Open Our Eyes

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the RICHES of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great POWER for us who believe. That POWER is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."--Ephesians 1:18-23(NIV)

+our body is the Fullness of Christ...let us pray that we may recieve RIGHT NOW...not when we are in heaven....that we may recieve Power, Riches, and Hope.
Pastor Cal hit this nail right on the head. I Love how the Holy Spirit works through him...and he doesn't keep it in like alot of Pastors that I have heard speak before do. Watering down the Gospel is something that he will not allow himself to do to keep people coming to his church....and well if you ask me..he isn't really driving people away at all. The Holy Spirit keeps speaking through him....And that same Holy Spirit keeps people coming back to Northwoods...and bringing new people.

-He talked about how there is a natural dimension...and then there is a spiritual dimension...and a lot of times we see things in it's natural state of being. For example.--today my parents were arguing about the car thing...(so annoying...they just need to buy one already cuz our car uses too much gas.) well when I came home they sat me down and said...we are going to be a car...but when you graduate we are giving it to you--Fair enough...today we go look for cars and my mom is like why are u asking her if she likes them....well I get it in 2 years...so I guess I should like it. So my dad reminds her what we are doing. So then she is like "and in 2 years we are carless."--That's the natural dimension...My mom see's this the way that it would be happening....My father responds with the fact that he is not worried about in 2 years...it's about the now and in 2 years he knows God will provide them with something...what they will need at that time---Faith...simple as that--That is the Spiritual Dimension.

These 2 views are so true...and can go along with everything that we do daily...Do we want to use the Hope, Riches, and Power Christ allows us to have NOW....or do you want to wait...and never use them? sounds like a no brainer huh....But having that Faith isn't always easy...especially if you can't control/see/know what is going to happen in the future.

*How do we develop Spiritual Eyesight* (Cal challenging the church)
1.)Pray for greater Spiritual perception.--Wisdom and Revelation in Everything.
2.)Saturate your mind w/Gods word.
3.) Hang out w/ those that have the kind of Eyesight that you want.---By being with those people...my eyesight gets transformed.
4.) Don't settle for Boring!
-Ask God to kick you out of your Comfort Zone.--Ask him to take you to new levels in your walk.--Put yourself in places where you need to use God in New Ways.


++Cal then said to the church..(along these lines)-- Don't just come to church and sit there in your seats. Don' t just come and listen to this message just to enjoy gaining some knowledge. Don't just come get the message and not act upon it.--*Dare to follow the nudges that God places in your heart*


Some people may not like Northwoods cuz it is so big and they think that they are all about having too many people. "Lord fill his church & send the overflow to me."-Cal
Northwoods challenges the community...They are tired of people just filling space...
What a great message!