Power unused...

I was listening to Hillsong's CD This Is Our God - the Song was You Are Here (Same Power) - and it struck a chord...I've heard it many times before, and honestly absolutely love the song because of the truth in it - yet I do not walk in the truth of the song.  The chorus states "the same power that conquered the grave lives in me" - yet it struck me because I do not live like it.  Nor do Christians I would argue. Now the argument is stirred up within me at the moment simply because I do not like this in my own life and the only way I can preach at myself is via this blog - so enjoy the mini-sermon directed @ Aaron Denn by Pastor Aaron Denn.

See here is the dilemma of christians today - we are powerless in the face of temptation. We beg and plead to not be brought to a place of temptation - to be free from "all evil desires" to be delivered...but what we fail to realize is that WE ARE ALREADY FREE!!!

We all have areas of our lives that are not free - yes this is obvious...but I ask why? When Christ came and said that those whom the Son sets free are free indeed, or it is for Freedom that Christ has set us free, or that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to give the world through him everlasting life - was He just meaning sometimes? Partial freedom? Religious freedom? Freedom to choose? Freedom to drink? Freedom to be rich?  Freedom to what we think is best of us?  No!  Freedom for Freedom's sake. Now this makes me think of two reasons - the things we pursue (unless we pursue Christ of course) - are not free at all. They are addicting, binding, sticky - not sticky honey sticky where you can wash it and be clean - but sticky carpet glue sticky. There is only 1 way for carpet glue to come off...which skin!

See my problem is this - It is because of Christ and the work of the Cross the definition of Grace, Justification, Mercy, Etc - that we are free.  Christ did not just die - rather he went to death and took it and in turn placed life. Yet here I am still undecided in surrender - because little have i realized my chains, my bondage, my baggage, the things that are heavy on my life - are all areas of my un-surrendered life!  

The same power that conquered death - that took the pit of hell away from our lives - is the same power that lives in me.  See - the thing that you struggle with on a daily basis - thoughts of worthlessness, insecurity, addictions to alcohol, vanity, porn, etc - they are all leading 1 place - DEATH!  Yet we are not called to struggle...BECAUSE THE SAME POWER THAT CONQUERED THE GRAVE LIVES IN YOU!!!!!  Re-read that - did you get it - no - seriously re-read that and pray for revelation...IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!  Those things that daily get you discouraged and bring you back to the same struggle, same addiction, same choices - you are not bound by it anymore!!! Freedom is yours says the LORD!  You must only take out your hand - speak from your mouth - and believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again - It is the TRUTH that sets us free - not our mere actions.  Yet faith with action produces transformation!!!!  

AARON GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT AND ACT!  It is crazy to realize truth - even crazier to act on it - and out of this world ridiculous when God Shows Up!

How many of us walk through life with Power Unused...we then are walking around with un-surrendered hearts - and chain filled lives.  

May God bring to me and you a revelation of this truth - and from that revelation a call to faith and as we embark on faith may we learn obedience to what God is asking - because as we obey - He rewards!  God bring change bring hunger, be TRANSFORMATION!   Help me to walk in freedom - walk in truth - walk in you!  God I love YOU!

-Your Son

Girls & Boys Just Wanna Have Fun...

So here is my beef - why is Christianity boring?  I know I will get some responses at one point to this about how it's not boring, and I am not taking it seriously, and I am not investing in the right place, etc etc etc - yet never once did I mention or will I mention I find it to be boring.  My beef is that statement yes - but it is that statement for this generation of young people, because they are looking for the next thrill, the next exciting journey to go on - an adventure of a lifetime - yet have we as Christians made it into some religious and pious lifestyle with no return except for a self-righteous chip on our shoulders?  I fear we have become like Pharisees in the New Testament. Claiming to have the way, claiming to know Jesus, claiming to have all the answers if people just start to look like us and do what we do...yet When Christ came into the scene didn't He challenge that way of living?  

It is an unfortunate thing watching Teenage youth who are filled with passion - become passion-less in worship, in the presence of God, in the teaching/preaching of the word of God - yet when they go to a sporting event, a party, a group activity the passion is suddenly resurrected.  That passion can be deeply rooted in selfish living yes - but how can we open up the floodgates of intense Passion to their hearts - when the way we have done it is losing its luster?

What I am passionate about - seeing a student's life be transformed by the one True GOD!  It's a remarkable sight and to even speak a moment of life into that person is an honor and privilege.  I love seeing people weep over the life being spoken into them  (not because I am some weirdo but because I see the love and truth of God fill their empty hearts).  It is a crazy cool life to be used by God.  But why Don't we uphold the commitment to God!  

To me - Passion - when properly placed in God - brings about the fullness of life in all of us!  Yet it is when we place the passion in the things of this world that we lose the fullness and in turn miss out of the excitement, the adventure, the incredible promises of God!  

How do we balance wanting to "have fun" & being alive in Christ?  Or should there be a balance?  It definitely is a concept worth wrestling for as I interact on a daily basis with a young generation filled with a desire for excitement and purpose!

The Beginning of Something New...

So here it is, I've never been one to want to blog; never been one to desire to spend my thoughts online. Yet I found out today as I was updating the element Section of the church website, I find my thoughts make more sense when I type them out - 'cause reality is I'm not going to write them down - so let the blogging begin.

The question now becomes what is it I should write - er - type about?  That which is close?  Well that then is obvious and the topic thus becomes one of my two passions in life at the moment - Cassandra Lynn - soon to be my wife.  I find that no right to type about - only because that is for me to keep for my wife. 

So onto my second Passion - I will start from the beginning - my heartbeat is to see people's lives be restored - to raise leaders and to impact the lives of those around me.  See it isn't enough for me to just talk about the greatness of God and hope students get it - I WANT THEM TO EXPERIENCE IT!  If I were to pick two words that I think defined this - Passion and Character!  I want my life to be marked by those but also want the students' lives to be transformed by them!  

Anyways that is just a tidbit about me. In the days, weeks, months, and maybe even years to come there will be more things to come!  Much Love & Good day!

-Aaron Denn