I'm not happy.
I'm restless, fidgety and having a hard time focusing on anything.
My soul is troubled and my mind is perplexed.
The status quo is unacceptable and I refuse to pretend everything is OK when it's not.
If things continue this way, I'm done.
Most Pastors would be content with a congregation of 200+, no debt on the church, hitting all of our goals for the past year, a stable cash flow and a recent 100% vote of confidence from the membership but I'm not. Don't get me wrong.... I'm thankful. I love our people and love my job, but there's something down in my spirit that refuses to believe that this is the pinnacle of what God has called us to. I've reached a place of divine discontent which is really a positive thing. Here's why:
We cannot fully embrace vision for the future until we have become dissatisfied with the status quo.
My discontent tells me it is time to fully embrace what God intends for Fountain of Life to be in 2011 and beyond. What God has done these past 15 months is amazing and its importance for the life of the church cannot be minimized. Understand this: until we as a church are living out the great commission in the context of the vision God has placed before us, we are no threat whatsoever to the Kingdom of darkness. For over a year we've focused on relational connections and implementation of our discipleship model. Now we need people to disciple. We need conversions and a full-on demonstration of what life in God's Kingdom is all about. As our guest speaker last Sunday so eloquently put it: We've corssed over, now we need to get out of the boat because something supernatural is waiting for us there.
I will not rest at night until we are there and then I pray that God will once again stir up my divine discontent with the status quo. It is that divine discontent that paves the way for new vision to be heard and embraced.
Where's your discontent? What's keeping you in the boat?
ok, I guess, I'm one that is happy where the boat has me and worried that if I get off, God will shake things up for me. Because you know He does that. I guess its a trust issue. Trusting in God, that even though He will shake things up, I will be in a better place. But, I guess I can get off real slow and not jump off. Thanks P Jon.
ReplyDeleteHi Jon, I sense you are feling the Lord's discontentment. I don't think He is delighted, content or relaxed about the current condition of His Body. He is stirring within the hearts of His leaders to press into His heart to see what He sees as He looks at the hurting and lost who are trapped in the clutches of darkness. He is the Light and He longs to go there, but I read in Matt 5:14-16 that we are the light of the world and we are to shine this light before men so that Christ's good work in us can be seen and Father will be glorified.
ReplyDeleteIs there a revolution coming to the Body of Christ, that will chnge how we do church and how we are perceived by the world?
@Jennifer, Both, because gifted people are sitting on the part they are to express. Or not acting in God's authority but our own > causes the world to see us as nothing more then a conservative club with issues. I've said this many times. Peter with Jesus for 5-6 years> matured Gods authority in Peter's God given gift. This caused someone to be healed by just walking by them, among many other expressions of God.. Where are the Greater things that Jesus Spoke of we should be partaking<>doing. Effort Energy, Intentions, being part of something, encouragement are not enough without:
ReplyDeleteMinimum of Daily to continuous Dialog with God.
Learning to Listen to Him more then any other function.
Moving from Acute interactions with Him to inveterate i.e. continuous.
Continuous active rest that His Kingdom is upon you and working in you
close intimacy with Him.
Stop doing anything that takes more of our time in 24 hrs then Him.
This birth and grows our Spirit Man. Without a reformation re-forming into His likeness we have nothing for the world but a club.
This has me discontent with appearance of corporate, worldwide, Body in a partial Perpetual state of adolescence. not getting past spiritual puberty. The enormity of us has no problem with the current state of the body because we do not walk in authority but pre-bar mitzvah.
Despite all that, Still His Kingdom comes and will is being accomplished in our midst. Unseen and seen in spite of anyone views or inclusion. Cooperate with HIM>>>>>WORLD will come running and chase us to the other side of the lake. because "YOU HAVE BEEN WITH HIM"