I’d like to share a short testimony of what it looks like to answer the Holy Spirit’s calling. I’ll call this Off the Bench and on to the Playing Field, actually doing the stuff! Over my years at the Vineyard, I’ve learned many things, but one thing in particular thing stands out. This is that on the field is where the Lord wants me and where the action is. It is hard to experience Christ working through you on the bench.
A few weeks ago, a friend from my Life Recovery Group told me that she was bringing a young man to church and would like me to meet him. He as struggling with his life and had finally reached bottom. That Sunday, I was in the ConnectionCenter and we met there after the service and shared a little about our lives. I listened and felt had had given up and had no hope. I told him that I understood what he was feeling because I had come through that same thing years ago. After that I asked him if I could pray for him and he agreed. I felt the Holy Spirit giving me a word for him, “I need you back.” I asked him if he felt anything. I told him that the Lord was knocking on his heart and wanted him to surrender fully to him. At that point, he surrendered and re-dedicated his life to Christ!
On the bench, I wouldn’t have heard the Holy Spirit calling me to pray for that young man. He has been in church for several weeks now and coming to the Life Recovery small group. All because of my willingness to be on the field. This isn’t about me at all. It is about the Lord and what he alone did through me.