Hi Church
We're sure you'll agree it's been challenging to be reminded that God wants His church to be powerful and that for this to happen we as individuals must be HEALTHY, EFFECTIVE, HONEST and LOVING. Also, we're sure that you sense God is wanting to do something fresh and new in and through our church. However, it is so easy for us to dwell on the past, or let our emotions dictate to us how our day will go.
We are reminded of the comment made by the disciples after realizing that the risen Christ had been speaking with them on the road to Emmaus: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?" (Luke 24: 32). This encounter with Jesus followed an extremely emotionally dark and confusing time for Jesus' followers. We believe we need to learn and maintain the secret of ‘the burning heart' - a heart that can go through anything. Oswald Chambers says "it is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart - unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus."
Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as a result of sin, but because we allow our emotions to rule us instead of submitting them to the lordship of Christ. For example, when an emotion overtakes us, we should examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. If the outcome is something that would not please God, we can choose to put a stop to it immediately, recognizing that we are vitally united with Jesus, a new creation in Christ: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (Jn.15: 5). On the other hand, if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don't allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended.
We pray that you will continue to live your life in Christ, allowing your heart to burn with a desire to please Him alone. Remember that Jesus said, "If you live in Me - abide vitally united to Me - and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you." (Jn.15: 7)
In His great love,
Kevin and Marilyn
Senior Pastors |