Trip to Charlotte

So, I'm writing from my hotel room in a town right outside of Charlotte called Matthews. Nice little-big town. I drove up here with my piano playing buddy Dan Snyder in dreary weather, but still a nice drive...my car must have an alignment problem because any speed between 70-80 mph makes my car shake...kinda annoying when everyone else wants to go that speed...but, nevertheless we got here. Had some Five Guys and Fries. We got directions from the concierge who had a very interesting accent. We couldn't tell where she was from, we think maybe Jersey, but at times it sounded like it had a Spanish flare, but at other times...well you get the picture.

On the way up here, I called my friend Caleb who goes to school in Clemson. He's also the leader of one of the house churches at Clemson. He was on his way back with some buddies from Nashville. They had just heard Bill Johnson speak at some sort of conference. Over the phone, Caleb and I were able to pray for each other and catch up. His friends with him had some great prophetic words for me that really hit home and were related to what I had been seeking God about during the week. So, really encouraging!

I've been reading in Acts this week, and it's been great. It's always cool to read about the early church. A passage that really hit home with me is "The Believers' Prayer".

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
" 'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One. 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31After 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.

Acts 4:23-31

This is such a powerful prayer, and a prayer I think every Kingdom minded Christian needs to pray on a regular basis. Think how often we know what God is telling us to do, but we buckle under the pressure of fear. This is not the spirit we are supposed to operate in. Why are we still using our old spirit. Maybe this will give you a new perspective on the gift of The Spirit of God.

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

How are we fanning into flame the gift of God? We have to allow God's Spirit to be what it is intended to be...powerful, loving, and self-disciplined. So, let's ask God, even now, to stir up the fire burning inside of us. That we may step out and "speak the Word of God with boldness". It's the only thing worth our time on this earth! When will we start taking God seriously? The Kingdom of God is here!