Passion was such a Jesus centered event this year. In looking for a way to describe it, this best describes and compliments Passion as a whole this year. I am so pumped that we had the opportunity to take some of the college students from our church to an event like this one.
When asked, “How was Passion this year?” The way I thought to explain it was that God can do so much work in a person’s life when one takes away all of the distractions from the world and in return pours the word of God and the worship of God in one’s mind. The neat thing about the words I felt like the Lord gave me to describe Passion is that although there truly is a time and a place for everything (Ecclesiates 3:1) and Passion is a monumental event in most people’s lives, the principle continues to stand true daily that when we take the worldly influences out of our life and in turn pour God and His word and worship of Him into our lives, God changes us and makes us more like Him. This process simply looks different on a day to day basis than it does at a big event.
My prayer for the students as they left was that they would see the need for the word of God and true relationship with Him in their life. Talking to friends about God, listening to sermons, and going to church are all wonderful things but nothing can have the same impact in your relationship with God as spending quality time with Him in His word every day. Without this time, there really is no relationship at all, or just not a thriving one.
The Lord used this very timely event in my life to teach me many things through the many speakers and more than anything it was an encouragement to my soul that God is right beside me in my journey of life. My plan is to write out as much as I can about what God taught me through Passion because it truly helps me to process.
The first night of passion Louie spoke on Luke 7:11-16:
“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.”
Louie said, “The enemy’s plan is to bury you like that boy.” His point was that whether we are an unbeliever who the enemy had captured our soul and was taking us down to hell with him or whether we are a christian who is living in defeat, Satan has a plan to bury our lives and not to let “He who began a good work in us carry it on to completion in Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6
I could absolutely relate to times in my life where I had allowed Satan to take over my heart- some part of my mind, will, and/or emotions and he was dragging me down to my grave and I’m sure most people could.
But Louie didn’t stop there. He declared that “Jesus has the willingness and power to raise the dead,” wherever we are and whatever we are stuck in.
His two points were:
1)Jesus touched the very thing that is dragging us to the grave and says, “Stop,” “Get Up!”
2)”Wake up, O sleeper. Rise from the dead.” Ephesians 2:1
And the awesome thing about this passage is that it ends with “..and the news about Jesus spread throughout the country!” How awesome is that?! When our lives are changed and awakened, He will get the glory! Praise Him!!
It reminds me of my life verses: Psalm 40:1-3:
1I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Praise Him, because He alone can do such a work in a person like me.
Life Application Bible
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