How is the weekend treating you? Up here it's labour day, so there is a public holiday, but because we are crazy Christians, we thought we would just go right ahead and work anyway! This week my team and I are in Sydney, at the YWAM Island Breeze base. It's essentially a base with a focus on pacific islands and that culture, reaching out to those locations and similar. Alothugh they get people from all over the world and also minister all over the world.
We are helping at a conference called Nations 2 Nations, based on the passage in Revelation where John sees people from every nations and tongue praising the Lord together. There are over 20 nations represented here, and we will soon be going out into all the world to bring others to the glorious knowledge and hope of Christ!
We had a fantastic time this morning in worship, with some island dances, songs and ccelebrations being a part of their time of worship, its a great way to worship God with your whole being; body, soul and spirit.
At the same time, I have been reading an account of the life of Charles Finney, a preacher and revivalist in the 1800's who influenced America and evangelical church immeasurably. Reading of his life, his dreams and what he accomplished has inspired me and God has spoken to me a great deal through it all. He was a man, who converted at age 29, changed the course of millions of lives and influenced even more through his teachings and life. He was regarded by many as the greatest preacher who ever lived, and the stories of his preacher do justice to that claim!
What strikes me more, is not what others say about him, but what he says about himself and about God. As we can all strive to be like him, but we would all fall short, God created him for a purpose, and that was his purpose, we also have a purpose, that God has made for us. It took him awhile to come to the faith, as he could not grasp the fact that it was by grace and faith we are saved, not deserving, but still receiving. This was inspiration from God, as all thsoe who were religious leaders of the day were advocating something quite different.
It showed me that while we may wish to be around great men like him, and see for ourselves the power of God through one man's life, it is when our eyes are on the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ, that we receive life, and justification and the power throguh the Holy Spirit, to see this world change. He sought no one but Christ, and in seeking the face of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was free to move through him in such mighty power.
We all want to make an impact, we all want to come before God and have him say to us, well done good and faithful servant. Lets keep our eyes on Him, let us seek only the fullness of God, not the gifts, not the powers, although we should ask for them. Let us truly love God and love others, and we will see more than what we can ever hope to see.
Prayer points;
For God to move during our time here, to influence the others at the conference and the surrounding city.
For finances to come in for the team so that we can continue in our work.
For health, so that nobody would get sick.
Thanks guys, let me know if you want me to pray for anything!
Peace,
Daniel