Last night we had a great Reformation Wednesday. We discussed the conviction of the Lord. Here are some highlights.
- Relationship with God is a big deal. It’s actually everything in the Kingdom.
- Change in our lives doesn’t come because we understand something with our minds.
- Change comes when the Word of God pierces our heart. Heb. 4:12
- The living Word of God pierces us through relationship.
- Religious people work from their head, but change that comes from the head is temporary.
- Maturity is coming to a place where you can live from your heart.
- Doing that is not “living by emotions” but living consistently by an interaction between your spirit and the Holy Spirit.
- Your heart is also your value system.
- We each have blind spots where we don’t see that our actions/thoughts don’t line up with what is in our hearts.
- It is those times we need a “watchdog” to help us see the blindspots.
- Our spouses can be a watchdog for us.
- Sometimes we offend people and are not aware of it. We have learned that when we are offended, we can overcome it.
- But we are not good at the other side of the coin, helping a brother or sister in Christ overcome their blindspots.
- How do we do this?
- Keeping each other accountable doesn’t mean keeping them from sin. It means encouraging them to grow closer to their destiny.
- But this is still a bit of a mystery for us.
- Do we encourage it through confrontation?
Do we encourage it through prophetic words? - Do we encourage it by giving them books to read?
- How do we help our brothers and sisters obtain their destiny without control or manipulation?
- Prayer was an answer.
- But what does prayer look like?
- Praying for someone to change is subtle “Christian witchcraft” and manipulation.
- Asking God to change us is always a great prayer when we are offended.
- Perhaps prayer is not asking, but listening.
- Perhaps prayer is not what we can get from God, but what we can give to God.
Read Genesis 18 and see how Abraham hosted the Lord and it set the tone for his intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Abraham’s nickname is “Friend of God.”
- This story is the 6th time God appeared to him.
- Abraham’s obedience, and hospitality to host the Presence of God made him a friend to God.
- It’s that friendship that prepares the way for intercession.
This is amazing. We are working hard to create a culture in the church where we can be open and honest with one another. But the key is relationship with the Lord. And we need much more revelation on this topic. If you receive more thoughts and ideas from the Lord, please share them with the rest of us.
Blessings,
Pastor Arlen
