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My contention is for a Christian and the church to be powerful there must be a widespread re-ordering of priorities and, also, of action. OneLife Ministries is about a re-formation of the life of Christians and churches in a spiritual way, and direction.
A relationship with God must take center stage in our church communities, families, and individual lives. Truly, God is not the center of many, likely most, of the churches: many other things take center stage - doctrine, worship styles, classes, missions, programs, fellowship dinners, personality conflict, money, social justice, morality, buildings and grounds, rules, ...
Now, what I am saying is this: All the good in a church flows from intimacy with God. God at the center of a community of faith makes it a holy communion.
Also, being renewed daily, being given fresh strength daily, in relationship with Sacred Presence is not the center of the daily lives of most Christians.
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So, we must recover the almost lost art of withing with God. That is, we must restore the priority of intimacy with God in the daily details of our lives. Prayer then becomes not simply something we do at a certain time - though we do this; prayer becomes the spirit in which we do what we do, prayer becomes the tenor of the being of the follower of Christ and the church learning of Him.
Churches must become training schools of the spiritual Life. Church as has been being done will no longer suffice for the power we need in an increasingly anti-Christian culture.
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Let us put it simply. To live in the power of the Spirit of Christ means living with the Spirit, consciously - this will be your first priority. This will apply to the person and the community of faith. Otherwise, we will fulfill the words in II Timothy - and, sadly, this is more the fact now than we would want to admit:
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
*II Timothy 3.4-5 (NLT)
Let us not deny the power of true, spiritual Christian faith. Let us, by daily living withing with the Spirit, in Love with Love, be filled with the Generativity of the personal, intimate Presence of Loving, Whom we call the Holy Spirit.
QUIETLY RESPONDING
1. How do you see the Holy Spirit expressing power through you daily?
2. In what ways do you prioritize your spiritual Life daily?
3. Are there some things you could change so that you would be living closer to the Holy Spirit? Explain.
4. Is the faith community you attend Spirit-filled? Explain.
Blessings!
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox
May 16, 2009
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. Brian is an ecumenical spiritual leader, open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
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