I Like What Wakes Up Cold Hearts

I don’t like coldhearted environments. I prefer to be around people who are warm, kind, open, and friendly. Sometimes those environments can be difficult to find. Here’s how I have experienced the most warmhearted atmosphere that I’ve ever encountered.

To do what is pleasing to God is an interesting biblical concept. (1 John 3:22) That of course means that we don’t do what we want to do or what we feel comfortable doing but instead we surrender our desires to God’s will and let Him lead and control us. That’s what Christ’s mother, Mary, told the servers at the wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine, “Whatever He says to you do it.” (John 2:5) Then Jesus told the servants to do some weird and risky things (and those brave guys were willing to leave their comfort zone and do what Jesus said).

I believe that over the early centuries of Christianity, Christians made Sunday worship comfortable and set it up so that it pleases people instead of letting the Holy Spirit take the direct lead and personally direct it in the “spirit and truth” ways (John 4:21-24) that please God the Father. It’s much easier and more comfortable to worship God with programmed words that someone else says for us (or has us repeat) than it is to allow our heart to be near to and controlled by the living God, Himself. (Matthew 15:8)

Ever since I encountered and surrendered my life to the living Jesus, I’ve been hungering and thirsting (Matthew 5:6) and searching for a spiritual city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10) — for people who will courageously gather in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:20) and in His presence to set aside their desires (Luke 9:23) and their programming and let Jesus, Himself, take the wheel. (Romans 8:14) I’ve found that kind of gathering a few times, but it never seems to last. Human programming and control strive to enter in and to set aside the Holy Spirit’s direct control. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

I love unprogrammed Christian gatherings that are directly led and controlled by God the Holy Spirit, but they are so rare that few people have actually experienced one. I’ve spent my life seeking for them because in a Spirit-controlled environment I encounter the real presence and supernatural power of the resurrected Jesus Christ living and working in and through ordinary people. If you know of a Christ-controlled meeting like that, please tell me about it. (Search for: Beyond Church Ekklesia.)

You can’t manage a Spirit-controlled meeting. If you (or another person) begin to manage it yourself, it’s no longer fully managed by God the Holy Spirit.

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