God
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. CSB Hebrews 12:28-29
An ENCOUNTER RETREAT is a time of assessment, contrition, confession, symbolic action, empowerment and commissioning for people wanting to move on in their journey in Jesus Christ. The picture you see above is 10 envelopes stuffed with the shame-filled past lives of the people who zealously cast them into the flames. As this was done, we sang songs of adoration, thanksgiving and praise to the God who consumed our sin in the fires of the passion of Jesus Christ. As they burned, one of the elders in our church stirred the fire to ensure that there would be "Nothing large enough for anyone to take home with them!" After we did this simple exercise, I looked around at the faces of those who genuinely committed these secret sins to the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah Jesus and noticed a look of relief and contentment. Moments like this make pastoring the greatest job in the world!
It is ironic to me that in a society which is trying so hard to maintain an attitude of denial about sin that people still experience such shame and pain as a result of their choices. It is also a wonderful thing to be reminded that the same good news that liberated people from sin and death 2000 years ago is working as powerfully now as it ever did. This same "Consuming Fire God" is working to purify us today and then fill us with a zeal and love that will be contagious to all who come into contact with us. Go ahead, cast yourself on His fires and let Him consume you in His passionate love!
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