Focus

This morning I sat down to enjoy the National Prayer Summit leading into #GC19 and I had difficulty concentrating. Three things are keeping me from giving my full attention; I am tired, I am cold, I am hungry. 

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Yet, as I strive to focus, to listen, and to pray this morning, it occurs to me that these are not simply physical struggles for me right now. 

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I am spiritually tired. O God wake me up to Your desire for my life and You desire for Your Church. 

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I am spiritually cold. O God light the “fire” of Your Holy Spirit within me, my prayers, and Your ministry through me.

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I am spiritually hungry. O God feed me through Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your Church.

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What might be keeping you from focusing, hearing, and responding to God today?

You Are Powerful

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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Many people are going through life fearing what lies ahead - afraid to speak and act - operating in a mode of timidity, uncertainty, and apprehension.

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Yet God, through His Spirit, offers a better way; power, love, and self-discipline.

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This means that we can - you can - be boldly confident - courageously assured in all things. We are given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And we are called and commissioned to use this power to affect others for Jesus - in love - and to live a life of obedience to Jesus - through self-discipline.

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Today, own this. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Be powerful. Be loving. Be obedient. Be self-disciplined.  

Before I was, You were

God, my Father, before I was, You were.

Before I was formed, You knew me.

You spoke my life into existence. 

You knit me together in the womb.

You spoke my life into existence. 

You speak all things into creation.

You have wonderfully made me.

You created me in Your very image.

Before I was born, You consecrated me.

You know the plans you have for me.

You protect me with Your right hand.

You comfort me with Your rod and staff. 

You prepare a table of blessing for me. 

You are my help, You sustain me always.

You have given me all that I ever need.

Before I knew right, You died for me. 

You laid down Your glory and put on flesh.

You served in humility and lived in poverty. 

You showed grace by loving your murderers.

You came for the powerless and sinful.

You freely gave Your life to pay my debt.

You are the perfect eternal sacrificial lamb. 

Before I speak, You know my every word.

You have searched my heart and mind.

You know me fully and completely.

You known when I sit and when I go.

You know when I sleep and when I rise.

You know my thoughts from afar. 

You know my needs when I am unsure.

Before I knew You, You chose me.

You have made Yourself known to me. 

You surround me with Your presence.

You go before me preparing my path.

You fill me with Your love, joy, and peace.

You empower me through Your Spirit. 

Your Word is a lamp to my footsteps.

Before I chose You, You chose me.

You accept me just as I come to You.

You called me Your friend and Your son.

You trust me to bear Your great name.

You call me to partner with You in ministry.

You gave me the ministry of reconciliation. 

You give me an eternal inheritance.

Before the world was formed, You were.

You are good.

You are perfect.

You are love.

You are eternal.

You are righteous.

You are all I need. 

Superhuman

The truth is, the first-century Christians were the superhumans of their day, and the world stood in awe of them. Here are just a few of their exploits found in Scripture:

No one in their communities lacked anything—no one had physical needs of any kind, and there was no one on government assistance (Acts 4:33–35). Entire cities came to Jesus in a moment, and the gospel swept through entire regions in a matter of years (Acts 9:32–35, 19:10). 

God’s power operated through them so much they had to convince people they weren’t gods (Acts 10:25–26, 14:8–18)—think about that for a few seconds. They had worship times so powerful they shook the ground (Acts 4:31). And as a result of those things, they had a reputation of being people who had turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). 

What should really challenge us is that God makes it clear in His Word that the Christians of the last days will do even more than these early believers.

From “Killing Kryptonite” by John Bevere

Once You Were...Now You Are

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

Now you are saved by God's grace. 

Now you have been united with Christ Jesus. 

Now you have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ. 

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Now you are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. 

Now you are members of God’s family.

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‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1, 8, 13, 18‬, 19

Is There Any Encouragement

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was in a particularly grumpy mood this morning.  I could have made a list of things to complain about. Yet as I began my prayer time and devotional reading I came into a right frame of mind. Soon I was journaling and making a list of things that I am most thankful for. 

As I thought of individuals that I could have complained about my mind went to the words found in Philippians 2:5. 

I turned to Philippians 2 prepared to read of Christ's humility and, as I began to read Philippians 2, I was not prepared for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that followed. 

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? 

Is there any comfort from his love? 

Is there aby fellowship together in the Spirit? 

Is your heart tender and compassionate?

Although these are rhetorical questions shared with the church by Paul, let me invite you to consider them -let me encourage you to ponder them. 

Are you enjoying the encouragement - the comfort - the fellowship - of Christ's presence in your life? 

Are your thoughts - your motives - your actions marked by tenderness and compassion? 

Do you have the mindset of Christ? 

 

Ephesians 3:14-19

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesians 3:14-19 

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

As I sit in this text today, I was brought to contemplate the process; submit, call, know, and receive. 

Submit - "I kneel" 
Call - "I pray" 
Know - "to know...to grasp" 
Receive - "to be filled" 

I am aware that many days I rush through this process - skipping over one or more of these "steps" and therefore lack the daily filling of Christ.

Lord, help me to submit to You first - to lay down all that I am before You and to give way to Your will in my life. Father, remind me to call out to You - to reach out and connect with You intimately and deeply. Holy Spirit, enlighten me to know Your way and Your desires - give me insight and direction from Your voice. Jesus, let me be filled with You - let me be filled to all fullness if Your love. Amen. Let it be. 

Fan The Flame

 

The Holy Spirit is not a spark that is ignited on a Sunday morning and quickly dies out. 

The Holy Spirit must be a flame that burns deep within our souls always. For in this way our hearts are passionate, our minds are focused, and our spirit is alive. 

The Holy Spirit may be extinguished by the world that we live in, but only if we allow it. 

The Holy Spirit is a spark that is ignited at the moment that we come face to face with Jesus - when we align ourselves with His will for our lives - when we dedicate our ways to Him - when we commit our lives to Him. 

The Holy Spirit, then, must be fanned for His fire to stay alive and active within our soul. 

Yes, the Holy Spirit must be fanned on a Sunday morning through our worship of God and through the hearing of His Word. 

And, the Holy Spirit must be fanned through our daily acts of worship; prayer, Scripture reading, accountability, sharing with Christian friends. 

The Holy Spirit is not a spark that is ignited on a Sunday morning and quickly dies out. For He is larger than the local church. If it is the responsibility of the local church and its leaders to bring you the Holy Spirit each week your walk with Jesus will never progress. 

The Holy Spirit must be a flame that burns deep within our souls always. 

Fan the flame - today and always. 

Fan the flame - let the spark be ignited. 

Fan the flame - feed the fire and passion for God in your life. 

Fan the flame - don't allow the embers to cool. 

Fan the flame of the Holy Spirit. 

RESET: heart

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to move in my heart. He moved me to a new level of passion for His Church and for His Kingdom. He stirred within me the desire to see His Church conquer new ground and to move throughout communities like never before. He stirred within me the hunger to see His Kingdom come on earth. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to speak to my mind. He spoke a clear vision to instruct and commission His Church in new ways. He spoke a simple method for directing His Church in ways that enable His Spirit to move and His will to be done. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God gave me a word; "RESET".

 

After God gave me this word - although I did not fully comprehend what He was directing me to - I began to write and dream

I began to write and dream. 

Today, several days later - still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what God has called me to share - I want to share the first stage of "RESET". 

I am confident that God is not moving in and speaking to me alone. I believe that the hearts and minds of many others are being moved in the same direction. I believe that this movement of God's Spirit is going to transcend denominational, political, racial, and cultural lines. God is about to move through His Church in a powerful way and I believe that He is calling for you and I to join together to accomplish His call. 

This is not a local church ministry. 

This is not a program or an initiative.

This is not a community activity.

This is not a outreach event.

This is a movement of God. 

For those who have a shared passion for Christ's Church and for God's Kingdom, I want to invite you to join me. 

The call to you is simple and clear, a heart for the call. More specifically - the words shared with me - a "missional heart". 

Who is in?

More to come...

Be Love

 

Love. The foundation of the teachings by Jesus. Love is why Jesus came to dwell among us. Love is why Jesus healed the sick and fed the poor. Love is why Jesus led His followers and taught the multitudes. Love is why Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross. Love is why Jesus did not remain in the tomb. Love is why Jesus went back to heaven and sent His Spirit. Love is what Jesus called us to.

Jesus's words are recorded for us in John 13:34-35 (ESV); "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Yet, love is not something that we are left to do as though love is simply a verb - an action that we choose to take. Instead, love is to be who we are in Jesus and through Jesus. Love is to be a noun - how we are defined.

In Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan we find that Jesus is calling us to a new level of love - a level of mercy to all. Jesus calls us to consider the love of the good Samaritan and to "go and do likewise". 

Jesus calls us to love without limits. We must love without parameters. We must love without boundaries. We must love without question. 

So, the question that we must all consider; "who are you withholding love from?".

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus calls His followers to "love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you".

Are there any prejudices in your life? Are there any preconceived opinions that you have formed - not based on reasoning or actual experiences - that you need to rid your mind of?

Are there any racisms or classisms in your life?  Any there any favortisms that you hold on to or show toward a certain group of people - perhaps those that belong to a particular social class - that you need to rid your heart of?

Do you recognize any areas of your life where you are withholding love - through your words, your thoughts, or your actions?

Let me challenge you, not only to begin to love but, to become love to all those that you encounter today.

Finish The Race

This morning I was reading in the Acts chapter 20 and I came to the Apostle Paul's writing about his call from God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his aim in life to complete the call that God had given to him.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Notice that Paul, himself, was not making the plan to go into hostile areas to preach a message that the people opposed of. No, it was the Holy Spirit of God that was compelling him to go and to preach the Gospel message. Likewise, Paul was confident that he would be arrested, persecuted, or even killed for preaching the message of Jesus - and yet he still went freely. 

I am reminded of many Christian brothers and sisters that face a similar struggle to fulfill that call that God has placed on them. Knowing that hardships and persecutions await, they freely go and fulfill this call. 

Whatever the call is that God has placed on your life, you are to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to you - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace. 

As I considered this passage, I was reminded of the inaugural women's marathon in the 1984 summer Olympic games held in Los Angles. This video of Gabriela Andersen finishing the marathon reminds me of our call to finish the race, whatever the cost.

Unity Through The Holy Spirit

Romans 15:5-6,13

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow  Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As The Church - established in Christ - we must find endurance, encouragement, hope, joy, peace, trust, and power. This can only be accomplished through unity and this unity is only possible through the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, let us - as The Church of Jesus Christ pursue the unity of the Holy Spirit - so that we may glorify God with one heart and one mind and one voice. 

The earliest prophets spoke about it. The message of John the Baptist was focused around it. The Apostles were left with the task of it. The Christian call is one that centers on it.

PREPARE THE WAY 

What does it mean for us – personally – to prepare the way? And what does it mean for us – as a body of believers – to be prepared for a revival of God’s Spirit. When a revival of God’s Spirit begins, it will first begin in us as individuals. So, if a revival of God’s Spirit begins in our church and in our community, then we must first be prepared. 

Searching For A Church Home

I was asked by a good friend tonight if I would pray for their family. They are currently in the midst of looking for a church home and are struggling to find a church that truly feels like "home".

I asked a few questions before giving the following advice. Visit a church and see what you think. Have fun with it and make sure you enjoy going to church. Make sure the Pastor and the people trip over themselves to welcome you and make you feel like family, that's how you'll know when you find the right church. You must find a church that blesses you and one that allows you to be a blessing to them. 

I pray that this advice leads them to a church home quickly, but I also pray that God speaks to them in the midst of their "search".

If you are looking for a church to call "home", the above advice is what I would send you out with as well. If you have a church home, take the necessary steps to ensure that the above can be said about you by every member and every guest that walks through the doors of your church this week. 

It is God's desire that we live in community with Him and with one another. The Church - created by Jesus and empowered by The Holy Spirit is God's means of encouraging and equipping His community. So, for the sake of Jesus, by the will of God, let's make it pleasant and easy for people to be a part of The Church.

Restore and Revive Us Again

The following is from a message that I gave on October 5th, the audio can be found here. 

Isaiah 64:1; That You would come down from heaven and dwell among us.

Have you ever wanted to see God?

• To meet with Him and know His thoughts?
• To talk with Him and ask Him about His ways?
• To gaze upon His face and see His beauty?
• To stand in His presence and feel His power?

Just as the prophet Isaiah wrote (700 BC), We beg and we plead; God come down from heaven and dwell among us.

And He did. God came down from His thrown in heaven. He spent 30 years living among us as a common man - born of a humble birth, living a humble, ordinary life. He then spent the final three years of His life teaching, mentoring, healing, training, and ministering to those who are desperate in need. 

But we were not satisfied. We wanted a King, not a servant. We asked God  to come down from heaven and do what He had done in the past – to stand against our enemies – to establish a Kingdom.

Our response was to hand Him over to the highest power we could find so that He could be nailed to a cross, suffocate, and die. 

And because He is God in the flesh, He does something amazing, something that we never expected God to do – He died.

He said that He was dying for us and for our sins. He said that He was dying so that all of humanity can be reconciled to Him. But He died!?

And maybe He did die for my sin. But a dead man can't save me, and a dead man can't save you! 

Three days later this dead man is not a dead man anymore - He is alive – and He is God. He has taken away the curse – the sin of mankind and He has proven that He has power over sin, over Satan, and over death. 

We beg and we plead; God come down from heaven and dwell among us.

He did for a while, but then He left. God ascended back to heaven with the promise of a future gift. 

Ten days later – with sound of a mighty wind and the appearance of tongues of flames – God came down from heaven in the form of His Holy Spirit. 

But this time He does not simply dwell among us – as we have begged Him to – Now He also dwells within us. 

God came down from heaven and gave us help, comfort, understanding, and power. 

But, again, we were not satisfied. We wanted a God that we could see – a God that we could understand, a God that we could control. 

Our response was fear. We began to shut down and close God's Spirit out. We continued to live our lives without this gift – who is God. We continued to live our lives without this help, this comfort, this power. We continued to live our lives without God!

We beg and we plead; God come down from heaven and dwell among us.  And sometimes we wonder why He hasn't.

• Where is God in our world?
• Where is God in our churches?
• Where is God in our lives?

We beg and we plead; God come down from heaven

One day God will come down from heaven and He will make all things right.

• On this day, every knee will bow before Jesus – our King
• On this day every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
• On this day God will establish His Kingdom

Now is the time to make sure that we are right with God,

• That we have a right relationship with Jesus Christ
• That we have a right relationship with His Holy Spirit

Let me invite you to consider these questions:

·        Do you have a right relationship with Jesus Christ?

• Jesus wants to be more than your Savior - to save you from the penalty of sin.
• Jesus wants to be more than your source of eternal life. 
• Jesus wants to be your everything - and to provide you with everything.
• Do you have unconfessed sin in your life that you need to seek repentance for?
• God cannot be in the presence of sin
• God cannot bless you if you have sin in your life
• Have you dishonored God’s Holy Spirit?
• We cannot fully embrace God until we accept all of Him
• God has more in store for you and for your life.

Let us go beyond the plea of Isaiah 64. Let us make Psalm 85 our prayer:

• Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. (4, 6-7)

Notes from Tuesday Evening's Service

Family Camp 2014: Monday evening service - Pastor Mark Van Valin

The theme of this week's Family Camp is "Holiness: coming home again". At the foundation of our faith as Free Methodists is holiness - a life of holiness which is totally devoted to God. 

Tonight we looked to John 16:5-11; ...but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 

The "Advocate" - that is the Holy Spirit - convicts us of sin just as a good Doctor makes a diagnoses.this conviction of sin is a true gift from God. First the Holy Spirit reveals God's beauty, His holiness, His majesty, and His love. Then the Holy Spirit reveals to us our sin - our desperation from God and from God's beauty, His holiness, His majesty, and His love. 

In all of this, the Holy Spirit speaks to us in specifics. Satan always speaks in generalities - you're not good enough, you're strong enough. But when the Holy Spirit speaks to us, He speaks to is in specifics - of our jealousy, our dishonesty, and our pride.

But first the Holy Spirit reveals God's glory to us. Only after we catch a glimpse of God's glory - and begin to comprehend what God's glory is - can we truly recognize and completely understand that we have sinned against God and His glory. 

Romans 3:23 states; ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Let us consider four stages of sorrow - grief - over sin. 

First, we grieve over how our sin affects us. Sin can seem okay until there is a consequence to my sin that hurts me personally. This first stage is not a sorrow brought by The Holy Spirit and it does not lead to true repentance. 

Second, we grieve over how our sin affects others. Sin that is hurting - ruining - our relationships may bring about sorrow because we are affecting others that we care about. This stage is the beginning of repentance.

Third, we grieve over how our sin separates us from God. A gap exists between us and God - a gap brought about by sin. As sin in our life increases, the gap - separation - between us and God increases. This third stage is a sorrow over din that is brought about by the Holy Spirit and it will lead us to true repentance. 

Fourth and finally, we grieve over how out sin grieves and dishonors God. Very few followers come to this point of sorrow over sin. However, when we reach this stage, we find true repentance and a desire to please, honor, and glorify God. 

Until you reach this fourth level of grief - of sorrow - you will never reach God's holiness.

Notes from Sunday Evening's Service

On this, the first evening of Family Camp 2014, we welcomed Pastor Mark Van Valin from the Spring Arbor, Michigan Free Methodist Church as our Family Camp Evangelist. Pastor Van Valin will be speaking this week on the topic if holiness, more specifically "coming home" to our foundation as Free Methodists founded in and on holiness. 

This evening message focused around John chapter 7 where Jesus goes - in secret - to the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast if Tabernacles was an eight-day feast that followed the harvest, not only did it begin on the Sabbath, it also concluded on the Sabbath. Much like our week of Family Camp, as we begin on Sunday (our celebrated Sabbath) and we conclude on Saturday (the true Sabbath).

Throughout the Bible water is used as a metaphor frequently - water may be the primary metaphor used in the Bible. 

Isaiah 55:10-11; For as the rain and the snow come down from heavenand do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

And wilderness was symbolic for a lack if water. 

The Feast if Tabernacles was a celebration to help the Israelites remember God's hand if deliverance from the wilderness. 

It was on the final day - the greatest day - of the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus made himself known (John 7:37) with a statement that would have been quite odd. After eight straight days of feasting - gorging - thelmelves in food and drink Jesus stand before them and says; If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

As we begin our week of Family Camp together, let us ask; is anyone still thirsty. Many of us come from our home churches where we regularly hear the Word of God spoken, we come from lives where we are committed to studying, believing, obeying, and depending on God's Word for our lives. And still, we are still thirsty. 

Let us pray; Lord, I'm going to commit this week to You. 

I'm thirsty and in need of the holiness that can only come from God. 

Show Me Your Glory

I continue to come back to one question; Do you want to see the glory of The Lord? If we could see - even a glimpse of - the glory of God, it would transform us. And the things that seems to matter so much now would fade into the background.  






I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same
Show me Your glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again
Show me Your glory
Show me Your glory 
I can't live without You

Your Connection Has Been Lost

On January 1st the law went into affect in Illinois, making it illegal to talk on a cellphone while driving without a hands-free device. Because of this law, I broke down and purchased a blue-tooth hands-free device.

I have been enjoying this device for talking on my mobile phone, becoming more productive while having a conversation. I have also been enjoying the ability to listen to music and podcasts throughout the day. 

The other day I left my phone on my desk and, as I walked through the church, I got out of range. As this happened my blue-tooth device notified me, in the most polite way, "your connection has been lost". 

Wouldn't it be nice if we had such a notification when we had lost other "connections" in our lives? What if a gentle voice spoke to is when we were loosing connection with our children or our spouse? We could, then, restore the line of communication or spend more time and attention reestablishing this needed connection. What if this same notification came to is when we had lost connection with God? We could be alerted that this essential life-sustaining relationship was strained or broken and take the required steps toward restoration. 

"Your connection has been lost." The fact is, God gives us just this type if notification, if we simply listen to it. God's Spirit lets us know when we have walked to far away - or gotten out of range. God's Spirit notifies us when we are in danger of loosing one of the connections in our life. God's speaks to us, daily, at just the right time and in just the right way. But, we must be tuned in, we must listen, and we must take notice when He speaks!

Stop Acting Like A Church

Perhaps it is because we, as a church, have been focusing on and intently studying the early church from Acts 2 recently; because we have been looking at the actions of the Apostles, because we have been reading the bold and courageous messages of Peter, John, and Paul, because we have been studying the awesome faith and actions of the first believers, and because we have been reading if how The Church grew and progressed through the power of The Holy Spirit.

Or perhaps it is because I met Dr. John and Peace Nuwagaba this morning and had the privilege of talking with and praying with the two of them; because I heard of the way God is moving in Uganda and East Africa, because I listened to the accounts of the bold faith of the disciples and the church, because I heard about the countless baptisms and life transformations in Uganda. 

Perhaps it is all of this and so much more that has stirred, like never before, my desire to see and be a part of a movement of God - a true and lasting revival, that begins with His people and then reaches far and wide to touch those who have never truely met and never actually felt the presence of Jesus in their lives.

I am so tired of watching the church act in fear and apprehension. I am so tired of watching the church act as though we have no power and no confidence.

It is time that The Church step forward with full faith and full confidence that God is all that He claims He is and that He will do what He says He will do. It is time that The Church step forward with boldness and conviction in the knowledge that we have the power of The Holy Spirit working in us and through us and that we have been equipped with every spiritual gift needed to do God's work. 

It is time we stop acting like the church that the world can accept and we start being The Church that Jesus has called and equipped us to be.