Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Get Real

Last night at ReFresh, I can not explain what happened.  The Holy Spirit was there.  It was real.  Both of the speakers basically called us to take a look in the mirror and make sure that we haven't been fooling ourselves into believing that we had eternal salvation.  They called for the ones who had been wrestling with doubting their salvation to put away fear and pride and wrestle no more.  What happened after that could only be explained by a true moving of the Holy Spirit.  And I am so grateful that I was there to see it myself.  One by one people started getting up.  Some I did not know.  Others I did.  They began to get baptized.  While the baptisms were going on, others were still getting up!  And just when you thought they were done, someone from the back would say "Wait!!  There's one more!!" or "Wait a minute!!  There's two more coming!!!"  It was truly incredible.  I can honestly say I was moved beyond words.

You know, we all come in church most Sundays with our "church" faces on.  Smiling at each other like we have it all together.  I smile at you that way because you smile at me that way and I think you have it all together so I want you to think the same about me.  There's so much pretending with each other.  Do you think that we will ever be able to just be real?  I'm not sure we will ever be able to find the true healing that's within the church if we aren't.  I know that many of us don't feel able to be real because we are worried about what everyone else will think of us.  There goes that "fear of man" thing again...

Well, here's what one church did to start getting real with one another.  I hope that one day we can all reach this point...
                                                                          


From a lukewarm, surface-dwelling sometime Christian to an on fire, deep-diving all the time Christ lover!

What's your story?



P S   I forgot to add that 21 people got baptized last night!!!!  I can not WAIT to see what God does tonight!!!  I will say it again, I can not believe that a place like my church actually exists!





2 comments:

Mrs. Chief said...

oh, the carhboard testimonies...I postedd that link earlier in the year. Joel and I couldn't get through it without tearing up. O.K. me balling him tearing up. It reminded us of us! Oh, I can't wait for you to read the testimony, I am not ashamed of anything I have been through. Joel and I wouldn't be here had we not litterally walked through fire. I am real, really real! And Amen to the people getting baptized there's a party going on in heaven today!

Angela said...

That is just so powerful. Thanks so much for sharing! The power of God to work in our lives through his Holy Spirit is amazing...