HUNGER | HUMILITY | HOPE
In June, two of our former students and graduates were sown into the Atlanta,
Georgia area. This powerful couple, along
with their two children, are beyond amazing!
They continue to live a life of bold faith and radical trust. They refuse to tell their Lord, “No” and live
for Him alone, no matter the challenges or blessings. This couple reveals what it looks like to
truly walk with God each day in complete surrender to His Word and voice. Bethany and I are so proud to watch them continue
to passionately lay their lives at the feet of Jesus. This is what real disciples look like and
do. Be reminded, we are not our own (1 Corinthians
6:19-20). We can’t call Him LORD and
then refuse to allow Him to lead. What He
says, we are to do and where He goes, we are to follow.
Only after two weeks of getting settled in Marietta, Fabricio
and Denise invited me to be a part of a special Friday service which started at 8:00PM
and didn’t conclude until 5:30AM the next day.
In addition, I preached Sunday AM & PM services. I was honored to gather with such hungry
people. It’s rare to find such hunger
here in America, not impossible but certainly rare! This congregation is Brazilian, only 15
months old, and has an assignment upon them to awaken America. Thank God we have others nations now coming to
assist the slumbering Church of the west.
I would like to share a few observations about my weekend with
this beautiful church. Hunger, humility,
and hope were my greatest takeaways.
Hey, I’m a preacher! What did you
expect? I went to be a blessing and to
water these precious people however, upon returning home, I quickly realized I
too was tremendously blessed and genuinely watered. There’s a biblical principle found in the
Scriptures, those who water will be watered themselves (Proverbs 11:25).
First let’s talk about HUNGER. Did I mention the service started at 8PM and
didn’t end until almost 6AM? These
hungry ones sought the Lord and pressed in for, right at, ten hours straight! We worshiped, prayed, and received the Word. This was our flow the entire night. The people stay focused and engaged. We all leaned in, waited on, and listened for the
Lord! The presence was so glorious that
ten hours felt like one hour. Pure hunger
has a way of breaking any barrier and removing all limitations.
Imagine what could happen and would happen if we excommunicated
our clocks from our services? Imagine
the glory that would be experienced if the only item on our agenda was the
face and the words of Jesus? Most of the
time, our gatherings have an abundance of flesh and blood but very little
presence and glory. Here’s a real honest
question, have you ever been in a service and paused for a moment “to
take it all in” only to realize something’s wrong… something’s missing… someone
is missing? Where is God? Sadly, I have. Way too many times. If God is absent, can we still call ourselves
a church. Isn’t the whole point… HIM?
Many today desire the crowd but who will pursue the cloud? Most are content with checking a box, but we need
to check our hearts. The meeting means
nothing unless we meet with Him! Jesus
is the point, the goal, the aim, the target, and the reason for our gatherings. Lingering and tarrying can no longer be strangers. They must become some of our closest
companions.
We can have the finest kitchen, the best
equipment, and all the consumers in the world and everyone may be impressed and admire our aesthetics, but unless the Chef is given time,
space, and place, no one is fed... satisfied! He is Bread.
His presence is our nutrients… The Bread of His Presence! The two things we all know about bread is it requires
time and is filling! The hungry will be filled. Jesus tells us those who hunger and thirst
after righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6). During this service, all were filled because
all came hungry, divorcing the clock.
Next, I want to address HUMILITY. Humility is not a way forward. It’s the ONLY way forward. God still resists the proud but gives more
grace to the humble (James 4:6). I believe
we live in a day where more grace is needed than ever before. The verse above reveals how to access MORE
grace! The door to more is located in
the floor. Pride has consumed our land. We now even have a month dedicated to
pride (June). I say we redeem it and called it humility month! Better yet, let's go after all twelve with/in humility. Likewise, pride has contaminated
the church. Our egos are bigger than
ever. Celebrity Christianity is now
being judged (just look at the scandals that have rocked the church just in the
last year). When we go high, who is
seen? A better question, who then goes
low? Jesus made it clear; He is to be
lifted up!
Unfortunately, in a world of social media, we have traded
His name for our own. Now, I understand,
these are just tools and can be used the right way or wrong way. Yet very few point to HIM! If that last statement is wrong, I’ll stand
corrected. But very few use their influence
to point at the Bride-groom (John 3:30).
Many fail to see the Bride-Groom (Jesus) or the Bride (The Church) because
our faces are taking up most of the frame.
When we finally decide to go low, HE will go high and all will be drawn to the only One worthy of such a position (John 12:32).
My first conversation with the lead pastor at this Brazilian
church was remarkable. His humility was
like locating an oasis in a dessert, rare and refreshing. After thanking him for the opportunity and hospitality, I complemented him on the beautiful work they were doing highlighting
the phenomenal growth they've had in just fifteen short months. He kindly received my words and then said, “Please
pray for me, that I don’t mess this up.”
Stunning! Immediately, I knew Pastor
Leo was different. Pastor Leo went
low. These are the ones who are given authority
in the Earth. These are the ones whom
God can trust. I was so encouraged by
his first comment to me. At that moment,
I discovered the secret to their success.
Get down and stay down. Learn how
to get out of the way and stay out of the way.
Only Jesus is to be lifted up! In
a day that everyone is looking for position, may we seek the position called "facedown!" I challenge us all to see just
how low we can go. Will you take me up
on my challenge?
Last of all, I desire to release HOPE. Hope is essential and powerful. Hope will keep you moving forward and will
help you maintain the momentum necessary to reach the promise. We all know that America has blessed so many
nations with the Gospel of the Kingdom and the fire of God. Our greatest export remains the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. America was established by
God to reach the nations. That is a fact
and is the truth. No matter who attempts to spin things today. So many
people groups have been reached for Christ.
Countless others have been set ablaze with the fire of God! One leader at this Brazilian church, Pastor
Bruno to be exact, told me, “America brought the fire of God to our land years
ago and now it’s time for us to return the favor.”
Church, God has not forgotten us. We have sown God-seeds into God-ground and
now the nations are coming to aid us, assist us, and encourage us. America is ripe for harvest and God is sending
laborers from other nations to help us with this great work. America shall be saved! God is not finished with America and America
is not finished with God. We still have
much work to do. The world still needs our
influence and impact. Both just need to be pure. Great awakening is
on the horizon because global reformation is on the Father’s heart! It’s time to humble ourselves, pray, seek the
face of God, and get our land healed so we can engage, once more, in the
ultimate call and assignment upon our nation (2 Chronicles 7:14).
We were raised up to release a shout and a sound that the kingdoms of this
world belong to the Kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15).
This month as we celebrate America’s 248th birthday. Let’s get so low that we return to our roots and recapture the call of God upon our nation to make much of JESUS! Our family is crying out for the increase of Jesus!
HUNGER accelerates His increase.
HUMILITY attracts His increase.
HOPE activates His increase.