Love God, Love the Body

Hello Friends!

I have reached the end of my first week of lectures. Hard to believe it's only been a week, I feel like I have been here much longer!

What an incredible week it was. Our topic for week one was called "Bible Unity and Evangelism" taught by Shirley Brownhill, the YWAM Perth base director. We were SO blessed to have her as a speaker- it was amazing to start the School of Evangelism off with Shirley's teaching. Wisdom flows from this woman. I spent the week just trying to soak in drops of wisdom. Here are some of the lecture points that brought revelation to me:

• When God talks about advancing his Kingdom, he talks about the body.
• God's dream: that every tribe, every tongue, every nation will stand before the throne (perfect unity). Our unity and actions give people a taste of what heaven will be like.
• God has not asked us to do anything that is not possible by his grace and his power.
• We must find our security in Jesus and let his love, grace, and power bring unity in our relationships.
• The Acts 2 Church models perfect Bible unity. Blueprint to bring God's presence into a community.
• We, the church, have the opportunity to show people, communities, nations, how to live in communion with God and with one another.
• The Acts 2 Church opened doors in their community. People are attracted to communities united by the love of Christ, because it is reflecting the character of God. When people see Jesus, they will love him!
• The anointing and the blessing comes with unity (Psalm 133).
• One of the biggest lies of the enemy devised to bring disunity is that the basis of commitment is mutual perfection. He knows how powerful unity is, and he is out to destroy it.
• The most powerful form of warfare we can do is to commit ourselves to Bible unity.
• If we truly love God, we should also love the body of Christ.
• There is no reserve in the character of God. He is a communicator. He will never remove himself from us- He is committed to the absence of reserve.
• Forgiveness is our source of life!
• Always find yourself in the context of team. Unity=power. Power to see exponential change in communities, to see breakthrough in the ability to spread the gospel, give healthcare, whatever God's will may be.
• God uses every trial or difficulty we face as a shaping mechanism to make our character more like His (James 1:2-4).

I felt very challenged this week in multiple areas of my walk with God. God was speaking to me about areas of my heart where I haven't loved the body of Christ in the fullness that he calls me to love. Loving the body is not an option, it is a command. Reflecting on God's command to love the body and become one with the body, I felt God say "Let me transform you by becoming more deeply committed to the body."

Leading up to this school, I have been praying and praying for deep transformation to be God's hand to reach the lost. I feel like God has been answering me this week- that he will provide opportunities for the transformation to take place, but it is up to me to obey him in the small things. Deep commitment requires obedience when it's uncomfortable, when I don't "feel like" reaching out to someone, or even when that decision will go completely unnoticed. I know exactly what God is talking about. It's the times where I feel led to pray for someone I don't know and ignore it, when I feel led to write a letter of encouragement and forget, when I avoid someone I don't have the energy to speak with... the list goes on. These decisions can seem very small and insignificant at the time, but truthfully, they impact the body and my own relationship with God from truly flourishing.

Not to live religiously, but God sees my heart. He is calling me to go deeper. If I truly want to be used by Him in extravagant ways, I need to start loving people in extravagant ways, especially those within the body of Christ.

I have been praying for God to renew my mind to become more ministry-minded and Kingdom-focused. I want to see communities transformed for Christ. I think the renewal of my mind will take place when I take my eyes off myself and focus them solely on Jesus, pouring the love that He gives me onto people. The heart change happens when I repent of selfish thinking and actions and make decisions to love people out of obedience to God.

Lord, I desire this change more than anything. I ask for your grace to help me walk in obedience to everything you ask me to, loving people the way you've called me to love. Thank you for working in my heart with gentleness and truth.

We had our first evangelism outing this week. Every Thursday, YWAM Perth has base-wide evangelism in various locations around the city. This week, we went to Scarborough Beach, about 200 YWAMers. We did public worship in a park, then went off in pairs to pray and make conversations with people. I went with a staff leader named Jenny to pray for the community and we eventually came across this group of teenagers at a bus stop, the young girls publicly intoxicated, yelling and making a big scene. We walked over with a few other YWAMers and stood in the midst of it all. After about 10 minutes, we started talking with three of the sober kids, one guy and two girls, and eventually shared with them why we were in Australia to learn more about God. These kids were so open, asking questions and wanting prayer. The girl I was speaking with said she didn't know much about Jesus and did not hesitate to say yes to hear the gospel. Amazing what God can do! Oftentimes we judge that a group will not be receptive to God, but it is not up to us to judge, only to act in obedience to the Holy Spirit. I know these three were touched that night by something real- the power of God's love calling them to relationship with Him. I pray that they made a response in their heart that will change their lives.

I love the students on my SOE. We have really bonded this week in class and outside of class. I am becoming friends with each person and enjoy all the time we spend together. Unity should be our highest goal and I feel we have gotten off to a great start, loving and supporting one another.

Thank you for your consistent prayers. Please feel free to contact me anytime- I would love to hear from you! E-mail, facebook, mail, blog comments... I long to stay connected with friends and family.

Blessings :)

Stephanie