Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;” -John 20:29-30
After the resurrection of Jesus we find the disciples locked away together in a room. The only one missing that first Sunday was Thomas aka “doubting Thomas”. John reveals to us that Jesus appeared to them that Sunday but Thomas missed out no so much because he was skeptical but because He wasn't in community. You see while Jesus could've appeared to Thomas wherever he was at He chose not to for a reason and that is because He wants His disciples in community before they can see the supernatural. Thomas wouldn't believe but he did show up for the second Sunday service and that's when Jesus showed him up. Jesus does great things “in the presence of His disciples”, but when we avoid community we also avoid seeing Jesus in a supernatural way.
The other day I was feeling a bit discouraged and I said to the Lord, “Lord I get to read about all these great things you showed the disciples like; walking on water, healing the blind, casting demons out, hearing the father speak from heaven and seeing Moses and Elijah. But when I teach it I feel like I'm missing out on the actual potency of it all, that is I tell people they can move mountains if they have faith but we know that the mountains are usually difficult situations. I tell people if they just keep their eyes on You they won't sink like Peter but in no way do I expect them to walk on water. Lord I want to see the supernatural.” After I prayed this the next day I received a call to counsel a distressed couple. I was hesitant at first because I had my own schedule and they didn't attend the church but I went anyway and I was able to minister to them and pray for them. Immediately after that I got a call from my wife about going to visit a sick man in the hospital so I go and he doesn't look good at all he was as pale as can be and waiting to go into an emergency surgery. His family was in the room with him when I got there so we all got around him in a circle and I anointed him with oil and prayed for him. After the surgery he had color in his face again and he was doing a lot better. Later in the day as I began to reflect on my prayer to the Lord and what had happened that day. My answer had come and it’s like the Lord said to me “this is what I have called you to do. The supernatural is found amongst other people in community.”
We must remember that Jesus left but He left us His Spirit and though we cannot see Him with our eyes we know He works in community by saving marriages, changing lives and healing people. Like Thomas sometimes we wanna see to believe but Christ says “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The other day I was feeling a bit discouraged and I said to the Lord, “Lord I get to read about all these great things you showed the disciples like; walking on water, healing the blind, casting demons out, hearing the father speak from heaven and seeing Moses and Elijah. But when I teach it I feel like I'm missing out on the actual potency of it all, that is I tell people they can move mountains if they have faith but we know that the mountains are usually difficult situations. I tell people if they just keep their eyes on You they won't sink like Peter but in no way do I expect them to walk on water. Lord I want to see the supernatural.” After I prayed this the next day I received a call to counsel a distressed couple. I was hesitant at first because I had my own schedule and they didn't attend the church but I went anyway and I was able to minister to them and pray for them. Immediately after that I got a call from my wife about going to visit a sick man in the hospital so I go and he doesn't look good at all he was as pale as can be and waiting to go into an emergency surgery. His family was in the room with him when I got there so we all got around him in a circle and I anointed him with oil and prayed for him. After the surgery he had color in his face again and he was doing a lot better. Later in the day as I began to reflect on my prayer to the Lord and what had happened that day. My answer had come and it’s like the Lord said to me “this is what I have called you to do. The supernatural is found amongst other people in community.”
We must remember that Jesus left but He left us His Spirit and though we cannot see Him with our eyes we know He works in community by saving marriages, changing lives and healing people. Like Thomas sometimes we wanna see to believe but Christ says “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
- HOW HAS THE LORD SPOKEN TO YOU THROUGH COMMUNITY?
- “What if our loneliness is the result not simply of needing a partner but of needing people? We are made in the image of a relational God; it makes sense that we possess the desire to be together.” -Debra Fileta