First Word for December 2024

I am so grateful for the tangible presence of God amongst us. So many have shared recent stories of God leading them to pray for someone and His presence overwhelming them. I’d like to take a moment and share one of those encounters with you.

Recently, on our community outreach night, God led Jase Dean to a particular house with a Jeep parked outside that had a peculiar cage on it. He felt the Holy Spirit saying, “He wanted to let the person in the house out of the cage.”

Jase took Stanley Worstell with him, and they bravely went up to the house and knocked on the door. It took some time for the father of four to come to the door. (Jase later found out he was, at the very moment, upstairs talking with his wife about significant issues.) When he finally opened the door, Jase shared briefly what he felt God saying, and the man quickly recognized that God had sent him! As they prayed together, it was evident that God was breaking the cage of despair and discouragement and placing fresh hope for his marriage and family. Wow!

2 Corinthians 5:18-20:
“18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
 
We live in an extraordinary time. We have the Spirit of God leading, guiding, and helping us. We have this high calling to be ambassadors for Christ. What better way to celebrate Christmas than by answering our calling to participate in this ministry of reconciliation. Even though He is already here, we pray come Holy Spirit!

- John Privett

First Word for September 2024

I was overwhelmed by God's presence, His goodness, and His nearness this morning at our Tuesday 6AM prayer time. As Tommy Stanley led us in worship, we began to sing loudly and an awareness that God was with us was tangible. The ONE who calms the sea, the ONE who said, “Let there be light,” is with us, available to us. He has come near to us. He is touchable. 

This all reminded me of Max Lucado’s book “God Came Near.” Please enjoy a few of the excerpts below….

“Many of the names in the Bible that refer to our Lord are nothing less than palatial and august: Son of God, The lamb of God, The Light of the World, The Resurrection and the Life, The Bright and Morning Star…

He was touchable, approachable, reachable. And, what’s more, he was ordinary. If he were here today, you probably wouldn’t notice him as he walked through a shopping mall. He wouldn’t turn heads by the clothes he wore or the jewelry he flashed…

‘Just call me Jesus,’ you can almost hear him say…

He would wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill. He’d laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own. And when you spoke, he’d listen to you as if he had all the time in eternity….

And one thing’s for sure, you’d invite him back…

There is not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near him. There were those who mocked him. There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him. But there was not one person who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected…

Remember. It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge.” 

We are gearing up for our week of prayer. We are a people who pray first and express our dependence on God. We have a God who invites us to come to him. What about you? Are you counting on your job, your intellect, your relationships, your good looks, or are you dependent upon the living God? In January we have a time of prayer and fasting, and in September we have a time of prayer and feasting. Would you join me and set aside the week of September 23rd for a time of prayer and feasting?

- John Privett

First Word for August 2024

I was at a conference recently with a few of our leaders, and we had the privilege of hearing John Maxwell speak. John is known for his countless books on leadership and his evangelistic anointing to lead others to Christ. 

He spoke superbly about how we are called to be ambassadors for Christ and his Kingdom. The role of an ambassador is such an important role. They represent their leader and nation in everything they say and do. 

2 Cor. 5:19-20 says, “that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

John reminded us that “…we do not have the freedom of expressing our own message. Our message is that of reconciliation between God and people.”

 In his kind, loving, fatherly way and with all of the wisdom of his 77 years on earth he said, “My name is John, I am your friend, you are embarrassing me. You are making it hard for me to reach people for Jesus.” His point was that many Christians are becoming known for representing a political cause, rather than being an ambassador for Christ. They have become distracted and are putting their hope in elected leaders who don’t embrace the values of Jesus. He pointed out that we have allowed our differences to become divisions between ourselves and others. 

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls us to be salt and light. Salt makes things better, and light makes things brighter. We have this opportunity to be ambassadors who represent our leader and His kingdom in a way that makes a difference in the lives of others. Who are you going to be and what are you going to be known for?

- John Privett

First Word for July 2024

While I was in Africa, I felt the Lord reminding me to look closely at Barnabas.

Barnabas means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Upon Saul’s conversion, only Barnabas was willing to stand by Paul and be his advocate (Acts 9:26-27). What stands out to me the most is that he was able to see the grace of God in others and was glad. 

Acts 11: 23-24 says, “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

Barnabas had eyes to look beyond the imperfections of a church that had just been planted and see the grace of God. Not everyone can see the deposit of God's grace in the lives of others, especially in newer saints. But Barnabas could, and that is why he had such a remarkable gift for encouragement. 

Not only that, but Barnabas was glad! Faith not only sees grace—it delights in grace. This is what we want to do here at Lifehouse. We want to create an atmosphere and culture of encouragement and joy in the grace of God where people can flourish.

- John Privett

First Word for June 2024

I have just returned from a trip to Brazil with Carlito Paes and thousands of leaders from many other countries. One of the challenges of flying through the night and arriving the next morning is that (in addition to being sleep deprived) sometimes there isn't enough time for a shower. This was the case both in going to the conference and arriving back to Lifehouse on Sunday morning. Sorry to all those I hugged Sunday morning!

When the time finally came, I enjoyed a shower for a few minutes longer than normal and was so refreshed. As the very hot water poured over me, I was reminded of the words to the lukewarm church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:15, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

The deeds of the white-hot believer will benefit and refresh the world and reflect the spiritual passion of a transformed life. Lukewarm lives are without that burning fire of the Spirit and are not helpful to others and can even be harmful.

John Piper said regarding the lukewarm, “These are souls with just enough heat to feel comfortable in church, just enough fear not to hurl themselves into gross immorality, just enough guilt to open the Bible every once in a while, just enough need to pray on especially hard days. They don’t give up on Jesus, but they don’t give him much of themselves either. They attempt to stay Christian enough to avoid hell, but spend most of their time, money, and attention trying to find some heaven here on earth.” 

You may not remember the moment the fire lessened in your heart. Sometimes it is a gradual sense of settling, or maybe a tiredness that seems to justify complacency, or sometimes a wound from a spiritual battle that seems to say, “Be cautious and careful and attentive to yourself.” Verse 17 indicates the main cause of being lukewarm is a sense of self-reliance instead of realizing our desperate need of God and His help: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

The good news is that Jesus is pursuing the lukewarm. Verse 20 states, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

God has called and commissioned us to great and awesome things. To make a difference in this world. Time is short. May we see our desperate need and invite Jesus into our hearts, and may our lives bring refreshing as we burn hot with the Spirit’s fire. I love how my friend Carlito often says “Let’s go, JP.” I want to say to everyone at Lifehouse...Let’s Go!

- John Privett

First Word for May 2024

In 1 Samuel chapters 29-30, we see David at perhaps his lowest and darkest point. He had become a wandering outlaw, and because of Saul’s hostility, he had been driven to take refuge in the Philistines’ country. He had gathered around himself a group of desperate men.

The Philistines refused to allow David and his men to fight with them because they doubted their allegiance. At this point, David returns to home to Ziklag only to find the Amalekites had raided their city. 1 Sam 30:3 says, “And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Now his own band of men were talking about stoning him.”

Think for a bit about how low and dark that day was for David. Everything was gone: property, cattle, wives, children—all that remained was a pile of smoking rubble. It is at this moment, the lowest of lows, with literally nothing left except the clothes he is wearing and facing imminent death that we read this portion of verse 6, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

The full verse of 1 Samuel 30:6 reads: “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

Much can (and has) been written on this grand subject of strengthening yourself in God. I have been encouraged by Alexander MacLaren’s expositions on this. He points out that David went to HIS God. In the Psalms we see David writing, “My God, My God.” 

“Think, too, of the contrast of the thoughts and emotions suggested by ‘My God,’ and by ‘the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.’ Great as that name is, it carries the mind away back into the past, and speaks of a historical relation in former days, which may or may not continue in all its tenderness and sweetness and power into the prosaic present. But when a man feels, not only ‘the God of Jacob is our Refuge,’ but, ‘the God of Jacob is my God,’ then the whole thing flashes up into new power.”

Alexander MacLaren

While there is much more to say about strengthening ourselves in the Lord, we must first move from vague thoughts of God to drawing near to “My God” whose hand has a grip on us and won’t let go.

We should remember that at the darkest moment for David, having lost all of his earthly hopes and possessions, and facing imminent death, his God moved powerfully and David and 600 of his men recovered everything including their families. Nothing was lost. Not only that, within 3 days Saul was killed and David was now King. It was hugely important that David strengthened himself in His God!

May we each enjoy the close relationship and awareness that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the God of Israel is Our God! 

- John Privett

First Word for December 2023

I love Christmas, always have, and I’m confident I always will. Sometimes I think I can feel my heart growing, it seems more alive, it is as if the eyes of my heart are opened a bit more to see the majesty of Jesus.

The sad truth is that you can be really close to something and miss seeing it’s beauty or grandeur. It is far too easy to walk past a beautiful stream without marveling at the sound of the water, or a magnificent towering oak tree and miss the fact that it began as a small seed.

John 12:21 says, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:16 states, “…we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 

I’ve been fortunate that I was introduced to Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas from a very young age—of the mind blowing, incredible reality that Holy God entered the world as a baby! 

Michelle and I both love the book God Came Near by Max Lucado. It is a favorite re-read of mine, especially at Christmas time. I want to give you a taste with an excerpt and encourage you to see the magnificence of Jesus…

“He was touchable, approachable, reachable. And, what's more, he was ordinary. If he were here today, you probably wouldn't notice him as he walked through a shopping mall. He wouldn't turn heads by the clothes he wore or the jewelry he flashed.

‘Just call me Jesus,’ you can almost hear him say.

He was the kind of fellow you’d invite to watch the Rams-Giants game at your house. He’d wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill. He'd laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own. And when you spoke, he’d listen to you as if he had all the time in eternity.

And one thing's for sure, you’d invite him back.

It is worth noting that those who knew him best remembered him as Jesus. The titles Jesus Christ and Lord Jesus are seen only six times. 

Those who walked with him remembered him not with a title or designation, but with a name—Jesus.

Think about the implications. When God chose to reveal himself to mankind, what medium did he use? A book? No, that was secondary. A church? No. That was consequential. A moral code? No. To limit God's revelation to a cold list of do's and don'ts is as tragic as looking at a Colorado road map and saying that you’d seen the Rockies.

When God chose to reveal himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails.

The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And tears...oh, don't miss the tears... they came from a heart as broken as yours or mine ever has been.

'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.'

So, people came to him. My, how they came to him! They came at night; they touched him as he walked down the street; they followed him around the sea; they invited him into their homes and placed their children at his feet. Why? Because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be Jesus.

There is not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near him.

There were those who mocked him. There were those who were envious of him.

There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him. But there was not one person who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected.

Remember that.

Remember that the next time you find yourself amazed at your own failures.

Or the next time acidic accusations burn holes in your soul.

Or the next time you see a cold cathedral or hear a lifeless liturgy.

Remember. It is man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge.

‘Just call me Jesus.’”

- John Privett

First Word for November 2023

Stanley Worstell and I just returned from an amazing time with Carlito Paes in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. I felt so encouraged, blessed, and stretched. Brazil is amazing, the people are incredibly hospitable, and it was beautiful witnessing what God is doing in and through the church there. I am truly grateful for these relationships and this growing partnership.

I came away with a sense of fresh anticipation and confidence for what God has for Lifehouse, our city, and our region. I’m convinced He wants us to grow. God hasn’t called us to be comfortable, rather God has chosen us, called us, and commissioned us to be fishers of men.

It seems like God is making our church family more visible both locally and internationally. There is rarely a Sunday without nearly double-digit guests. I truly believe God’s hand is on us for such a time as this. 

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

How willing are you to be uncomfortable to see many brought into the kingdom of light?

Let’s not keep silent about our God. Let’s not keep silent about Lifehouse. Let’s invite people into our lives and into our gatherings…let’s help people Know God, Find Family, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. And as God grows us and things get more and more uncomfortable, may we count it a joy and a privilege to be uncomfortable for His purposes for such a time as this.

- John Privett

Want to go to Mozambique?

One of the joys of being part of a global family of churches is partnering together to see the gospel advance around the world. We are excited to be taking a team back to Mozambique next year from June 16 - June 26. The team will focus on relieving the teachers at Rapale International School and helping with practical items around the area. Watch the video below to hear an update from Scott Marques.

If you are interested in joining the team this year, please select the link below to sign up or to learn more about the trip and Mozambique. The deadline to sign up is February 1st.

Sign up here: Confluence Southeast: Love Moz

First Word for October 2023

Last night a small group of brave Christ followers met to see what God might do as they purposefully set out to bless people in our city of Spring Hill. We were instructed by Paavo and team to look, listen, and love: look to find those God is leading us to; listen to the Holy Spirit for what to say; and focus on loving the person.

I can confirm there were some awkward moments—I endured a few “No thank you’s.” However, there was also evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. A lady with back trouble was prayed for, another with anxiety, still another who had just moved here, a discouraged manager at one of the stores, and on and on. A few minutes after I returned home, Michelle happened to see a social media post from a woman who was prayed for by Anna Kathryn Worstell, and I’d like you to read what she wrote:  

“Dear Anna Catherine, (I think that’s what I remembered you telling me your name was)
Today has totally been a Monday! Many times today I have felt defeated in many areas of life. At one point, I found myself yelling at God, telling him if he was working around me I simply was not seeing it. All in all, it was a crap day. Tonight, while picking up a few items in Walmart, you stopped me and asked if you could pray for me. Man! If there were words to describe the rush of overwhelming feelings that I had in that moment. I want you to know you restored a little faith in me that Satan was trying to hinder. Thank you for having the courage to step up. If you only knew how badly it was needed on this day. I pray you continue to do God’s work! Today, your prayers made a difference.”  

Wow! I was so encouraged to read this. God has called us to live each day on mission. He is sending us to hurting people in order that He might heal, restore, and reconcile them with Himself. We are invited to partner with God. My hope is that we "live sent" as we go throughout our city each day and that we are willing to risk a few awkward moments and possibly look a bit foolish in order that God might touch many.

- John Privett

First Word for September 2023

I’ve just returned from being with Tim and Kelsy Harms at Sanctuary Church in San Francisco. While there are huge challenges, there is also a clear sense of God’s grace and presence upon them. 

Travis Aicklen from Radiant Church in Visalia, California, drove in for a special meeting on Sunday evening where we prayed over Tim and blessed him as the primary leader of Sanctuary Church. It was such a joy and privilege to be part of the weekend.

On Sunday morning I received texts and pictures of a packed house at Lifehouse! Growth Track has started, and it is so encouraging to see God drawing people together on mission. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” We are not after just a huge pile of stones; we are a family being fit together to be a dwelling place for God. 

All I want to do is shout this:
“Hey everybody—this is it. Don’t you see it? Can’t you feel it? The local church is what Jesus is building! It is the God-ordained, redemptive agency upon which the destiny of the entire world hangs. Stop wasting your life and don’t settle for mere church attending."

Jesus’ plan on planet earth is His church—that through the church the gospel is preached, the lost are found, the presence of God dwells, the Word is honored, relationships are real, believers are equipped, the poor are served, the lonely are brought into family, and God gets all the credit!

He wants each of us fully engaged. We will not look back in eternity and be sad that we gave our lives to the very thing God is doing on planet earth.
 
Our vision is to help people Know God, Find Family, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. God has placed us here, together, for such a time as this. May many come to truly know God deeply and be joined and committed to his family the church, and may they discover that God has gifted them to play a vital role in making a difference in the lives of others.

- John Privett

First Word for August 2023

I am excited and encouraged to see God’s hand on our church this summer. There is a strong sense of God’s presence helping us to move forward in His purposes to reach our city and the nations. We have witnessed salvations, baptisms, and youth being filled with the Spirit as well as tremendous giving for Mozambique. 

God is bringing many new people to our city and we have a great opportunity to partner with Him in seeing many lives transformed by the power of the gospel.  

As we serve God together, let us remember that: 
      Every person is a minister. 
      Every task is ministry. 
      Every encounter is a divine opportunity.

Philippians 3:14 encourages us:
      "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Would you join me in increased focus on prayer and witnessing?

- John Privett

First Word for July 2023

We had an incredible trip to Mozambique to see firsthand all that God is doing in and through the partnership between our Confluence Southeast churches and the Disciple Nations churches in MOZ. Please watch this short video from Scott Marques and prayerfully consider what God might have you give either at CSE this weekend or directly to Lifehouse.

- John Privett