Testimony Tuesday - Being a part!

Many probably remember how Pastor Mark began 2014 with a sermon series called the “Measure of a Strong Church” where he encouraged us to read the first few chapters of Revelation and throughout the series we were to assess ourselves – as individual Christ followers and as members of the body.  I was thoroughly challenged especially since (1) I had feared reading Revelation because I was afraid, specifically of the end times, and (2) our life group had recently read through it with ambivalent results.  One of Pastor Mark’s requests from the church body was to seek God as we read through Revelation and ask God to reveal to us specific things about the River Church.  How did we (as the church) measure up?  Which of the seven churches (or a combination thereof) did we resemble?  
 

The described seven churches are Ephesus (the lacking love church), Smyrna (the persecuted church), Pergamum (the compromising church), Thyatira (the corrupt church), Sardis (the dead church), Philadelphia (the faithful church), and Laodicea (the lukewarm church). 

Reading through this opening part of Revelation again was different because I asked God to open my heart and my eyes – I wanted to please God regardless of my feelings.  I wondered if our gracious and merciful Savior knew that others would be just like me and so He provided a blessing for those who read it:  Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Rev. 1:3).  God is all-knowing!  He knew I would be afraid.  Part of my fear is the brilliant and rich figures of speech; the language amazes and startles at the same time, and honestly I didn’t position my heart to read it.  I know now that the enemy was using that fear to block me from receiving God’s blessing.

How I completely missed being in God’s glory because I did not position myself to hear Him!  For me, positioning myself involves several things: praying for God to reveal to me the inner depths of my sin, to repent of that sin, and to expect to hear God’s voice every time.  I love hearing God’s voice – from hushed whispers to thunderous booms.  He is faithful every time.  My part of the faithful equation is much harder to keep.  I did eventually write a list of comparisons between the seven churches and ours.  As I looked at the list of qualities, I asked God what to do with this finding.  At this time, the corporate fast was in progress so I just prayed about the list for a few days.  Then, I prayed for all the church leaders by name and specific area corresponding to the list.   Then, I prayed for the church body as a whole and then individually.  Then, I prayed for myself to find my part in the church body.  So I did what God wanted me to do, but I did it alone (which was never God’s intention) all year long! 

Throughout the year, my desire to know God, read God’s word, study God’s word was growing but I did it alone.  I knew I was disobeying God.  I asked for forgiveness.  I asked for grace.  And of course, God gave it all, including favor and provision.  May it be said that 2015 was a year of revival in the River Church – and needless to say I will be part of it.  So it is with great mercy that I ask all who read this to consider joining me in a new ministry.  I am calling it the Study Guide team.  Just as God revealed to that I am not the only one who was afraid to read through the book of Revelation, I am certain that I am not the only one who desires to know more of God through the weekly sermons.  I do believe that God is leading Pastor Mark to guide our church so as part of the body we need to be positioned to receive and apply God’s word.  I shared my idea with Mark and Jill and they commissioned me to move forward.  I did already speak to a couple of folks, but we definitely need more folks involved so we will have enough on the team to rotate throughout the month.  Thus, the call out for the Study Guide team. 

WHO: All those whom God calls

WHAT: A committed group of believers who will serve 1^st and 2^nd service to collectively write a Study Guide based on that morning’s sermon

HOW: The assigned Study Guide team will attend 1^st service and take notes, and then the team will meet together during 2^nd service and type out a Study Guide for life groups to use during the week

WHY: We our called to study God’s word (and apply it), to fellowship with other believers, and it makes God happy

My heart is what Pastor Mark preached recently on Isaiah 58:6-8.  By providing our church body with a guide to dig deeper into God’s and apply it to our lives, we will see the untying of “the cords of the yoke” and “light will break forth like the dawn.”  Please email with questions: arroyoarte@gmail.com

Leadership of the Exodus

I mentioned last week that I was in awe of the leadership and people that God used to deliver His people out of Egypt.  Here's my take on it.

First off, God used Moses.  Moses was born during a time when the Pharaoh (out of fear) had all the Hebrew baby boys killed.  Moses was saved and protected then sent down a river (again to save and protect).  He was found by Pharaoh's daughter (ya know, the daughter of the man who was ordering that these babies be killed) and grew up in Pharaoh's house as a prince in Egypt.  Moses was a Hebrew living in an Egyptian home.  As he grew, he learned the Egyptian ways, had relationship with Egyptians but also had his eyes opened to the fact that he was a Hebrew and what the Egyptians were doing to his people.  This led him to killing an Egyptian and living in the wilderness for 40 years. 

But here's what amazes me.  God told Moses to deliver God's people out of Egypt.  And when I thought about what qualifications Moses had, I realized he had connection with both the captor and the captives.  Moses could get an audience with Pharaoh because he was a prince of Egypt.  He could lead the Hebrews because he was one of them.  He was the connection between the 2 worlds.  Moses could talk to Pharaoh and the Hebrews.  Who else could've done this?

Because Moses did not grow up a slave, however, I think God sent Aaron and Miriam to help Moses' credibility with the Hebrews.

Aaron was Moses' brother (his blood brother).  When I look at the leadership of Aaron I realize that he was the one who could vouch for Moses and help the Hebrews to see the truth of Moses' leadership and plans for them.  He was the go between between Moses and the Hebrews.  Aaron had been a slave his whole life and could identify with the Hebrews.  He was also related to Moses and saw, from the beginning, the plans God had for his brother.  Without Aaron, Moses' job would've been infinitely harder.  Would the Hebrews have listened to just Moses?  Would they have followed a man who grew up in the Egyptian palace?  I don't know.  But this is why I think Aaron was vital.

And so was Miriam (Moses' blood sister).  Miriam was a prophetess and a worshiper.  And a woman!  I believe she had influence on the women.  Can you imagine being a Hebrew woman and being told to leave your homes and go to the desert?  Following a man you didn't know?  But then comes Miriam.  She was also a slave and lived her life as one.  But she was Moses' protector and saw the miracles God did to protect and save him at the beginning of Moses' life.  She also vouches for Moses and encourages the women to follow his leading.  She worshiped God along the way.  She led from the middle of the pack.  Miriam was also vital to the success of the exodus.   

Leaders don't always lead up front.  If you're a Moses leader then you have to.  But if you're an Aaron or a Miriam leader, you lead from the middle.  You encourage those around you to follow the leadership.  To trust God in the plans He's given leadership.  You encourage, you worship, you help.  Moses, Aaron and Miriam were God's chosen leaders.  Each for their unique role.  They were connectors between people.  Who are you a leader for?  What unique position has God placed you in to lead others?  Are you a Moses, an Aaron or a Miriam?

Here's how I see this played out in the church body.  If you serve in children's ministry or youth ministry or in another capacity where you aren't the "Moses" of the ministry, are you influencing the others around you to follow who God has chosen to lead?  I've had the privilege of doing this many times (and still do!).  Yes, I get to encourage others to follow my husband's leading, but I also get to encourage people to follow our Foursquare leadership.  God called these great men and women to lead our denomination.  I can use my influence and help lead like Miriam.

Are you using your influence to help lead from the middle of the pack?  Encouraging others around you to follow the children's pastor or youth pastor or other leadership?  God moved 2 million people across the desert (can you even imagine?!) and He used 3 main leaders.  What could He do with our church body if we lead from within?