Spiritual High
Last night we had a great time of worship. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I preach each week at the Sunday evening contemporary service at our chapel.
At the service last night we had our highest attendance yet. Not that attendance is everything, but.... certainly it's better to see more people in worship than not. Even more awesome was that there was a real sense of unity in the Spirit last night. When I took prayer requests for the time of prayer there were far more requests than usual (each week I will ask for prayer requests, and write them on my notepad as people make their requests, and then we have a time of prayer). There were some people asking for prayers for very serious issues, and there were also people offering up prayers of thanksgiving for answered prayers. It was a very cool time. The Spirit was moving last night!
I'm preaching through Jesus' letters (via John) to the seven churches in Revelation. Last night we looked at Smyrna, and the issue of perseverance/endurance. Spiritual fatigue is an issue for Soldiers (as well as civilians serving over here).
God uses time of suffering or difficulty in our lives to mold us. It's not that God causes these tests or trials- but He uses our own frailty, our mistakes, and our conflicts to make us stronger and to cause us to trust Him more deeply. (Think Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.")
In a combat zone, I believe there are two general spiritual reactions that a person can have. The first is to begin to lose faith in the midst of fear, discouragement, physical and emotional fatigue and everything else we experience here. The second possible reaction- the good one- is that in the midst of the trials and tribulation, spiritual endurance and a deeper faith is built.
It's not easy being over here. But God works some really amazing things in the lives of those with ears to hear what He is saying to them.
At the service last night we had our highest attendance yet. Not that attendance is everything, but.... certainly it's better to see more people in worship than not. Even more awesome was that there was a real sense of unity in the Spirit last night. When I took prayer requests for the time of prayer there were far more requests than usual (each week I will ask for prayer requests, and write them on my notepad as people make their requests, and then we have a time of prayer). There were some people asking for prayers for very serious issues, and there were also people offering up prayers of thanksgiving for answered prayers. It was a very cool time. The Spirit was moving last night!
I'm preaching through Jesus' letters (via John) to the seven churches in Revelation. Last night we looked at Smyrna, and the issue of perseverance/endurance. Spiritual fatigue is an issue for Soldiers (as well as civilians serving over here).
God uses time of suffering or difficulty in our lives to mold us. It's not that God causes these tests or trials- but He uses our own frailty, our mistakes, and our conflicts to make us stronger and to cause us to trust Him more deeply. (Think Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.")
In a combat zone, I believe there are two general spiritual reactions that a person can have. The first is to begin to lose faith in the midst of fear, discouragement, physical and emotional fatigue and everything else we experience here. The second possible reaction- the good one- is that in the midst of the trials and tribulation, spiritual endurance and a deeper faith is built.
It's not easy being over here. But God works some really amazing things in the lives of those with ears to hear what He is saying to them.
posted by Christian | 9:47 AM
2 Comments:
Thank you for everything you are dong over there. It is a blessing to all, and a difference is being made in the name of Jesus.
God bless you
Scott
Whoa! I've missed a lot of your posts. It was good catching up on them.
Wow, that's awesome about your church service. You know, God works in amazing ways, far above our understanding.
God bless you as you serve. :-)
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