Embracing God's Vision for Your Life
Bishop Leonard Chatham
Have you ever felt stuck between your past and your future? Like you're caught in a cycle, unable to move forward? One of Bishop Leonard Chatham's powerful sermons, Between What Was and What Will Be, reminds us that we all have the potential for transformation through Christ. Let's explore how we can break free from what was and step into what will be.
The Power of Positioning
Bishop Chatham begins by highlighting our position in Christ:
"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were off were made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who had made both one and had broken down the middle wall of petition between us."
This verse from Ephesians 2:13-14 reminds us that through Christ, we have been brought near to God. We are no longer outsiders, but part of God's family. This positioning gives us seven key advantages over the world:
Peace
Wisdom
Righteousness
Sanctification
Redemption
Light
The Way, Truth, and Life
As Bishop Chatham puts it, "God gives us an unfair advantage whenever it's relating to the understanding of what things are naturally and what they are spiritually."
Breaking the Cycle: From Revelation to Action
To move from where we are to where God wants us to be, Bishop Chatham outlines a process of transformation:
1. Revelation: Getting a clear picture of God's vision for your life
2. Inspiration: Finding the drive to pursue that vision
3. Formalization: Following through on what God has called you to do
4. Institutionalization: Establishing new habits and patterns
5. Crystallization: Avoiding the trap of becoming stuck or callous
The key is not to get trapped in any one stage, especially crystallization. As Bishop Chatham warns, "Most people in the church get stuck in that stage. They become crystallized. They become callous."
Don't Let Your Dreams Be Dashed
One of the most powerful moments in the sermon comes when Bishop Chatham encourages us not to let others discourage our dreams:
"For those people that are dreaming, don't let nobody dash your dreams. I'm gonna say that again. Those people that are dreaming to do something in the church, don't let people dash your dreams because they don't want to do it."
He reminds us that if God has called us to do something, we shouldn't wait for others' approval. "If God told you to do it, just get up and do it," he declares.
Breaking Out, Not Just Breaking Through
Bishop Chatham challenges us to go beyond simply breaking through our obstacles:
"Touch somebody and say, we got to break out of it. We don't need a breakthrough, we need a break out."
This powerful imagery encourages us to completely leave behind our old ways of thinking and living, not just push past them temporarily.
The Cycle of Transformation
Using the example of Oprah Winfrey's character in "The Color Purple," Bishop Chatham illustrates how we can go through cycles of transformation in our lives. He reminds us that even when life beats us down, we can still rise up and reclaim our purpose.
"Life didn't beat her down. Eight years later, and she working for the same people she said she wasn't working for. But here's the part that I like. When Celie leaves with Shug in the competition at the table, she comes alive."
Putting It Into Practice
So how do we apply these powerful truths to our lives? Bishop Chatham offers some practical advice:
Recognize your position in Christ and the advantages it gives you
Seek God's Revelation for your life and allow it to inspire you
Follow through on what God has called you to do, even if others don't understand
Be willing to break out of old patterns and habits
Don't get stuck in any one stage of your journey – keep moving forward
Remember that transformation is often a cyclical process – be patient with yourself
As Bishop Chatham colorfully puts it, "Either pee or get off the pot. In other words, you gotta do something with your life or get out of the way."
It's time to stop making excuses and start living the life God has called you to. What vision has God given you? What's holding you back from pursuing it? Remember, "If God told you to do it, just get up and do it." Your transformation awaits!
Would you like to hear the sermon this post is based on?
