The Next Step

I was talking to Bro. Philip the other day and he asked me a brief question, that I think is very big or to quote Trump, "HUGE!" "What do we do now?" I think that is a very good question. We just completed revival, one of the most interesting I have been in in my life, and yet is was so powerful at the same time. So much truth and help and it begs the question what is the next step? Or I think properly put, "The next steps."

I have never been privileged to serve my country through the means of military might. I know many who have, some have sacrificed a lot for our country. I remember Lewis Henry as a boy sharing some of his story as a soldier in World War II he along with his company who was serving in Germany was surrounded and captured by the Nazi's. He told once how he could remember hearing the command to stack their arms, and one by one he watched and later participated in bringing his weapon and ammunition to the pile and laying it down raising his hands in surrender and being marched off to a prison camp many miles from home and loved-ones and found himself at Stalag 2B near Hammerstein, West Prussia where over 6,000 other American POW's were being held. According to his personal story I heard him give once in a testimony, he and the men around him were nearly starved to death, and would at times fight over the rodents and rats for food. It was a terrible time. Although he spent only around 24 days in the camp, it was enough that he never fully recovered or was the same after that. Oh he loved to laugh, and have a good time, I remember many times he would joke and carry on with others, but I always figured it was a cover up of all the memories way down inside.

Even though he and his group were captured, they were never given orders to go to Germany without a strategic plan. They had orders, and were to do their best to carry them out whatever that may have been. Even today and maybe even more so today, with all of the help of technology, thermal imaging, shotgun or parabolic microphones that can listen up to 3600 feet away, and satellites that some claim can count the change in your hands, our special ops and even often the local police do not go into confrontation without some major reconnaissance and a plan.

So I think it would only be fitting and proper to ask what is your plan? What do you plan to do as your next step? It is easy to hear the truth, and to even say, "Oh I WANT THAT" but it does not fall in our laps, nor does it just happen. A spiritual life is a disciplined life.

Here is what I propose as your pastor to be the next two steps for our church to "GROW IN GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLDEGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST."

Encourage Personal Biblical Application

We live in a world that is immersed in scripture and sermons - My newsfeed is daily bombarded and thankfully so with scripture verses, inspirational quotes, and encouraging tidbits. None of that however good, and true will do me any good if I don't apply it's truths to my life and heart.

James talks about the hearer only and not the doer as a man who looks into the mirror and then goes on his way forgetting what he saw. What spoke to you during the revival

Having a personal revival - Letting God "Restore your soul" Having a healthy view and perception of God to not only love God with all your heart, but to like him as well Daily walking after (or in) the Spirit of God ???? If not in a relationship with Christ to begin one Watching lest you slip or fall away What are you going to do about it? How can you apply that truth, principle or scripture to your life. Be personal, be real, and be intentional about it - This is the very next step. Another step I think we need to take is that we ;

Focus on Spiritual Formation.

What is "Spiritual Formation" well it is really "Spiritual Discipline" this has been used all throughout the time of the church. (GET LIST OF WHAT IT WAS CALLED FORGET WHERE I SEEN IT)

Wesley called it the means of Grace 2 Peter 3:18 where we are instructed and commanded to "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Two separate commands to

Grow in grace Grow in knowledge of Jesus

Dallas Willard wrote in an article on spiritual formation "Now growth in grace—in God acting in our life—is something we must plan for by regular engagement in activities that enable us to receive God’s grace in all areas of our spirit (will), thoughts, feelings, body, social relations, and the deepest depths of our soul. We have been thoroughly “occupied” by sin—which is mainly just exaltation of “me,” and the consequences thereof. Our intention as apprentices of Jesus is to become the kind of person who lives in the character and power of Christ. We must, then, do those things that will enable us to become that kind of person, from the inside out—through appropriate actions and practices. Such actions and practices are “disciplines for the spiritual life.” They are well-known from observing Christ and his people. They include such practices as

solitude, silence,meditation fasting, study, worship, fellowship, prayer, etc.

There is no complete list of such practices, though some are more well-known and widely practiced than others, because they are more central to breaking the power of indwelling sin and increasingly filling our life with grace. Disciplines are, in essence, activities in our power that enable us, by grace, to do what we cannot do by direct effort—by “just trying.” We cannot, by just trying, succeed in loving our enemies and heartily blessing those who curse us. But by a wise practice of disciplines in the presence of Christ, we can become people who will routinely and easily do so.

From <http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=103>

Dallas Willa