Spiritual giftings such as prophetics, healing and speaking in tongues are always amazing to encounter. Our God is a mighty and awesome God and so naturally we’re drawn to actual manifestations of the works of the Holy Spirit. But is there more to what we merely see on the surface level? In the last several years we’ve had the opportunity to witness and experience these kind of supernatural displays of God’s power during the various conferences and retreats.
Hearing the message over the last weekend when Pastor Stephen and his wife Ann spoke was another reminder of what we’ve learned from previous retreats/conferences about the timing of the impartation of spiritual gifting. Pastor Stephen and Ann shared not only of how God speaks to us through visions and dreams and Scripture, but more importantly of their deep relationship with Abba Father as their Lord and Savior. Pastor Stephen shared that we are all promised the fullness of the Spirit but as followers of Christ where is our hunger and desire for this anointing? Apostle Paul tells us we should want and desire these spiritual gifts. But at the same time we ought not expect them to simply fall into our laps out of random coincidence. Much discipleship and discernment is needed.
There were two common themes I observed from these various pastors speaking about developing spiritual gifts. One was that they first and foremost pursued a deep and intimate love for the Lord. And it wasn’t until then that spiritual gifting began to flow from that relationship. According to my notes, when Pastor Shin spoke at the church retreat last September he shared that his physical healing ministry didn’t come about for 10 ten years despite the fact he fasted and prayed for up to 5 hours daily and even then he humorously shared that his initial gift of healing others only started out healing minor allergies before progressing to an ability of greater physical healing. Can you imagine waiting on the Lord for 10 years!?!
A second theme that struck me about developing spiritual gifting such as speaking in tongues and prophetics is that one would need to continue to work at them in order to fully realize this gifting. Even Pastor Jamie had made comments in years past that one would have to practice speaking in tongues in order to fully develop this gift. And Pastor Shin also remarked that one should spend time in discipleship with those who have these giftings in order to get better at them. I realize developing this kind of supernatural gifting isn’t exactly a hard science but it came as somewhat of a surprise to me to hear that one would need to continue to work at developing and refining spiritual gifting. I’m pretty sure these are all very simple matters for God and that He didn’t have to “practice” them like one would have to practice scales to learn a musical instrument. But perhaps that’s the very point about our having to work at these miraculous works- our physical human minds and bodies are but crude vessels to be used as divine instruments of God. So it may very well take years of devotion and intimate pursuit of God in order for the Spirit to refine and align one’s mind and body with God in order to be used in this way. Pastor Stephen stated that spiritual giftings and the power of the Holy Spirit are not limited to only a chosen few but are for all who believe. But the message was also that these giftings are not merely a superficial display of God’s power pleasing to the eye but rather they flow from a place of deep commitment and intimacy with the Lord in ways that strengthen, encourage and comfort others. Maybe that’s the kind of lifelong relationship God intended all along for each and every one of us amen to that. Otherwise, as Pastor Stephen put it, we might just become spiritual body builders with all of this muscle but with no real greater purpose.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
January 31, 2016

This past week, I said goodbye to one of my good friends as he moved on to the next chapter in his life.  Ok that sounds kinda morbid like he died but actually he just moved to Kansas City.  You guys know him as Pastor Keeyoung.
In the past, I used to have a lot of trouble dealing with change.  When I was younger, I never wanted to go far away from home and I always got upset whenever one of my friends moved away.  In fact, when I first moved to Maryland from NJ, I used to go back to the land of pizza and bagels at least once, sometimes even twice once a month just so I could see my friends again.  I tried convincing my parents to send me to Rutgers University, the equivalent of 13th grade in NJ, so I could stay close to home instead of going to UVA which seemed millions of miles away.  (In hindsight, that decision turned out ok… hehe hi, Mina!  I guess parents are right sometimes)
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve either grown more accustomed to change or just accepted it as a part of life.  There are moments it still hits me, like when I look at my oldest son, Josiah, and realize he’s about to turn 4.  I remember when he was born and looked like an alien and couldn’t do anything for himself.  Now he comes into my bedroom and tells me my breath smells.  Even Connor pushes me out of the way when I try to hug him sometimes.  They have become toddler teenagers already.
But change is a part of life.  And one of the reasons I’ve come to accept change better is because I recognize that it’s a necessary part of growth.  Particularly as a pastor of the young adult group, I’ve seen so many people come and go to our church the past few years as part of obedience to the Lord.  And while selfishly, I’ve always wanted them to stick around, I know that their leaving is part of God’s plan for their life.  God has always done the same thing; whether it’s Abraham’s obedience in leaving Harran, Paul’s obedience in going all over Europe and Asia, God is constantly calling many of us to go.  This is not to say that staying somewhere is disobedience to God – in fact, staying somewhere is a calling itself and sometimes even more difficult to obey!  But the truth is, staying or going are decisions mature men and women of faith need to deal with at periods of transition.  By ignoring the tugging at our hearts or the wrestling we need to do with the Lord, we are simply putting our heads in the sand and not living out the full lives that Jesus died to give us, lives worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4:1).
So, even as I said goodbye to my friend, my heart was filled with more joy and excitement than sadness.  I have no claim on his life, on his future any more than I do on any of your lives.  We all belong to the Lord and our tomorrows are His.  How can we say no to the One who always says yes to us?  He has our future in His hands, and if we say He’s a good good Father, then why wouldn’t we obey Him?  Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  As Deuteronomy 31:8 states, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  So I won’t.
Though there will be an empty space on my couch where Keeyoung used to take naps, I’m at peace knowing that he’s gone because God said to go.  Besides, now Frank can fully stretch out on the couch without worrying about kicking Keeyoung’s head.  By the way, Frank, you’re not allowed to move anywhere.

From Pastor David’s Heart
January 17, 2016