At a gathering yesterday, a friend said to me, "If we are still doing this in a years time, it will be because we have missed something of God". I agree with him. Friends I believe we are beginning to move into a season of change whether we are ready or not.
For us, this last two years have not been about doing house church, but detoxing ourselves from being Institutional Christian 'bricks', and discovering how to be Christ's living stones. However, this has just been a step along the path God is taking us.
On a simple practical level, small groups such as house churches usually have a short lifespan before they morph into other things. Most of the gatherings and house churches we are involved with are now up to 2 years old, which is a long time in organic church. So reality tells us that changes may happen. I am not only talking about on the gathering level, but on the relationship level, the family level, the finance level and even the geographical level. Change, movement and momentum are part of Gods great plan.
While I was away on Rangitoto last week, a scripture (totally out of context!) jumped out at me "These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and cracked. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our long hard trip." Joshua 9:13 As I read that scripture I instantly gained a picture of us. We have been given a new wine skin but along this journey they have become dry and cracked. Then I saw God reach down and begin to rub the leather of the wineskins with wax; softening them, restoring them, and returning them to suppleness. The funny thing is that on Saturday when I returned home I visited the Albany Farmers Market. Right out the front was an american man demonstrating a special beeswax that would restore and soften old leather. I believe that God wants to do this for us. To reach down as we reach up, and to bring suppleness and softness to our wineskins. "Repent then,and turn to God, so that your sins mat be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," (Acts 3:19).
So its time to start preparing ourselves for the next chapter, what ever that may be. As I said in my previous letter, we need to shut doors before new doors will open or we will just be left in limbo neither going forward or back. If I was asked to give three suggestions at this time they would be
1. Don't put your head in the sand.
2. Begin to pray concerning the future in regards to everything you are involved with.
3. Be obedient to what the spirit says.
I believe that there is an open heaven over us at this time. If we humble ourselves and pray, God will show himself clearly. Remember there is no such thing as a silly idea. Inspiration and creativity are keys to the next chapter.
GOD IS CHALLENGING YOU TO CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK AND YOUR VALUES. IF YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE, YOU'LL FIND YOUR-SELF DOING THINGS YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU COULD DO BEFORE (MEGASHIFT)
