Tag: Prayer
My Story (Part 4): Waking up from a Dream
One night I had a dream. In my dream there stood a small round table with a porcelain stature of Jesus praying. I remembered the statue from my childhood. It was on of the figures that had always been in my parents house.
In my dream there was an open magazine with a picture of Satan. The kind of picture you see at Halloween with a red face, horns, and a pitchfork. Yet the eyes had been cut out and taped on the statue of Jesus.
I was indignant and mad. I can remember saying, “Who has done this thing! Who dares to defile this statue of Jesus? This is blasphemy!” And just at that moment as still, small voice said, “It is you!”
In that moment I understood the weight of my sin before a holy and righteous God and knew that he would be good and right to send me to Hell. I felt in that instant more terror than I have ever known. I was sure that I was going to Hell. Yet I awoke clutching the covers in a silent scream. My mouth hung open, my lungs had sized, my breath was caught in my throat and I was unable to actually produce a sound.
I understood then that I was lost, but tried to rationalize with myself that it was just a dream. I contemplated how silly it would look like for me to admit that I wasn’t even a Christian. Pride keeps many men and women back from what would truly be theirs in Christ.
A while later I was leading a college group through a Bible study on the 7 churches in Revelation. As I studied the scripture I came to the Church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). What I read changed my life. I realized that I was standing naked before God and instead of trusting in Jesus Christ to remove my sin and my shame I was trusting in works that didn’t really matter to God.
I understood it like this. God had given me a conscience and his word that exposed my wrong motives. Like a mirror would show a person that they are naked and need clothes. But instead of Trusting in Jesus and asking God to change my heart I was trying to answer the guilt over my sin by doing good things. That would be like a naked person painting over a mirror. It wouldn’t really change the fact that they were naked, it would just make it harder to see in the mirror. There was nothing I could do to make myself right with God other than go to Him, tell him I was sorry for what I had done, and ask him to change my life.
I shared with Avia that I was lost and she quoted Isaiah 64:6 confirming that there was truly nothing I could do to make myself right before God other than humble myself and ask for his forgiveness. The next day I met with an evangelist to learn another Evangelism strategy. This one was called Christ-Centered Evangelism and rather than focusing on heaven it focused on Christ.
Brother Ed the Evangelist was teaching me about praying for those who have not yet come to God on his terms and lead me to read Romans 10:1-4. As I read, he could tell something was wrong and he asked me if everything was okay? I couldn’t help but blurt out, “by the witness of these scriptures I am lost. I have a zeal for the things of God, but I don’t truly know Him.”
Later that night after searching my heart, I asked Christ to be the Lord of my Life. I told my pastor and came before my church fully expecting to lose my job. I didn’t care. I wanted everything to be right before God and men.
Jesus Christ changed me. He saved he makes a difference in the way I live. I am not a perfect person. I continually make mistakes, but I know God accepts me based not upon what I have done, but what he has done for me. I want the whole world to have peace with God like I do.
- My Story: A Godly Heritage (Part 1)
- My Story: A Trial that Proves a Faulty Faith (Part 2)
- My Story: Lost in a Religious World (Part 3)
- My Story: Living with Passion and Purpose (Part 5)
For more on the Christian message and how you to can have a relationship with Jesus Christ check out 2 Ways to Live
My Story (Part 3): Lost in a Religious World
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
Lost in a Religious World
I found myself at the age of 16 rejecting an opportunity to attend the Alabama School of Math and Science in order to move with my family to Missouri. I was trying to run from all the bad things I had done and ended up being a self-righteous snob. I had an earnest desire to prove that I was a good person and a secret desire to make up for all the wrong I had done. I was engaged in religious activity and very involved in a student group 30 minutes away from our house (back when gas was $1.16 a gallon).
I also started a small student group of about 8-10 kids in the basement of my father’s new church (an aging 25 member congregation). I was a great self-starter but lacked substance and depth. I learned a lot about student ministry from the way I failed when I was just a 17 or 18 year old kid trying to lead a group of my peers.
In the fall of 1997 I moved to Mobile, Alabama. My first weekend in mobile I was invited to speak to the youth at a friends church in Gulf Shores. The next weekend I was at Lafitte and quickly became a student ministry intern. Things progressed quickly and just over a year later I was appointed associate student minister and then very quickly I was appointed student minister.
Building a Resume of Deeds
I had a passion and a desire for the things of God (Romans 10:2-4), but all the while I was building an impressive resume for God to accept me based on my good works. Not realizing that my deeds did not mean as much to God as my heart (Isaiah 64:6). I worked hard to be a good communicator and studied to know much of the Bible. You would have been hard pressed to find anyone my age more knowledgeable about the things of God. Yet I still missed it.
I became good at telling people how to become a Christian. Most of the places I spoke (outside of Lafitte) would see two or three students make decisions saying something had changed in their life. Every week at Lafitte the same kids were “rededicating” their life and never changing and many of the converts I saw in those early years never became fully devoted followers of Christ.
The saddest part is that I really thought I was a Christian. One of the things I enjoyed doing was learning new ways to present how to become a Christ follower to people. I went through FAITH, EE, and several other presentations. One of the key type questions in these presentations is to ask people “how does someone get to heaven?” I always answered my instructors that it was “by doing good works” and they would correct me. Yet, they never question me further because I was a poster child for someone interested in “Christian things.”
My list of religious deeds was long. I lead a student group. Helped lead and developed a prayer group for reaching international students at UM. I had opportunities to speak at several student events all over Alabama. I helped feed the homeless on a regular basis. I walked the streets of downtown mobile passing out religious literature. I had been on Mission to East Asia. I had spoken in many churches. I partnered in founding a conference that celebrated a protestant Christian History. But without Christ…. I was lost and without hope (Philippians 3:4-11).
It wouldn’t be until I woke up from a Nightmare that I would come to understand just where I stood with God and what needed to be done to set things right.
- My Story: A Godly Heritage (Part 1)
- My Story: A Trial that Proves a Faulty Faith (Part 2)
- My Story: Waking up from a Dream (Part 4)
- My Story: Living with Passion and Purpose (Part 5)
Want to know more about the Christian message and how to become a Christ follower? Click the link below. Be sure to read the whole thing.
My Story: A Godly Heritage (part 1)
Richard and Barbara Hill had suffered two miscarriages between my sister’s birth and mine. My birth was anticipated with much fear and joy. I was born on April 27st, 1979. My mother named me Jonathan meaning “gift of God.” Though I do not remember them ever saying it, it was evident in the way we were raised that my parents believed that all children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127).
My Father
My father was a gentle but strong man. Most of my childhood he was a church planter in Montana. He would pastor a small existing church, lead a bible study that would develop into another church and work a full time job. Montana was not known for its job market and often my dad would take seasonal low paying jobs just to help our family make ends meet.
Despite the overwhelming drain and stress of being overworked and underpaid my father was the priest in our home. He lead us with a family devotional in the morning and family prayer time at night. He was the first to discipline us, but always with love…I never saw my father lose his temper (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 22:6 & 15).
My Mother
In my denomination women are encouraged to take seriously the highest office of influence over a man (motherhood). My mother has influenced my walk with Christ more than any other individual. She did it by being a Godly mom (I Timothy2:12-15, Proverbs 31). Often I would rise early to use the bathroom in early hour of the morning and catch my mom in our living room with her bible open having a daily quiet time.
More than just the habits my parents exhibited I saw their faithfulness in the small things. I remember having a desire as a young man to be so like my mom and dad that I asked how I could memorize scripture. My parents loved God and they loved to be with the people of God. Every time we were gone on a Sunday we would be in a church service at another location on our way to where ever we were going (I John 1:7). To this day I can count on one hand how many Sundays I have not attended worship service in my life. Not because I am trying for perfect attendance but because we so loved God that we couldn’t help but want to be with His people.
Trials
I saw my parents face trials with a patient endurance. There were times that the ends would not be meeting and we would see God provide for us in miraculous ways (like a giant bag of pinto beans or a check in the mail). My parent’s faith was unwavering and I learned by observation what it looks like to face difficult and dark days with an eye to see Jesus Glorified (James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:1-2 )
I was off to a great start, but later around the age of 14 I would face a trial of my own that would expose my complete lack of faith in God. I was trying to live in the world of my parent’s faith, but came up short when the pressure was on. It was time I learned just where I stood in the world apart from God and without hope. Check back tomorrow as the story continues with…
- My Story: A Trial that Proves a Faulty Faith (Part 2)
- My Story: Lost in a Religious World (Part 3)
- My Story: Waking up from a Dream (Part 4)
- My Story: Living with Passion and Purpose (Part 5)
For more on the Christian Message Check out 2 Ways to Live
My Story (Introduction)
God did something to me a few years ago and I now have a story to tell. I want to share my story with you for several reasons. Some people want to catch up and know what life has been like in the Hill House these last several years. Others of you want to know what, if anything is really different than the Jonathan you used to know. Still more of you have only known me as a Christian and you wonder what was life like before you met me. Most importantly I want to bring honor to God and tell the world the story of how he saved me and he can save you if you are willing.
Introduction:
Over the next several days I will be blogging my story (complete with scripture references). My goal is to show you what God has done in my life looking through the lens of God’s word. The title of each blog and day it will be posted are listed below. Tune in this week to get the full story.
How I Learned that God is Faithful
So I shared the story of how God touched my life with a group of men on Saturday night. I talked about how I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere in Montana and the adventures I had as a child. In the midst of it all I got to share my favorite memories from my childhood.
The truth is I have a terrible memory. My younger brother can remember tons of stuff that failed to register with me as we were growing up. What I do remember is this… God is faithful!
God heard my mother’s prayer to have a child after 2 miscarriages and gave me to her. He heard my father’s prayer over my new born brother and mom when it looked like he might loose them both (she had birth complications in a one doctor town in the middle of a blizzard in Eastern Montana). He provided for our every need (especially when we were poor). We would gather together as a family and pray about our circumstances and money would come in from a friend out of town or God would bless us with 60 lbs of Pinto Beans (you had to be there to hear the story).Later after my father had his stroke and was fired from his church I rebelled. I ran from all I had heard growing up. Each night I that I would come home drunk I would have to pass by my mothers room where I would hear her praying for me (she didn’t know what all I’d been doing). God was faithful and heard her prayers and eventually brought me to a point where I met Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
I learned that God is faithful through the prayers of my parents. I’ve read the bible through 2 or 3 times now and understand every word to be true, but I saw it first in my parents simply trusting God in the midst of difficult circumstances. I pray that my daughter sees God’s faithfulness in my actions and response to circumstance.
I share more about my story in a series of blog posts. You are welcome to check them out here.
3 Discipleship Questions
Ok so I am working on a strategy to help people who become Christ followers to grow in their relationship with Him (aka discipleship for new believers). Please feel free to comment and discuss in the comment section below.
- What are the first 5 things a new believer should learn/know how to do (regardless of their background)?
- How would you coach a new believer who is a teenager living in a house with unbelieving parents or siblings?
- (If you are a believer) How were you discipled when you became a Christ follower & who discipled you?
Sermon Jams
A while back i came across this Youtube video on scripture memory form John Piper and thought I would pass it along for your enjoyment.
3 Questions About Healing and the Kingdom
So I guess it is only fair for me to admit my biases up front when it comes to “healing.” My Theological Assumption: I would like to clearly state that I do believe that God does choose to heal and even miraculously heal certain people at certain times. My Cultural Assumption: I would also like to state that I believe that many Americans neglect a healthy understanding of the miraculous and supernatural because of an over dependence on a skeptical mind (how arrogant to assume that all cultures that hold to a supernatural world are living in ignorance). My Experiential Assumption: I have several friends who despite great prayers and great faith have never experience a divine healing miraculous or otherwise. They were asked to stand up out of their chairs or extend forth their lame hands all to no avail. Many were accused of not having enough faith.
3 Questions About Healing and the Kingdom
So all of this arises out of the need to get something right in my mind. A few times now I have been in a situation where a group of folks will get together with the idea to share Christ with the lost world and a brother of mine will stand up and start talking about healing. Usually when this happens they direct my attention to Isaiah 53:5 (By his stripes we are healed) gloss over the whole sacrifice part of the passage and ask if anyone wants to be healed. The gospel seems to be diminished or passed over by the desire to display a powerful sign of healing.
I understand that while in the midst of preaching the kingdom Jesus healed people. In many instances healing and preaching the kingdom were hand in hand and almost inseparable (Matt 4:23, 9:35, 10:7-8, Luke 9:11 and especially Luke 10:9). Jesus demonstrates that the kingdom is coming by healing and showing us what the kingdom will be like (there will be no sickness or death). This proves not only to authenticate his message, but help us to visualize what it would look like to live under the rule and reign of such a benevolent king.
Yet at the heart of what I generally observe when I hear healing preached is not an announcing of the Kingdom of God, but a statement that God wants you healthy and wealthy. Then some take it so far as to say that if you lack health or wealth you have no faith. I often wonder if such people have searched the scriptures enough to develop and understand a theology of suffering.
So here are my questions…
. . . . . . . . .
- Is there a connection between healing and the kingdom of God?
- Does your theology of healing allow for a theology of suffering? If so how?
- Does miraculous healing still happen today?
5 Growth Challenges
Are you looking to grow deeper in your relationship with God? The challenges below are a great place to start.
1. Proverbs Challenge… Read a chapter of Proverbs each day. Read Proverbs chapter 7 on the 7th of the month; chapter 8 on the 8th of the month and so on. Our pastor Chris Aiken does a daily blog commenting on one chapter of scripture and a daily take away from the book of Proverbs.
2. Journal Challenge… Take the Bible reading one step further and keep a journal that you can record your thoughts in. I like to ask myself two questions after I have read and prayed thought the scripture: 1. What does this say about God? 2. How will I respond?
3. My Story Challenge… Write out the story of how you became a Christ follower in 100 words or less and let me review it. Try use every day language and avoid words that are church specific. Highlight three things:
- Life before you met Christ.
- How you met Christ.
- How your life is different now.
You can see a version of mine in the “About Me” section of “Meet Jonathan.” After it has been reviewed take the opportunity to tell others your story and get their input. Post it on your facebook and myspace profiles.
4. Teach others challenge… I encourage our students to take notes on the Sunday Morning sermon and the Wednesday night message. Study their notes and then either through intentional study (like an established Bible study) or in regular conversation (“guess what I learned this week”) share what they have learned in a way that teaches others.
5. Accountability Challenge… I challenge our kids to encourage one another with what they have been learning and doing in smaller groups. I do this by sending out a mass text each asking for prayer requests from those who subscribe and sharing a verse that stuck out to me that day from my daily bible reading (usually from Proverbs since that is one of the challenges).
The Hill House 