Back in May of last year as we had the opportunity to meet Southside Community. I used the above title for my message. You might recall I even included a postcard sized painting which is known as Christ's Entry Into Brussels. This was the first painting of Christ where he is not the dominant central figure. You must look for him much like you would look for Waldo in a where's Waldo book.

If you pursue the answer of 'where is Christ?', the New Testament provides the answer that his presence is made know by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul says to the church a Colossae 'Christ in you the hope of glory'. Jesus declared to his disciples just before his crucifixion that they would know his presence by the work of the Counselor. Yet today it is not uncommon for the Christian to wonder 'where is Jesus?', in my present circumstances, or the circumstances of a close friend, or even a world event. Last week I asked 'where do we go from here?' and stated that our first priority is to give time to God.

It seems we have made 'accepting Christ' into our live as a once and for all event and nothing more needs to be done. Yet confessing our sin and experiencing forgiveness and growing in Christ is really a lifetime journey. Giving time to God enables us to better know the presence of Christ in the midst the daily demands of our responsibilities. It helps us to have greater sensibilities of his presence and witness in our life during times of unforeseen circumstances. If one follows the early church as they followed Christ, when hardship confronted them, they corporately called upon God for the power and working of the Holy Spirit, so that they might honour God in the circumstance.

The needs of our community of faith are no different. We personally and corporately need to know and be confident in Christ's presence if we are to adequately make him known in and through our lives. So, 'Do we regularly share with one another in our groups and relationships what Christ has been doing in our walk?'. It is this mutual witness and sharing that encourages us. This activity gives us confidence of the invisible presence of the risen Christ  present and at work in us.

 Below is a link to an mp3 of AW Tozer's book 'The Pursuit of God'. The book is read by a reader and the audible reading is without copyright. There are in fact two files that make up the complete reading of the book. Some of you may wish to use the files to help you to grow in this spiritual relationship that has been made possible through Christ.

http://www.humyo.com/!#/9955259/roundthebendviews/

What are your thoughts?

wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com