your dreams? I have and to be honest for me Church is a bit like that. Before you stone me for heresy let me explain and share from my journey that I’m still walking, stumbling and moving along. I do ask God are we there yet, cause I can’t believe this is it, I refuse actually to believe this is it, so what’s my problem. Well, when I first turned to God and said yes I believe and felt the Holy Spirit seal me forever in Christ, he planted deep into my heart an expectation a certainty if I can be honest without you thinking I’m boasting, a belief a faith that God is THE I AM, God can do anything, God is Almighty, is all powerful is a God that cannot be mapped out or even microscopically understood by created man. Then I read of him and his power in the bible and was amazed in awe and hungry to know more. Then I went to Church and very nearly lost the plot!
Consider God
What has happened to the Church why don’t we “Boldly Go”? To answer this question and to consider how to “Boldly Go” we need to get back to a solid understanding of God, not that we can ever dream of actually understanding God. Getting an understanding that fills your heart and soul with a knowledge that God is good, God loves you and God is always with you. If we could ever understand all of God he would not be God. If we created beings that we are can define and explain God, who would then be God? See what I mean, God created us in his own image in the image of God he created them (US), but we are not equal as some might lead you to believe.
God is God
God is uncreated and beyond creation, creation is because God is the I AM the all in all the one and only. God is sovereign, there is no other being like God, all others are created for and by God, God is all powerful, all present and eternal, beyond time, space and anything else our small minds might think of.
God is God
All of history, all of humankinds existence to date and to come is all part of Gods story. God would exist without US, God does not need us in any part to exist, he would still be God if we were not here. We need God though for every breath, even if we don’t acknowledge his existence, he is therefore we are – period. To often we scale down God to our view, our expectations, lets get real, lets let God be God!
Too familiar?
It is of critical importance that the Church considers God Holy and reveres him as Almighty. If the Church does not do this, why should the world. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross opened a way for mankind, away never before opened, away into the very throne room of almighty God. Without the blood of Jesus, we would not be able to draw near, we could not approach the holies of holies and expect to live, we are all sinful created creatures, and God is God
He cannot and never will tolerate sin, however when we turn to Jesus confess our sins and receive him as Lord THEN we can, think of it. I mean lets dwell on this thought this promise of Covent, its not a trivial thing, its not a part of the small print. This is the real deal, Christians can come before almighty God in the name of Jesus and ask the creator of all things THE I AM for anything.
Anything
Anything, yes Anything
John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Jesus does not go on to list all the things you can’t ask for its like “whatever”. Anything, whatever, just think of it. But, this is the thing, once we reach this point we are saved and sealed in the Holy Spirit, have Christ living in us so we are going to go for the things that would please him, would be in accordance with his will and his kingdom. Ask for a million quid if that’s what you want, but be prepared to give it away, ask for a fast car, ask for a big house, but be prepared for God to use them in accordance with Gods will “your Joy will be complete”. That doesn’t mean that if you say, ’I ask for a Ferrari in Jesus’ name.’ Jesus has to give you one. When we pray and ask God for things, He is looking at our hearts, not jotting down all the fancy words we use. He wants to know that our motives for asking are right and in line with His plan for our life. Sometimes we ask for things we think will be good for us but He knows would actually rip us up and turn us from him. So how do you know you’re on the right track? Well Jesus gives us a tip, ’seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:33). If you put Him first and your relationship with Him first, and press in and pray, and you will be amazed at the adventure He takes you on! This is amazing, think of this promise from the Creator of all things, for whom all things are, by whom all things are, says “Go on ask, just ask”
Houston we have a problem!
So with this power and promise, what’s gone wrong? Why is the world still in this mess, why is there so much hurt, so much pain, why does the Church seem to be on the back foot, receding not growing? We have the first aid kit, we have the solution. But we don’t use it. Its like having a sprinkler system that starts when someone pushes a button, it’s a small red one on a wall three foot off the floor and clearly labelled, all that is needed is someone to break the glass (its very thin) and push it, did I mention the house is nearly burned down, the neighbours are suffering and need I go on
How long do we wait, how long do we hold back, what are we afraid of. Us or God or Nothing? But will God listen, I’m not Holy enough, this is not my calling or gifting, what if nothing happens my faith is not that strong, I can’t pray, I can’t waste time to much to do. OK lets take a step back, I know someone who can help out and take you by the hand and lead you to the promised land, don’t panic its not me, it’s a person called “The Holy Spirit”
The Holy Spirit
Lets get the basics over with then, the Holy Spirit is God, not a cloud, not a vapour but a real person an equal part of the Trinity, here on earth cause Jesus is in heaven, sent to counsel and guide believers like you and me. Did you know that when you said yes to following Jesus you weren’t left on your own to try and figure everything out for your self, no way! God gives all His children an amazing gift, His Holy Spirit. Listen: ’But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you’ (John 14:26 NIV). You can offend him if you ignore him or abuse his name and ministry, you can grieve him, he hurts, he loves he is real and here know, ask and you will receive. The Holy Spirit is there to help us get to know God better and to have a close friendship with Him. You might be saying to yourself, ’how do I receive this gift?’ The same way you receive any present, all you have to do is accept it, and then say thanks. The Holy Spirit is our guide our compass he will teach us how to pray, he will lead us as to what to pray for and he will encourage us and empower us to do so. If we let him, Yes if we let him, you see if you don’t ask you are unlikely to receive and most likely to be left alone to do your own thing and not really serve the kingdom and not really grow to be like Jesus. The Holy spirit will not force you to follow and receive, we need to surrender and ask. No matter how long we’ve been a Christian, our body never improves; it never becomes more like God because we get old! That’s why we are told to everyday to give ourselves to him and live by Gods power. Listen: ’Obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions . . . then you will not always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to . . . we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures . . . But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:16-17 & 23 TLB). Is living like this really possible? Yes, but you must do four things:
1) understand that you’re a target for the enemy and protect yourself with God’s Word and prayer
2) get angry with sin - don’t put up with it: ’...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)
3) be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Without it, you lose every time
4) stand in God’s strength, not your own. How? By exercising your choice to obey Him rather than going for the easy option
All believers have God in their heart - but not all believers have given their whole heart to God! The question is not, ’how can I have more of the Holy Spirit?’ It’s ’how can the Spirit have more of me?’
So its Prayer time
Prayer seems so difficult to many Christians, so hard, so boring, so not me, so not my gifting.Oh so wrong, this is one of the devils most successful tactics, turning the church from prayer. If only we would have the faith of a mustard seed and turn and pray the prayer of a small faith, we would be amazed as the mountains crumble into the sea. Look read acts, the believers were always gathering in prayer and the room trembled, their leaders spoke bodily were ever they went, no chains or prison could hold them, even their passing shadows healed.
This is simply mapped out it starts:
“they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them”
You see, they meaning more than one, raised their voices, spoke out loud, put God as Sovereign, creator of all, getting the right and only perspective on all things and coming into the presence of God - that’s the start of prayer cooperate powerful prayer. This is when the mountains start trembling, a powerful weapon against powers and principalities is about to be unleash guided by the laser vision of the Holy spirit, if we would but come together and pray!
The believers prayer
Lets follow then the believers is as they pray together unleashing the power, as we can today:
Firstly – they are together
Secondly – they speak together in one voice
Thirdly – They put God first, bow to Gods sovereignty, Gods almighty place, Lord creator or all
Then they put the rulers and nations in perspective below God:
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One
Why do men waste their time raging against God, well they don’t know him, if they did they would not
Then they brought themselves and circumstances before God:
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.“
See what they ask for:
To speak of God and his Kingdom with boldness
For healing and miraculous signs and wonders, to draw people to Jesus and the kingdom
All grounded in the name, authority and will of Jesus
Results
Their prayers were answered, the room shock for starters that would liven up most prayer meetings! Prayer will open the door...THEY WERE ASTONISHED. ACTS 12:16Peter had been arrested and was locked up in jail for the next few days before being executed. Sixteen soldiers were assigned to guard him. The evening before his scheduled execution the believers held an all-night prayer meeting. Suddenly an angel appeared in Peter’s cell and said, ’...Quick, get up...’ (Acts 12:7 NIV), and his chains fell off
After praying all night, these Spirit-filled Christians’ were astonished when God actually answered their prayer. They obviously weren’t any more convinced than we are to think that God would miraculously step in, but they prayed anyway and God rewarded their weak incomplete faith. What is the point? Simply this: though your faith is weak and your doubts real, if you will just keep praying and standing on His Word, God will answer and open doors for you too! This is how then we to can bodily go, we start by meeting together in prayer, that’s the key
That’s how Church become Church, a place were God’s power is seen, were God does amazing things with cracked pots, with broken things, were God shows the world, look I’m real, I love you, come home. They will if we Bodily Go as Jesus tells us to, bodily in prayer and empowered by the Holy spirit, the greatest adventure awaits, are you ready?
So what is Church?
I started with some negative views about church
Not so much negative but a persistent disappointment
Of what could be and what is
Of what we could be with Gods power, promise and authority for his church and what we allow to happen
My friends, we need to change this I’ll let it start with me, I’m not here to judge or pass blame
We need to keep God as sovereign in our hearts, keep him as almighty the I AM not the I ME
We need to start praying rather than always doing
We need to come together as believers those in love with Christ, with the Holy spirit with God and start seeking his face, be Still and know that I am God should be our mantra
I do truly believe that as we do this we will see an ever increasing move of God, his glory, his power across our nation, in our families, I believe we will see church wide family wide salvations, I believe we will see the church rise up in the power of God, I believe this has to happen we have to let Gods light shine through our imperfections into the darkness that surrounds, I believe our prayers can stop conflict, bring powers and principalities to their knees and open the way for Gods will to be done here on earth as it is in heaven, I believe our prayers will change history, no make history
Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
You see to boldly go we must first humble ourselves in prayer, then we will be truly amazed
Are you willing to commit to pray for your families, the church, Gods kingdom, this nation, all nations it goes on
Are you bold enough!
Lets pray
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " ’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Amen.
