“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Ephesians 1:6)
Ahoy Church,
Once you decide that your life is all-in for Jesus things change!
You’re forgiven of your sin. [“Reconciled to God”, as Paul preached on Sunday]
You’re filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
You’re following Jesus in all areas of life.
However, most of us hit some point in our life where the pace at which we pursue Jesus slows. This isn’t always our intention, it’s just part of being human. As we wander we become weary and wounded. The truth is, at some point most of us hit an emotional and spiritual “wall”. We know we’re still forgiven, we believe we’re filled, but our journey of following Jesus stalls entirely. There’s usually an explanation behind the “walls” that slow us down. Grief, dysfunction, disillusionment, trauma, insecurity, addiction or fear can all play a part
Even today I had a wonderful chat with two Christian men about the spiritual weariness and apathy that our society entices us into.
If you feel stalled or stuck - you’re not alone.
In Ephesians, Paul encourages every Christian that when they hit a spiritual “wall”, it’s not the end of their journey with Jesus. Rather, God invites us to a new perspective on how we see our life. While we typically understand our journey as external (health, relationships, finance, purpose in life etc), when we hit walls in life God invites us to a deeper, internal journey.
This is why it’s so encouraging to know that God’s ongoing work is primarily within us, not beyond us. While we’re praying for miracles in our circumstances or environment, God is often quietly at work within us.
This internal re-orientation is not because what’s around you (bush and beach, family + friends, challenges + successes) isn’t important. Rather, it’s that the more we become like Christ internally, the more we can fully engage with life as it’s meant to be!
If the challenges, “walls”, in your life seem external and insurmountable, I want to encourage you to ask God to reveal to you what he is currently doing within you. It’s this work that is necessary for you to follow Jesus through whatever wall you’re facing.
This is the kind of faith that’s essential in the seasons of spiritual stuck-ness. Faith to believe we’re still forgiven, still filled with the Holy Spirit and still able to follow Jesus over, around and through every obstacle that seems insurmountable without him.
If you and I are willing to lovingly following Jesus through our walls, God will do the work within us necessary to make it happen. It may not be the miracle you’ve been praying for, but it’s the miraculous transformation God knows we need.
Cheers, God Bless and see you Sunday!
Blokes, Bibles & Bonfires
On Saturday 7th Dec, Jesse is opening up his family’s backyard in Maleny for blokes, young and old, to connect, learn and grow in following Jesus around a bonfire. It’ll be a relaxed, open-invite night.
Time: TBA, Early evening
Address: 286 North Maleny Road
Coming Up
November
Sun 24 Nov 3pm Moffat Gathering
December
Sun 1 Dec 4pm Worship (Stories, Communion, Xmas Party - TBC)
Sun 8 Dec 4pm Moffat Gathering Sun 15 Dec 4pm Moffat Gathering & Baptism Sun 22 Dec 4pm Moffat Gathering Wed 25 Nov 4pm Moffat Gathering Sun 29 Dec 4pm Moffat Gathering
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus.
Our Rhythms
Get to Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you intentionally open up your life to?
Gather and get involved: who can you connect, listen, share or pray with this weekend?
Our Giving
We are slowly being led to needs for our giving kitty! Please take time to ask God if there is someone in need around you whom God wants you/us to help!
Last month's giving: $15,966 Last month's expenses: $8,303
Balance: $$76,359
Giving Kitty Oct 23- Oct 24: $5,000
Giving out Oct 23-Oct 24: $6,286
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to support what we are doing and our giving to those in need, you can get started giving to Open Road to meet the needs of our church or get in touch with any questions you may have.
All Prayer Needs!
We are still encouraging each other to start sharing your prayer needs with the church. It’s a practice all Christians have sought to cultivate and one that every single individual and family really needs!
So, please share any needs in your life on the link below so we can pray for and followup with you as time goes by: https://forms.gle/PbQAVjjMLuD4ASmWA
Find more prayer resources and the above prayer link at https://www.openroad.church/prayer/
Good or God
Got a "good story" or a "God story"? Bring it with you on Sunday and share it with others, even with the whole group, if it's brief and encouraging!
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