“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life…” (2 Timothy 1:7-9)
Hey friend! How are you doing today? I hope you are having a good sunday.
Yesterday was a special day! I don’t know if you are aware of this event, but yesterday was the gathering of The Send in Kansas City and it was amazing! I mean, I was not there, I was watching online with some friends, but it was powerful!
This movement, if you don’t know about it, it is a movement of prayer and evangelism that was born in the hearts of several leaders of different countries/movements and the goal is to activate every Christian to go to the fields and preach the Good News of Christ, with passion and authority! It is so powerful, I have to admit that my heart burns for this goal and I was very glad to join in the Send 2020, that happend here in Brazil!
However, my purpose with this post it is not to talk about The Send ,specifically, but to share the need that we Christians have for community! I mean, the whole message is very powerful and necessary, but yesterday during the event, Francis Chan said something really important: It is not only about being send to the fields, but to have a life grounded in God, through a life that involves community(fellowship with the local church) and submision to the Word of God!
It is very easy to embrace this idea of “Let’s start a revolution. Let’s change the world!” but it is very easy to miss the point when you are moving in your own desires and strength! We can easily say: Yes, let’s go, let’s do it! But it is very tricky when we are moving on the wrong perspective!
It is not easy to be patient and understand that we need to take one step at the time! I remember when I was in this DTS school, I experienced a lot of miracles and new things with God and was amazing! But after I came back home, I felt frustrated for a while, because it is hard to slow down and come back to a “normal daily life”. Sometimes, we go back to our local church and we want to change everything, we struggle to connnect with people and the culture of our church.
However, what I’ve learned these past few years is that God is patient and He wants us to be patient with us and the whole process we are being submited!
He wants to be our Lord, partner and guide in everything we do, but it takes time for us to understand that, a life grounded in God’s Word takes time to show the results we want so bad to see!
There is a proper time to everything: To grow roots, to become more mature in our spiritual walk with God, to fruitify! Only on the other side of the “line” the results we expected to see will show up, but we need to be patient!
What I want to share here is that, if you have a passion for the Gospel, with you want to go to the nations, to be a leader or maybe a businnes man or woman to contribute for God’s kingdom and glory, that dream need to be sow, watered, daily cared for and it will grow, but it takes time!
Second, we are not called to walk alone or in our own strength! I have to say that I struggle with this sense of community for a long time! Even for years after I gave my life to Christ, I struggled to connect with others Christians, to let people be part of my life!
Part of the reason was because I was hurted by people and I needed to be healed first! But also because, I had this individualistic sense deep inside, that made me believe for a while I didn’t need people to accomplish my dreams and goals!
That is a big mistake. We can’t accomplish anything great without help, without a good leadership in our lives! First, we have to submit to God’s ways and timing for us, and that part can be very tough and frustrating! If you are a stubborn kind of person like me, you know what I mean!
I suffered a lot before I realized that, I din’t have all the answers or the autonomy I’d like and I needed to submit to God and to the people He put in my life!
So, if you struggle with this kind of rebellious feeling, I encourage you to surrender it to God quickly, so you don’t have to suffer like I did! Submit your mindset, your feelings and beliefs to Him and watch Him change you from the inside out! It is not a easy choice but is totally worth it!
Don’t let your past and traumas isolate you from the body of Christ! We need to walk together in submission and partnership. Like God healed and helped me to see things in a diffrent perspective, I believe He wants to do the same thing for you. You just need to open the door and let Him in!
Yesterday, while I was watching to the Send, I realize how amazing was the work of God in my own life. For a long time, I felt so disconnected from people, so alone in my struggles and, yesterday I was surrounded by good friends!
Friends that God gave me during my walk with my local church, and that makes all the difference in my life! It is so powerful and encouraging to have people we trust and can share our burdens, pray with, laugh together. I am really grateful to Jesus for this gift in my life!
I know that some day my season will change again, that He will send me in a different direction, but till them, I will enjoy the opportunity He gave to be part of His body here and now. I know that I am learning new lessons in every season, with the challenges, opportunities and people He puts in my life!
So don’t feel discouraged, don’t give up! If your dreams are not fulfilled yet, if you are feeling frustrated or isolated, just remember that God is with you, helping you in every battle and every season of your life and, eventually, it will change! New people and opportunities will arrive in your life and you will be ready to receive it!
Just remember that we are all being shaped, challenged, purified by the fires of adversities, but it is not the end! It is just a process and we will succeed, in Jesus name!
Have a great day friends!
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20)
I was lost. His love found me! 