I would
like to start 2019 on ECP with a story. This is the story about my Passion 2019
experience.
First, I
want to explain what Passion is. In 1997 a young man and his wife decided to
minister to some college kids in their area. As the years went by their
ministry grew, and now, 22 years later, Louie Giglio hosts a large, three-day
event every year, featuring Christian music artists and speakers, all geared toward
the spiritual growth of 18 to 25-years-olds in their faith in Jesus.
Passion
2019 was my second year to go. Hosted in four different locations, I had the privilege
of attending the Dallas, Texas venue. I wasn’t even going to get to go, for
financial reasons. But God provided a way through my church.
I wasn’t
sure what to expect from God during the days of January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. But
I was looking forward to the music of Crowder, Kari Jobe, and of course
Passion. I was especially looking forward to Christine Caine’s sermon. I had
the chance to hear her speak a couple times before, and have grown to love her
fire for the Lord. I thought God might speak through her, and my expectations
were blown away!
During
the first four sessions we learned that the love God has for us comes from a
perfect Father in Heaven. We should run to God, letting our anchors go down in
Jesus, taking our lights into the darkness, so God can make a bonfire from
them. And we learned to let God heal us of our past wounds by letting Him see and
touch them.
The music
was incredible. We sang about God’s greatness and love, and how we were going
to show the world what He has done.
On the second
day, we were let out on a dinner break. My group and I went to the mall to find
something to eat. I saw a woman, sitting in the mall, and I thought I should
share Jesus with her. But I was terrified. I have never actually talked face-to-face
about Jesus with a non-believer, let alone a complete stranger! I said no.
Upon
returning to the conference I felt guilty for not following through with the
calling on my heart. Then I listened to the Passion music again and felt
ashamed. The very words I had been singing I didn’t mean. Then, Christine Caine
took the stage, and boy, did God speak through her! She said exactly what I
needed to hear.
She said
that we, as believers in Jesus, need to have a faith that amazes Jesus. In the
gospel of Luke, chapter 7, verses 1 through 10, there is a story about a Roman
Centurion whose servant was close to death. The Centurion sent messengers to
Jesus, asking Him to come and heal his servant. Jesus answered his call, but He
was not allowed to come into the house. The Centurion said that he was not
worthy to have Jesus come under his roof, but if He would just say the word,
his servant would be healed.
Jesus
marveled at the faith of the Centurion, claiming that He had not found such
faith among the Israelites. He said the word, and the servant was healed.
We need
to strive to have a faith that amazes Jesus. We try so hard to be amazing to the
people around us. There is no power in that. We should try to amaze God
instead.
God is
amazing. He can do things through us that we can’t even imagine. We believe
weird things, like the immaculate conception of Jesus, and His rising from the
dead. If we can believe these weird things, why not believe God all the way
through everything? We can’t argue our way through life, but we can believe our
way. If we believe God is everything, and stop trying to prove that we’re
amazing, we have less pressure on us, less pressure to perform.
Get in
your prayer closet! Be a believing believer, because there are enough
unbelieving believers in the world. Don’t make Jesus marvel at your unbelief
(Mark 6:1-6). Be faithful.
Faith is
predicated on trust. The enemy is after your trust! If you don’t trust your Heavenly
Father, you don’t have faith in Him, He can’t work in and through you. You don’t
need extensive knowledge and resources to share the gospel. You just need
faith.
Now, a faith
filled life is not an easy, pain free life. But I would rather suffer pain
because of my faith.
Don’t confuse
Infrastructure with Jesus. Don’t confuse other people with Jesus. Those things
will disappoint. But Jesus will never disappoint, and will always take care of
us.
Now, our
generation today thrives on safety. “Whatever you do, make sure your safe, make
sure you’re financially secure, don’t take big risks.” But God did not call us
to be safe! God did not create you to be small and safe! Don’t stay in a religious
box! Life is only a vapor. It does not last long. Don’t waste your vapor. Death
is not the issue. Death comes to all. No one goes through life and comes out
alive! The question is are you going to live the life that God has called you
to live?
These are
just the highlights. These were the very words that I needed to hear. God has
been telling me to share the gospel with so many people, and I say no every
time. Now, I knew I had to say yes. I ran to the restroom, there at the venue. to
dry away the tears I had been crying. While I was trying to calm myself down, a
Passion volunteer, known as Door Holders, asked me if I was okay.
I told
her everything, and she asked If she could pray with me. She prayed that God
would save a thousand people through me, and that she knew she was asking a
small thing. Then She said that God had not given me a spirit of fear, but of power,
love, and a sound mind. It was a beautiful moment, and I thank God that she was
there.
The next
day was the last one of the event. I was sad, but not for long. Louie Giglio
closed it out by saying that we are sent. We, who had attended Passion 2019,
were to take what we had learned and share it with others. We are sent by God,
every believer, into the darkness, right where we are, right where He is
calling us to be. We just need to have faith, and bring our little lights, and
God will make a bonfire from them.
I feel the
fear I have had trying to crawl back into my heart, and I am working on saying
no to fear and yes to faith. I will pray more, and think less. I will say yes,
instead of no. God has changed me, and I want to stay that way.
Elizabeth
:)
Jesus
Loves You! <3
