Feb
12
2010
Forgotten God – Chapter 4 – Why do you want Him?
Author: pastoroffishingI 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!
