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Alive & Vibrant
‘God can do
anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in
your wildest dreams.’ (The Message Ephesians 3:20) This verse from Ephesians became a
theme for me during summer 2004. Andy Hawthorne used it at Summer Madness, as
did staff at New Generation Ministry, TRUST GOD, DON’T BE GUTLESS
This means for many of us embarking on
a sharp learning curve. Too many of us are getting by on gutless faith. We are
not ‘putting ourselves out there,’ when it comes to trusting God. There are
many things that we say we believe, but they do not Show up in the way we live.
We should live in such a way that if God is not who He says He is, we will fall
flat on our faces. We should aim to live lives which demonstrate that, ‘We are
strong in the Lord and in His mighty power’. People should be drawn to Christ
by his work within us. SHARE GOD WITH OTHERS
At the New Wine, family week in County
Clare, a Church of Ireland Bishop shared how he longs to see churches that are
‘alive and vibrant’ for the Lord, to see churches filled with the power of
the Spirit and truly serving their local community. This will involve a quantum
leap in thinking from many within the churches. Instead of focusing on ‘me and
my needs’, we’ve got to give it away! Instead of seeking to receive a
blessing, we should be seeking to give a blessing. We must take the blessing out
from our church and once again share it with seekers and unbelievers. We who
have freely received are called to freely give. There must be a change of cry
from the so often heard plea of ‘feed me, to feed them’. Just imagine
God’s love. Imagine God’s power at work in our community and realise that no
matter how great your imagination, God can do ‘far more’ than you can ask or
imagine. God is always present but He tells us to ask, so that it may be given. ON FIRE FOR GOD
These are urgent times. I sense a new
move of God’s spirit upon us. He has appointed us to preach Good News to the
poor, release for captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed and
to declare that God’s favour has come. God is alive and on the move. Are you
ready to respond with vibrant faith and a readiness to bless others? Some of our
people have already courageously responded. Gutless faith simply won’t cut it.
Men and women on fire for God and the Gospel will.
This year we will seek as a church to be ‘Alive and Vibrant’ and to
have an outlook for outreach! Sam Wright |
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