Cleansing Healer Savior King

I was rereading Forgotten God by Francis Chan for the 5th time and was struck again by how well he expresses what I have often thought. “Churchgoers all across the nation say the Holy Spirit has entered them. They claim that God has given them a supernatural ability to follow Christ, put their sin to death, and serve the church. Christians talk about being born again and say that they were dead but now have come to life. We have become hardened to those words, but they are powerful words that have significant meaning. Yet when those outside the church see no difference in our lives, they begin to question our integrity, our sanity, or even worse, our God. And can you blame them?” pg. 32-33. When will we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life that can only be explained by His power and presence? A life fully devoted to Jesus!

I sit and watch the snow gently falling. Then the wind catches the flakes causing them to spin, swirl, and dance. I ask myself, isn’t that what our God wants from us? To be so attune to His Spirit, pneuma-breath-wind, that a gentle touch results in a dance. Where is our faith, our belief, our sensitivity to His urgings?

What is Jesus asking from the church today? What does He want from Followers of Jesus? Does He want something new or old? Over the last year I feel Jesus has been impressing on me that He wants the radical life that can be seen in Acts. A life dependent upon Jesus for everything. Dependent upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. That He desires “normal” to be a life that expects to daily share Jesus with others in spite of persecution, that expects prayer to bring healing and is concerned when it does not, a life not concerned with comfort but concerned with obedience. He desires that we know Him as savior, sanctifier, healer, and coming king daily, always! Can you imagine a life lived solely devoted to Him? What a magnificently beautiful life that would be!

Jesus our Healer displayed His magnificent presence through the Holy Spirit last sunday. Many seemed touched by His presence. The elders and pastors prayed for over 20 individuals including couples. There were tears and laughter and our savior, sanctifier and healer was glorified. Many seemed to understand that salvation is just the beginning. In the same way we surrender to Jesus as our savior, then accepting Him as our Lord and savior and finally learning to abide in Him we must learn to surrender to Him as sanctifier and healer, accepting Him as sanctifier and healer, and then abiding daily in Him as sanctifier and healer. It is a life long process of daily surrender…acceptance…and abiding! I pray as you read this you will come to experience Jesus as your savior, sanctifier, and healer.

What does sanctified mean in our day to day lives? What does it look like? Can others tell we are being sanctified? If so, how? When we are born again, we become members of God’s family. We believe Jesus covered our sins, paid the price, and we are then “positionally sanctified”. We are seperated, set apart from those not born again and are seen as spotless, holy, because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Most followers of Jesus know and understand the promise of salvation but do not experience the ongoing sanctifying work of Jesus in their lives. What has happened? Why? They have not learned, nor understood, nor allowed the Holy Spirit to have control in their lives. As a result a lack of power in their life is experienced, unsuccessful struggle against sin occurs, frustration in ministry happens and a serious lack of joy descends.

Superbowl Sunday is tomorrow. I can not help but think about all those that will decide because there is a special football game going on they need to miss fellowshipping with the Body of believers. So they will sleep in then start preparing to sit and watch modern gladiators battle for control of a pigskin filled with air. They know that in regards to their eternal security the game has nothing relevant to provide but it will be chosen over attending church. It is purely because of the Holy Spirit that tomorrow’s sermon will be on Jesus our Savior. I pray that I will be surprised!

What a month January has been! Vacation, celebration dinner, Leadership Retreat. I feel as if I have been set up by the Lord! It took almost four days before I even began to unwind during vacation. I had not realized I was that tight….it made for a rough four days for everyone, since I was a little irritable(understatement). Once I wound down I began to have fun and was able to become lost in God’s greatness. Then we hurried home for the celebration dinner and service which was great. That evening we left for Leadership Retreat where I was hammered by Jesus. I feel as if the Lord allowed me to tighten up, to have a rough time, then to relax so that I would be open to Him at Leadership. The worship through music led by Aaron Wardle was awesome, the teachings by Jason Ostrander (National Youth Director of the C&MA) and John F. Soper (Vice President for Church Ministries of the C&MA) were challenging, direct, and powerful. I was struck down, battered, lifted, held, and left wanting so much more. I had rediscovered that sweet communion with my savior that both challenges, convicts, and raises one up simultaneously. I worshiped in the true sense of communion with my Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit used the music, the words, the setting to clear the way so that I could see Jesus who then pointed to the Father who sends the Spirit to clear the way to look to Jesus who points to the Father…..! If you haven’t taken the time to unwind, so that you can open up to the Holy Spirit so that He can lead you into Jesus’ embrace. Take the time tonight! Now.