A TRUE JESUS MOVEMENT by Gary Wilkerson
What hurting man, woman or child wouldn’t run to a place where lifelong troubles are answered by God, where deep, miraculous healing takes place? That is truly a “Jesus Movement.” And it does not happen by plans, ingenuity or organized events; it happens when God shows up. Wherever His glory manifests, whether through faithful preaching or a simple testimony, people will run to taste it.
The people “ran together to them” (Acts 3:11). There is great significance in this word “together.” These people were not scrambling to get past one another. They went as one, each humbled by the majestic power of God’s presence.
God’s glory has that effect. It unifies us in awe. Indeed, that is God’s desire for us—to set aside our differences, forgive offenses, and go to those who need our forgiveness or who need to forgive us.
We cannot expect a glorious, awe-inspiring God to move in our midst if we cling to a tongue that speaks evil, a heart that stews on grudges, a spirit that refuses to forgive another. Why would nonbelievers run to a church where malice and division rule? God’s acts of glory knit our hearts together—but how can we be knit if we refuse to lay down our divisions?
Why is God’s glory manifested in some churches and people but not in others? Peter provides an answer in the scene at the Temple. He told those marveling people, “Men of Israel . . . the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus” (Acts 3:12-13).
God has placed all His majesty, glory and power in one source: Christ. His glory is not made known in smart and powerful men or through brilliant plans and ingenious strategies. His glory is found in a single source: Jesus.
If we want Christ’s glory in our lives and in our churches, it is not going to come through our strength or schemes. It is going to come by emptying ourselves out that He may fill us. We must say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
The people “ran together to them” (Acts 3:11). There is great significance in this word “together.” These people were not scrambling to get past one another. They went as one, each humbled by the majestic power of God’s presence.
God’s glory has that effect. It unifies us in awe. Indeed, that is God’s desire for us—to set aside our differences, forgive offenses, and go to those who need our forgiveness or who need to forgive us.
We cannot expect a glorious, awe-inspiring God to move in our midst if we cling to a tongue that speaks evil, a heart that stews on grudges, a spirit that refuses to forgive another. Why would nonbelievers run to a church where malice and division rule? God’s acts of glory knit our hearts together—but how can we be knit if we refuse to lay down our divisions?
Why is God’s glory manifested in some churches and people but not in others? Peter provides an answer in the scene at the Temple. He told those marveling people, “Men of Israel . . . the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus” (Acts 3:12-13).
God has placed all His majesty, glory and power in one source: Christ. His glory is not made known in smart and powerful men or through brilliant plans and ingenious strategies. His glory is found in a single source: Jesus.
If we want Christ’s glory in our lives and in our churches, it is not going to come through our strength or schemes. It is going to come by emptying ourselves out that He may fill us. We must say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).