Finally, Brethren, Pray For Us

Tonight was fun.

God is bringing lots of new folks to be a part of Trinity Worship & Music and there is, what some would call "momentum" building. I must confess, it makes leading rehearsal very enjoyable.


It might seem weird to you, but I find myself kind of hesitant to enjoy it sometimes. I guess it's because I have, at times, been involved in ministries where there was a negative "momentum" and I fear going back there. I admitted that to Suzanne when we were getting ready for bed tonight and as we talked about it, I was reminded that God's got it either way. I am not the one in charge of either type of momentum. Jesus promised that He would build His church. It's not my job. It's His!

I have publicly said many times that I would rather have 20 folks involved as lead worshipers who are there by the call of God than 200 who are just there to put on a good show...and I still believe that.

As Suz drifted off to sleep, I picked up a book I keep by our bed called Taste And See and read the chapter below. As I read it, I knew I needed to write this post and enlist you to pray for the pastors at Trinity Baptist Church that we would stay in line with God's agenda for ourselves, our families, and the local assembly of believers known as Trinity.

~Jon


http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/1999/1123_Brothers_Pray_for_Us/

Authority in the Word

This morning, I read a story about Jesus that left me amazed, as it did those who lived it. I read two different accounts of it found in Mark 1:21-28 and Luke 4:31-37. Jesus went into Capernaum in the region of Galilee and was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. It is my assumption that they must have been somewhat comfortable with Jesus' handling of the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament) to allow Him the opportunity to teach on the Sabbath, but on this day, they recognized something different about Jesus.

"And He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching, for His word possessed authority." (Luke 4:31-32 ESV)

They were astonished at His teaching for His word possessed authority. Wow! What a statement. A living example was then paraded in front of the crowd as Jesus proceeded to command a demon to give up control of a man that "happened" to be in attendance that day. (We should be as aware as Jesus that we also worship alongside those who are bound by the enemy of our souls, and through this same authoritative Word, God can set them free.) Look at the response of those who witness this freedom granting God at work in their midst.

"And they were all amazed and said to one another, 'What is this word? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!'" (Luke 4:36 ESV)

"And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee." (Mark 1:28 ESV)

Eugene Petterson paraphrases this last verse in the Message by saying, "Jesus was the talk of the town." It is "this Word" that defined Jesus, and it should define us as followers of Him, too. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is the tool He gives us to bring about change in ourselves and in this world.

Lord, let us feast continually on "this Word" that carries Your authority and sets captives free.

~Jon