Prayer Summit Part 2

"In my first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach..."

Acts 1:1

Jesus is at work building His Kingdom.  He has poured out the Holy Spirit to continue the work He began to do.  Through that Spirit in His people, Jesus is still at work!  Nothing- I mean absolutely nothing- will stop God's plans and purposes.

I praise God for this truth!  Jesus is at work.

Yet, it is easy to become discouraged.  When we look around at the world, it looks like total chaos.  In this week's news we see a bomb went off in Boston, a huge explosion in Texas, a divided country over guns, and about 10,000 other headlines that illustrate chaos, confusion, and despair.

In addition, within my denomination the statistics say chaos, confusion, and despair.  In a rather unhelpful lecture we were told the CRC will be dead in 50 years if these statistics stay the same.  Given the numbers and the decline, this is obvious.  Yet, where is the hope?  Where is the understand that God is at work?  (the lecture was unhelpful and full of partisan politics because nothing of this truth was ever mentioned!)

The key is that we need to lift our eyes above the chaos, the confusion, and the despair.  We need to lift our eyes to look upon Jesus.  We need to repent of our unbelief and place our faith in the one who is building His Kingdom.  Jesus is at work!

How?

At the Prayer Summit, 600-800 people (I do not know the exact totals) came together to lift their eyes to gaze upon the true King.  They worshipped.  They prayed.  They walked together to encourage each other's faith.  It was beautiful!

Just as importantly for the CRC, this group was exceedingly diverse.  It was not the "Dutch enclave" that would have marked such an event 30 years ago.  It was hosted by Koreans.  It was attended by men and women from many tribes, nations, and tongues.  He also brought folks from every socio-economic strata.  At this Prayer Summit, God brought together a tapestry of His people.  A tapestry that reflects our overall North American culture.

What held us together?  A mutual faith in Jesus as Lord and a desire to see Him exalted and lifted up.

Again, it was beautiful.

As a denomination, we have made great strides to eliminate the foolish belief that "if you are not Dutch, you are not much."  I remember the first time I heard that phrase.  It almost made me wretch!  This is not inspiring to anyone.  Even said in jest is angers the Living God by its foolishness.

As a denomination, we cannot be held together by our "Dutch-ness."  We are held together by our faith in Christ and His Word.  We are held together by a common faith that His Word and His Will teach the Reformed faith.  

We have to know that we are Reformed because God's Word teaches the Reformed faith.  I have always preferred to say that we are "Radically Biblical" and not Reformed.  Why?  While Reformed is a technical distinction, it is misunderstood by 95% of those in the Church universal and by 99.9% of those outside the Church.  

What does it mean to be Reformed?  It means that we allow the Bible to govern our doctrine and our life.  This is a principle that inspires and does not divide!  It provides a platform for discussion.  It defines but also invites.  Come to Jesus and live under His rule and Kingdom.  Such a life is what each of us were created to do and be.

What did I take from the Prayer Summit?  Many things.  Most importantly, I was reminded that God is at work.  He is using His people to build His Kingdom.  There is such hope in this promise!

By repentance, turning away from trusting in anything but Jesus, and by faith, turning to worship and live in Jesus, there is security, clarity, and hope.  For three days, folks from all over the CRC had the privilege to pray together, to encourage each other's faith, and to lift our eyes to our true hope, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God will be exalted and praised.  Jesus is building His Kingdom.  Lord, we pray for eyes of faith to see Your work and to know Your presence.  Give us a renewed Hope and power in the Spirit to proclaim and live "Your Kingdom come and Your will be done."