There were a number of different kinds of responses to what happened and what was said Sunday (6/10/12) at GNBC. Some were shaken and weeping quietly. Others were relieved as they finally understood what had confused them for the past two years.
But the responses that struck me were the number of sisters and brothers who said something like “I love my church” or “I’ve never heard anything like that before in a church.” A few said something like “That’s what a church is supposed to be — humble, honest and gracious.” One woman said, “That’s what can only happen in a church; it only happens by God’s grace. The world has nothing like that.”
What we heard and witnessed was the healing power of the cross of Christ, redeeming and restoring those who have fallen but authentically repent.
What would it be like if we all told the truth about ourselves — that’s what Wes explained is the concept of Confession. And then we trusted God to forgive us for Jesus’ sake, and heal our deep wounds and restore our brokenness to wholeness?
What would it be like if the memebers of churches were authentic, genuine; not pretending or hiding behind a facade of “super spirituality?”
What would it look like if we forgave just as we have been forgiven?
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
They say that awakening and revival begins with brokenenss before God. I pray that we are on the path to a great awakending and personal revival and renewal.
Resting in Him,
Steve
Credit: There is a Fountain. Lyrics by William Cowper. 1772.
