The art of following

The message that God gave me is the art of following. There is so much emphasis today on leadership, that emphasis sometimes tends to minimize in our minds and hearts the importance of following a leader.

I grew up in a generation that is called the "baby boomers" after World War II, those who were born between '46 and '64, how many here have heard the term "baby boomers"? They are basically the ones that were born between World War II and Vietnam. A writer sociologist analyzed that generation and gave it the name: the "me" generation. Another writer was also commenting on the ethics or mindset of narcissism in that generation.

It was recognized that in that generation there was an obsession with self-actualization, fulfilling the "I", "updating the self" (developing oneself), feeling the "I" fulfilled and everything revolved around the "I". And now in this generation they call it something very similar, the "me" generation. Just look at the names of the technology, iPhone, Ipad, iTouch, "i", "i", "i".

Sociologists have observed other generations after the "baby boomers", generation X, generation Y, they analyze each decade and what are the attributes of the generation of those decades, but what we want to observe is that it has been a process of each day more generation more and more self-absorbed, more self-absorbed, focused more and more on the "me".

The generation that fought in World War II has been called the best generation, it is called that because that generation was willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of their country and others. We do not want to be deceived, any generation has its sins and its problems, right? But what I would like to emphasize is that in my life and in our lives we live in a time in which the emphasis is on the "I", self-absorbed.

That can be difficult because when you live within a culture it's hard to get away from society and culture to be able to look at attributes, right? But the effects of that "I", "I", "I" attitude and mentality are evident and can be observed.

I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ was established and set to be the most powerful in the world, that is our DNA, that is the nature that God has planted in us. But why, if we have that spiritual greatness, that spiritual power as our identity, why is it that in this country the Church of Jesus Christ has less effect on culture and society?

What I would like to propose is that the American Church has been influenced by society with an emphasis on the "self" and thus has lost its power, has been "watered down" in a certain way so that it does not have the impact that it is supposed to. have. I believe that in part, God has brought Christian immigrants from other countries of the world to come here to the United States and bring with them their spiritual vitality, their commitment, their ethics of sacrifice and dedication to have an influence that the Anglo-Saxon or North American Church it cannot have, to be a revitalizing influence.

In a discreet way I would like to share a conversation I had with a Pastor recently. This was far from here and he was planting a Church, and I asked him the question: well, how is it done, how are you planting the Church, what is your method? and he said: we have a group of women whose specialty is tasting wines, that Church is growing fast (laughs), and they get together and taste the different wines, right? and he thinks, what better way to reach people? free wine.

I believe that God can work in ways that are different and if God calls it good, I am not going to judge, but he already had me interested, right? What other things do you do to reach people in your community? and he says: we throw the best parties. you know? I believe, in my opinion, that the American Church has lost its roots so much about how churches should grow that they are willing to create crazy things that don't even make sense. I have other stories if you want to hear them another time. But what I would like to say is that God wants us to follow him in his way and in his order.

This text from Philippians 2 speaks of the mentality of Jesus as an example to imitate: "Therefore be in you this feeling that there was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God as a thing." to cling to, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men, and being in the condition of a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, and death on a cross. which God also highly exalted him, and gave him a name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

He uses the word "morphe" when he talks about the divinity of Jesus, that the essence of Jesus is "God", and he uses the same word "morphe" when he says that Jesus became a servant, His essence was divine and His essence was human, His essence God King and His essence servant man, both. It says that He assumed the design of man, designed to appear as man, but His essence was God servant. That is what God wants our essence to be, born of God.

The world will say that if someone is like a God or if he or she has something of God in him or her that person is going to be magnified and is going to be authoritative with others, but the true God, the God of the universe is the God great and also a servant at the same time, this is the kingdom of contradiction, of what is "upside down", that is how we must live, to manifest this.

Let's go to the Gospel of John chapter 5, it is the story of the sick man who wanted to get into the Pond of Bethesda, he could not reach the waters and Jesus heals him by saying: Take out your little bed and walk, walking on the day of rest the Pharisees They condemned him because he did not keep the law, and Jesus said: Truly I tell you that the Son of Man can do nothing by himself, but he must observe what the Father does. Jesus came to show us who God is and what He taught us is how to live. We are called to be as Jesus was in his earthly life.

The whole world is waiting is waiting to see the manifestation of the sons of God, men and women who do not live under the influence of the world, men and women who are waiting for the Father's instructions in their hearts.

In the Book of Acts, Christians are referred to as people who have changed and turned everything around, these people who have come here. I would like to ask a somewhat complicated question so prepare yourselves, it is a rather strange question, right? provocative. Who is changing the world today? I don't like what I see on the news, I don't like it, but I see that ISIS movement changing the world, killing and wreaking havoc, changing the world, turning it upside down. That is not the model I want to follow. But God is looking for a Church that can truly change the world for the better, not with violence but with lives lived to follow Jesus and His ways.

What I would like to do right now is ask God to reveal something to us, and I am not only speaking to you, but also to myself. I think we are so contaminated by the world's system, the subtleties of the world's values that are touching and permeating all of life. I am going to ask the Holy Spirit to perform a miracle in us, that through His Holy Spirit reveal to us in what places and times, how we are allying ourselves with these values of the world. I am sure of this: we cannot observe this without the Holy Spirit revealing the truth to us.

I wrote a song a few years ago that is like, a fish that can't see the water, like birds that don't know there's air around them. We live, we inhabit a sinful culture that is so present around us that we don't even realize it exists. Only God can reveal to us what we, by our strength, cannot observe, but if we let the Spirit do the work in us, we will begin to hear His Voice again.

It is not only to listen to His Voice so that we can get closer to His Presence and feel blessed in His Presence, I want that, I want to feel the comfort of His Presence, what I would like is for God to speak to me in such a way that it transforms me so that when I get out of here I will be different and live in a way that can change my world around me, that is different from how it was before.

Father: we ask that Your Spirit pass through here, walk through here, we invite you Holy Spirit, we are before You, we want to follow You Lord. We are called to be your followers Father, like a newborn baby has to breathe to live, Lord we know that we can only be true believers if we follow you.

Lord: thank you for the leaders that You have put in this house, Pastor Roberto, Pastor Greg and all the other Pastors, thank you for the healthy leadership here in this place, but Father, You want to lead, you want to be the leader of every man, woman and child to Your Presence. We bless You Holy Spirit, we are willing to be led by Your Holy Spirit, to be led to Your Truth Lord.

Lord, I believe this world is about to change and we want You to be there at the helm guiding the process for us. This world cannot take any more of the devil's influence on us, this world cannot continue to live with the influence of this age, the lies of Satan that have influenced our day-to-day philosophies. There is something that rises in the hearts of Your people Lord, there is a leadership posture to proclaim your good works Lord, to be able to explain the faith Lord, to call a nation to repent, to make a transformation in the city.

Lord: we do not want tricks or deception for people, we want the genuine outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, we want men and women to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, filled with Your glory, filled with Your anointing Lord. Father break the chains, break the chains Lord, that men and women rise up to follow You Lord and see that You are seated at the right hand of God the Father, on the throne of our lives.

Every word that you say Lord we want to say yes to you, every word that you say we want to say yes and amen Lord, forgive us, we have stopped following you in so many ways, we have lived half for the world and half for you, we look for you when there is need. We pray Lord for us, make this community an army full of power Lord, men and women ready to stand firm, called to be Your servants, under the authority that You have placed in order Lord.

Father: This "me" business, the "me", "me", "me" has to go, no more. I repent for trying to do things my way, I tell you Lord: You are the only one with authority in my life, You are the only King of my life, I ask you that the "I", the "ego" come down from throne of my life and that You take Your place, we ask You.

Father: reveal to us, speak to the depths of our hearts Holy Spirit, only You can communicate with us, only You can show us how to do it Lord. Father you have to teach us our carnality, the things done in secret that are not worthy Lord, we know that You are not God only to condemn us, that we can only live in justice by Your Grace and by Your Power Lord, Father there is no condemnation but we speak to our ties Lord, we do not want more ties, we want Your Kingdom, we want Your Reign.

Oh Holy Spirit, some who are bound, entangled, deceived by worldly philosophies, we ask that we may return to a childlike faith, an innocent childish faith, an innocence and simplicity. Lord: You are looking, looking for children, children, our chronological age does not matter, we ask that our faith for You Lord be like that of a child, simple before You Lord.

Holy Spirit: move, walk around here Lord. Put Your finger on certain patterns, certain things that hinder us, that block us, Lord, that You may be lifted up, Lord, O Father.

All those who want to be followers of Christ Jesus from their hearts, I invite you to stand up. Those who are standing, I invite you to confess: I am going to follow you Jesus. I will follow you wherever you take me, I will do what you tell me. I am not going to put up with it, I am not going to be silent about my faith in You Lord. I know that there are going to be people who are going to make fun of me for my testimony, but I am going to testify and say what You have done. You have done so much Lord in this community of people, you have raised us from the miry mud and You are worthy of being praised. You deserve the glory, you deserve the honor and not only here in this temple, you deserve it every day in every conversation, in every business and matter, you deserve the glory. We are going to glorify You Lord, we are going to testify of You Lord, this world needs the message of Your salvific Grace said without shame, said with wisdom, love and affection but without lowering the message.

Lord: we ask you now to give us boldness Lord, boldness like the apostles who turned the world upside down thousands of years ago. Lord, we don't want to live our lives just talking about revival, talking about the move of Your Holy Spirit that happened years ago. We are Your army, an army of followers, an army that is willing to say yes Lord, You lead us and we follow. We ask that You work through the structures of authority and show us how to align ourselves with the authorities that You have put in place.

Father: we do not have to be told every detail of what we have to do in this house every day, Your Word has already told us, we ask you, Lord, to give us that sense of authority, it is time for those who are at our side around to be saved, it is time for our neighbors to come to You. They are messy, they are a mess, we don't like their behavior but we were like that too, that's how we were recently Lord, so Father we beg you to give us patience and the ability to speak of our faith clearly, and we ask that You release in us a sincere search in our hearts, and from now on Lord we are different, we are different. It can happen in a moment.

I understand that there are patterns, I understand that there are cycles, but I also understand and understand the miraculous Power of God and as Joshua said last week, I and my house serve Jehovah, we will serve Jehovah. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord, thank you Lord.