Model - Sophia Dorozio - Kona Hawaii 2008Last night we were reviewing what Corey had talked about the week before at Higher Calling. Cages that hold us back from what the Holy Spirit wants to do.
One of our students said something to the effect of
"I think we're just bored with the stagnant routine."
I asked them to be honest and raise their hand if they were bored with their Christian walk. Almost every hand was raised.
I asked them if they thought the early church was bored.
They snickered and said no way, they were like healing people and stuff...
Maybe its good that our youth have gotten bored with stagnant Christianity.
One of the biggest things I took away from the conference we just went to is this...
Rivers FLOW and if water is just being poured in and its not flowing out then it becomes dead and stagnant.
What if when Jesus said "ALL authority has been given to me...therefore go..." He really meant it... and we were really suppose to live that way.
Bill Johnson said this at the conference...
"Its hard to have the fruit of the early church when we honor a book they did not have more than the holy spirit which they fully relied on "
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
JIM baker
Hmmm... the quote made my brain hurt (that's a good thing). Shouldn't the book be the evidential accountability by which we confirm the work of the Spirit? I get it though... honoring the Spirit did precede the writing of the book! I'm up to my ears turned off by this quote, "I only preach the Bible". I find that so interesting when Paul did a lot of Holy Spirit led topical, lifestyle, and worldview teaching that later became part of the Bible. I think Biblical consistency and accountability is necessary though, otherwise a lot of kooky bugs start cults! I'm getting bored with my comment!
ReplyDeleteOne thing to note.. They didn't have the "book" but they had the Apostles themelves, and the letters themselves. All the "book" is, is those letters bound in one place. And we don't have the Apostles. Basically we are the church in Corinth, the church in Rome, the church in Ephesus... No difference other than the span of time and no chance of an apostle dropping by for a visit one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, the quote about a river flowing is really good.
ReplyDeleteA lot to think and pray about. May our faith not grow stagnant!
@ J - absolutely, we do not negate the word of God, but I often totally agree with Bill Johnson that we become so proud of our biblical knowledge, we become proud of theological facts that we know, instead of realizing its about a relationship... I don't pride myself in knowing facts about my wife, but because I'm in a good relationship with her, i know past just knowing on a head level what is on her heart
ReplyDelete@John - I'm not really firm on my NT timeline I would have to go back and look at my notes, but in the book of acts an explosion of growth was happening with signs and wonders when the holy spirit came, the early church, this was before paul came on the scene and wrote most of the NT. The holy spirit was given as a teacher (John 14:26) that will teach us ALL things
@ Jeff - thanks man... think on it, pray on it, ACT on it, live it. Your life has always been an encouragement to me.
Dude!!! I was so struck by those words Bill Johnson spoke, and could not for my life recall the exact words! Thanks so much! I've told at least 5 others about what he said, but couldn't really say it properly, haha! I 100% agree with this post!
ReplyDeleteHannah, its good to take notes ;)
ReplyDeleteI posted on the last blog you commented on the notes I had for Heidi Baker