Over the past few months, our family has had the privilege to meet in speak with many individuals and church bodies to share of our calling and mission to Alaska. We have been building a support team to help us carry the light of hope into areas that are spiritually dark. Just to give a shout out to the churches, we were blessed to be with Reidsville, First Assembly, Calvary Assembly, Christian Life Assembly, Cullasaja Assembly, Total Worship of Greensboro, and several others. We have also had the opportunity to meet with many pastors to share of our hearts; and there are many more on schedule, and many more needed. Throughout this time, God has made it real to me that there needs to be an expectancy in my heart. Not just the passion and excitement for our calling in Alaska, but for the moment we are in. What I mean is that the early church operated mission-ally to pursue the will of God and reach the world. They strategically carried out their days living each moment as if the next, Jesus would be returning. They didn't pass by people without looking into their lives and feeling their pain. They shared Jesus with the world and in turn revolutionized the spiritual landscape of this world. In the day in which we live, the church as a whole I believe has lost its sense of expectancy.
The expectancy I speak of is on multiple levels. Many have quit looking for the second coming, not because they don't believe in it, but they have simply ruled it out of taking place in our lifetime. I believe that this sad state of mind has spread through our country and our world today like a poison. Jesus spoke of a little yeast working its way throughout the dough. I know this that this was representing a little sin spread throughout our lives, but I would dare challenge you to see that our apathetic approach to Christianity and our lack of expectancy in the words of Jesus, as He said He was coming like a thief in the night, has lead to a lack of moral and spiritual backbone in our world. It is amazing to me that we have churches on what seems like every corner in America, but yet despite this, America has become the third largest missions field in the world. All you need to do is open your eyes to those around you and you will see the hurt, pain and hopelessness.
The other level of expectancy is in the power of God to move in situations. So many of us have no problem praying for others to be healed, or for a miracle in their lives, but when we look to our own lives, we don't have the expectancy that a miracle could take place in our own life. How many lies of the enemy are we going to believe? How often has someone prayed for a situation in your life, and you have laid it at the foot of the cross and asked Jesus to handle it, only to dry your eyes, and pick the problem back up and try to handle it yourself? We read of Jesus speaking of the faith the size of a mustard seed, and rebuking the disciples for lack of faith, and we often sit in the seat of judgment while reading it, but we are no better. We chastise the disciples faith, but they saw miracles taking place! They were the hands of Jesus extended to the world! Are you? Am I? When was the last time that we spent time praying unselfishly? So often we treat our prayer time like a letter to Santa Clause. We are continuously talking to God about our needs and many times we don't even hush long enough to hear a response before we run back and try to handle the situation ourselves. Do we "EXPECT" God to speak to us? Then why don't we get quiet and pause before Him? Do we "EXPECT" God to hear us? Then why do we present our need only to take possession of it all over again?
I titled this blog "The Road To The Missions Field Is A Missions Field" because it truly is! Yes, we are traveling on the platform to raise support to carry us to and keep us in our mission field in Alaska, but it is so much more than that! We have been presented with the opportunity to share our lives and the love of Jesus with people we would have otherwise never been able to come into contact with! This is not by chance, this is by divine design! There is a lost and dying world out there that needs to hear of the love of Jesus. They need to hear that He is true to His word! They need to feel and grow in the expectancy that even in the midst of times when we don't see Him working, we know He is and Expect Him to show up!!! Our churches are filled with hurting people! Our schools are filled with hurting people! Our places of work are filled with hurting people! When is the last time that you stopped to see them, speak life into them, and then expect God to show up? If you open your eyes, God will show you!
My prayer is that a new level of "Expectancy" will rise up from my inner most being and that I will live my life at this moment and all that follow with my eyes on heaven, my mind and heart in the word, and my hands and feet in the world around me! Let's do more than exist, lets join together and expect God to show up! Let's see lives changed, sick healed, the hopeless receiving hope, and the light being brought into the dark places!
With Great Expectancy,
Phillip
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