Summer Reading Challenge. Chapter 9 Commentary.
Over the years, as I have read the book of Acts, I have often considered why our churches look so different today. God has not changed; His Word has not changed; so why does the church look dead compared to the early church? I believe it is illustrated in the following story: A few years ago a good friend of mine went to a conference. He heard a speaker tell a story about a pivotal moment in his life when he woke up one day and was faced with the reality that he was 12 inches from death. He went on to share how he was convicted that his head and his heart were not connected. He had lots of knowledge about God but no passion or excitement for Him. He was a mere 12 inches from death. I believe that this is very true for many of us. We have been raised with or have sat under great Biblical teaching for a large portion of our lives and yet we are mostly dead.
In chapter 9, Jim Cymbala talks about doctrine without power. The power of the Holy Spirit is what is missing in many of us. We have great doctrine, but our lives do not reflect the power of the God we know. I, like Paul, “want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” (Philippians 3:10) If we allowed the Holy Spirit to fill us with this power and asked God to stretch out His hand to move among us; WOW!, this church and community would be buzzing with revival and lives being changed, starting with you and me. But here is the kicker, “God will manifest himself in direct proportion to our passion for Him.” (pg153) So, how passionate am I? How passionate are you?
According to Cymbala, “what we really lack is the passion to call upon the Lord until he opens the heavens and shows himself powerful.” (pg 150) I agree. It starts with each of us crying out to God. Each of us must first ask God to fill us with the passion and power of His Spirit. When this happens, worship will sound better and will draw us into His presence, no matter the style or level of sound. The messages that are preached will be convicting and will motivate us to go into the world and share Jesus with others, no matter who is doing the preaching or how long the service goes. The needs throughout the church will be met without a struggle because serving is about passionate obedience not preferences. It starts with our heart and soul being passionate about the saving grace of God and believing that His power to move and change lives is real. This will then translate into a church that is proving to the world that our God lives. “People must not only hear but feel, see, and experience the grace of God we speak about.” (Cymbala, pg 147)
Dear God, may we be a church that is not content to just know the Word of God but help us to passionately pursue the Living Word.
– Heidi Christner
pastor ivanildo 
I am so glad I have the Lord in my life.It is not simply prayer that we must do in our lives.We must feel his presence and love and grace in our lives.I have learned to totally trust God and let him allow what he chooses in my life no matter what it is.In my years at Grace I grew in the Lord dramatically.The pastor led me to open my eyes to so much and to put it into my daily life.I kept growing over the years as I served in the kids ministry.Oh how I loved teaching the children to folliw Christ and to sing and glorify him.Then one day my trust wss shattered by the letting go of that Pastor.I had almost given up when God said I want you there with my children.I decided to stay and really love and teach the kids.Then things changed there also.Not sure why but God allowed me to be pushed out.I have prayed about it regularly and know its because of bigger better things he has for me to do.After all he healed my cancer! You are so right that churches have also changed.People seem to be in their own little world and carry God around with them not in them.I choose to be different.I have him in me for the long haul.I am not sure what all he has in mind for me but I am sure it’s happening.There are things as I speak forming for what he wants of me.So, we dont just pray as a church we must pray as a whole community of God.We must go to the Bible constantly and in all we do seek him.The leaders in a church are responcible for what they do with and to their sheep.They are not above Gods judgement and they should do right with their mistakes of their preaching is useless.I do feel the spirit in me and will continue to go where God leads me.
Thanks for commenting, Pam. I appreciate your sensitive heart toward the things of God. We are blessed to continue to learn and humbled that God still chooses to use us, or maybe I should just say “ME.” We serve a great God. Love in Christ.