God’s grace is effective in salvation only in as much as we are willing to trust the words of life, and obey them. We are to respond with repentance, yet many keep on backsliding. Many chose to respond to grace with resistance. And this is not a new phenomenon of the age. In fact, Stephen said to the Jewish leaders, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).
Every religious person needs to understand this:
It is God who works in you, (when you have surrendered your will to Christ Jesus), to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (through you) you are his tool. You didn't earn his grace and mercy by any of your good intentions and good works. You need to open the door to salvation by repentance and confession. God doesn't repent for you, he sent his Son to die for you. God doesn't confess your sins for you, he sent his Son to die for your sins. You have to walk up to that door and open it. You walk in repentance, and open the door with confession. And once you've done that, the real work begins.
The good news:
The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist.
I've seen this God powered triumph live and in person during our prison ministry meetings. I mean seriously friends, you think you've got problems with doing church? You think you struggle with experiencing worship in your cozy little chapels? Try finding God's peace (shalom) while living in that gang infested violent place, while choking down horrible food, and having to tolerate prison staff putting stumbling blocks of every kind in your path of peace. Did you struggle with getting out of bed this morning to get ready for church on time? Did someone's kid irritate you in church today? Did the pastor forget to pay enough attention to you today? Did the whole dang church miss greeting you this morning?
Well...you didn't have to go for another week without a shower and soap before coming to the Kairos meeting because you missed commissary because your cell mate flipped out and they tossed your cell, and took all your things. I'd be willing to bet as you were trying to get out of the house to go and worship at your church, no one was refusing to open the door because they don't want you getting your opportunity to join with your Kairos brothers and experience a couple moments of peace. I'd be willing to bet that while you sat in church this morning, and were singing hymns and touching base with the Holy Spirit, no guards marched in screaming and making you line up against the walls to be counted. Pretty sure that didn't happen.
So, is it really difficult to experience Gods peace in worship? Are you really put out and uncomfortable with the sacrifice of time and effort?
Friends, In Philippians 2:12-16 we're instructed to live in grace and peace, doing everything without complaining and arguing, being a bright light in this dark wicked world. And we're told we do this by holding firm to the words of life. Remember, God is working within you. Your faith energy broadcasts Him, (reflects), to every person you meet.
We see this all the time. Great example yesterday, after our Kairos event the team members all decided to gather together for a quick meal on the long trip back to our homes. If you're observant, as I am, you'll notice the strangers around you watching and listening to your talk. Some will even ask you outright who you are and what you're about. Several diners questioned team members, and of course all of us are more than happy to talk about our ministry. Especially with people who live and work in the community near the prison. They are often surprised to learn that a group of Christian's will travel hours to come into their community and share Christ in a maximum security prison.
This is the thing about serving Christ, when you allow yourself to be used by Christ as a tool for sharing the goods news, The Holy Spirit will multiple your meager efforts, reaching far beyond your intended focus. He knows his children even before the children know they are his. And he will send ministers to draw them and guide them. And the ministers have no idea they are doing these things. They are tools in the master carpenters tool chest. And there is no glory in the tools, all glory is in the work of the craftsman. This is what is meant by "follow me". When you worship from the comforting safety net of your sanctuary, remember the One you worship said, "come and follow me".
During the Kairos events we tell these people that they are the church, we encourage them to take that light out into the prison pods. That's a very dangerous ask. They can literally suffer physical persecution, even unto death. I'm pretty sure that should you choose to come out of your comfort church zones in the power of the spirit, and share the good news in all the world, you probably don't need to fear a beat down or worse.
Come out church. Obey the words of life. Follow the Lord you worship out into the mission field. Share your testimony of faith. Teach and bring comfort to the weary. Nurture and grow up faith among the young people. Come out church and save souls from eternal darkness by bringing your faith light out into the world. You were created for much more than a weekly visit to the local community worship center for an hour. The idea that evangelism is inviting someone into your comfortable spaces has been a huge failure. Jesus never said, "come and go to church with me". Jesus said we should follow him BEING the church. Come out and join the teamwork, be a good old used tool, worn from all that witnessing.
God bless you all.