Right before leaving for Passion, I bought a couple of books. One of them is Francis Chan’s Multiply: disciples making disciples. Have given my life to Christ for two years now, I have spent a long time working on myself but I’ve been feeling a nudge that it’s time for me to start sharing this miracle with those around me.
Being at Passion, this desire only intensified.
Francis Chan shared that he has a tough time trusting people. So do I. My prayers for the longest time have been for God to allow me to share more of myself with those around me, to open the doors of my heart to those I call friends, and to let people in. Hearing his sermon was an answer to my prayers. I shouldn’t be asking to trust people. I should be asking to trust God. For “If we are faithless, He remains faithful - for He cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:11-13). He is unchangeable. This was so reassuring. God spoke to me through Francis and it felt as if I was the only one there for a moment. As if all those 70,000 people had all of the sudden disappeared.
Learning about the #EndItMovement also confirmed that this “nudge” I’ve been feeling is Oh, so real. We need to make people aware and we need to spread the good news everywhere we go. The WORLD needs Freedom, but most importantly We need Jesus. The world needs physical freedom, specially outside the U.S. but above all, the world NEEDS spiritual freedom! You and I both know this is only viable through Him; through the community of God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit). We are all little rocks of God, who need to come together to stand upon the most important rock: the Cornerstone, Christ Jesus. (Judah Smith)
While preaching, spreading and sharing, we must remember that REFLECTING is the most affective. We must carry the Light inside of us so that Jesus with His glory and grace can seep through our pores. So that we can be a reflection of Him to all of those we come in contact with.
We must also be prepared, “If you follow the path of love, you will suffer. Yet this path will allow you not only to endure, but to embrace suffering because you are being liberated from the power of Satan.” (John Piper). We must embrace the hardships and the suffering that will come with choosing to follow Jesus’s footsteps. But we are allowed to look forward to a reward! It is totally okay to think about eternity. And we must not fear the suffering, in fact, we must ENJOY the suffering. Paul’s encourages us to enjoy the suffering of the path of love for the indestructible reward of our relationship with our Creator in Romans 8:38-39: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In this journey, we must bow and pray: “Oh sovereign Lord, only You know! Help me overcome my disbelief”. (Ezekiel 37:3 & Mark 9:23) (Louie Giglio)
Then, to walk into a room with about 4,000 people (Striped Green CG) (Matt Metzger) screaming and jumping for joy every time someone would lift their hands manifesting their new life, made it all more real. I cannot even explain the feeling, the emotions, and the chills all over my body. I witnessed people coming alive in the love of Christ. There is nothing more rewarding. Nothing is worth more than that. This is the real meaning of saving a life.
I am ready, Lord. Put me to work.
