I have wondered if the one thing missing from the church in North America today are moments of divine encounter, moments with God that are so powerful that one feels as if one is standing on holy soil.

I have wondered if God doesn't want to give His church today that kind of earth shattering moment where decisions are made and lives are changed and futures are rewritten.

I have wondered if in some way in worship the people of God ought to become so aware of the presence of God that it shakes the foundation of their world and changes their outlook and draws them into the very presence of God, setting their hearts on fire with a love and passion for God that rocks their world.

Is this asking too much? Taking into consideration the fact that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and has breathed His Spirit into His Church, I think not.

We do have counsel from the Word that helps. We are encouraged to find ways to draw near to God in worship and prayer and praise.

Trust Him to be God in you.

Trust Him to reveal Himself to you.

Listen for His voice. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving (Be still, let go) and know that I am God.”

Seek His face (Psalm 27:8).

Be faithful to do what you know to do, and let God be God in your life.

The future belongs to those who trust in God.

I believe there are Ten Passions to which every local church ought to call the people of Jesus. Maybe you have your own list. I would love to hear what God is saying to other pastors on the subject of what it means to be a local church.

May God help us to have a Passion:

1. To pray...to become bonded to God and sensitive to who He is and what He is about.

2 To obey...to do what God's Word says.

3 To study...to hear God's Word as the Word of the Living God.

4 To worship...to develop a spirit of worship and celebration based upon what they have come to believe about God.

5 To serve...To enter into the arena of the human situation with a heart set on meeting needs in Jesus' name.

6 To forgive...To extend to others the same forgiveness that has come to them in Christ.

7 To witness...To live for Christ and Christ alone as the salt of the earth and the light of world, and to invite others into the community of Jesus.

8 To disciple...To become mentors and allies to new and young Christians to assist them on their journey to maturity.

9 To love...To live in the world as a fragrant aroma of Christ conducting themselves in such a way that people will see their good deeds and offer up praise to God.

10 To live...To live EVERY DAY, knowing that Greater is the One who is within us than the one who is in the world (I John 4:4); to personally experience within own soul the fact that Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).