I've been reading a book called Miraculous Movements. It is about Muslims in Africa who have confessed Jesus to be Lord. New Christians spend hours together in prayer. Hours. How do they do this? Don't they get distracted and bored? Everytime I picture them gathering in someone's home for hours on end in prayer, I struggle to wrap my head around it.
Jesus' last words to his disciples before he ascended to heaven were these: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20) Reading about Muslims becoming Christ-followers teaches me this: they are doing this, and they are doing it by praying 600% more than I do.
Our hearts are stubborn. This is why Paul preached to the heart in his letter, going after the astrologies and deceitful philosophies that had the Colossians by the throat. This is why Kevin preached to our hearts, going after the materialistic hearts we all have.
Good heart-preaching reveals our idols. The light shines on us. We are guilty. We are too proud, selfish, arrogant, and busy. But we are this way because we have deeper needs. We are ashamed, fearful, confused, and inadequate. Heart-preaching doesn't allow us to merely "be ourselves." It clears the way and allows us to be honest with God. Maybe for the first time in our lives, we can be completely honest with him about how much we need him.
If we are still interested in keeping control of our own lives, honesty won't be a priority. But if we start to get real with God, Colossians 2:9-15 has the strength to get us over that hill. Because we shouldn't be afraid of becoming nothing. In our sin and transgressions, we already are. But Christ nailed it to the cross. (2:14). When the world mocked him for becoming nothing and dying for us, he rose from the grave, showing these impressive rulers and authorities to be ridiculous. In emptying ourselves, we become full through Christ.
Dallas Willard died yesterday. He was a great Christian philosopher, often quoted by Kevin in the pulpit. I absolutely devoured his massive tome, The Divine Conspiracy over the summer. In the last day, I have enjoyed reading what many wise Christians loved about Dallas. Here is one that I've been thinking a lot about:
"[Willard's] books all call out, in one way or another: Come on over. It's going to be okay to die first. You have to do it, and you can do it. Not even Jesus got a resurrection without a death, and he'll be at your side when you surrender your old life. Trust me on this. If you die with Jesus Christ, God will walk you out of your tomb into a life of incomparable joy and purpose inside his boundless and competent love."
Faith is all about surrender. It is not easy. It is not something we can do on our own. We need God. We need each other. We need heart preaching. Above all, we need the Gospel. Paul is telling us, "you can't just decide to be better. Christ is your good, your better, and your best. He is the death of the old you and the new birth of the real, eternal you. It is no longer you who live. Christ lives in you."
1) When was the last time you surrendered everything in your life to Christ? What did that mean for you at the time (was it really hard?) What has it meant for you since?
2) Who is the person in your life most in need of this kind of surrender? Ask God to give you the resolve to pray for this person until he or she is able to give control to God.
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