Dear friends,
As we travel through Lent and into Easter I continue to wrestle with how best to share the amazing truth that is the work of salvation, the rising of Christ from the grave. Over the years I’ve had a growing realisation that this is one of the hardest things to do in ministry, holding the space for God to do what only God can do. I also believe it is often the most important work that I do.
But it is hard, because it requires vulnerability and risk. It is vulnerable for me because I have come to a place of conviction that must be named. “I believe God wants to do something right now.” I might be wrong, but there is growing evidence and story of a quiet revival, a gentle awakening where increasing numbers of people are giving their lives to Christ and allowing Christ to occupy their hearts. The only way to know if I’m right is to take the risk.
This is vulnerable because it is when I am most aware that I am not in control and I am certainly not God. I know I can preach a sermon through which Spirit enables the living word to be broken open in our hearts, at least most of the time. I also know that I want to see the fire of God more than I want to give a careful sermon or play it safe and just do what I can do in my own strength.
I know that what I am able to give is nowhere near sufficient for the needs of, well, anyone. I know this because I know my own need for the abundance of God’s love to meet me with his grace and empowering presence. In this approaching Easter season where am I going with this? I think it’s that if you want to be part of a ministry that makes a difference for eternity, you have to connect with the Lord in a way that goes beyond your natural ability and giftedness. You have to develop a prayer life, struggle to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, and risk saying publicly what you believe you have heard. And then you have to hold space for people to respond and for the Lord to move. May it be so as we worship together in the coming weeks.
Every blessing,
Rev Mark.