And the Soaking Continues...

Dear Worshippers,

So as the water in the baptistery settles to a stillness, I wonder if a similar stillness will settle over us. The Lord has been stirring us up over the last several months and I am so thankful for that. I asked a question on Sunday, and I want to ask it again of you now. Do you want to see this soaking come to an end? I imagine the answer is no, but what are we willing to let God do to continue to position ourselves in that place.

There are other ways to get soaked you know. Some of you have shed a few tears as you have watched and listened to what was taking place in the baptismal tank. I know I certainly have. One day I remember looking down and seeing my shirt with all these dark spots on it from the tears I had shed. Are we will to allow God to continue to bring the tears that flow from humility and brokenness?

Ultimately the soaking that we truly desire is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is recorded in Scripture what that looked like, as the disciples turned the known world upside-down. I kind of wish I could tell you what that looks like for a church to experience that in an ongoing way, but I do not think I have ever experienced that first-hand, that is for any prolonged period. Though I have seen God at work, the churches I have served, and most of the ones I know of, have unfortunately not continued to ask the Holy Spirit to soak them. And that included me.

We want the might and the power of the Holy Spirit, but we are often are unwilling to truly surrender to His purposes in us. We want to use the Spirit more than be used by Him. I do not want to live and lead that way any more.

So I come to another question…How are you praying? Now that the tsunami of baptisms has washed over us, are you continuing to pray, “Spirit, soak the church”? I am. And as I am praying, I am also trusting that the soaking will continue, first in me and then through me. I want to encourage you to pray with me.

As you do, please do not think about it like you will persuade God if you pray long and hard enough, staying constantly on your knees. The posture God is most concerned about is one of the heart. If we will allow our disposition toward Him to remain humble, He will have His way in us. We can stay “wet”. I believe that is how God wants us to live. I am coming to understand that in a new way these days. How about you?

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy