Alone with the Spirit, Together with the Saints

Alone with the Spirit, Together with the SaintsSpeaker: Rev. Reuben FoncardasScripture: Luke 6:12-19How can we be a church community that lives “Life Together” as Christ calls us to do? The short answer to this question is this: by creating spaces where God can speak and act. Henri Nouwen refers to this as spiritual disciplines. There are three spaces we need to diligently create; three disciplines we need to faithfully observe.1. Be with God alone in solitude.One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. —Luke 6:12 NIV• Take time to listen to and reflect on what God has to say to you through his Word (Bible) and through the Holy Spirit (prayer).• Intercede for people and/or events that come to mind to bring your focus back to God.2. Be in community with other believers.When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: —Luke 6:13 NIV• Learn to forgive; to have no expectation of being loved unconditionally by other believers.• Learn to celebrate the beauty of humanity in others that is being changed from brokenness to fullness of life in Christ.3.Be present in the lives of those who need “healing.”He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. —Luke 6:17-19 NIV• Bring healing to people by leading them to gratitude and by showing them compassion.