I Was Blind....

 "....One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

John 9:25

One of my favorite events in the Gospels is in John Chapter 9. Jesus had healed a blind man, and the exchanges between the Pharisees and this healed man are telling and powerful, even humorous. These religious hypocrites were angry and frustrated as their arguments could not defeat this simple man. This man was able to silence them not with great theological understanding, or debating skills, but with the powerful testimony of what Jesus had done for him. He simply stated "I was blind, now I see". This was undeniable, couldn't be argued with, and baffled the religious leaders.

It is very important to know the foundational scriptures for your faith. It is also very important to know how to share your faith and to have key salvation passages committed to memory so you are ready and able at any moment to point others to Christ. A great reminder we get from the man whom Jesus healed, is that there is also powerful significance to our personal testimony. People can argue evolution and morality, philosophy and ethics, but it is very hard to argue with a changed life. All who have come to salvation in Jesus have a testimony, we all have our "I was blind, now I see" story, and that is dynamic proof of the reality of our Savior.

There seems to be a growing wave of attacks against our faith. These attacks are not new and I am glad for the multitude of great answers to the questions and arguments thrown our direction. And while we should study and know these answers, let's always remember that Jesus came not to win arguments but to change lives. Dust off and add to your testimony and be reminded of His dynamic power in changing your life. All of us can say: "I was lost, but now I'm found! I was dead, now I'm alive! I was blind, now I see!"

Not The Bride Alone

 

"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'come!'

And let him who hears say, 'come!' And let him who thirsts come.

Whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely"

(Rev. 22:17).

When I was in my early twenties I felt the call of God to be a pastor. It made sense to me that if I was going to be a pastor I would need a church, so I decided to start one. It began with a home fellowship, and I was confident it would explode into a mega-church.

The fellowship went really well, the people were faithful, sweet and seemed blessed, but there was very little growth. I felt called to be a pastor, but a church wasn't happening so I became very frustrated. One night I let my frustration out on the little fellowship rebuking them for the lack of growth. I still cringe when I think about it. I was being led by what I wanted, not by the Lord, and that very night, after the Lord's rebuke, understood that while I was called to pastor a church, I wasn't ready just yet.

Revelation 22:17 is our church verse. Notice that the church does not cry 'come!' by itself, it is the Spirit and the bride together who call out. I learned an important lesson in that attempt to start a church. I had the desire and passion, I was willing to sacrifice and work hard, but I wasn't being led by the Holy Spirit.

When Calvary Chapel Living Word was started, it clearly was by the moving of the Holy Spirit and we have seen confirmation of that over and again.  Please pray for CCLW in this new year, that we will continue to be a church clearly led by the Spirit of God. May His Spirit freely move among us, and may the fruit and power of the Spirit be evident in all we do.