The Joy of One Year

What a joy yesterday was to remember all that God has done in the last year among His people at Refuge Church and to look forward to what He can and will do! 

Over one year ago, Refuge existed only in the mind and heart of God who began placing the vision for a new church on the hearts of others. You have been part of that team on whose hearts God has impressed this work.

I pray we will each take heart and encouragement in the words of Paul to the Philippians. Paul knew of his life and the lives of the Christians in Philippi that they were not who they used to be but they were not yet who they were going to be. Jesus Christ had called them out of darkness and into the light of His kingdom by the gospel. They were disciples under construction. So Paul encourages them with these words: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). 

We are individually as followers, and together as Refuge Church, a work of God that is under construction in Jesus Christ. We are "like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…" (1 Peter 2:5). The house may not be finished, but there is joy because the Master Carpenter, Jesus Christ, is at work in us.

Finally, let me ask you to reflect on the previous 12 months of what God has done and what God is doing. But let me also ask you to pray, today, for the next 12 months. God desires to do a work greater than all we could ask or imagine. What are we asking and trusting Him for in these next 12 months? 

Will you pray that we display the gospel in tangible ways?

Will you pray that we declare the gospel for lives to be changed?

Will you pray for the areas of need at Refuge to be met in God's time by God's resources?

What would God have you to pray for Refuge Church?

It has been and continues to be my joy to be in this work and service with you.

God Can Use What You Have

God can use what you have! I confess my own guilt of looking at how God has gifted or resourced others and thinking that if I had what they had then God could use me or do a great or greater work.

The major issue with this that God has brought me to is that I have become the focus every time this occurs. What I have to give is viewed greater than what God possesses in Himself. My power to make things happen and do His work supersede in my heart and mind the power of God that is unlimited.

But even more that all this, when I compare myself against another with the silent hope and dream of having what God has given to them, I despise the unique way God crafted me and the ways He has chosen to gift and resource me. I do not trust that God, in His great wisdom and according to His perfect will, has placed me in His mission to accomplish what He has planned for me rather than someone else.

He can use what I have. He can use what you have.

A young shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem learned that God could use what he possessed rather than what others had or tried to give him. David came into Israel's base camp and was immediately offended by a giant named Goliath who mocked God and the people of God. So he offered to go and fight.

He didn't have a sword. He possessed no coat of arms or shield. No spear stocked his arsenal. David could have looked at the giant and said, "God cannot use me to do that work because I don't have what the soldiers possess." They had training, experience, and weaponry.

What's interesting to note is that David perceptively saw that God too had given him training, experience, and weapons, though very different from the soldiers.

David had been trained while watching sheep. His greatest training included how God shaped David's heart to follow Him and live for God's glory.

He had experience that came when a lion and bear both came to kill one of his sheep. He fought both not with a sword or spear, but with his own hands and won.

David had weaponry very different from the soldiers. He had a slingshot and 5 smooth stones. It is doubtful any of us, especially me, would even dare take on a giant and the army backing him with such a weapon. Even the soldiers and king Saul thought it was crazy so they tried to give David armor and a sword.

It just wouldn't work.

But isn't that why this story is so fascinating for us? Isn't this why the story impresses us so deeply? A young man allowed God to use what He had. In doing so, as ridiculous as it seemed, it meant David was completely unable to take credit for what God did by His power through David.

I don't have a slingshot and stones. I don't have a sword or spear. I don't have Moses' staff or Paul's intellectual acumen. But I do have what God has given me. I do have the place God has entrusted to me. And God can use what I have right where I am. What about you?

Take a Daniel moment:
1.  Thank God for His power, wisdom, and perfect will.
2.  Ask God to show you what He has specifically given to you that He can and wants to use.
3.  Pray for Christ to make Himself known through you.
4.  Trust Christ to use you to fulfill His purpose where you are and with what you have.

This Sounds Crazy

Have you ever believed God wanted you to do something that didn't make sense or seemed like an odd approach? It's as if He says, "This is God and I know this sounds crazy, but I want you to do ____________ or I want you to do ______________ this way."

I think these times are for two reasons: One is to lead us to exercise faith in God and the other to leave us with no room to take the credit.

The people of Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. The first battle to be waged was against the mighty city and well-fortified city of Jericho. From the beginning, God promised He would give them the land by delivering enemy after enemy into the Israelites' hands. God tells Joshua that He had already delivered Jericho into his hands with the king and fighting men.

Do we trust what God has already promised? Do we ask for things believing and giving thanks that it is already done?

It was true that God had already given the city into the hands of Joshua and Israel. What came next was merely the proof and demonstration of this. But it would require complete trust and faith. God said, "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days….On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."

Would you do this? This was not and is not the way battles take place. This is not the way we plan to conquer cities and defeat our enemies.

Without faith in God, this seems absurd. Who would do this? How can this work? I've never done it like this before! 

With faith in God, there's no debate. God's wisdom exceeds my own by far. God's is greater than my plans and power. When He gives a direction, there's no other way to go. To go another way is disobedience and will not accomplish His will.

Would you do it? Would you tell a million people thirsting for water to gather around for the water that is going to come as you speak to the rock? Would you lead a whole nation to walk around a city promising them its walls would fall after the seventh time on the seventh day? Would you walk to the sea and catch a fish because you would find the coin to pay taxes in its mouth?

Obedience to Jesus may look crazy. But have the faith to obey places us in the position to see His work of power. What would you do? What will you do?

Take a Daniel moment:

1. Give thanks that God doesn't work within the power and confines of humanity's limitations.
2. Ask God to enlarge your faith to do what He asks in the way He leads you.
3. Pray that God will allow you to see His mighty work of power and the beauty of His glory as you follow His leading (whenever, wherever, and however He leads).