What are you thirsty for?
One of the most unforgettable things about Africa for Jesus’ church is the worship. Being in the midst of so many harmonious voices call and response style, takes me back to my childhood. The service begins with bible study, worship, offering, testimonies, the choirs and then the sermon. But a constant thread is the gospel music and hymns songs sung throughout every portion of service.
I grew up in a store front Pentecostal Church in East Orange, New Jersey surrounded by family and some friends. My great grandmother was the Pastor and later in life the Pastorial-ship was given to me grandma. My uncles/aunts were the leadership and the rest of my family was the church body. This was from approximately age 6 to 12 or 13. Service most times was the blended melodies of our voices, clapping hands, stomping feet, tambourines, passionate sermons and plus or minus the organ/drums. I couldn’t help but feel moved and couldn’t hold back the tears as a wave of emotions swelled in me. If I had to name those emotions; the closest words I can use are disappointment, frustration, and joy.
Disappointment because I felt that early on I was taught to lean into to God, give him my heart and that church was a safe place/family. Frustration because some of the gifts that I know he has given me and ways he’s chosen to shine through me have been stifled. Finally, joy witnessing the fullness of his presence and having known the freeness that it brings. God was speaking but I couldn’t quite hear what he was saying and I left the service contemplative.
As I sat and processed my thoughts and feelings with teammates it became clear that I was angry with God. Those feelings of frustration and disappointment were aimed at him. But knowing what to do with that is not always an easy thing. Also being from Pastor’s Kid Family the ugly and difficult emotions are not the ones you spend most time talking about so you just don’t get enough practice dealing with them. Over my my 27 years I have seen the church reflect so many different thing opposite of what I thought I knew it to be…
Somewhere along the line I learned to fill the place of Christ Centered Community with co-dependency, self reliance, and intellect but those things cannot take its place. We were not meant to live this way, as we mature in Christ the fullness of his power is always manifested in community. But when are deepest desires are misguided, we turn the church into an unsafe place and stifle God’s spirit. We also must not forget that the church is but a gathering of individuals, so for the church to be healthy; the individuals must be as well. I heard God pose the question: “WHAT ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR?”
It was a question that came to the forefront after studying the passage John 4:1-18 and I was lead to share it as a sermon with the church body at “Africa for Jesus”. The Samaritan women’s past and present said she was searching for something deeper but didn’t realize it until Jesus began a conversation with her:
Can I have some water?
****The main points that stood out were:
A.) Jesus wants to talk with you?
-Often the biggest conversations start with a simple question.
B.) What’s getting in your way?
-She almost missed the opportunity to learn about “living water”. Jesus was going to reveal himself to her.
C.) Chose to open your heart.
-Jesus began to show her truth as you chose to open her heart and ask earnest questions.
D.)You cannot satisfy an internal thirst with just anything.
-The Samaritan women had been married 5 times was sleeping with another. Jesus called it to her attention.
-Jesus will reveal the patterns of your past and present to bring you to a great of truth.
In closing, the Samaritan women recognized who Jesus was and went back to her town to share her encounter and greater revelations. John 4:39 says, ” Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of her testimony.”
Jesus helped her find and fill her truest desires and when they became aligned with him it brought truth and freedom to her entire community (John 4: 39).
“Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Please continue to pray with me as the fundraising deadlines draw near and as God begins to make clear the deepest desires of my heart through this race.
