Further and up and further in

Lately I've been wondering if anyone actually reads this blog and if it's even worth it for me to continue to update it and pour my heart and my thoughts out here. I have decided that my "readership" is not the point. I didn't start this blog to garner fans. I started it to have a place to write and to try and keep people updated on what's going on with my life. I will continue to keep this blog updated regardless of whether or not anyone reads it. That being said, here we go :)

I've been in Kona Hawaii for 3 weeks now. It's so strange that three weeks has gone by already! I am here doing a their Church Pioneering School. The intent of this school is equip and train us to be able to go back to wherever it is that God is calling us and start up new churches. When we say new churches, though, we're not talking about new services and new buildings. We're talking about new gatherings of believers living life together.

We've been going through the book of Acts and looking at the first church as our example. It's been quite convicting. The thing that has gotten to me the most is not even how they lived (sharing everything, true family, meeting together daily, etc) but rather the expectation they had of God. They KNEW that He was going to show His power. They never questioned whether or not healing would happen or whether or not the Holy Spirit would fall.

They knew with certainty that when they asked, he would answer. You see it over and over again when you read through Acts. Every chapter is full of it. Not only were people getting healed and delivered, but they were also getting saved. By the thousands. And why was this? I think it was because the power of God was so demonstrated. The first believers and disciples didn't just tell other people about Jesus, they showed them Jesus. We see this in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

The brought with them not only the Word of God but also the power of God. It was there. Always. It wasn't something that just showed up every now and then, it showed up every time! People were getting saved in great numbers because they saw the power of God and could not deny it. It was so demonstrated to them and they believed.

What a stark contrast to things today. So many churches (weekly gatherings) never experience the power of God. They come together and sing some songs and hear a great message that might inspire or convict, but the power of God doesn't show up. So many others experience the power of God every now and then. They show up on Sunday morning and have a time of worship, sometimes is great and sometimes it's just some songs, then every now and then they'll see the power of God and people will get healed and delivered. But that only happens every now and then.

Why is this?? Why don't we see the power of God every time we come together and every time we preach the word like they did in Acts? I think it's because we don't expect it and a lot of times don't even believe in it. I believe in the power of God and I've seen it and experienced it but if I'm completely honest with myself, I don't truly believe that it can happen all the time. It's this vague nebulous thing that comes and goes as it pleases and we just have to accept that. That's how I feel deep down. BUT I'M SO WRONG!!!!!!!

I'm seeing that now. It's not this vague nebulous thing. It's real! He's real! I truly believe now that God wants to manifest his power every time we come together and every time we preach the gospel. But we have to expect it! We have to contend for it! We have to put ourselves in a position to be open and receive. If we begin to expect God to show up, what might happen?

If we begin to expect that every time we encounter a sick person God is going to heal them, how many people will be healed? If we begin to expect that every time we share the gospel, we will see miracles and the power of God at work in a tangible way, what happen? How many more people might believe?

I want to challenge all who might be reading this. Begin to expect God to show up! Ask Him to reveal his power to you in new ways! When you are struggling with doubt, ask Him to lift you up and grant you faith. Stand strong!!! We are all a part of this great and glorious inheritance! Be lifted up! We will see the power of God manifested as we continue to seek after HIM! Read the word more, pray more. Ask Him to show you who you are in Him! Ask Him what He thinks about Him. Press in! Further up and further in! FURTHER UP AND FURTHER IN!!! There is still so much more to discover about our God!