Don’t just do something, sit there
Experience the power of renewal from God’s presence and people.
By Pastor Kevin Wade
Doing for Jesus is always the overflow of being with Jesus. That’s a crucial lesson from Acts 13-14.
Before Paul ever stepped out on major missionary journeys, he spent over a decade quietly sitting with Jesus, learning from Him, and faithfully serving in small ways.
When we spend time in God's presence, we start to look like Him, think like Him, and act like Him. That intimate relationship gives us Spirit-enabled courage to face trials and keep sharing the gospel.
Think about what happened to Paul in Lystra (Acts 14). He was stoned, left for dead, and dragged out of the city. Yet when he woke up, he got right back up and walked straight back into the city to keep preaching! Most of us have not been stoned or run out of town for our faith, but we often hesitate to go back to people who have rejected the gospel message.
Our opportunity
Within a 35-mile radius of our church, there are one million people, and 700,000 of them have no church home. They do not know Jesus or go to church. We have a prime opportunity to reach lost people who need the love and grace of the Almighty Creator God.
Is there someone on your prayer list who said no the first time you shared Jesus with them? Have the courage to keep praying, keep loving them, and go back to tell them the truth.
Speed bumps on the road of growth
Living out our faith is not always smooth sailing. Paul reminded new believers that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. That middle space of our Christian walk – sanctification – will have hard moments and persecutions. But Jesus promises that while we will have tribulation in this world, we can take courage because He has overcome the world. He is the God of all grace who will strengthen, establish, and perfect us.
We’re better together
So how do we practically keep going deeper together? We stay in the grace of God by prioritizing a daily relationship with Jesus, and we follow His example by being a light to those around us. We also get into the Word together as a church family. Let’s read through the book of Matthew together this month. Doing things together keeps us of one mind, on the same page, and moving in the same direction.
There is joy not only in our individual walk with the Lord, but in gathering together as a church. When you show up weary, being around brothers and sisters who are rejoicing in God's work can reignite your own faith. God shows up where He is wanted, so let us seek Him, stay in His presence, and pursue Him together.
Doing for Jesus is always the overflow of being with Jesus. That’s a crucial lesson from Acts 13-14.
Before Paul ever stepped out on major missionary journeys, he spent over a decade quietly sitting with Jesus, learning from Him, and faithfully serving in small ways.
When we spend time in God's presence, we start to look like Him, think like Him, and act like Him. That intimate relationship gives us Spirit-enabled courage to face trials and keep sharing the gospel.
Think about what happened to Paul in Lystra (Acts 14). He was stoned, left for dead, and dragged out of the city. Yet when he woke up, he got right back up and walked straight back into the city to keep preaching! Most of us have not been stoned or run out of town for our faith, but we often hesitate to go back to people who have rejected the gospel message.
Our opportunity
Within a 35-mile radius of our church, there are one million people, and 700,000 of them have no church home. They do not know Jesus or go to church. We have a prime opportunity to reach lost people who need the love and grace of the Almighty Creator God.
Is there someone on your prayer list who said no the first time you shared Jesus with them? Have the courage to keep praying, keep loving them, and go back to tell them the truth.
Speed bumps on the road of growth
Living out our faith is not always smooth sailing. Paul reminded new believers that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. That middle space of our Christian walk – sanctification – will have hard moments and persecutions. But Jesus promises that while we will have tribulation in this world, we can take courage because He has overcome the world. He is the God of all grace who will strengthen, establish, and perfect us.
We’re better together
So how do we practically keep going deeper together? We stay in the grace of God by prioritizing a daily relationship with Jesus, and we follow His example by being a light to those around us. We also get into the Word together as a church family. Let’s read through the book of Matthew together this month. Doing things together keeps us of one mind, on the same page, and moving in the same direction.
There is joy not only in our individual walk with the Lord, but in gathering together as a church. When you show up weary, being around brothers and sisters who are rejoicing in God's work can reignite your own faith. God shows up where He is wanted, so let us seek Him, stay in His presence, and pursue Him together.
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