I have come to realize over the past year and a half how beautiful and special Walla Walla is in the sense of Christian community building. Rightfully so, Eden Kietponglert and a few others have truly labored and pioneered community building in a magnificent way. I think that it is essential for us to have seasons of testing and solitude where the Lord takes us to the end of ourselves, exposing the darkness and co-dependence that we like to pretend isn’t there. But the Lord created us for fellowship, with Him first and secondly with fellow believers, not the other way around. I have been wandering through a God ordained season of solitude where I have labored for close relationship with people only to see the Lord draw them away to pursue their calling. It has been painfully lonely at times but Jesus has always been by my side as the ultimate friend and encourager. My biggest battle has been actually trusting him and looking to Him as a friend when I’m feeling that longing for deep relationship. I hate it, but it is a process and He has been teaching me so much about my heart and my unhealthy need for people to fill areas of my heart that are meant only for Him. Praise God! My closest IHOP friend and roommate is moving home for good this month and I am grieved at the knowledge that there will be such distance in our relationship, but the Lord in His faithfulness has stirred my heart to collaborate with some other young women to start a community house!
This semester we have been studying the book of Acts in class and Jesus has downloaded some vision about His heart for community. My heart is so weak and my pursuit of the Lord is lacking without being intentionally spurred on by others. I need to be discipled, held accountable and charged daily to pursue my calling! Here is a general layout of what the Lord has put on my heart (partially inspired by the Red Roof House, holla back ladies!)
The church in the Book of Acts was charged by Jesus as He ascended into His heavenly place to “be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth,” after they received the power of the Holy Spirit. We all have been commissioned by Jesus to preach the gospel with boldness in our own unique way and He has placed an echo into each of our hearts by His Spirit that draws us into our calling. In our community I want to the girls to partner with me and me with them in picking up those things the Lord has placed in us and running together, seeing the Lord’s glory manifest on earth in each unique calling. Sometimes doing what the Lord puts on my heart is scary and potentially embarrassing, but I need that push from people who I know care about my heart and care deeply about my calling enough to propel me into it.
The early church pursued the place of prayer daily, intentionally and in one accord! A prayer meeting began shortly after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:13-14) and ended after seven days with a history making Spiritual outpouring! I want to have prayer meetings that bring people together in unity and end with the Lord pouring out His Spirit in powerful ways. They also had specified times of prayer (Acts 3:1) which I believe needs to be emulated in our own community. I just want to take a minute to honor the intercessors at Life Church in Walla Walla for their faithfulness in the place of prayer, they have inspired me and encouraged me to pursue a life of prayer. I want to be challenged to grow in intercession and asked how I am spending my times in prayer and be held accountable by the girls in my house.
In tandem with receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, the church in Acts performed signs and wonders everywhere they went (Acts 2:43, 3:2-10,5:16) ! The salvation and the faith of many was due to the witness of the Spirit in the lives of the Apostles. We will not see signs and wonders manifest in our lives if we aren’t actually praying for people to be healed. I want to be challenged daily to step out of my comfort zone and actually pray for people to be healed, and see people set free in body, mind and soul! Jesus longs to partner with us in this way and reveal His glory to the unsaved, but oftentimes we are unfaithful in the anointing that He has already given us. I want to partner with these girls to see heaven invade earth!
Another pattern I see repeated often among the disciples is the daily breaking of bread (Acts 2:42-47). In my own life, I see this translated as not only enjoying fellowship, and meals together but also pursuing a pure heart in repentance and communion with one another. A few years ago I was reading about the slavery abolitionists who the Lord used in powerful ways to free the slaves in the United States. One aspect of their community lifestyle that has always stuck with me was that they humbled themselves in repentance DAILY! The Lord worked signs and wonders through them because they were empty vessels. This is exactly what I want to emulate as I live in community.
Also, the early church gave themselves to the Apostles teaching(Acts 2:42). We are so blessed to have not only the written word that we can dive into, but we also have full access to Godly wisdom that has been passed down from generation to generation. A practical way that I feel like the Lord wants to see this implemented in community is through personal study of the word, receiving personal revelation through the Holy Spirit and taking turns during our fellowship times sharing what the Lord is showing us in His word. This will require me to continuously go deeper in the word and having community to spur me on and challenge me to grow is the accountability I need for my personal life in God.
The early Apostles were persecuted time and time again (Acts 12, 14:19) and although we may not be persecuted exactly as they were, we all go through trials, struggles and hardships. While living in community, we can constantly encourage one another to look to the Lord in these moments because He is truly where our help comes from. I want to be partnered with in finding rest in the place of worship amidst my most fiery trials!
This is my rough draft, preliminary brainstorming outline of what I feel the Lord is leading me into. I will keep you posted about how He is leading us in walking it out!
