Pastor of Fishing

Supernatural church…hmmmmmm

 This chapter is the hardest for me as a pastor in the church. You see there are plans we can make and have a great things happen, but not be in God’s will.  It becomes a crazy thing when we look at a church and ask the question are we supernatural?

 I look at my church and I want to see a revival of our souls.  I beg the Lord to grow us and move us to a place of being in the wind of the Spirit.  Let’s just forget about all the scorecard crap and focus on the lives and the souls of those that the Spirit brings us!

WOW!  Imagine how it will be?  Imagine the craziness within the church?  Our plans would be shorter term?  Our direction would be pointed at a horizon…

 I do not want to write more on this…I am just going to end this chapter on this…

 Are you ready to have a life that is Spirit lead…that grows into a contagious wildfire that rips through the church that makes heads turn and stirs the soul?  Are you ready to be a vessel?  I am…

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Ugh…did he really have to write this chapter?  I always wanted to be that guy…the one that just gets all the information of God dumped right into my lap.  I want my plan all laid out and told to me in an instant.  A great download of the Spirit that prepares me for everything to come and is a simple easy package.  Open and read the contents inside for a wonderful trip with God…UGH!

 Commitment to a daily following…a chance to look over the next 10 minutes is something that truly pushes me to ask the question what does the next 10 minutes hold for me.  When it is all said and done I have to truly look at the concept of not having a “little God” in my life…hmmm

 Ok so I am picturing the view of what it means to run from Hell to the arms of God?  Do I truly run on a daily basis to get as far from the edge as possible so I don’t even give the hint of going towards Hell? MAN! Really?  It is now begging the question “What now?”  How do I push myself out of a semi-moral realm?  I have this some days.  I have these moments when I just don’t care.  I don’t want to get pushed or to follow…I…want…to sit.  Oh trust me everyone says sit, its ok, right?  Its ok to just take a week off from listening to God and just ignore the Spirit and frankly just end up in a world that is well..Godless RIGHT?

WRONG!

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Recently I have been asking the question to my personal self, “How is my relationship to God size up to the disciples and Christ?”  Asking this question can result in a variety of answers, but the one that I know is common is secure.  Chapter 5 delves into the concept of having a real relationship with God and specifically the Holy Spirit.    Chan points out very vividly the concept of being “known” by God as we see in Galatians 4:9. ( Galatians is a book that truly can rock your world if you choose to dig into it.)   The concept of having a relationship with God that is secure is very crucial in our existence as a human created in God’s image.

What does it mean to be known by God?  This is the theme we see in the beginning.  We see a deep picture of how God can know us and what that means to be His child.  This is very different than a slave as is pointed out.  This means that our toils in life are not to just be a “servant” of God but actually part of the family! How many times have I turned my faith into a works based attitude…instead of my works being the product of my relationship?

Do we view our faith as we live in exile in our own country?  The story of the South Korean missionary that was held hostage.  Do we have that zeal about our faith everyday?  I am starting to beg this question of my own life…can I truly look at each day in a way that is in relationship with God where the Holy Spirit is my life line?

Lately in life things have been hitting me and I have to deal with them on a daily basis.  The pastorate is one that is very misunderstood by many and frankly I am seeing it in a whole new light as well.  What will NEF look like in 5 years if the major attitude is to be Spirit lead…and we are truly not concerned about our security in heaven as much as knowing our God as He knows us!

Lets talk about the volume of life for a moment…I am finding more and more how I can focus my world and keep the volume low when it comes to the noise.  I am learning to be focussed and not get into the multitasking funk of life.  It is in this anxiety of “doing” that we lose our “being”.  Are we taking the time to relax and enjoy our lives as well?  Are we finding the peace within the noise?

One final point I really want to hit on…Do not let your baggage get in the way of your relationship with Christ!

This past week in particular I have talked to a few people where their pasts were holding them back from their future.  God loves to recycle our junk and make beautiful ornate creations…so let Him!  We didn’t call Him the creator for nothing.  I can’t stress enough how our pasts can drag us down unless we just give it up and move on!  We have so much to enjoy with the Lord if we just let go of the past and fly on!

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I found this chapter to be very compelling within my own being.  More and more as I begin to dig into the concept of the Spirit I am reminded at the vastness and how just sometimes it does make me wonder how much do I want Him?  Is the He leading me?  I am going to process a couple spots in this chapter because I feel they need to be highlighted and looked at with some more pointed scrutiny.

 Loving the church
 His thought that he posed, “How much do you love the church?  As you look around at your brothers and sisters do you think to yourself,  I love these people so much I pray God empowers me in some way to encourage these people toward a deeper walk with Him “  Wow!  I am finding myself more and saying this prayer.  Why?  I am in love with the church, and yes some days more than others.  Recently it has been harder for me to “love” but I am.  Consistently going to prayer for empowerment is a deep process that is becoming more and more apparent as my days continue.  The other day I caught myself wanting to go to heaven for the shear purpose of leaving this rock of a planet and enjoy the peace of being with God…yet am I not here to create the Kingdom on earth?  Wow talk about a revelation!  It definitely was the kick this war horse needed to be spurred on.

 So what does it look like for us to take interest in what God is doing in others?  It boils down to asking questions about people’s lives.  This is why I have been so bent in the Sunday school class to get people to share about what is happening.  The Spirit is working among us and I so want to hear how!  I want to seek the Spirit for the right reasons…to create the Kingdom here on earth.

 Miracles
I have heard recently (past 2 weeks) a few people say where are the miracles of the bible happening around me.  The theme is they want to see the miracles as they played out in the bible happen to them in their world.  I tend to see a danger in this as the Chan points out.  The “miracle hunting” that is happening more and more within the postmodern church.  I am seeing this hunger to see this happen, yet the lack of how is God to use me now?  This miracle hunting has created a misguided pursuit in priorities.  Emphasizing how we enter into the presence of God and know that He is the one that is calling the shots is rather important…hmmm what does this mean for how I pray?

 Followers or Leaders
 So did the Spirit lead me into the pastorate or myself?  That is the question asked to me with this chapter.  Digging into who I am and how I am walking with God at this point is important to me.  Having two weeks to prep for this Sunday’s sermon has really gotten me into the mindset of being vital in ministry.  God wants me and He wants you!  WOW could this be the key to why we serve?  Not out of obedience but out of our hearts to be wanted and loved?  What does it look like if we are find our being loved through experiencing the Kingdom? Hmmmmm more ponderings on this one.

 Esther…did he have to put her in the book?
These are stories that do not move me anymore…they ache me instead.  Reading these types of accounts tend to make my heart pain.  How easy do we have it?  Yes we, not just I but we.  We have a life that is so simple and safe.  Daily we take for granted that we could have been born into a world like Esther, instead we get this nice cushy life here in America.  We do not understand just how good we have it, yet we forget how much God is doing in our world.

 Conclusion of it all
Basically this chapter has summed up how the Spirit is in my life.  Daily manifestations of the Spirit are being seen, but are we noticing and acknowledging them.  Seeing people being focused on the wrong things and not asking for the empowerment and listening has become the norm.  This Sunday as I prep for the sermon I am continually digging into the concept that it is through our prayers and the interactions with the Spirit and the church that we will see the glory of God!

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When hearing someone’s take on the Holy Spirit I usually end up cringing at first.  It seems that lately everybody has an opinion on what or who the Holy Spirit is…even me!  As I read this chapter it echoed the words of the Scripture.  The concept of grieving over my injustices and rejoicing over my loving actions.  What is that truly like?

This chapter really pushed me to start asking the questions to my Lord how do I communicate with God and particularly the Holy Spirit.  It has pushed my prayer life into more than just a one time a day, or a moment in time that I focus, but into more of a checking in throughout the day.  A txt msg conversation with the Holy Spirit of sorts.

I know at first this may sound cheapened, like I am not making a ritual or having a reverence for my time, but more and more I am viewing it as being in battle.  I can’t help but view our walks as a piece of the greater battle.  Everyday I am constantly reminded of how fallen our world is and every step is moment where the Holy Spirit may have some insight/direction on my moves.  Intel as you may call it.

The reality is that all the schooling in the world will not prepare you for when the Holy Spirit needs you for a task.  Yes I said need and probably can throw in there want.  God has us as a piece of the battle, a force that He needs here on earth.  Sure I get the big picture and sometimes don’t have the details of it all, but I love when I have that direction, drive, and focus.

So what did these basic truths create for you?  Did you get stirred up a bit in your prayer life?  How you interact with God?

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Most of you know me already as a big anti-fear guy.  I am finding that the majority of the reasons things are not done by a church or an individual is the fear of the what-ifs.  This fear can be formed out of a variety of things.  As stated in the book, fear is normal…but is it a pattern that God wants from us when we read Scriptures?

This is something that is tough for me as I look to those around me.  I hate even when I don’t do something because I am a wuss and am afraid.  This chapter though focussed alot on are you ready to be open to the Spirit?  Are we ready to let our guard down?  Can we open our hearts to the Spirit and what He has for us?

Recently in my own walk I have been trying to be more obiedient not so much in the “rules” of the bible but more in how the Holy Spirit is teaching me.  Things from being more organized to setting down foundational spiritual disciplines…all of these are keys to a fuller life with Christ.  So what makes us afraid to tread into the deeper waters? 

Chan has a header that questions,  “What if God doesn’t come through?”.  I think many times this can be us or the concept that nothing happens so now what?  Fear of praying boldy is a difficult journey at times.  As Chan continues to write I notice he goes after our own compensation for the lack of answer from him. 

There is alot in this chapter…so I want to hear from all of you on what it is that you are afraid of?  What slows you down with the Spirit?

“Fear is faithless and Faith is fearless!” – Roth

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In starting this book I was very taken back by the way Chan interacted with the Jehovah Witnesses.  It wasn’t his method but more his post game analysis of himself.  I began to remember in my own life when I found treasures of Scripture that went against what I was taught growing up.  One of these area for me is money.  I found that the call God puts on us for stewardship is so far from how I personally actually practice it.  The scriptures open my eyes more and more to the submissive nature I lack when serving the Kingdom.

Chan calls us to be analyzing the way we interact with the Spirit.   He brings up this notion that we don’t necessarily acknowledge or see evidence within our own churches of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit that is talked about in the Epistles tell us of an amazing power that putis our sin to death.  The Spirit is able to gift us supernaturally and assist us when we humanly could not perform the task at hand.  Should our lives not look radically different from our old?  Maybe for some of us we have been Christians so long we have no old life…and we have become stale?

There is a piece of text that I want to bring up regarding church growth, “Even our church growth can happen without Him.  let’s be honest:  If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church.  yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is actively working and moving in the lives of the people who are coming.  It simply means that you have created a space that is appealing enough to draw people in for an hour or two on Sunday.  It certainly does not mean that people walk out the doors moved to worship in the awe of God.  People are more likely to describe the quality of the music or the appeal of the sermon than the One who is the reason people gather for “church” in the first place”

I want us as a class to focus this week’s discussion on the facts of the Holy Spirit working in our own lives.  Tell us some tales when He has been present as well as maybe some areas you need to start acknowledging.  I mentionedd my finances before…one area also for myself is the methods of giving a sermon.  I feel very inadequate to preach and be in the position of the church at this time…it is truly the Holy Spirit that keeps showing up and covering the bill in my life.  I encourage you this week to truly seek time with the Lord before all else…make sure you spend time relating to the Spirit before your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend, before your job, before your kids, press into this beautiful gift of God called the Holy Spirit! 

Live in the Spirit…not next to it!

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