Monday, December 22, 2008

Revival!! How the light can reveal.

Well well, nearly 2 years since I last wrote something on here, and I would like to thank St Barnabas Church, (my new church of about 8 months) for reviving my blog. Well, at least they have encouraged me to start writing again.


Yesterday evening, I was sharing my testimony at my church's candlelight service, and in the lead up I was faced with the challenge of looking at my own life and seeing my current spiritual status. I knew I had to stand on a stage and talk about the day I met the Lord Jesus, and my work had completely taken over my life and I didn't feel like I had time to do this regarding preparation. I instantly saw this as Jesus trying to renew His hold on my life. Jesus never let us forget Him. And this is true testimony to that. It also shone a light or some sin which I hadn't realised had snuck its way in to my daily routine.


Thinking of this now, a verse that comes to mind is Ephesians 5:13,

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.


I got scared, the light would be shining on me when I stood on the stage, and if I hadn't reviewed where I was spiritually, who know what would have been revealed. Now I am sounding like I had a lot of sin weighing me down, which is wasn’t, but to Jesus, the smallest bit of sin is enough to have to ask for forgiveness. Jesus is without sin, and when we have even the slightest bit of sin, then we are far from Jesus and need the grace of His righteousness to bring us back to where Jesus is. The slightest slither of sin is just as bad as the worst sin ever (short of denying Jesus). Even just writing this now makes we realise just how amazing Jesus really is, and how God's grace is the perfect gift for us.


So this moment of sharing my testimony and being on a stage with lights pointing at me, the lights have literally shed light on sin in my life, and it has shown me how we are so far from God we can get, but also it is so easy to be right next to God again. Just as it was through the simple prayer that started my journey with Jesus, a simple prayer can cleanse us with the blood of Jesus. I think that it is spiritually healthy to review or 'spiritual status' (as I am currently calling it) every day. This way, when the light is cast upon us unexpectedly there is no sin to be shown. It is just the pureness of Jesus Christ. This way it will also help us to build each other up.


John 3:19-21 says

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.


This has always challenged me. Before I was a Christian, there were things I was ashamed of, and things that I didn’t want anyone to know, and if anyone did know it would destroy my social life. This was me loving the darkness. Now I am in Jesus, I want to live in the light, I want people to see what God is doing through me. And I tell you this, only Jesus can bring you into the light, He is good and will make you new again.


Anyway, I thank you for reading this and I just ask you for prayer that I can continue to find time to write. Please leave comments also, as any other Christian is, I am still learning, and if there is anything that you would like to disagree or debate then I would love to know your views.

5 comments:

paula said...

hello jason..just found your blog thru google..just made mine too today..it is mimiswalk.blogspot.com

yes...i like what you say about how we do try hard and compromise before the light shines thru and helps us walk in His light..god bless you

Pamelab52 said...

Hi Jason,
I found your blog while looking for born again Christians, because I too am a born again, since 1965, before you were born. So far it has been a long and fascinating journey to be a true Christian in this world. I studied Religion in college and Philosophy.
I too was touched by the holy spirit, but I am a little stunned at some of the modern born again ideas. I think the focus is too much about sin and not enough about spreading love. Too much about guilt and blame and not enough about forgiveness and understanding. The current arguments about abortion and gay marriage show such little compassion or understanding of the people being attacked.
How do you feel about this?

Lawrence said...

I have been a born again at the age of 14, to date I'm 34. Being a Christian has it's ups and downs. Mainly because I think since we are now much closer to God thru the Lord Jesus Christ... The Devil is out to make our Christian life a living hell... Since the devil has no more power over us... Satan at times would lure us in sugar coated lies, deceit and temptation. My 20 years as a Christian has been a roller coaster ride, and I got really tired. So tired, that I forgot how to be a Christian. I unintentionaly/intentionaly dismissed God... and this lagged on for years. Until today.
I would like to share what happened today... Problems, lust, money, fears and so on... engulfed my being that I forgot God. Today I was so consumed with budgeting that I finally got exhausted and thought watching tv would get my mind off things... Well that didn't help... then I thought perhaps the internet can help me relax... see what's going on in facebook... Until, I heard a knock... It's as if God is tearing the door down. God and prayer was the last thing in mind... But God was impatient today and took His sweet time out to pay me a visit... I just froze! (I feel so blessed today) my eyes closed involuntarily and I just surrendered everthing to God today... He knew I needed rest, He knew that I was already at the edge of a cliff... And yet again, He came to my rescue... Just like my newly shaved head, once again He "saved" me. Though I feel so blessed right now, I know I need to shape up.

God bless you Jason, may He continue to enrich our soul forever.

Lawrence said...

*I feel so brand new just like my newly shaved head.

Pamelab52 said...

Jason
Hi. I'm your first responder, your fellow born again. I see you are concerned about the Devil.
The devil can only have an influence if you're afraid. Try not to worry -- remember jesus's words, Even when you feel like it's overwhelming, prayer will help you. As you already discovered.
Life is very tough -- keep the faith!