As One with Authority

Apparently Jesus means business! Do you remember the first time you realized His authority? After Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist and after His 40 day testing in the wilderness, Jesus goes to Capernaum. In the synagogue He begins teaching: Mark 1:21-28. The people are amazed because he was teaching “as one with authority.” Just then, Scripture says, a man possessed by an evil spirit cries out. Jesus tells the spirit to leave the man. The spirit does so with a shriek and shakes the man violently as it exits. What was the people’s response? They were amazed once again about Jesus’ authority. Jesus is proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and BAM!- the supernatural occurs.

Jesus then heals Peter’s mother-in-law who is sick in bed with a fever: Mark 1:29-34. I love this because Jesus is not only concerned with demon possessed people, the blind, the crippled, the tax collector, and the prostitute- He is also concerned with healing a mother-in-law who has a fever! Later that evening, “the whole town gathered at the door” and they brought the diseased and demonized for Jesus to heal. My guess is that He pulled an all-nighter, what do you think?

Mark 1:35-43 Then, very early the next morning while it was still dark Jesus went to pray and spend time with the Father. (No doubt the disciples slept in, recuperating from all of their hard work!) The disciples catch up with Him and this is what Jesus said, “Let’s go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Soak in that for a minute. He basically tells them, “This is why I exist.”

So He travels and preaches some more and BAM!- more supernatural! More taking demons out of places they don’t belong and healing leprosy. The supernatural acts of Jesus were given out of compassion for the people and accompanied the gospel message of the Kingdom of God that he proclaimed.

Rule #3: The supernatural is given to confirm the power of God’s kingdom, revealed through the good news that Jesus saves and delivers. Where the gospel is proclaimed, the supernatural is not far behind…

Merging Official Statement

This past Sunday morning (June 19th) we gave a ‘state of the union’ address (audio found here) concerning where we believe God is leading Engaging Life. We covet your prayers as we seek confirmation from the Holy Spirit that this in fact what He has in store for our church. The elders believe through a series of promptings and validation, with much prayer and fasting that He has purposed for us to pursue merging with Northpointe Fellowship to become one new expression of Christ’s local body.

I shared with the congregation the story of the convergence of our two churches up to this point and likened it to the biblical account of mighty leaders joining David at Hebron and Ziklag in 1 Chronicles 11 & 12. I’m struck with how this relates to a possible merger as far as many gifts and strengths being pulled together by God. The description of these men included ambidextrous men with bows and slings, men who could do great exploits (the same exploits that David himself did showing like-mindedness and commonalities) and faithful and loyal dudes who wanted to serve in the ranks. They were effective and great on their own, but God designed for their hearts to be knit together for a common purpose to do even greater things together! The common purpose is well stated in 1 Chronicles 12:38:

"All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king."

Our desire ultimately (together or as two separate bodies) is to extend the Kingdom of God (to make Jesus king overall)! This potential combination of two congregations complementing each other in areas of strengths and weaknesses; we already clearly see God is orchestrating. We ask you to pray with us for confirmation, that this is indeed God; so that we can be fully determined and would be of one mind. Please pray with us!