Can someone who calls themselves a Christian still have doubts?
What if I said, “That person was me?
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12 – Jesus
Is it possible that people doubt because they haven’t seen the POWER or even worse, LOVE of GOD?
The word says- “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Before this recent training camp (round 2), I could relate with the disciple Thomas who needed to see Jesus after His resurrection to believe.
During training camp I got to see another side of the Lord- His empowerment through the “counselor” – The Holy Spirit. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 This is a gift (not worked for) that He gives us when we decide to believe who He says He is and choose to follow Him. It wasn’t until this past week that I really began to feel the Holy Spirit’s power. This might sound crazy, but during worship my hand would start tingling and the Holy Spirit would prompt me to put it on the persons shoulder in front of me. I remember telling Him, ‘That is going to be real weird when the song ends and I have to say, “Hi, I just felt like touching you?”’ But I listened and through the song He would put words on my heart- ‘I agree with their heart. They are beautiful.’ The song stopped and the inevitable happened. They turned and looked at me with a question in their eyes- ‘yes?’ I responded, “God agrees with your heart. You are beautiful.” Instantly this person had tears in their eyes and responded, “That was just what I needed to hear.” ‘Wow God, that was all You!’
This would happen over and over throughout the week when we worshiped. This was not me!! This was the Lord working through me, using me to touch His loved ones. After being confirmed time and time again, I knew that this was the glory of the Lord and that I was just beginning to tap into the power that He promised us when He ascended to heaven.
But that’s not where this story ends…
I can’t leave out the visit from the “other side.” To keep it short and simple I felt a dark presence one night as we were all going to sleep and for whatever reason I decided not to pray against those dark forces. In the moment I thought I was being over sensitive or fearful. Well… 2 hours after falling asleep- I got to see that ugly darkness that I was feeling. In my dream it grabbed ahold of my head and I was paralyzed. I gasped myself awake and yelled, “O my gosh! I need prayer!” Thankfully I was surrounded by my squad. My good friend Emma started praying right away. Instantly peace replaced the fear I was feeling and I was able to go back to sleep.
Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear?”
The following day I was left thinking… ‘O my gosh! This stuff is real! If that darkness exists, I know that light even stronger than that darkness has to exist. And why did I see that if I am a follower of Christ?.’ God used that as a teaching moment. To show me this stuff is real. That prayer and worship is powerful. That when He gives me intuition that something is not right, I better bring it before the Lord, because He wants to get some kingdom business done. Never walk away from prayer and worship.
By the end of the week, any doubts I had were demolished. I know, that I know, that I know God’s kingdom is real. He is the Light and has invited us to be a part of that light through His Son Jesus Christ. Through acknowledging that He is the Messiah, who came to rescue His people from “the fall” that separated us from the Love of God through Adam and Eve. We no longer have to live in the darkness.
Colossians 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
What if I said, “That person was me?
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12 – Jesus
Is it possible that people doubt because they haven’t seen the POWER or even worse, LOVE of GOD?
The word says- “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Before this recent training camp (round 2), I could relate with the disciple Thomas who needed to see Jesus after His resurrection to believe.
During training camp I got to see another side of the Lord- His empowerment through the “counselor” – The Holy Spirit. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 This is a gift (not worked for) that He gives us when we decide to believe who He says He is and choose to follow Him. It wasn’t until this past week that I really began to feel the Holy Spirit’s power. This might sound crazy, but during worship my hand would start tingling and the Holy Spirit would prompt me to put it on the persons shoulder in front of me. I remember telling Him, ‘That is going to be real weird when the song ends and I have to say, “Hi, I just felt like touching you?”’ But I listened and through the song He would put words on my heart- ‘I agree with their heart. They are beautiful.’ The song stopped and the inevitable happened. They turned and looked at me with a question in their eyes- ‘yes?’ I responded, “God agrees with your heart. You are beautiful.” Instantly this person had tears in their eyes and responded, “That was just what I needed to hear.” ‘Wow God, that was all You!’
This would happen over and over throughout the week when we worshiped. This was not me!! This was the Lord working through me, using me to touch His loved ones. After being confirmed time and time again, I knew that this was the glory of the Lord and that I was just beginning to tap into the power that He promised us when He ascended to heaven.
But that’s not where this story ends…
I can’t leave out the visit from the “other side.” To keep it short and simple I felt a dark presence one night as we were all going to sleep and for whatever reason I decided not to pray against those dark forces. In the moment I thought I was being over sensitive or fearful. Well… 2 hours after falling asleep- I got to see that ugly darkness that I was feeling. In my dream it grabbed ahold of my head and I was paralyzed. I gasped myself awake and yelled, “O my gosh! I need prayer!” Thankfully I was surrounded by my squad. My good friend Emma started praying right away. Instantly peace replaced the fear I was feeling and I was able to go back to sleep.
Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear?”
The following day I was left thinking… ‘O my gosh! This stuff is real! If that darkness exists, I know that light even stronger than that darkness has to exist. And why did I see that if I am a follower of Christ?.’ God used that as a teaching moment. To show me this stuff is real. That prayer and worship is powerful. That when He gives me intuition that something is not right, I better bring it before the Lord, because He wants to get some kingdom business done. Never walk away from prayer and worship.
By the end of the week, any doubts I had were demolished. I know, that I know, that I know God’s kingdom is real. He is the Light and has invited us to be a part of that light through His Son Jesus Christ. Through acknowledging that He is the Messiah, who came to rescue His people from “the fall” that separated us from the Love of God through Adam and Eve. We no longer have to live in the darkness.
Colossians 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Emma and I
Morgan and I – Making the most of our night in the bus
Sarah and I – Sharing the love during worship
