GlocalNet

By:  Brian Hook, Vision360 City Catalyst, Dallas/Ft. Worth

“Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

A few weeks ago I had a great discussion on this passage with Jim Hylton, a real-deal pastor from Missouri. Jim said, “Jesus doesn’t separate the supernatural and the practical. The supernatural is always very practical.” If it is God’s work, it’s all supernatural. We cannot separate practical from supernatural. There are planters and pastors reading this blog that have a desire to change their communities, cities, and even nations. How does this happen? It only happens through the supernatural work of Jesus Christ. The supernatural is something I once separated from the practical. But God has been showing Himself to me through the practical, “real” experiences that are also very supernatural.

I met Rodrick about eight months ago through friends, Mike Fechner and Roger Sappington (www.hisbridgebuilders.org). Rodrick was the top drug dealer in a community of Dallas. Early in life he had fathered a few kids and made a ton of money through drugs. He and his girlfriend, Lisa, didn’t have a way out. Through persistent prayers, and God working practically through believers, Roderick came to know the saving grace of Jesus. Roderick was set free, and Dallas had one less drug dealer. Rodrick says it best. “When I got saved, Dallas was drug free.....for a few minutes.” Mike and Roger are helping people like Rodrick experience the supernatural power of Jesus Christ in practical ways. “Your Kingdom Come….on Earth as it is in Heaven.” God’s transforming power unfolds in the lives of people through practical transactions. For Rodrick, God’s Kingdom has been very practical. God’s power is a diploma through a ministry sponsored GED program. God’s provision is Rodrick learning a trade so that he can get a job. God’s Spirit is teaching him through a discipleship class led by Roger. God’s grace is experienced through a church that hosted Rodrick and Lisa’s wedding free of charge. It is just as powerful to see Rodrick’s transformation as it is for a blind man to receive sight. God’s Kingdom unfolds every day. It may be through a water well drilled in Nigeria, a preschooler learning about Jesus at church, or a pastor setting up for worship in a make shift auditorium every Sunday.  Don’t think for a moment that your practical service is less than a supernatural work.  Heaven touches Earth through us, and the World is changed one Rodrick at a time.