This weekend codes were being cracked and barriers were being demolished left and right…and the stories keep pouring in. God is doing more than we could ask or imagine, Questers, and we are eyewitnesses.

Here are my observations from week five of Cracking the Code: A Moment of Decision…

1. The drama with Vivian, Ruby & Pastor Mark was a picture of the contrast between a relationship and religion. When Amber’s character, Vivian, talked about Jesus and said, “I think I’m in love with Him,” it tore down barriers we didn’t even know we had.

2. Seeing “My Moment” next to a date for everyone on our stage was a fun way to underscore the power of a moment. And from listening to Stephanie and Paul’s stories…to being led by Ani and the band in worship and Ani singing Beautiful Day…the arts set me up well, asking great questions and provoking authentic encounters with God.

3. I loved ripping on Jimmy with the clip of Brent and Penny’s wedding. Better you than me, Jimmy!

4. When I had everyone write down their birthday, their anniversary, and the day the twin towers went down…everyone was with me. But when I asked you to write down the day you gave your lives to Christ, I saw so many blank stares. It was a great reminder that even here…in a place where so many have grappled with what happens in the moment you come to Christ, many of us are still processing and putting all the pieces together.

5. I watched thousands of you listening hard. You took great notes and really grappled with the significance of a moment. You believed the truth that your spiritual life is the key to every other area of your life…and it is the only key to the next life. I was so proud of the way you guys approached this.  (If you’re still in the process…don’t stop short! Jesus has incredible gifts for you.)

6. I love the way the Message puts 2 Corinthians 13:5 - “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.”

7. God gave us great handles to understand what a genuine moment of justification is this weekend. A genuine moment is… (1) Your moment (no one else can exchange your life for His), (2) a humble moment – not a moment of activity (we bring nothing to the table but a humble cry for help asking for God’s mercy, forgiveness & grace), and (3) a pivotal moment (the moment you receive forgiveness of your sins and are justified before God).

8. The simple clarity that we are all on a spiritual journey helped unlock this topic for many of us. Part A – Seeking, Part B – Following…but it’s the Moment in the Middle that everything hangs on. What happens in that moment gives us the power for the following and the answers to the seeking. If you’re still processing this one for yourself…the biblical evidence of what happens the moment you surrender your life to Christ is clear. In an instant – your sins are washed away, you are justified before God, you go from death to life and your eternity in heaven is secured – all as you humbly receive what Jesus did on the cross – not just for the world, but for yourself. Ask Jesus to help you identify the moment that split your whole spiritual journey in two, and if you don’t find one there, follow what 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, and do something about it.

9. Reading from sermons by Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, and Billy Graham was a reminder how historically prevalent this teaching that people might be confused about their spiritual condition has been over the last 150 years. Then…getting to hear an 84 year-old man describe hearing Billy Graham preach that sermon in 1957 and finally getting to respond authentically this Sunday (53 years later!) was a great reminder of how far God is willing to go to pursue us. Unreal.

10. Dozens and dozens and dozens of you let Jesus crack your code, and experienced your moment this weekend. I will never forget your faces…you were shining. Watching a great friend and board member come unglued as his wife and daughter both received Christ on the same day was a massive highlight…as was celebrating with one of our elders & pioneers whose daughter who humbly surrendered her heart to Jesus tonight. We are in the middle of something remarkable….and it is just the beginning.

Keep asking Jesus to crack your code, friends. He’s got more in store for you than you could ever ask or imagine! Expect love, love and more love!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 1:15 AM and is filed under Cracking the Code, That Just Happened. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.