We proclaim... what we have seen and heard. (1John 1:3)
I last wrote about the visibility of God's kingdom (see my blog The Season of Advent). God's Kingdom is visible when broken lives are made new, in healing, in being set free, in the lost being found and in lives transformed by God's love, grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.
There will be an abundance of those signs if we are faithful, obedient and unwavering in the following disciplines of our walk with God
Firstly, by putting God first. The greatest commandment is 'to love God with all your, heart, mind, soul and strength and to love your neighbour as yourselves.' This is all about passion. It's in your face! You can't escape it. It's about commitment. If we long to see God's kingdom amongst us, then let's make our relationship with God a first priority. Let us be faithful in prayer, seeking God's glory, offering our praise and thanksgiving, seeking His will and seeking His power. None of us are able to make God's Kingdom grow!! Only God can do that through the power of His Spirit. We acknowledge our utter dependence on God in our prayer.
Secondly in believing. We trust God to hear and answer our prayer - don't we? Faith and trust in God, more often than not, come before we see anything. In the story of the Exodus from Egypt, Moses is called to lead God's people to freedom. Moses' call comes from God in the burning bush on Mt Hebron (Exodus chapters 3+4). Moses argues with God and asks 'Who am I that I should do this?'. In reply God tells him, 'I will be with you and as a sign that it is me who sends you, you shall worship me on this mountain' (Ex. 3: 11-12). When did Moses see the sign? When did he worship on this mountain? not until he had accomplished all that God had called him to. Moses led the people to freedom and then set up an altar on Horeb to worship (Ex 17). The point is Moses trusted and believed God before he saw the sign! Believing and trusting comes before seeing. And just as significantly, Moses was obedient and active in what God called him to.
Thirdly in proclaiming. Our text for this year, 'We proclaim .. what we have seen and heard'. We will be bold in our witness to what we have seen and heard, our witness to what God has done in our lives. Through our witness we will see more and more becoming disciples. Reminds us of the Great Commission, to go and make disciples!
This year, time to rise up as men and women of God with passion, conviction, courage to step out as Moses did, boldness in our witness. Then watch the abundance - see it because you believed it!!!