Forced by Faithfulness

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (Acts 16:6, 7 NIV)

Ken and I have talked about the revelation of which God has, after 6 years, opened to us. That revelation is of a God who won't let a people of faithful hearts become anything less than his full expression of love and power to the world.

For 6 years the Holy Spirit has been leading us as a church to the place we believe we have finally arrived to. We could tell you countless stories of how God has blocked us by the Holy Spirit in order that we would land here: 1. Spiritual Presence. 2. Powerful Relationships.

Six years ago we would have become a church of bells and whistles seeking to attract people to our modern expression of a relevant Jesus. Three years ago we would have been a church of crazy activity leading people from event to event as the means to evangelize the community. Today we know now what the expression of GraceRiver is to be and why our community so desperately needs us here. We are to be a church full of the Spirit of God who's lives are being formed by His presence; held in that pattern by relationships of power until our hearts match 100% His. We are to be a church of life giving disciples in Jesus Christ.

Sometimes the blocks we find in our life are from sin. But sometimes the blocks are from the Holy Spirit guiding his faithful people to real kingdom impact. I am more fully His than I have ever been. I am more committed to his call than I could ever have imagined.