God’s Holy Priests

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Mike fixing a light fixture

“And now God is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual house. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifice that please Him because of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

One of the spiritual truths that was rediscovered 500 years ago was the “priesthood of all believers.” This priesthood of believers is not only referring to a priest or pastor, whose occupation is to build up the Father’s house, but it is a call to each believer to use his or her own unique gifts to further His Kingdom.

Over the last few weeks I was blessed to watch all types of people and personalities with their own unique set of God given gifts to build up the Father’s spiritual house in South Africa. A plumber, several carpenters, a principal, teachers, students, cooks, cleaners and so many others offered their gifts as “spiritual sacrifices.”

The Holy Spirit loves to dwell in humble hearts who have found Jesus as the “Cornerstone” to build their lives upon. The overflow of encountering the Rock of Redemption is building up His Kingdom through loving acts of service. This is worship at its best!

The Oceans campus became a house of praise as lumber was cut, walls knocked out, flooring laid, rooms remodeled, weeds pulled, meals cooked and dishes washed. In the community the hungry were fed, children were taught the Bible, God’s Word was studied, and precious times of prayer and worship were shared. All these actions reflect and reveal a Good, Good Father. A Father who “called us out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Our world needs to encounter such “living stones” who use their God given gifts as acts of worship; “Holy priests” filled with the Father’s love. Such a kingdom is what the world is desperately searching for. Governments, financial security, power, and the false promises in our culture simply won’t give lasting security. But as believers we can be “living stones” recreated in the very image of Christ Jesus to be “holy priests” flooding the world with the Father’s heart of love and grace. This is how the Father builds His Kingdom of love.

What a privilege to observe such love in action on campus and in the community. This week remember that you have a calling on your life and gifts to share as God’s Holy Priests. I challenge you to willingly use your gifts and trust that He will use them to reflect His life- changing love to others.

Spiritual Reconstruction

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It has been a busy season here on the Ocean Retreat Center campus with both a work crew and Kingdom Encounter team of middle school students from Holland Christian. The days have been filled with lots of activity and energy.

One of the construction projects has been a much needed remodel on the building. Carpets ripped out, walls knocked down, cracks patched and other repairs that inevitably show up with such an endeavor.

Before you can get to the good stuff of remodeling you have to do the hard work of demolition and removal. And this first phase is messy. One of the rooms was filled with a cloud of concrete dust which set off the fire alarm several times.

In the midst of the reconstruction chaos I thought about how this is what happens in our spiritual journey as well. As the Holy Spirit works in our lives forming us into “God’s spiritual house” there always seems to be a season of demolition, removal, and maybe even an alarm or two set off.

The Apostle Peter describes this on going process in 1 Peter 2:1-12. If we are to be a “spiritual house” a “holy priesthood” which radiates the glory of our Father and His Son Jesus, old sinful patterns must continually be removed.

Peter says, the Holy Spirit comes in like a burning torch to remove all the old junk in our hearts (1Peter 1:7). Things such as: our pride, selfishness, hypocrisy, jealously, perverted thoughts and actions, fears, unforgiveness etc.

I don’t particularly like this phase of a building project. It is messy. It hurts. But it is necessary in order to be built up into the image of Christ. Yes, it can be painful, but it is one of the most loving works the Father can do in our hearts. He is constructing a beautiful home of shalom right in the middle of our hearts.

This past Sunday we were blessed to witness the powerful “building work” of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the students who have been on the Oceans trip. Pastor Raymond asked if one or two students could share about their experience in South Africa. Unsure how middle school students would respond, we wondered if anyone would be brave enough to share. However the opposite was true! What a blessing that so students could articulate with fellow believers how the Lord was working in their lives!

Back at the Retreat Center, students shared with one another and the leaders what they would “take away” and bring back home with them. It was evident that the Holy Spirit was at work: removing fears, worries, perceptions and sins. The presence of Jesus  radiated from hearts. It truly was a holy moment.

Their softened hearts convicted me to pray for the Holy Spirit to keep working in the hard places in my heart. So that I can continue to reflect Jesus the Cornerstone, who makes His spiritual home in my heart.

Perhaps today is the day the Holy Spirits wants to begin a remodeling work in your heart. I challenge you to invite the Refiner Fire in. Trust that His love will do a beautiful work. Remember it may hurt for a bit. It may be messy. BUT it will birth a more glorious grace of Christ in you.

Encountering the Father in Creation

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How much time do you spend in creation? Recent studies show that  Americans spend 100% more time on their phones each month than taking a walk outside, a gap that widens to over a 134 % among Gen. Z. It has been proven how important it is for our bodies, minds, and our souls to spend time each day in creation.

Right now there is a group of middle school students from the US on the Oceans Retreat Center campus. On their final night before they head back home we will ask each of them their “take aways” from the Kingdom Encounter trip.  Many will share the life changing impact of serving in a township or time of worship and prayer in local churches, but without a doubt several will share how they encountered the Father in His amazing creation.

For some it is the hike up Elise’s Peak and the time spent journaling on the top. For others it is the quiet time spent gazing at the ocean. And many will testify to hearing the Father speak while walking in the vineyards-mediating on Jesus’ teaching on the Vine and the Branches from John 15.

The Scriptures shout out over and over again how our Father God speaks and reveals Himself in His Creation. As we open the first chapters of Genesis we read about a God who spoke our world into existence and He delighted in it. Everything we see, touch, smell, hear, taste comes from His masterful design and points us back to His glory.

One of the greatest song writers in history received his inspiration watching sheep at night and gazing at the canopy of stars above. David could hear God speak in the breath taking brilliance of it all:

“The heavens declare the glory the glory of God, and the sky above His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

When you think about all the fears, worries, and stress this generation is encountering-could one reason be they are missing out on the glory of God in His creation? Endless scrolling on the phone has kept so many imprisoned in caves of false worlds of media bias, and influencers, a fake reality and in doing so miss the truth and light right outside our front door.

As I was writing the words above I began to hum a song I learned early on in school which sings out what we need to recapture in our anxious generation:

This is my Father’s World, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and tress, of skies and seas: His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world; why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Today I challenge you to put down your phone, walk out your door and open up all your senses to encounter the Father’s voice speaking to you in His glorious creation.

Finding Authentic Community

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I recently read an encouraging Harris Poll which stated that Generation Z, (those born between 1997-2012), are more religious and spiritually active than older generations.  33% of Gen Z respondents identified as religious, the highest proportion among all generations surveyed. 88% of Gen Z respondents reported regularly practicing at least one religious or spiritual activity, the highest share of any generation.  They are also most likely to attend religious services or read scripture compared with older cohorts.

Oceans Ministries has found this also to be true with many of the students who decide to sign up for a Kingdom Encounter. There seems to be a hunger among young people to find a place of authentic spiritual community, a place where they belong.

So many desire to have an honest, truthful, raw and trustworthy space to dwell. A place to share fears and worries. Perhaps as a result of Covid, AI, a changing job market, the emptiness of materialism, striving for perfection and popularity, and all the things society continues to pump out… a place to rest and simply be is a longing deep within.

The last few blogs have addressed answers found in Biblical practices for the Anxious Generation that we all seem to encounter one way or another. Persistent Prayer and Hearing the Voice of the Father through the Word have been highlighted and in this blog I want to look at the importance of Finding Authentic Community.

One of the reasons Christianity thrived in its early days was because followers lived in authentic community. As you read through the book of Acts you notice most of the time they met in homes where “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer…” Acts 2:42ff.

These small home fellowships exploded all over the Roman Empire in spite of extreme suffering and persecution. In less than 300 years they transformed the western culture. These simple fellowship gatherings provided a home, a true family, and a Spirit filled life hungry hearts were craving.

As the Harris Poll points out, this is what the Gen Z is looking for as well. This generation which has grown up with smart phones and global networks of social media feeds, are lonely, lost, and looking for something real to connect with. They don’t need big buildings, perfect worship bands, or the best preachers, to heal their anxious souls. They need an encounter with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through a fellowship of followers filled with the Father’s love.

And its not just Gen Z that is looking for this type of authentic community. Recently I was preaching at a small church, after the service a senior saint came up to talk. It was her first time at the church and she shared with me her spiritual journey of trying to find a place where she can experience family and a place to truly belong.

Each one of us is looking for a place to be loved and to love others no matter what generation. We all desire to be part of a community where the Holy Spirit brings Heaven’s love to earth through the ministry of the followers of Christ who open wide the doors to the Father’s home of love.

Ultimately no matter what our age we all desire to interact with someone else who knows they are a weak, needy, and a sinner saved by grace. To know someone whose heart is filled with an ever flowing streams of love from the Father is a true gift. At times we may offer such love and other times in need of such love. Today is a good day for Christ followers to open our hearts, homes, our spiritual communities, to one another. To reflect the love of our Heavenly Father, who has His enteral arms of love open to bring each of us to the place where we truly belong.