Have you ever felt like there is something wrong with the church as a whole, those who claim to be Christians?  Have you ever wondered why? Have you ever thought, where’s the passion – where’s the power – where are the miracles of the Bible? The book of Acts reveals a Christianity that is real, passionate and powerful! Do you remember the story in the book of Acts where Peter and John had done a powerful miracle and were threatened by the rulers of that time for demonstrating the power of God by healing the man who was lame from birth? Below is the prayer that was prayed right after that tumultuous scene. 

Acts 4:29-31 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 

Wow! Talk about glorious! An electrified room filled with prayer that reached the throne room of heaven; so much so, that the ground and the walls begin to shake! Those disciples were serious about the good news of Jesus Christ and their faith in God caused the release of power from heaven!  

The words of King David in Psalm 63 are powerful! In his prayer to God, he expresses, through captivating words, what a passionate heart for God is like. Take a look: 

Psalm 63:1-8 NIV You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; 

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  

Throughout history, we have seen that prevailing prayer proceeds the powerful moves of God. When people become desperate enough to choose to trust God alone, powerful things happen! There is something to be said about the situation of having nowhere else to turn but to God. Many times, when there is nowhere else to turn, people turn to God, and new levels of faith are found. 

God’s power is not accessed by need but by faith! The power of God is always demonstrated through those who believe God and are passionate about him. Being passionate for God is a result of recognizing and accepting the love and passion of God for us. The more we recognize and receive the love of God for us, the more intense and passionate for him we become. The more you understand the goodness of God, the more you want to serve him!  

It is time for the body of Christ to leave the works-based religiosity of the law and step into the life of freedom and power found in the success of the cross of Christ! Yes! It is time for us to return to our first love! God is calling us to live the abundant life that Jesus died to give us and to embrace the world-changing revolution of grace! Do you know that you are God’s answer to this confused and hurting world? The solution to the woes of humanity is wrapped up in the good news of Jesus Christ!  

May you be infused with a fresh breath from heaven today! May you find the joy, freedom, and victory of living inside of the truth of what God believes about you! I pray that soon no one will be saying…. 

WHATEVER HAPPENED PASSIONATE CHRISTIANITY?   

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