What does the Resurrection mean to me? (An excerpt from prayer & Worship night)

This is an exciting time to be at the Bridge*. This is an exciting time to be a Christian. God is moving in powerful ways and we are here tonight to ask God to lead us and bring us favor as we actively move in the lives of our neighbors during this Easter season and during a Radical Objective*. In devotional time I started thinking about how Jesus’ Resurrection changed my life. I was reading…

 Col 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

So now we are redeemed and raised with Christ to a new life where the fears and habits of this life are no longer define who we are. Sin no longer defines who we are. We have been set free of all the things that keep us in bondage in this world.  Seek things that are above. Jesus is renewing our minds and the cares of this life don’t hold the same weight as the things of God. Now we seek a deeper knowledge of Christ, fellowship with Christ, and victory over sin through Christ. We seek an effective prayer life and effective witnessing. These are what truly matter more than any riches or anything offered on earth. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. We have a relationship with Christ that the world cannot understand. We are his and we no longer need to have fear, or anxiety about life or even death for that matter. We can be bold because we are connected with God, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us and we have eternity to look forward to.

We have this new life but now what do we do with it? Jesus didn’t save us so we could sit in church and wait for eternity to happen. We need to share this new life the same way we received it. Someone shared the gospel with us, shared their testimony with us or invited us to church.  In my story it was my sister. I pray when my children tell their story it will be something like; we just always knew Jesus because mom and dad raised us with the gospel. Your story has someone sharing Christ with you. The fact is someone brought you to Christ and Christ changed your life. So what do we do now? We give what we have received and point other to Christ.

Now is the time to pray! Now is the time to share your hope! God is moving and active in the lives of Christians all over. The gospel is spreading like wildfire in China, India, and Iran. The Church is growing even though Christians are persecuted and killed. People are being saved and lives are being changed in the face of death and persecution. The enemy cannot stop God from moving in the lives of his people. God wants to move in powerful ways right here in Des Plaines.

God is doing powerful things. Just as Pastor Scott said," God is moving in a wave right now and we need to catch that wave". In my life alone God is changing lives in three individuals I’ve been pray for. In two families in my neighborhood he has allowed my family to connect with theirs through our children. Doors that seemed closed are opening. That is one person’s story. We have hundreds of stories happening right now all around us. God is moving in our church and in our lives and our neighborhood with a powerful force ready to answer our prayers.

One of the goals for Radical Objective is that God will move to reach the unchurched and the lost for His glory. We are praying that the Bridge family will double. This is a big goal and our God is able. But God is much bigger than that. I pray the Bridge is only the tip of the iceberg and God's plan is bigger than we can even imagine. I pray that God's plan is an outbreak of salvation coming across this area and even this country as a title wave. We have our small part in God’s big plan I’m excited to be part of this.

Romans: 1:16a For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”

*The bridge is my local church

*A Radical Objective is a current church goal to spread the gospel