FOUR CHANNELS, ONE RIVER by Conference Speaker

Such is our path, and such the grace of God, that our falls and mistakes may be a way to nurture our true growth ; as a tree extracts fresh strength from the soil which is improved by its own decaying leaves and fallen blossoms.

I believe there are 4 angles or "channels we must dig if we are going to be prepared to receive the entire force of the restorative brook God is almost to send.

Channel Number One : The Channel of uninhibited Confession.

The restoration of our pasts will be very difficult except for absolute and uninhibited confession of sin. Transparency always draws cleansing from God and mercy from others. Puritan clergyman John Trapp once recounted : God puts away lots in anger for their supposed goodness, but not any at all for their confessed badness.

A visitor looking to console the dying Thomas Hooker said Sir, you are going to get the reward of your labor. To which Hooker replied No bro. I am going to receive mercy.

We need God's mercy if our pasts are going to be fully redeemed! Grace is getting what we don't merit while mercy is not getting what we do merit.

We need mercy! There's no sin bigger than God's capacity to forgive. Thomas Horton once wrote : The sin which isn't too great to be forsaken isn't too great to be forgiven. if you are prepared to walk in abject truth and unrestrained confession with trusted others, God's great stream of restoration will cleanse your past.

Channel Number two : The Channel of Accepted Responsibility.

God's torrents of restoration will surge around and leave definitely dry and barren all who refuse to take personal accountability for t he ir own sins. God only wants to be told about you. He knows everything and more about them. What is your part? What is your responsibility? How did you make a contribution to the situation? Be as candid as Jacob was when he met God head to head. Accept personal blame for your sins, and you will be able to embrace the powerful stream of grace which alone can revive your past.

Channel Number 3 : The Channel of Humility and Accountability.

All of nature testifies to the significance of shared soil, sunlight, rain and fresh air if life is to be and expansion is to be sustained. The plants have roots, the trees have roots and you need roots, tiny flower! God has made us with the need to live interdependently. You want people, and people need you! No man or woman is an island. Isolation is the very essence of hell, while chosen relationships of safety are the very essence of heaven. Whenever we humble ourselves and elect to be accountable to the godly relationships in our lives then floodgates of restoration open to us! Open the channel of humility and accountability, and the withered roots of your past will be nourished and revived.

Channel Number four : The Channel of Entitlement-free Living.

When a heart is truly broken, it makes no demands. Only God knows the true condition of a human heart. However, when a heart is really broken, it will set no conditions for restoration. When we argue, wrestle, protest and demand we demonstrate to God and those around us that repentance hasn't yet ripened in our hearts. Drop your demands and excuses. Open the channel of entitlement-free living, and God's stream of grace will clean your past and revive hope.

Craig Johnson concludes, there is a great restoration coming on the world, a grand redemption for 'leader' and 'laymen' alike. God has many soldiers in His army. Many are hurt soldiers with invaluable training and experience. Many millions of them will soon be restored to active duty. God has invested too much in them to leave them where they are.

The choice is your s! Become someone of abandoned confession, one who embraces personal responsibility, and actively pursues interdependent relationships of accountability. Become like Jacob and surrender your demands, then you will be ready for the stream.

Give God your past, and, in return, He'll give you a glorious new future

About Dr. Craig Johnson

Dr. Craig Johnson is the Senior priest of Bethel Christian Fellowship. Followers from the encompassing cities of Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Calabasas California attend his Sun. morning services.
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