If Jesus moved here for a week...
If Jesus - the Jesus of the Bible - moved to your city for a week, would your city change?
Of course it would, and drastically so. Why? Because Jesus does not have a passive religion. He would be out healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead - the types of things you can't do without radically changing the city in which you do it.
So why aren't we doing these same things? Aren't we supposed to BE Jesus to the people in our cities? Doesn't the spirit that lives in Him live in us also?
In the book of John, Jesus said that those who believe in Him would do his work and even greater things than he did. GREATER than raising the dead? Hey. He said it not me.
But we're not doing greater, or even equal works. Our feeble attempts at evangelism pale in comparison. So what does this mean? It means we are an unbelieving people. If we believed - no, I mean if we REALLY believed - stuff would be happening. We would be doing Christ's work in the world. Because people ALWAYS act on what they believe. And lack of action speaks as much about what you believe as your action does.
But there's hope. The man with the demon-possessed son cried, "I believe!" and in the same breath "Help me overcome my unbelief!"
So we should be praying the same way. Almighty God, we believe. But Jesus, help us overcome our unbelief!
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit and He is faithful. He empowered us to do his work and greater things still. If we would only sacrifice our earthly dignity on the altar of our King, we would begin to do unbelievable things out of the abundance of our belief.
Jesus I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief and be Jesus to Carson City!
posted by Kate Robinson @ 6:37 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Hmm...Jesus physically visiting Seattle would be pretty cool. But I'm pretty sure that if Jesus came to Seattle for a week, they'd try to crucify him all over again. But I've been wrong before.
Oh... America is far too civilized for that. We wouldn't crucify him! We would admit him to a psychiatric hospital. Then, when all the people there were healed, they'd put him in jail. There would be a huge smear campaign in the media about how all his miracles were explainable by this or that, and how he was really just an angry whacko that should be locked away forever.
Or maybe he would get a talk radio gig...
Hey. that was funny.
Hmmm, I read this a couple of days ago and have been giving it some thought.
First, yes indeed, if Jesus came to our town, or any town, it would be radically changed. He is the ultimate authority over demonic principalities, illness and disease and sickness, and the ultimate healer of ailments, etc. However, not everyone would be healed, set free, delivered, etc. When he walked the earth, he did not touch everyone; the same would be true today.
Second, why aren't we doing the Jesus stuff today? What's wrong with us? Why don't we have/use the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus Christ? Well, spiritual warfare has fallen by the wayside. It is not taught from the pulpit. People aren't equipped nor trained to handle the principalities of this dark world, nor do they care. Dabbling in "that stuff" is either "not of God", "freaky" or "not my stuff".
Third, reaching the lost. Why aren't we bringing 'em in in droves? Why aren't the pews full of people? Why aren't churches bursting the seams?
Well, the lost don't want to be found. Depending on lifestyle choice, they don't want out of their comfort zone, they can't shake the addictions, they don't want accountability, whatever. I have seen so many come to church, get saved, participate for awhile, give up the addiction, then...."return to the vomit". The pull back to the barf is so much stronger.
Then there are those who are just too well fed--a BMW and a SUV in the garage, plenty of food in the fridge in the kitchen and the garage, 2500 sq. ft. home, manicured lawns, etc. Really, a need for Jesus? "Man, I got it all!" is the attitude of some of these people.
And....when the lost do go to church, what is the attitude there? Is it cold, indifferent? Is it harsh, beating? Is it boring, naptime? Do the lost really find what they need in church?
And if they do, that brings me back to my third point. Yeah, they get found, for awhile, then fall away.
Mmmhmmm, I know the scripture about the seeds and the rocks and the dirt, etc.
But my main point is this: Todays church isn't Jesus. We are issue-ridden, unequipped, downtrodden folks who really do love Jesus, but just don't have the gumption to do anything about it.
However, Fnord's words, "There is a time coming...." are prophetic. It is starting to happen. It will happen. It isn't going to happen the way man wants it to happen; it will happen the way Jesus wants it to happen. And we must intercede, not for our will to be done, but for HIS will to be done.
I like your comments, Fnord. You should teach. It's time. Time to come out of your shell and break forth with new life.
ARE YOU SOMEONE I KNOW ANONYMOUS? I have a reason for asking this.
The point of anonymity is to be unidentifiable, which is where I am quite comfortable being.
One of the things I like to do is read what happened before things happened.
I read in Acts Chapter 1 and look at the Gospels. These 11 men that God turned the world upside down with in Acts 2 didn't just show up and start doing "the stuff." They gave up everything for 3+ years.... They were taught, and they were shown, and they did the stuff under the teacher's watchful eye. They had come to a place where they knew scripture, they were together in unity, and they had settled all the issues about who was in charge of their lives.
I don't see the church in America at least willing to do that. It seems that there is a significant amount of dying, pressing in, and learning that needs to be done. Most people I know are still asking God to break into their already busy lives.
I don't see people gathering daily to pray.... I don't see people in unity....
But, I *do* see people starting to understand those things are important... maybe even critical... And there is perhaps the hint of a change coming. I am hopeful that it really does.
I think I can see the glimmer of what it could look like... I think the path is there, in front of us... and available.
Who will be the first ones to walk through to the other side? To completely lose their lives... To truly believe... and to really be Jesus to the town I live in?
He would be volunteering in AIDS clinics, helping the sick, feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, and clothing the cold. What he wouldn't be doing is starting wars,advocating torture, punishing the poor, diverting money from the poor and giving it to the ultra rich, nor would he be complaining about the tax burden on wealthy soccer moms or fighting for the gun lobby.
If you are a Christian don't vote Republican. Jesus and Bush simply don't agree on many of the issues.
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