We are now less than a week away from Dwell 17 – Light in the Darkness…just 5 more days to go! As we have been planning and preparing for this significant time in the KingsGate calendar I cannot help but reflect on some of the incredible and impacting moments we have had in years gone by. I am reminded of amazing times of worship, significant messages with such revelation and truth! Prophetic words spoken over me individually and over us as a church and special times connecting with and praying for friends and visitors. So, it isn’t a surprise that I find myself getting excited about this time we share together as a church, especially now we have planted out so many people and have invested in different local areas. This is a time where we all come together corporately, to edify one another and give space for God to meet with us, speak to us and remind us of who we are and what we are here to do.
As this year, we are looking at the theme of ‘Light in the Darkness’, I am reading the verses in the Bible that speak about this. In particular, I am drawn to this verse:
‘When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.”’ John 8:12
Jesus died so that we might have eternal life, but more than that so we could have his life in us! He knew he had to leave the earth so he could send the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in each of us. Therefore, you and I are the Light of the world, we are called to reflect God’s Light and character in our everyday lives. Have you ever heard the song, “this little Light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”? I loved singing this song and would often sing it as a youngster but as I look at it now, I can’t help but think we shouldn’t underestimate or tone down this Light that resides in us. This Light is bright, it is big, it is bold! It is full of hope, unconditional love and a mercy that renews every day! It never changes, never ends and never runs out! The Light in you and me is the Light of God. When we come together in unity it gets brighter and pushes back the darkness. I used to pray a lot for unity but I have realised that I’m praying for the wrong thing! Just like Julian Adams prophesied during Dwell 2014, that the church was praying for the wrong thing when we were praying for power, when we should have been praying for authority; I realised I should be praying for love instead of unity!
A few months ago, we had a prayer meeting in Cobham one evening and as I was praying that we would love one another deeply and with such conviction, I felt a heavy weight in my hands and I knew that God’s desire was for us to do this more than ever before. It is a challenge, it means we put each other first, we openly love each other and desire the best for each other over the needs of ourselves. It means we lay our lives down, not just for Jesus but our brothers and sisters and our neighbours. People will see the Light of the world when they see ordinary folk like you and I, loving one another without conditions, without rules, with an extravagant love. We are the Light of the world, I am the Light of the world, how I choose to express this is down to me…and you..and us!
