A New Beginning

For two years, we’ve been working to ready for a growth in attendance. Though we started out thinking that getting people to come and stay would be simply a matter of teaching the Word of God, it has become obvious that not only is it not that simple, but that we would not have been ready for even 30 people.

However, after two years of meetings and studies, the time has come for us to take it to the next level. We have always said that God would provide, but God has always worked by providing for those who step out in faith to do the work He has planned. It is time for us to step out.

For the next few weeks, I would like to speak about the importance of getting out to the people in our communities to grow this church. I have always said that it is not about numbers and that it is not about growing the church but about growing the kingdom. All of that is still valid. However, the best way we are going to grow the kingdom is by making sure that people know the true God and the Lord Jesus Christ and though there are other churches out there that people can go to, it would make sense to ensure they are going to one that fits this bill and since we know that we fit this bill, it would make sense to get these people into our meetings.

This week, to start us on this road, I would like to show how God built His first people – the nation of Israel. I think that when we hear what happened and how God worked with the Jewish people, we will see many similarities to our little church and what God has done here with us.

But first, we need to have the quick review. So going back to the Book of Genesis, we find that God promises Abraham that he is going to become a great nation. At the age of 100, Abraham becomes the father of Isaac. Isaac becomes the father of Jacob. Jacob’s name is changed to Israel and Jacob, or Israel, becomes the father of twelve sons. These twelve sons will have families that will make up the twelve tribes of Israel.

We end Genesis knowing that the entire family of Israel has migrated to Egypt because of the famine in the lands at that time. We begin the Book of Exodus 400 years later with all the generations of families of the sons of Israel having become slaves to the king of Egypt, called the Pharaoh. This is where we will pick up the story that so relates to us and our church.

(Exodus 2:11-12) When Moses was forty, he did something he wasn’t supposed to do. Although Moses was a prince of Egypt, he learned that he was actually born of Jewish parents. He began to see the Jewish slaves as his people and his heart went out to them. How could he sit here in the lap of luxury while his own people were dying? In a very similar way, we have felt the same feelings. As we attend church and live under the power of God, we see our loved ones who do not know Jesus dying and we want them to accept Jesus before it’s too late.

Moses one day decides to mete out justice when he sees one of the Israeli slaves being beaten by an Egyptian. Moses takes matters into his own hands and kills the Egyptian. However, it was not Moses job to take matters into his own hands – it’s God’s work that brings salvation. You see, as Moses was trying to set his people free from the bondage they were enduring, God had a better plan. God wanted to bring the people out of Egypt and into their own land, a land overflowing with good things, a land that He had promised Abraham years ago.

Pharaoh searches for Moses to bring him to death, so Moses finds himself a fugitive, living in the desert for forty years. He comes upon a family and remains with them for those forty years, marrying, growing a family and supporting them by tending sheep. The thing with a desert experience is that it changes you. All the great ideas you once had are now fantasies and you begin to focus on what you need to do to survive. The things of importance become your priorities.

At this point, Moses goes from being Prince, to being just another person, like you and me. He has a family to care for, a job to do. Sometimes, he has good days, sometimes he has bad days. Then one day, God speaks to him. Moses knows he has to return to Egypt to set his people free. The difference is that this time, he is going to listen to God instead of trying to do it himself, of his own power.

After performing several miracles through Moses, God performs the final miracle, which would result in the celebration of Passover. God’s people are set free! They begin their journey to the promised land and God leads them. However, God doesn’t bring them there using the short cut. Instead, He takes them the long way around. God knows that the short cut is dangerous and that the people aren’t ready for this kind of conflict. Many times, we look back at our lives and wonder why God did something in a particular way, why didn’t He do it this way instead? But God has His reasons for everything He does and most times we won’t even understand it until we get to the other side. However, what we do know is that God is in charge and His ways are best. If we know that, if we understand that God can take all things and make them for the good for those who are His people, then our jobs are not to wonder why God has done something, but to recognize in all things that God is doing what is best. This is also true with our church. We might wonder, why hasn’t God blessed us with 200 people? Why have people left and not come back? As the Israelites traveled through the desert, there were many who died on the way to the promised land. There will always be casualties when going through the desert. We cannot stop to wonder why these things happen, we need to continue to follow God and recognize that when we are done, we will be where He needed us to be.

You see, one of the reasons God took the people through the desert, is the same reason Moses had to go through the desert years earlier. It is the same reason we all go through desert experiences and the same reason this church has to go through the desert. It is in the desert that we gain the experience we need to fight against our enemies later. It is in the desert experience that we come to know God more. It is in the desert experience that God can reshape us, teach us the priorities, give us strength for the battle and learn to lean on Him for all our needs. Moses had to go through a desert experience. The Israelites had to go through a desert experience. We have to go through a desert experience. Jesus also went through a desert experience. I would go so far as to say that if you have not gone through a desert experience, you should prepare, because God cannot use you until that happens, you cannot be totally His until you go through that experience. Our church had to go through that experience. We have had many people come in the door and hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We have had just as many people leave and never return, bitter about an experience, a disagreement or a behavior. However, those of us who have gotten through the desert together are like the Israelites who also entered the promised land years later.

(Numbers 13) That said, sometimes God takes us to the promised land, but we are not ready to enter it. God brought the Israelites to the promised land and had Moses assign twelve spies to check out the land and return with their findings. After forty days, they returned with their reports. Ten said that they could not take the land. Two said that they could not take the land themselves but that God could take the land that He had already promised. As is usual, the ten out-ranked the two and the people backed the ten. However, as is also usual, God stepped in and gave favor to the two and because of the unbelief of everyone else, doled out the consequences to everyone. The people, so close to where they wanted to be, had to wait a generation (forty years) to be allowed to return and to try again. We know that when God speaks, we need to listen – not later or even soon, but immediately. Do we know that God is leading us? Do we accept the promises that He has made to us? Do we think we can be a light for God in the dark place? If we do, then we need to see that God has brought us through the desert and has asked us to look in and see what we think? Can we take it? Are the people strong or weak? Few or many? Is the land good or bad? Do we think we can take them ourselves? Do we think we can take them with God’s help?

We have gone through this desert experience as a church. It’s been hard to find the water we need to survive, it’s been a struggle watching people come and go – many times without even saying goodbye. It’s much like we are like the Israelites traveling through the desert, waiting for God to bring us to the promised land. Well, he has – are we ready?

It is time for us to trust God. Put our faith in Him. Take a leap of faith and grow His church. What are we willing to do to make this happen? Are we ready to spend more time? Are we ready to invite people in? Are we ready to accept the rejection of many for the acceptance of a few? Do we want the reward of God – seeing the promised land, hearing Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant”? God has led us to the promised land. It is your turn to vote – do you think we can take the land or is it too big for us? It’s your choice – between you and God. Make the choice now. Are you Ready?

Send mail to david@TheArkNY.org with questions about the church or comments about this site.
Last modified: January 15, 2006