#unitedownriver

[chrispasik-blog]

One Thing To Remember

There are a few things in the Bible that always strike a chord with me when I read them.  They are phrases like therefore, because of, or, in this case, do not forget this one thing... The reason for these phrases sticking out is usually the writer is coming to a great conclusion about what he has just bee writing about.  And in 2 Peter 3, Peter says look there is one thing to remember... 

2 Peter 3:8-9- But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Now this is crazy, because Peter says hey I only want you to walk away with one thing, but there are 2 thoughts that Peter throws out here:

1.  Judgement is coming

Peter says that for God a day is like a thousand  years.  The reason Peter says this is because if you back up, Peter is saying the judgement of God is coming.  The second coming of Christ is coming.  There will be a Day in which God will judge the earth.  And today, just like back in Peter's day, we do not think this is ever going to happen.  And the temptation with this is as follows in the Fall Out Boy song Thnks Fr Th Mmrs:

"Say a prayer, but let the good times roll, In case god doesn't show"

This has basically been the mindset in all generations since the first century... Is God going to ever show?  And if not, heck let the good times roll... right?  And Peter is saying... WAIT!  Not so fast... because there is a day, God is coming, but understand a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.  God is outside of time, he is coming, but... then the second thing Peter says is...

2. God is patient

Now this is fascinating, because God shows the whole reason why he is doing what he is doing... He is waiting patiently!  But we can't understand patience as God does, because as Peter states, we have a timeline.  But our problem is we cannot even understand life without time.  And here's where this thought comes together because we can't forget God is outside of time.  A day is like a thousand years.... But he is patient!  And what's he patiently waiting for?  Finish the verse... He is patient...not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

AND in this we see that Peter throws out 2 thoughts, but remember he only wants us to take away ONE thing... And what is the one thing?  It is the heartbeat of the Gospel!  It's the very fact that the only reason judgement day hasn't come is because God is patiently waiting for His people, meaning the Christians, to spread the Gospel to the people that God has placed directly in your life!

And this thought has just been shaking me to my core today, because that means... the only reason Jesus hasn't returned yet, the only reason the second coming hasn't happened, the only reason evil still exists in our world today is because God's patiently waiting for YOU and for ME to take the Gospel to the people who don't know Him in our lives!  And the hope... SALVATION.  The call... THE GREAT COMMISSION!

Just let this thought sink in... God is patiently waiting for you and for me to love on the people in our lives... The people we pass by every single day at work, at school, in our homes, our family, our neighbors... think about all the people you pass by every single day... 

Here is the one thing to remember... The only reason Jesus has not yet come back is for the hope of salvation for the people who are lost in your life and in mine!  And right here Peter is saying... Hey I have 2 thoughts...judgement is coming and God is patient. But there is only ONE thing to remember... God is patiently waiting for YOU and ME to tell someone about Jesus today!

[chrispasik-blog]

Where the natural meets the supernatural...

One of the things I think about often is the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I don't know what it is maybe it is the man in me, I don't know, but I am fascinated with the idea that when you become a Christian the promise is that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, it will come with power (Acts 1:8).  What I find sad is that there are many Christians, even many leaders in the church today acting with no power.  

And I really believe one of the biggest reasons we see this in the Christian church today is because I honestly think many of us (and I say us because I am in this with all of you) are acting completely lazy.  And the one thing God keeps bringing me back to is the idea were the natural meets the supernatural.  Meaning that in order for the supernatural power of God to come into our lives, we first need to step in and do the what is natural.

And to really unpack this idea I have been highly encouraged by this passage of scripture lately... 

2 Samuel 10:12- Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

Now to really understand what this verse really means let's put some context around it.  David has just become the King.  He is fighting what seems to be almost everyone in the known world.  It seems like almost everyone is against him, and right here David and his army has been surrounded by the Ammonites.  And I love this because while surrounded Joab, who is the leader of David's entire army, says these words to his men... He says, "Be strong and let us fight for our people and the cities of our GOD.  The Lord will do what is good in his sight."

Now I love this for 2 reasons... 

1.  Joab understands God's sovereignty.  One thing that I must confess is that I miss this concept often.  I miss the fact that God's will is God's will.  He will do whatever he pleases.  Nothing happens in this entire earth without God knowing about it and allowing it to happen.  And yes I know that statement is a hard statement to swallow, but according to many, and I mean many verses in the Bible, God holds the whole world in his hands, he knows every little thing, and he can do and will do exactly as he pleases (Is. 46:9-11).  

2.  Joab says "Be strong and fight"!  I love that, because Joab and David fought literally a ton of battles, and they always understood God's sovereignty.  But, secondly, they also understood strategy.  They knew that yes God's in complete control, but that doesn't mean we don't have to plan an attack.  And if you back up in 2 Samuel, you will see that Joab split his men up.  THey had a plan.  They attacked the Ammonites strategically and logically.  They planned a way to win, and they did!

And here is the simple learning that God is teaching me... There are many times it seems like your circumstances are overwhelming.  It could be a situation at work, with a family member, a friend, maybe you are in leadership at your church and you are just feeling like the enemy is beating the snot out of you...  I don't know where you are at, but the one thing that I do know is that I feel like my circumstances are overwhelming all the time... and that's when we look to God and say God where are you?  Or God I could use a little bit of that Holy Spirit power... right?  But here is what I am learning more and more, is that overwhelming circumstances happen often.  And if we want to see the supernatural occur in our lives, then we have to do the natural and let God handle the supernatural.  

What I mean by that is this... Joab strategically planned how to overcome his enemy.  He came up with a game plan, it a was a good plan, it was a well thought out plan.  Then after he took the logical and natural step he then trusts in God, and says "God will do what is GOOD in his sight".  And they go to battle.  That is where the natural meets the supernatural.  It's when we as leaders, and Christians, strategically plan and work hard to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God, and then we step into those plans trusting in God's sovereignty to accomplish what is GOOD!  The problem I see often in the Christian community, is we would rather sit around and do nothing and then blame God and/or call him powerless.  When here's what I am learning, just because we have the power of God, doesn't mean we get to be a lazy thinker or an irresponsible planner.  Look we have the power of God almighty, but the only way to tap into that power is to first take the logical and natural steps of hard work and planning.  And then if we would have the guts and boldness to trust God, step into the plans, and give all the glory to Him... here is what I know... That's when the Holy Spirit comes on us, and that's when the power of God is unleashed in our lives!

And here's what pumps me up about the future... Imagine what would happen if we would be more bold, work really hard, plan strategically, and then step into that plan, saying win or lose, rise or fall, God's will do all that is GOOD according to His will and His purpose...  Imagine the power in a life like that... 

THAT'S THE KIND OF LIFE I WANT TO LIVE!  A LIFE WHERE THE NATURAL MEETS THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD!  

[chrispasik-blog]

A Letter to UNITEdownriver

Well here we go... this week is going to be one awesome week as we watch God do what only God can do.  And I know there is so much emotions that come with this it isn't even funny.  And just to catch you up... This week at UNITE, which is the college ministry I pastor, we are begging God to bring it and save the people in our lives we bring.  The challenge is that we all need to be obsessed with reaching people.  And so this week we are asking everyone to bring 2 people with them.  

Now whenever you do a week like this there is a whole lot of crazy emotions flying around.  And maybe it is just me, but there is excitement, anticipation, maybe even some doubt, or maybe some hesitation... but that is why for all of us... I want us to come back to a Psalm that David wrote... and it is Psalm 105:1... Which says...

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."

There are 3 reasons I want all of us to come back to this during a week like this... and the reason is...

1.  Give thanks to God!  

That's HUGE!  I want to be a group and live my life in utter thanks to God!  Like that has to be the foundation of our joy is in God, what Jesus did on the cross, and then from that we spring a fountain of love and thanks to God!  That has to be our starting point, and so for me, I just want to thank God for all he has done.  First in my life... I am about to have a baby in a few weeks, I have an awesome, amazing, wonderful wife, and I have the privilege of leading the greatest college ministry on the planet!  Thank you Jesus!

2. Call on the name of the Lord

Again, I can't stress that this is HUGE that we tap into this... Because there is nothing we can do alone!  God is God!  And there is no one like you God!  You are BIG!  YOU ARE HUG!   You are GOD!  And so God this week, lift us up to accomplish your will in our lives!  God do what only you can do... We are here, send us, use us, let what happens this week shake eternity and blast open the gates of heaven this week Father!  God save souls!  God draw people to yourself!  God change their heart of stone into a heart of flesh!  God we are calling on your name... God MOVE!

3. Make known to the NATIONS what you have done

God we ask all of this in your name so that the nations... the nations will know all that you have done!  God we do not ask for simple things, but for great things!  God we want to see your power and presence so that what happens this week will spread throughout the earth!  God make a name for yourself through us!  God use us!  This is all for your glory, not our own!  

And with that... here's my final thought as we go into this week... UNITE... BEG GOD TO MOVE FOR HIS NAMES SAKE!  Beg God to use you to bring people to His saving grace.  God I love you, use me, use UNITE, we are in your hands... Make known the riches of your Glory through us!

I love you UNITE!  Let's change the world one life at a time this week!