Normal
16 Mar 2010 | Kay Cathcart | Posted in FlyNo Comments
We are really grateful for Mike & Cindy Riches’ ministry among us this weekend. Mike challenged us to redefine “normal” in our own lives and the life of our church.
Jesus showed us what normal is when he lived among us – he listened to his Father, relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, taught about the kingdom of God and brought healing.
In Luke 4: 18-19, Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah making clear they are about him:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Do we expect God to continue this work through us? The spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us (Romans 8:11) so we can live this Jesus life. We can redefine “normal” as we seek to live as Jesus did.
Mike called us to fly, to live this kind of “normal” life. He encouraged us to look to God to heal – to restore, to save and to heal (sozo) – this world. He encouraged to pray for that healing and to step out in faith to offer it to others. He called us to:
- Submission evidenced in absolute obedience
- Humility that expresses dependence on God
- Growing faith that trusts God to do the naturally impossible
- An abandoned pursuit for God
- Living life that enjoys & experiences God’s love
- Just do it – in human : divine cooperation
If you have time, you may want to chat these questions through with others:
- Do I really believe that I have the power which raised Jesus from the dead living in me?
- Where do I find that hard to believe? Pray into those areas.
- When you look at the ‘normal’ life Jesus modelled for us, do we expect us to see it realised in our experience? What would we like to see God do amongst us more?
Spend some time praying for healing for those in your group and those you know and love.