Greater things are coming...

It never ceases to amaze me how when God wants his people to do something or to think about something, he'll send his fires of conviction in big ways. Well, I think its pretty safe to say this happened to our team over the past couple of weeks.

The team is:
Storm Stuart
Kelsey Morris
Luke Summey
Bruce Bentley
Thomas Chavez
and me, Josh Littlejohn

Over the past couple of weeks as we've prepared for this journey to LA, we've all been communicating via facebook and email. Well, in one of these recent Facebook messages I was sharing how I felt like God was going to do big things with us in LA, however...we couldn't do it alone. In order to accomplish all that God has in store for us, we were going to need a support group of prayer. I shared how I had this revelation (driving along I-85 at high speeds, talking w/ Jesus...you know, the safe stuff) and as the team began to respond in our conversation via messages, I was overwhelmed with this sense of peace. Each one of our team members had the exact same revelation, a need for prayer support behind us, over the past week. I don't know why I thought this was such a 'big' revelation, but for some reason I've found a lot of peace. I already see the Lord working in so many ways in our team, and I can only get more and more excited about the things that are coming ahead in the next 8 weeks we're in LA.

Speaking of those things that are coming, I can confidently say that they're going to be great. How great? I don't yet know. But, they'll be great. Our team was sent a package of information about where we'll be and in it was a preparation devotion for LA. It's a 10-day study on the fruits of the Spirit. Well in doing it, I came across a passage that has really been settling hard on my heart and mind lately. I actually found it because I looked at the wrong verse, but I'm pretty sure that it may have just been for a Higher reason { :-) } . Anyways, that passage is John 14:12-14 and it reads "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

I came across this passage the same day that the Lord began to work on my heart about this prayer stuff. I was reading the passage and I had to re-read. Did it REALLY just say that through faith, anyone will do what Jesus had done? And that because of His giving up His life on the cross, we're invited to do GREATER things than He? SURELY not. Surely, surely the Lord didn't put that in John for me or anyone else. Surely we cannot achieve greater things than that of the Lord...right?

Well, the more and more I ponder (and I caution myself in fear that this may be seen as preposterous to some) the more and more I'm convicted. What kind of man of faith am I if I don't have enough faith in the works of the Lord that I too cannot do such things in this time in LA? What does it say about my faith if I'm already counting the strikes against me, doubting what God can do, and looking for reasons to escape this calling in the life of every Christian?

This whole past school year's theme in my life has been about the "pursuit of holiness", and this passage has only pushed me harder into the thought that we, as Christians who strive to live in faith, can achieve holiness, just as Christ did. I find myself however, burdened and convicted because I'm not so sure my faith can stand up to those that are faithful enough to do greater things than Christ. Let's be real, after all, do you see me (all 200+) walking on water? Healing the sick? Casting out demons?

While the rational side of me says "No, your fat tail won't be walking the Pacific while you're out there." ... there's something inside of me saying "Josh, don't count yourself out. Don't count any believer out." Now, will I be walking across water...probably not, and that's not the point of this passage I don't think. But, I can't really express in words the amount of excitement and conviction in my heart, knowing that when in Philippians we're told that we can do all things through Him, that we REALLY can do ALL things through Him!

This passage has renewed me, taught me, and reminded me the ways of the faithful are unlimited; not because of me believing really hard...but because the Spirit of Christ will be going before us, fighting in/with us, and empowering us to do great things in LA. And, none of those things would be accomplished if we didn't have the support of those praying for us and our team being in prayer constantly over the next 8 weeks. Every time I think of this passage lately, I want to hit my knees in reverence and appreciation that Christ has given us the power to do great things.

So, let the great things come...whatever they may be. May our team stay humbled and confident only through the Spirit of Christ and may we be faithful enough to believe that through that Spirit of Christ, the possibilities are endless in LA!

For those of you praying for us, here's some suggestions for the upcoming few days:
1 - Humility for our team. May we not forget that only through Christ can we accomplish those great things that we're called to achieve!
2 - Open eyes, ears, and hearts. May our team always be aware of the possibilities to plant a seed or reap the harvest around us!
3 - Sending the Spirit before us. May the Spirit of God go before us to LA, softening hearts and opening minds, windows and doors of opportunities.
4 - Discernment. May our team know and see the opportunities, seizing them for all that Christ has created these opportunities to be.
5 - Take off. May we have safe travels on Monday as we take off at noon out of Charlotte. May we also begin to see those opportunities the Lord has in store for us, even en route to LA!
6 - Great things. May the Lord bless LA and the lives of LA where we'll be working (West LA, Santa Monica, Venice) in big and mighty ways. May He move in only ways that He can and may He change lives in only ways that He can!

On a personal note, I want to thank each and every one of you who are praying for our team members and I. Together, as we hit our knees in prayer and bathe this trip and the city of LA in prayer, I truly believe that God will bless this trip and the ministry we've been called to! So, thank you for joining us on our trip in Spirit and prayer and thank you in advance for the support, love and encouragement!