Vineyard Notes from Pastor Jimmy--The Election and Our Response as Disciples Nov. 3 2020
November 3, 2020
Dear Vineyard Family,
I want to take this opportunity to say that I am so proud of our church community. We are living in probably the most divisive, confusing, and anxious season we all have endured. In times like these either the best in us or the worst in us can come out. I believe that by the grace of God we have made and will continue to seek to make a difference. We cannot control what will ultimately happen today through the elections but we can allow God to take control of our lives so that we can make a difference in our immediate spheres of influence.
First, I would like for you to take this in. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”
You are part of a diverse church family. The Valley Vineyard is not perfect but it is composed of different members who are all valuable and important. We have people on different sides of the political, generational, racial, and socioeconomic divide; we have loved each other and strive to continue to learn how to love each other better. This calling is not easy, but the world will know that we are true disciples of Jesus by the way we love each other.
We are living in a spiritual climate where churches and pastors have drawn a line in the sand to let others know where they stand politically. We have not done this because we believe that our goal is to lead people to Jesus and to seek His Kingdom above anything else. Then we pray for and we participate in a “Kingdom Come” lifestyle where we join God in seeing His presence, power, and peace fill our world and our surroundings.
Today, many of us have the elections on our minds but in the midst of waiting for the results, I want to offer some perspective. During this season, as a church body, we have sought to live by expanding the counter cultural Kingdom of God. In a time when finances are unpredictable, we have given out food and helped people in need like never before. We have participated in a 40-day fast as we studied 2 Chronicles 7:14. We have gone through a series about Standing in the Gap and looking at the divides we encounter in culture through Biblical lenses. We had a free community event where we allowed families to get out of their house and watch a drive-in movie together. We opened our church’s facility as a polling place to serve our community and have people come into our building. I could hear many people saying they didn’t know that our building was a church building. We served the poll workers by giving them water and then providing lunch for them yesterday. Finally, we are in the midst of a 40-hour prayer chain covering our elections in prayer. Thank you all who signed up. It was last minute, but we genuinely believe it was God calling us to intercede for our nation.
As you can see, we are making a difference. For that I say, thank you! Thank you for your investments of finances, time, and talent. I am grateful for your lives and grateful that we are part of this church body together. I pray that we strive to allow the Spirit of God to strip us of our earthly ideals so that we can continue making a difference and pointing people to Jesus and His Kingdom.
So today we wait for the results of the elections. As disciples of Jesus: We are called to peace. We are called to patience. We are called to reconciliation. We are called to trust God. We are called to love God and love others. Let’s live out our calling this day and in this next season following the elections.
Take deep breaths today. Breathe in the Spirit of God and His peace and breathe out anxiety and fear. No matter what happens and who gets elected, God is control. Let’s proclaim that truth with our thoughts, words, and actions. Lord, let your Kingdom Come!
In Him and for Him,
Jimmy Reyes
Lead Pastor
Valley Vineyard Church
Dear Vineyard Family,
I want to take this opportunity to say that I am so proud of our church community. We are living in probably the most divisive, confusing, and anxious season we all have endured. In times like these either the best in us or the worst in us can come out. I believe that by the grace of God we have made and will continue to seek to make a difference. We cannot control what will ultimately happen today through the elections but we can allow God to take control of our lives so that we can make a difference in our immediate spheres of influence.
First, I would like for you to take this in. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”
You are part of a diverse church family. The Valley Vineyard is not perfect but it is composed of different members who are all valuable and important. We have people on different sides of the political, generational, racial, and socioeconomic divide; we have loved each other and strive to continue to learn how to love each other better. This calling is not easy, but the world will know that we are true disciples of Jesus by the way we love each other.
We are living in a spiritual climate where churches and pastors have drawn a line in the sand to let others know where they stand politically. We have not done this because we believe that our goal is to lead people to Jesus and to seek His Kingdom above anything else. Then we pray for and we participate in a “Kingdom Come” lifestyle where we join God in seeing His presence, power, and peace fill our world and our surroundings.
Today, many of us have the elections on our minds but in the midst of waiting for the results, I want to offer some perspective. During this season, as a church body, we have sought to live by expanding the counter cultural Kingdom of God. In a time when finances are unpredictable, we have given out food and helped people in need like never before. We have participated in a 40-day fast as we studied 2 Chronicles 7:14. We have gone through a series about Standing in the Gap and looking at the divides we encounter in culture through Biblical lenses. We had a free community event where we allowed families to get out of their house and watch a drive-in movie together. We opened our church’s facility as a polling place to serve our community and have people come into our building. I could hear many people saying they didn’t know that our building was a church building. We served the poll workers by giving them water and then providing lunch for them yesterday. Finally, we are in the midst of a 40-hour prayer chain covering our elections in prayer. Thank you all who signed up. It was last minute, but we genuinely believe it was God calling us to intercede for our nation.
As you can see, we are making a difference. For that I say, thank you! Thank you for your investments of finances, time, and talent. I am grateful for your lives and grateful that we are part of this church body together. I pray that we strive to allow the Spirit of God to strip us of our earthly ideals so that we can continue making a difference and pointing people to Jesus and His Kingdom.
So today we wait for the results of the elections. As disciples of Jesus: We are called to peace. We are called to patience. We are called to reconciliation. We are called to trust God. We are called to love God and love others. Let’s live out our calling this day and in this next season following the elections.
Take deep breaths today. Breathe in the Spirit of God and His peace and breathe out anxiety and fear. No matter what happens and who gets elected, God is control. Let’s proclaim that truth with our thoughts, words, and actions. Lord, let your Kingdom Come!
In Him and for Him,
Jimmy Reyes
Lead Pastor
Valley Vineyard Church
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1 Comment
Thank you Pastor Jimmy for your love of & beautiful example in the Lord, right on! Love & Prayers!