"I spent my whole life in church yet if people asked me what the purpose of the church was I could not give the right answer (because there is one)."
I remember thinking that the church's purpose had much to do with giving people who had no life something to do on wednesday, sunday and if your life was in depressing need of something to do there was a friday night prayer. My experience at church as a child was dreadful; it was boring and often disengaging. They did an excellent job of keeping me uninterested yet I always felt like I had a responsibility to make them think I was interested. I spent my whole life in church yet if people asked me what the purpose of the church was I could not give the right answer (because there is one).
So what is it? Well here's what put it all into perspective for me. This past summer (2013) my pastor, a friend, and I went to the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Dallas, Tx. It was an incredible experience and God definitely spoke to us as it intersected the point of our lives where we were starting a church. However, what impacted me the most did not come from the stage but rather from Anita; a stranger who unnoticeably took the seat next to me.
The first night of the conference was coming to a close and the speaker, Louie Giglio, was closing with an invitation to personal prayer. I can't tell you exactly what he said to pray about or even what the sermon was about but I remember him saying that we should engage in some personal prayer time with Jesus. The first thing that came to my mind was a prayer that I had been praying for a while; let's backtrack for a second. Up to this point there had been this very unique (or what you may think to be stupid) prayer that I had been praying on my own personal time. The prayer was a simple one but one I really wanted answered. The prayer? Well, it was that I could know a hug from God. Not like a symbolic, metaphorical hug but His real embrace. It wasn't that I needed to feel it to know He was real but more of the comfort of knowing He was with me. I wanted to feel Him there, literally.
(Back to the Louie Giglio lead prayer moment) The first thing that came to my mind when Pastor Giglio asked us to pray was that prayer that I was reciting in my closet, the hug. Although it was still a desire of mine to know this hug, in my mind I had come to terms that whether I had it or not I was going to serve God with all my heart. If He was going to answer my petition than great but if not then I was not going to let that keep me from serving or believing. As this was being prayed (not out loud) an arm came around my shoulder and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty shocked. I didn't immediately open my eyes to see who it was or question it but as soon as I felt this embrace I couldn't help it; I bawled!
"We are to be a direct extension of Him, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and yes, even His hugs."
I don't know how long I cried for, but it was for a long time. I just couldn't believe it. Later, as all the water from my body was dried up from the intense water gushing, I felt lead to pray for the lady who had come over and hugged me. God spoke things through me to her and she returned the tears that I had so thankfully and willingly poured all over her. When the conference was over we exchanged our stories and how God had used us to bless one another. She told me that she felt lead to come over and just give me a hug. I than shared with her the prayer that I had been praying to God about the hug and how it was literally an answered prayer. We exchanged names, hers was Anita, and I walked away in awe of what God had done.
Now let me explain what God had said to me through Anita that night in hopes that this would serve as an encouragement for you as it did for me. First, I know that God heard my prayer and stirred Anita that night to come over and hug me. This, to me, was a much needed reminder that God was very much active in my prayers and that they were being heard. Although this may have seemed petty and could've easily been passed off as insignificant, God took me into account and answered my prayer. You might ask, "But how exactly did God answer your prayer? He didn't directly hug you."
The bible tells us in Ephesians 1:22-23 that the church is the body of Christ. We are to be a direct extension of Him, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and yes, even His hugs. See, God did hear my prayer and He had answered it, but not exactly how I was expecting him to. God moved through Anita that night to answer my request and in the same way He did that He hopes to use His church to extend His love to those surrounding the body. The church is to be a testimony that Jesus is still alive and active in the world we live in today. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and the purpose of the church is to reflect that love to those around them.
"Take this truth today and as you learn who Christ has been for you; be that for other people."
So my message to you today is a simple one.
1) Be You: Pray your prayers that are unique to you as Hannah did in (1 Samuel 1). I would like to remind you that God hears your prayer and although God may not answer or answer exactly how you're expecting Him to, He's still listening. Yes, even to the specifically, "silly" ones.
2) Be Anita: When you feel God leading you to do something, be obedient. Especially if it's in regards to reaching out to someone. To disobey may cause you to miss out on a great opportunity to witness, directly or indirectly, to someone about God's love. Anita will be remembered in my life as someone who made a difference; make a difference.
And most importantly...
3) Be Jesus: Take this truth today and as you learn who Christ has been for you; be that for other people. It'll create the impact that can change the world around you, allow people to catch a glimpse of who Jesus is, and/or lead others to a profession of faith. Don't just tell them Jesus loves, show them.
P.S. If you could help me get in touch with Anita by sharing this on your social media; I would like to thank her for what she did that night. Maybe she'll read this one day.
Thanks,
Allan Guido.
So what is it? Well here's what put it all into perspective for me. This past summer (2013) my pastor, a friend, and I went to the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Dallas, Tx. It was an incredible experience and God definitely spoke to us as it intersected the point of our lives where we were starting a church. However, what impacted me the most did not come from the stage but rather from Anita; a stranger who unnoticeably took the seat next to me.
The first night of the conference was coming to a close and the speaker, Louie Giglio, was closing with an invitation to personal prayer. I can't tell you exactly what he said to pray about or even what the sermon was about but I remember him saying that we should engage in some personal prayer time with Jesus. The first thing that came to my mind was a prayer that I had been praying for a while; let's backtrack for a second. Up to this point there had been this very unique (or what you may think to be stupid) prayer that I had been praying on my own personal time. The prayer was a simple one but one I really wanted answered. The prayer? Well, it was that I could know a hug from God. Not like a symbolic, metaphorical hug but His real embrace. It wasn't that I needed to feel it to know He was real but more of the comfort of knowing He was with me. I wanted to feel Him there, literally.
(Back to the Louie Giglio lead prayer moment) The first thing that came to my mind when Pastor Giglio asked us to pray was that prayer that I was reciting in my closet, the hug. Although it was still a desire of mine to know this hug, in my mind I had come to terms that whether I had it or not I was going to serve God with all my heart. If He was going to answer my petition than great but if not then I was not going to let that keep me from serving or believing. As this was being prayed (not out loud) an arm came around my shoulder and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty shocked. I didn't immediately open my eyes to see who it was or question it but as soon as I felt this embrace I couldn't help it; I bawled!
"We are to be a direct extension of Him, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and yes, even His hugs."
I don't know how long I cried for, but it was for a long time. I just couldn't believe it. Later, as all the water from my body was dried up from the intense water gushing, I felt lead to pray for the lady who had come over and hugged me. God spoke things through me to her and she returned the tears that I had so thankfully and willingly poured all over her. When the conference was over we exchanged our stories and how God had used us to bless one another. She told me that she felt lead to come over and just give me a hug. I than shared with her the prayer that I had been praying to God about the hug and how it was literally an answered prayer. We exchanged names, hers was Anita, and I walked away in awe of what God had done.
Now let me explain what God had said to me through Anita that night in hopes that this would serve as an encouragement for you as it did for me. First, I know that God heard my prayer and stirred Anita that night to come over and hug me. This, to me, was a much needed reminder that God was very much active in my prayers and that they were being heard. Although this may have seemed petty and could've easily been passed off as insignificant, God took me into account and answered my prayer. You might ask, "But how exactly did God answer your prayer? He didn't directly hug you."
The bible tells us in Ephesians 1:22-23 that the church is the body of Christ. We are to be a direct extension of Him, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and yes, even His hugs. See, God did hear my prayer and He had answered it, but not exactly how I was expecting him to. God moved through Anita that night to answer my request and in the same way He did that He hopes to use His church to extend His love to those surrounding the body. The church is to be a testimony that Jesus is still alive and active in the world we live in today. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and the purpose of the church is to reflect that love to those around them.
"Take this truth today and as you learn who Christ has been for you; be that for other people."
So my message to you today is a simple one.
1) Be You: Pray your prayers that are unique to you as Hannah did in (1 Samuel 1). I would like to remind you that God hears your prayer and although God may not answer or answer exactly how you're expecting Him to, He's still listening. Yes, even to the specifically, "silly" ones.
2) Be Anita: When you feel God leading you to do something, be obedient. Especially if it's in regards to reaching out to someone. To disobey may cause you to miss out on a great opportunity to witness, directly or indirectly, to someone about God's love. Anita will be remembered in my life as someone who made a difference; make a difference.
And most importantly...
3) Be Jesus: Take this truth today and as you learn who Christ has been for you; be that for other people. It'll create the impact that can change the world around you, allow people to catch a glimpse of who Jesus is, and/or lead others to a profession of faith. Don't just tell them Jesus loves, show them.
P.S. If you could help me get in touch with Anita by sharing this on your social media; I would like to thank her for what she did that night. Maybe she'll read this one day.
Thanks,
Allan Guido.