There is entirely too much going on to share in just one simple blog post.
The Lord is good. Portland is continuing to challenge my faith and perspective on the Church and our calling to our Bridegroom and to those who don’t know Him. Fellowship with our brothers and sisters at church meetings and gatherings is a necessity, but are we to invite nonbelievers to the church or to take the Church to them? Jesus spent His time in the synagogue teaching, yet most of His time was spent in prayer, discipleship, and loving and serving the prostitutes, homeless, fatherless, widows, orphans: the outcasts of society, OUTSIDE the walls of the church (where most of our time is spent as well). These people step foot inside of a church and immediately feel judged. Why has this become the norm? Why aren’t we as Christians defending the causes of the social outcasts?
In John 8, Jesus defends the cause of a woman “taken in adultery, in the very act.” According to the law, she was to be stoned, but what is Jesus’ response? “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Jesus knew the law better than all the accusers of the woman, and yet He defended her. Why should we do anything else? Won’t people see the character of Jesus, the heart of God, in us if we don’t join the crowd, stones in hand, and instead stand before them willing to die to defend the poor and needy [And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Mt. 25:40)]? When people see love, grace, and acceptance in us, when we are the champions of their cause, fending for them, will they not be more open to our reasoning, our message, our drive: our Jesus?
Romans 13:14 says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” We are those preachers. Since when does preaching have to be done from a pulpit? We are walking through the streets of NE Portland praying in declaration, “victory in the name of Jesus.” Verse 15 continues, saying, “And how are they to preach unless they are SENT? As it is written, "How beautiful are the FEET of those who preach the good news!" We are SENT! We are to go to them, not wait on them to come to us! The more people see us reflecting the God we know, love, and serve, the more apt they’ll be to visit our churches. Even then, why wait on them to come to us! JUST BE LOVE!
That’s essentially what is happening here in Portland. We are watching and waiting on the Lord patiently. He’s coordinating divine meetings and appointments for His ultimate glorification, for His creation to become His children. Moreover, He’s beckoning the lost to be found and you and me, “come and die.” I am found, my identity is, in Christ alone. He’s all I need, He’s all I have. Everything I am, I have, or I will become is due to Him, to the Spirit’s leading and teaching. What’s happening here in Portland is on the backburner to an intimate relationship with the Creator God. What goes on where you are should do the same. Trust and obey. TRUST and obey. My prayer is that people will cease to see Ryan Sears and begin to see my Jesus and the Spirit at work inside me.
“Jesus not only deserves your everything, He paid for it. Justice dictates that you give it to Him.” – Mattie Montgomery
This video is basically just the trip up here. It’s funny, kind of long, but totally worth it. I kind of slaved over it... so... I hope you like it. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, CARE, CONCERN, and, most importantly, PRAYERS! I love you all and thank God for you! Be blessed in the Lord!
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