Sleepless in the Gospel

I couldn’t sleep tonight. My wife will tell you this is extremely rare.  Planting a church doesn't allow for much sleep, so it is never a problem to make the most of every minute...but not tonight. My mind is stuck on the question I gave our Launch Team last night--"Where do you think a church gets its power?"  Our study of Romans 1:15-17 provoked this question.  There Paul clearly tells us the power of God is in His glorious gospel.  It seem simple, but let me expound.


Not a second chance, but a living power

Paul realized that the gospel is not just Christ paying your entry fee to get into the race. The gospel, "good news",  is also that Christ has already run the race for us and will give us the prize of an eternal inheritance one day soon! The power of the gospel is not that you get a "second chance." (a common cliché)  A second chance at living a perfect life would not be good news at all. In fact, a 1,248,394th chance would still be bad news because I'd screw it up every time. The good news of Jesus Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection is powerful because it contains the truth that the righteousness God requires is given to me through Christ Jesus our Lord.  However, we see in Romans 1:15 that Paul is eager to proclaim the gospel to those in Rome who are already Christians (Rom. 1:7).  So, why do they need the gospel if they are already Christians? Because the gospel in not just for non-Christians.


Sanctification through the gospel – we walk in Christ the same way we came to Christ

Though Christians have been made right positionally before Christ (our justification), we will not be perfect in practice until we are given our new bodies in Heaven (our glorification). But between our justification and our glorification, we find an important piece of the story of salvation--our sanctification. Sanctification is the process of becoming in practice who we have already become in position through Christ.  Unfortunately this is where many people start thinking they no longer need the gospel. But this can't be further from the truth. We need the grace and power of the gospel from start to finish (from faith to/for faith Rom. 1:17). Christ is not only the author of our faith, but He is also the perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Attempting to "walk in Christ" (Col. 2:6) by having enough personal fortitude is like trying to water-ski behind a boat without a rope.


But do I believe it?

That brings me back to the question I asked last night – which is keeping me from sleeping: "Where do you think a church gets its power?" Like a good Sunday School kid, I can shout out the answer, "THROUGH THE GOSPEL." But does my heart say that? Right now I don't think I can say "yes."  See, planting a church is exposing every false power I believe in. God is making it so evident that His power is not in a sound system, a great worship team, an exciting children's ministry, my ability to speak, bright lights, excellent promotion, lots of people, accurate signage, etc.  All of these things can be great tools, but none of them have the power of God to salvation. Only the gospel has that power!  And only a church that proclaims and believes the gospel in everything it does can sing, serve, suffer, sacrifice, and be sanctified with that power to the glory of God.


The gift of sleeplessness (and other weaknesses)

I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to plant a church – and lose sleep tonight – because the Holy Spirit is using this to remind me of my personal need for the grace of Christ every day. Only then can I truthfully say to the sheep the Father has entrusted to me, "[I] did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:1–5)


What is your faith in today? Where does your heart really say the power of God lies?