This week I found myself thinking deeply on the hope we have in Christ. For almost a year now, we have spent time deconstructing our faith and discovering some of the most disheartening deceptions we have ever encountered in our Christian walk. It seems that in pulling the layers back, there is a bit of rot to clean up. That is rigorous, heat-wrenching work for people who are used to weekly motivational speeches and being constantly called upon to minister to the lives of other people. But, there comes a time when you acknowledge that the goal of unlearning has been accomplished and it is finally time for forward movement. Indeed the purpose for any war is to finally push through the strongholds and take hold of the city. For our group, I feel it is time to possess the life that we were meant to live. This includes none of what was imprisoning our minds and souls, and everything that Christ has freed us to enjoy and build our lives upon.
When Christ is the center of your life, there is a true hope about it. A good friend recently challenged me to define and express that hope. It's been a wild ride for my family and friends over the past few years. I had not really given thought to whether that hope was being expressed through my life. But, when I did the analysis, I was shocked at how far I had strayed from the place where life seemed limitless. My relationship betrayals, unfocused cynicism, and personal failures had taken their toll on my attitude. Although I always knew I was fighting to get somewhere, I now found myself walking towards the light instead of running for my life. It's easy to let this world and the daily grind throw you down to the ground. But, you have to stand up again at some point and start to run.
You know, it's in writing this article that I realize that, in spite of spending time in my fog, I can still feel the Holy Spirit coursing through my veins. Living prophetically was almost a slogan for me at one time - and I can still feel myself being used by God. That has never for a moment stopped. But, my awareness of my thirst for the warmth of His touch, the sound of His commands, and the feeling of walking alone with Him was somehow suppressed for a while. I would not trade the lessons of the few last years of my life for anything, but I think I am beginning to see how it all fits together, and where it is all headed.
It's time to explore the depth and the power of His presence without the mask of tradition and religion, not just fight against a system. People aren't interested in fighting a war - they want to know that there is a journey beyond their wildest dreams, something to hope and fight for. It's about moving towards something better, not just running from something worse.
I invite everyone that reads this post to join us in our journey to being the true Church that Jesus created. Come out on a Friday, or begin holding your own meetings. Let's show this world that hope is indeed alive through discovering the power of His resurrection. Let's unapologetically demonstrate the supernatural love and expression that only true worshippers can manifest. Let's lift our hands so high that we touch the face of God.
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