The last few months it has been amazing for me to see what God can do. Now, hear me I know God is always moving and doing a new thing. I believe I knew that that, but I am not sure if I was able to live like that.
John 13-19 Now I'm returning to you. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing So my people can experience My joy completed in them. I gave them your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn't join the world's ways, Just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
It's amazing how we all understand and know what John says. I mean I bet if I went on to I-tunes I could find several sermons on Joy, The godless world, the word is true, and missional living. Knowing that God is a God of our city and the world. Infact their is a popular worship song called God of this City. The story is amazing behind the song.
Pattaya, Thailand recently. In Pattaya, there are over 30,000 female prostitutes over the age of 18! (That is not counting the ones under 18, or even the male prostitutes there) While they were walking around the town, they walked into a local bar there called...."The Climax Club", which was looking ofr bands to play. They agreed to give it a try and asked how long the owner how long he wanted them to play. The owner said, "As long as your friends continues to buy cokes." So they ended up buying cokes for 2-3 hours.So for over 2 hours this band sang Jesus over these prostitutes who had no idea what they were singing! All of the sudden this song "came down from heaven," as one of the band members recalls. Then spontaneously they started singing:You're the God of this cityYou're the King of these peopleYou're the Lord of this nationYou areYou're the light in this darknessYou're the hope to the hopelessYou're the peace to the restlessYou areFor there is no one like our GodThere is no one like our GodGreater things have yet to comeGreater things are still to be done in this cityGreater things have yet to comeGreater things are still to be done here
I read that and listen to the song once again and it reminded me, it's one thing to say it, but to live it. I don't mean going out and trying to get all of your friends come to Christ or they will go to hell. I mean to love and have compassion on them. You see that has been my struggle for the last six months. I was trying so hard to show students and people that God was the God of this city that I stopped living it. I once was commpassionate and loving and then I started to become frustrated. You see it's not about how many people attend your church or my church. It's not about how man talks I give or better yet how many kids are saved in my youth group. How many am I loving like Jesus? How many do I truely care about? What about my co-workers?? Do I care? The 711 Clerk....do I care?
You see I am a pastor, the answer should be yes?? But then what about lying? I mean I am at a church that caters to the homeless and the down and out. I shouldn't ever get tired or burned out??? I have a quick answer for that....I am not Jesus. We all are a work in progress, I believe we're all hurting and we're in pain. We can all pretend but God is bigger then me and bigger then you. You see God is doing an amazing work in us, because he never stops. We are all running out of darkness into the light because of the cross.
My prayer for all of us is that we don't forget that it's not about status or doing the right thing. It's simple...it is living. Knowing all the right things does not bring you freedom. Worship and a relationship is what brigngs us freedom.
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