Arise, Church Arise

On the way to my personal retreat I heard a song that moved me to tears, "A New Hallelujah."

Over the past few months, God has been leading me several different ways in the same direction (He used the movie "Fireproof," the book "The Shack," the songs "A New Hallelujah" & "God of this City"). He has been awakening in me a renewed passion for God's kingdom--his power, reign, salvation, and mission--as well as for our role as individual Christians and as God's called in Christ (his church). It is time for the church to arise, come alive and make Jesus known and make him famous.

This is a time in history when the fields are truly ripe for the harvest. People are wanting change. People are wanting security, safety, and certainty. People are wanting a sure hope that doesn't slip through their fingers when they almost arive. People are wanting peace and joy. The response by people to the present political and economical environment shows that people are really seeking and wanting all of these things and it also reveals people do not know where they can find any of them.

Maybe the response and direction this nation seems to be making reflect the dismal job we have been doing as God's children of freedom. Have we been the beacon of light in the darkness or have we (as the world) put our trust and hope in governmental, judicial, and economical powers and resources? Have we become stagnant and impotent, because we have relied on might instead of the Spirit? Have we lost our direction, because we made polticial reform our mission instead of divine transformation? Have we shown people the real source of righteousness, peace and joy or joined in with the world in handwringing ulcer causing empty pursuits?

Maybe we forget or don't have the faith that the one who lives in us is greater than the one who lives in this world, or that we have the message that is able to turn the world upside down. Maybe we forget or don't have the faith that God's kingdom has the power to overcome the world and give it a new and better direction. Maybe we lost sight of our real hope, the awesomeness of our salvation, and our true joy in the new relationship we have with God in Christ.

Change, hope, joy and peace will not come through litigation, political manipulation or governmental programs, it will come when we rise up as the church God has called and empowered us to be--where his reign, power, salvation and mission are experienced, lived and reflected by us. We are made new, given a new song and entrusted with the new mission of hope, peace and joy in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Arise, let the church arise!!

God used the song, "A New Hallelujah" to touch my heart convicting me first about myself--it is time for me to arise, come alive, reach out with love, and share hope with others, so they too are able to sing the same "new hallelujah." And to do this without fear or timidity, but with confidence and hope in the God of all creation, the God of this city, the King of these people, the Lord of this nation.

Instead of having anxiety over the political and economical environment--put your trust in the Lord, see how ripe the harvest is and share the Good News of Jesus--He is the only way people will experience real change, security, certainty, hope and joy. Let's show them the relationship they are able to have with God.

Arise, Let the Church Arise--Make Jesus known and make him famous!!!

WORDS TO "A NEW HALLELUJAH"

Can you hear, there's a new song
Breaking out from the children of freedom
Every race and every nation
Sing it out sing a new Hallelujah

Let us sing love to the nations
Bringing hope of the grace that has freed us
Make Him known and make Him famous
Sing it out sing the new Hallelujah

Arise let the church Arise
Let love reach to the other side
Alive come alive
Let the song Arise

(All the church) sings a new song
reaching out with the new Hallelujah
Every son and every daughter
everyone sing a new Hallelujah

Arise let the song
Arise Let love reach to the other side
Alive come alive
Let the song Arise

Everyone sing a new Hallelujah