Unique REPO

Tonight was one of those special nights in REPO that I think I will remember.  There was just such an amazing presence of Jesus in this place.  I did a message called, “Leaving Normal City Limits” from Acts 8:1-8.  I talked about 3 sights you’ll see when you stop living normal:

(1) Persecution – because anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12).  Living godly is leaving normal life!  And the disciples suffer persecution to push them out of comfort and into God’s mission in Judea and Samaria.

(2)Prophesying – speaking truth to their generation.  Because we are the only Bible some people will ever read.  Philip spoke the truth and people listened to him.

(3) Power – God gave Philip power for miracles and to cast out evil spirits.  In a spiritual generation, God’s power is greater in us than the power that’s in the world.  And his power comes where His truth is spoken. He still does miracles!

It’s just amazing because God did some really cool healing power in students lives.  Students were physically healed tonight, others were healed from emotional wounds.  God just did some really amazing things, and it was obvious he was in the house this evening.  God is doing miraculous things, because signs and wonders will follow those who believe.  I BELIEVE!  And I’m ready for Jesus to do even greater things in our city.

We Need Each Other (2)

Listening
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2 ears. 1 mouth.  We should do twice as much listening as talking.  But also remember that our body language does most of the talking.  I’ve really been challenged lately thinking about what crazy stuff I must communicate to others, because my inner dialogue is not always what my outer nodding head might say.

And do I really love people?  Do I really care what others have to say?  Sometimes I can get so wrapped up in the “big” purposes of life – that I feel like I don’t have time to hear about someone’s normal work day or what they had for dinner.  Love for each other blossoms in the soil of everyday life.

For example, we became close with our friends Chris and Ruth because when we lived in Toledo we would spend most Sunday nights or other weeknights at their house.  We would just chill together, eat food, watch TV, talk late into the night, and be there when the other needed to talk.  This is where friendship happened.

We love by listening.  Bonhoeffer was so right!  I want to begin loving more people.

We Need Each Other (1)

I’ve been really learning lately how much we need each other.  It’s not just an “I need you to say hi to me at church” – but a REAL vibrant relationship where we see each other’s lives for all their faults and accomplishments, good times and bad times.  Life should be lived up close – with trustworthy people who love you and want God’s best for you.

Here are the lyrics to a song by Sanctus Real called, “We Need Each Other” – see you tomorrow for some more thoughts on this…

I think I caught a glimpse of
Life without friends
Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely
We never meant to hurt each other
So Can’t we trust again
And take it as a chance
To keep on growing

I don’t know why it doesn’t come easy
But I know that we could be happy
If we’d only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz no one’s meant to live alone

Life revolves around the need
Of having someone
Causing every complicated feeling
Oh and I don’t want to loose you
And there is nothing wrong with
Telling me what you need
To keep our love strong

It’s just a part of being a family
Taking the good with the bad and the ugly
If we could only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz I don’t want to be alone

Oh Oh we need each other
Fathers and Mothers
Oh oh we need each other
All your sisters and brothers
Oh oh we need each other
We need friends and lovers
Oh Oh we need each other

Well I need you
You need me
Cuz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
(I don’t want to be alone)