Good morning Jesus, this morning I again start my day at the foot of your cross, which restored me access again to the embrace of the Father, and the healing waters of the Holy Spirit.
“And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins…In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” Mark 1:5,9
Yesterday my message at the church was for an Awakening in our church and a tangible falling of the presence of God. Mark’s gospel states, “In those days Jesus came” (v.9). As a leader embracing my call to make disciples of Jesus, my main goal is to get people into a place, a situation, or an atmosphere where they will encounter Jesus. So when I read the phrase, “In those days Jesus came” my mind goes to, “What were “those days”? What was going on and happening; the place, situation or atmosphere that was conducive for Jesus to come? “Those days” recorded in Mark were a time when people were coming together in a massive way and confessing their sins, and seeking repentance and forgiveness of their sins. (v.4). They were not just stating problems or concerns, they were confessing their sins: their deep, personal acts, attitudes, choices and lifestyles that were keeping them from God. They were seeking repentance and forgiveness to “prepare the way” (v.2) for Jesus to come into their hearts. It was this into atmosphere of confession that facilitated “These days” that Jesus came.
I went to The New Room Conference a month ago. It was a conference on returning to Wesleyan roots of Holiness, Scripture, discipleship and praying into an Awakening in the church. During the conference was a session on prayer and confession to the Holy Spirit. There were over 1,700 people attending this session: pastors, bishops, church leaders and members. Now I know this may not seem like something proper “Methodist” do, but the presenter, Peter Grieg,, asked everyone in the auditorium to seek a space they could and lay face first on the floor before God. And the whole assembly did. And Pete led us into a worship time of confession and repentance of everything; actions, attitudes, choices, programs and plans that we have chosen as leaders and members in the church that we have put before simply loving and knowing the Father.
And face first on the floor I confessed all the strategizing, white-boarding, and striving I have put in place of simply loving God. I found myself with tears running down my face, listening to others sobbing face-first on the floor next to me and other around me. And the Spirit fell on the room and it became “ in those days Jesus came.” I and others experienced the love and the presence of Jesus and we laid there, sat there, prayed over each other, and rested in His presence for almost 2 hours.
It is in a “Those days,” an atmosphere of confession and repentance of sins that leads to an awakening, that leads to a revival, that leads to “Jesus came. I have attached a 27 minute video of a “those days”, a revival that took place at Asbury College in 1970 in which “Jesus came”. It began with a time of confession of sins. Please take time to watch it.
My family, I pray today that we together as a community, starting with you individually, will confess your sins: your deep, personal acts, attitudes, choices and lifestyles that are keeping you from God. May we come together today in repentance as a church to create an atmosphere into which we can experience “Jesus came.” Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your prayers and reflections in the comment box below.