Powerful Stuff

Well, if you read my last post, you could probably tell that I am very proud of my church and my Pastor! This past Sunday was incredible and was a home run for what Pastor Steven wanted to happen! If you haven't heard, or don't know, Ted & Gayle Haggard came to Elevation and told their story of forgivness and grace. You can go here to listen to it. You will want to...you will be blessed!

Pastor Steven opened up the service by saying a few things before the Haggard's came out. He was talking about grace and one of the things he said was that we are a church that's full of grace. The Lord came and died for everyone, not just for a select few...and we ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. He also said that we were a church that stands for what we're for...not what we're against, and we are for God's grace and forgivness! Man, that just fires me up...doesn't it you?

I'm not going to go into detail about the interview (that's why I gave you a link)...but I do want to say something about one of the things Ted Haggard said. Pastor Steven asked him a question concerning his sin and how low things really got. Mr. Haggard's response was powerful! Of course he went on to say that things were the worst they've ever been, the lowest they've ever gotten. But then he said something that I've never thought about...

"As soon as sin becomes a secret, it has power."

Wow. Something clicked with me and it all made sense. Once your sin becomes a secret, it has power over you. That's why we're called, as believers, "to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

Don't keep your sins hidden...you have the power to overcome them...Jesus overcame them for you on the cross so that you may be victorious!! My heart fills with joy everytime I think about what He did! Why hide your sin and let it overtake you when Jesus has already paid that price for you? Confess your sins so that you may be healed! Believe in your heart that He loves you and died for you so that you may expierence the spiritual freedom that is offered. You are bound no more by your chains of darkness...all you have to do is believe and surrender your life to Him and you can expierence first hand what He has to offer you.

Whew...I didn't mean to preach, but I get so excited when I think about that and I just want everyone else to expierence the joy that I have because of what He's done for me. Thank you Jesus!!