I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Once again I was struck by the power of God to knit a group of Christians from across the New South Wales District into a church. Oh, I don’t mean that they hadn’t come from congregations in which they were members; they had. And we had gathered as a group of Christians to talk about the church… but we hadn’t become the church together.
Then, at the end of our two day Conference in Sydney, Australia, I made a simple invitation: “Would you each be willing to share with one or two others something you would really like to have them pray for you about?” I said. “And, if you’re willing to do that, would you then stop and pray for each other?”
That’s when it happened. There was a momentary quiet, then people began to speak softly to others. Those that were seated close to another group, moved silently away to share. Then the room became a buzz: heads were bowed, eyes welled up in tears, men and women bent near to one another as they lifted each other up in prayer.
That was when we stopped talking about the church and became the Church.
The abundant life we share in Jesus Christ isn’t an idea. It actually happens when we turn to God – only to find that he has been there all along! What I have experienced and noticed is that it is often easier for us to turn to Christ and truly experience his presence when we look to him on behalf of others. That shouldn’t surprise us, I suppose. After all, Jesus said that we should love one another as he has loved us – and his love was always for us. So, when we love others by being for them, something miraculous occurs.
The wonderful thing about this experience was not only that we became church for one another, but that our prayers were shared in a startling context. Below our room in the Conference Center was a Casino. And as people dropped money again and again in slot machines (they call them Pokees over here), they didn’t know that the Holy Spirit had entered the building. I don’t know if they ever felt anything. What I know is that we wouldn’t see those folks with their misplaced hope in the same way again.
The problem with being the church is that it isn’t safe: we change. But, then again, that’s what abundant life is all about, isn’t it?

Lord Jesus, fill today with your abundance. Amen