GOD IS STRETCHING US FOR NEW POSSIBILITIES
On June 11, 2017, I challenged the church that God was desiring to move us from exercising 4 foot ladder faith to exercising 12 foot ladder faith. As you remember, I had a 4 foot and 12 foot ladder in the sanctuary. As I asked a young man to climb to the top of the 4 foot ladder and began to shake it, he did not have a problem. However, when I asked him to climb to the top of the 12 foot ladder and told him that I would shake it the same as I did the 4 foot ladder, there was reluctance and fear. Why? Because although the 12 foot ladder created opportunities to accomplish greater possibilities at a higher level, it also created more fear and reservations because there was greater risk involved.
As God moves us to exercising 12 foot ladder faith, it also means that He will move us to create opportunities to accomplish greater 12 foot ladder possibilities. Nevertheless, I understand that for some there is greater reluctance and fear. Why? Because although the 12 foot ladder creates opportunities to accomplish greater possibilities at a higher level, it also creates more fear and reservations because there is greater risk involved.
As God is challenging us both as a church and individually, God is stretching us beyond what we have done in the past, who we have relied on in the past and where we have gone in the past. God is stretching us in a way that we have never been stretched before. As God stretches us, He desires to build the faith to trust Him as we have never trusted Him before.
God has positioned us in a new place with new possibilities. In this new place, the foundational possibilities are:
DIGGING NEW WELLS
PLOWING NEW GROUND
ENGAGING NEW PEOPLE
As God has positioned us in a new place, some may see problems and difficulties. After all, things are not like they used to be. Things do not come as easy as they used to. Things do not feel as comfortable as they did. I challenge and encourage you on today to see possibilities – not problems. Ask the questions, “What is God desiring to do for us today that may be different from the past?” “How is God desiring to stretch us to accomplish the ministry needs of today?”
As well, as God has positioned us in a new place, some are remembering the water we drank from the old wells, the crops from which we ate from the old ground and the former people who served. Praise God for the water we drank from the old wells, the crops from which we ate from the old ground and the former people who served. We celebrate everything that God did to bring us to where we are today. Praise God.
In addition, we celebrate the possibilities that God is going to create for us as we exercise the faith that those who have gone before us established within us to prepare us to Dig New Wells, Plow New Ground and Utilize New People.
AUGUST 13, 2017 PASTOR CHILDS
