As I embark on this 21 day Challenge To A Closer Walk With God, I had to take into consideration what I need God for in my life. Yes, I want to help people. Yes, I want to get closer to God. And yes, I have things in my life that I need God’s Power to accomplish. I am publicly stating these things because when it’s all said and done, I want people to know that God is alive and well. Just like Elijah stepped out in front of the nation of Israel just to prove that the God of the Bible is able, I too want to make it known that God still is able!
So,Why A 21 Day Challenge To A Closer Walk With God?
Our Church Building Project
Just in case you don’t know, the church I pastor is in the middle of launching a building project. We have raised about $40,000. We have the drawings. We have helpers. We have workers. We just need one little paper to get started: a building permit. God has been good to us in the sense that the Town of Taos likes us and wants to see us go forward. The hold up is the application process. We are praying for “green lights” so we don’t have to go back and submit plans again and again.
To top it off, while we wait, we waste money. Since we started demolition on the remodel, we had to start paying rent on the building (that we are not in). We started demolition 10 months ago! That means we have been paying for a building that we are not occupying. I am asking God that we not only get the permit, but that God somehow provides a large amount of funds for the building, since we spent so much on rent.
See People Get Saved
As I seek the Lord in my life, I have a strong desire to be used of God to lead people to Christ. I am talking about true life changing conversion, not just a “1,2,3 pray after me” testimony. I know the life changing experience that true Faith and Repentance brings, and I am asking God to work so much in my life that I see people be born again. I read stories of revival, and my heart is stirred to be used of God in similar ways. I want God to use me as a messenger of the Cross, bringing people to the wonderful salvation that is in Jesus Christ!
See Our Church Grow Spiritually
When we first came to Taos, NM, we did not know who would become members of our church. God has brought people to our church and led people to other places. Through it all, we have had some great people. As they come to our church, I want it to be said that God helped them grow while under our ministry. People in modern day Christianity come to church to have their ears tickled, and don’t want true Bible preaching that changes lives. We are not like modern day churches; we stand on the “Old Paths”. It is in the Old Paths where one finds rest and truly follows God. As we preach this way, I am asking God to use His Word so people grow in the Lord, and become the Christian God wants them to be.
Have The Power Of God Like Never Before
All of the above reasons to do this challenge really boil down to one thing- having the Power of God. When I have the Power of God, He will hear my prayer and help in our building. When I truly have God’s Power, there will be people saved and experience a life changing salvation. When I have the Power of God in my life, I will see people in our church make choices that are godly, and see them grow. You see, I have had good intentions. In fact, they are great! Starting a church, seeing get saved, seeing people grow are all great things. As I have sought to see things things, I even saw fruit, because of the Bible. Yet something seemed to be missing.
The Fruit Didn’t Remain! Why? Because I was doing it, and not God. I had to realize that the local church is God’s institution. He said that He would build it:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
~ Matthew 16:18
Not only was I building it, and not letting God do His Work, but I was doing it in the flesh. Not in sin, just not totally full of the Holy Ghost. I went back to the Bible:
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
~ Zechariah 4:6
So, as I start this challenge, I have come to the conclusion that God has to do the work. If He doesn’t, then all is in vain. I don’t know about you, but I want Him to work in my life like never before. Please pray for these things as I seek God.
The walk will take care of the work.
Read A Great Book About Prayer!
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