Moving Forward - Pt. 10

We have elected to meet via live-stream today, not out of fear of a titled pandemic, but out of love-for-neighbor. A set of local pastors and I were communicating this week, and under the advisement of our local Mayor and our local hospital our leadership and I made this decision.

Now, it was not an easy decision, but we love our elderly neighbors too much to not make it. A lot of health experts are interpretting data to show that the best chance for our elderly is to sociallyl distance ourselves and self-quarenteen if possible. And with our live-streaming already up and running, this was a pretty easy shift.

It goes without saying that this is new for all of us. Some will be watching this later, simply because you couldn’t get live-stream to work. For others, you are sitting at home right now in your pajamas and actually kind of like it.

Let me encourage you right now, at the beginning, to affirm in your own heart that as Collin Hansen put it, this is a matter of compromise, not convenience. So don’t get used to this - it’s just a momentary shift for the greater good.

As I had mentioned through email to our church family earlier this week, there are a lot of directions our hearts can go during seasons like this. But we want to slow down and remind you of truth today.

In Psalm 46, the psalmist wrote:

Psalm 46:1 NKJV

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:11 NKJV

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

It is this truth of God that should motivate our worship, and the truth that the Psalmist is writing about is the nearness of our God in needy times of refuge and strength. God is with you friend, and whatever you are facing the old hymn we’re getting ready to sing is true! It really is sweet to trust in Jesus...

Sing

Message:

It is sweet and good and right to trust God today, because He created you and loves you.

Now, the season that we are in as a community and as a nation is a hard season, but I want to remind you that it is a season. As my mom wisely would say, “This too shall pass.”

But what do we do in the meantime?

Well, as a society, I hope we will come together (at a distance, of course) and learn the new normal. That we will refrain from self-centeredness and live in harmony as one nation, under God.

But as believers, those who claim to be followers of Christ, What do we do in the meantime?

As those who claim to be disciples of Jesus, I believe now is the time to live out what we say we are. That now more than ever we live as if what God has revealed to us in His word, is indeed worthy of living out.

It is in pressured times like these that what is truly on the inside is squeezed out.

The unprecedented season that we are in will reveal either a heart of trust or fear, a heart of peace or anxiety, a heart of love-for-neighbor or selfishness.

Trying times do not produce these negative aspects of our heart, but simply reveal them. Times of testing peel back the layers of ourselves and reveals who we really are.

And if you are anything like me, these layers do not reveal what I always want others to see. In fact, it further reveals my desperate need for God’s grace. And so we are reminded in God’s Word by Paul that:

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It is the truth of God that combats our brokenness and reminds us of what is eternally important.

The truth of what we are facing is not new. Although this strand (COVID-19) is titled the novel (new) coronavirus, the issue of pandemic suffering is not new. Through various seasons humanity has faced a wide range of pandemia from unseen disease to very-seen divisiveness. From the tragic stories of the black plague to the inhumane actions of Auschwitz.

From the beginning of recorded time, the results of the fall in Genesis 3 has effected every facet of existence. The fall effects everything in creation and that includes the ill-effects of sickness and the deplorable actions of us sinners.

So suffering is not new, and the proper response of God-honoring people to suffering is not new either.

Now, the sad fact is that history is littered with the poor responses of people who claim to be following God. However, there are incredible accounts of people stepping up and rising to unimaginable heights in the midst of unbearable circumstances.

And although I do not believe we can unequivocally recon where we are to some of the historical narratives we recall, today is an opportunity for the church to be the church. To rise to the occasion of bringing God the honor and glory He is due.

If you are a guest watching with us today, we are going through a series together as a church titled “Moving Forward”, and in this series we are setting out the vision and mission of our faith family at fellowship.

We began this journey in January with a simple call to bring God the glory He deserves. We encouraged one another to partner with God to reveal what is already true about Him.

Church you will recall that we do not make God glorious any more than we can make water wet. An intrinsic characteristic of God is His glory, He is glorious. But the idea of the us joining with him on this mission of revealing His glory, is actually what life is all about.

And the season that we are in, is a unique opportunity to fulfill that life mission - to flip a light on what is true about God.

God is good, and kind, and He has proven His love to you through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!

It seems almost ironic, although we know it is not, that in our series of setting out our missional mindset that this week we are to begin talking about Gospel Centered Outreach.

We remind you of that definition

As disciples, our mission is to make God known wherever we are and wherever we go. God providentially directs our lives; therefore, we live with intention in all we pursue. From interacting in our everyday relationships, to missional outreach opportunities both locally and abroad, meaningful purpose infuses our lives. Sharing the good news of the gospel through tangible ways is how we live our lives on mission.

One truth to consider this week, is that God providentially directs our lives - and that includes where you and I are this weekend!

God has allowed us to be where we are. And it is our opportunity to live with intention in all we pursue.

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