Your
Weekly I-Mail Vol. 38 Oct 7, 2006
"For the love of Christ controls us,
having concluded this, that one died for all,
therefore all
died."
2 Corinthians
5:14
T his past Sunday we were challenged with living
examples of the ministry of reconciliation. First, was the Amish
community's Christ like response to the shooting of five Amish school children.
Testimonies were shared how both Christians and non-Christians were deeply
touched through the martyrdom of these precious children. The compassionate out
reach of the Amish to the family of the man who first killed the
children and then shot himself shone like a beacon to the power of Christ's
forgiveness. Their witness has truly stirred a hunger within this nation for
a more authentic expression of what it means to follow Jesus in a world bent on
self-preservation and retaliation.
We were then profoundly
moved by the stories of heart wrenching forgiveness and reconciliation
between Jews and Arabs in Israel. The presentation of Forbidden Peace, a DVD
production through Jews for Jesus, brought tears to many eyes.
Building upon
the witness of the Amish, the Holy Spirit bore further witness to the power of
the cross of Jesus through this DVD.
(I encourage those
who missed our DVD presentation his past Sunday to request it through the church
DVD library. You can also get a brief synopsis of the DVD here:
Click
here: A Forbidden Peace - Jews for Jesus )
Throughout our meeting this past Sunday, I felt
the love of Christ calling us to get out of the boat and join Him in
His ministry of reconciliation in a hostile world. I know that this can be very
difficult. Many of us carry scares from the past. Some of are
experiencing the pain and abuse of present injustices. These memories and
present realities tell us not to trust God or anyone else. Nevertheless, as
God's new creation in Christ we have been given a new supernatural ability to
face conflict in the power of resurrected love:
"For the love of Christ
controls us...therefor if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature,
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have
come. Now all these things are from God,
who reconciled us to
himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
2 Corinthians 5: 14, 17-19
We live in the most international county on earth. As a
church for all nations, amidst all nations, I hear the Lord calling us to
start by actively walking upon the turbulent waters that lie just below the
surface of our multinational community. He is preparing
us to step out and model reconciliation and unity in Christ
before the eyes of our neighbors. It's a ministry that is not only
desperately needed, it's a ministry that He has already given us.
We are ourselves to live as a reconciled community. Based on the
recent sermons from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, here are some steps that we can start
with before we reach out to our neighbors from around the world:
1) Identify any hidden hostilities we have toward God.
2) Identify any hidden hostilities toward a particular
people group.
3) Confess to God the sin our hostilities against Him and
others.
4) Ask Him to heal, change and enlarge our hearts to become
more like His. Ask the Lord to see others with His eyes.
Ask for the love of Christ to control you and give you His burden regarding the
struggles others. Ask Him to and how they view the world.
5) In vulnerability confess our struggles to each other. Let us
humbly ask for forgiveness from those in ICC who represent a people group with
whom we have hostility to. Let us graciously release forgiveness when asked. In
turn, let us also ask for forgiveness for any sins of our own people group. This
is called identificational repentance.
6) Declare in unity the transforming power of His
new creation in Christ for ourselves and for those with whom
we struggle. As the people of new creation let us stimulate the supernatural
potentials of the new man in Christ to overcome evil with good.
7) Step out of the boat and become agents of
identificational repentance and reconciliation in our neighborhoods. Where
needed, we can confess the sin of our own people group and forgive the
sins of another people group. Let us actively seek to minister reconciliation
where ever there is conflict between people in Jesus Name, Amen.
This Week at
Immanuel
I wish to remind everyone that we are
celebrating the Lord's Supper this
coming Sunday. Please come prepared as we break bread
together and remember His sufferings for our sins.
Pastor
Mark
