The Pastor’s Garage September 29th, 2022

One of the things that I talked about during the Vision Sunday was being a
people who gather. I challenged us to make it a priority to be gathering
with people two times a week with the intention of bringing God into the
time. And that can happen a number of ways, whether it’s through prayer or
bible study or discovering the bible and God with unbelievers or through
having communion together or something like worship, the point is to be
intentional about the focus being on God.

Along these lines, we’ve decided to celebrate communion every Sunday for a
season. I was thinking we’d go until Christmas and then reevaluate, but we
will see how things go. The point in doing this is that I think we need to
be reminded of how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and how central
it is to everything we are and to everything we do. The good news about
what Jesus did for us at the cross, what we remember and celebrate during
communion, is THE message of the church. In fact, it seems like the very
early church celebrated it more often than not, seemingly almost every time
they were together. Neil has graciously offered to help facilitate this and
I’d appreciate that if anyone is interested in helping out, you please
contact Neil.

Ephesians 1:18-20 says this,

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us
who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted
when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms.

Can you hear what that says? The same power that God used to raise Christ
from the dead and seat Him in heaven is available for us who believe. What
power could be greater than that which can take something that is dead and
bring it to life? But we are not just talking about just back to life but
back to a life which seats Christ in eternity, in the heavenly realms. This
same power is available to us as believers. What problem are you facing?
What struggle? What mountain needs to be moved? What seems impossible?
Well… there is some power available… some serious power! You need only
ask. Pray. Seek God. Believe he is able.

It makes me think about an old time tractor pull I saw years ago. There
were old tractors, older tractors and some things that didn’t even look
like tractors. And then this old steam engine came out. I laughed and some
older timers there said just watch. There were a few tractors that day that
pulled a “full pull” but just barely. Well, this steam engine “full pulled”
and then just kept going. The announcer joked and said something like
“Guess he’s taking the sled home!” It was slow moving, but seemed
unstoppable. There was more power there then needed. God has got more power
than He needs for whatever you are facing. He can bring resurrection power
to whatever you are facing!

This Sunday is of course Mike’s Ordination and I would really encourage you
to be there. If you can’t please send along an encouraging word to Mike
sometime this weekend. ACOP has recognized the calling and gifting on Mike
as a Pastor and I think we do as well. Please be in prayer for this special
day. Jordan Gadsby, our regional director, will be doing the ordination as
well as sharing this Sunday.

God bless and have a wonderful weekend,

Pastor Dave