I have been thinking this week about how on earth we can communicate good news to a culture that 'hears what it wants to hear and disregards the rest' (thanks to Simon & Garfunkel for that line - The Boxer)
So often we simply revert to type, to what the church has done in the past, even to what has blatantly failed in the past but we do it pretty much without thinking or without assesing the real value and effectiveness of our approach. In fact sometimes, even though we kind of know that our methods aren't particularly relevant, fruitful or effective, it just seems better to be doing something,anything, rather than doing nothing. However when we really go back to basics and think about this the answer is both blindingly obvious, simple and yet the hardest thing in the world to do, which is why, for the most part, even having considered it, we move on to look for other ways.....
If you're waiting for some great revelation, some secret thing, then you will be dissappointed....The answer is for individuals simply 'to live the life'. That's it, no more, no less - just living the life that God intends you to live - and doing it consistently. Now, there's the rub! If, like me, you think the only thing consistent in your life has been inconsistency, if you live almost constantly with regrets and a knowledge of how you've blown it , where and how do you start or restart?
Firstly, let's start with the 'God of our yesterdays'
When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there, Lord
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we'd ever live in peace again
You were there, Lord
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time
We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes
So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread
You'll be there, Lord
We will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough to see us through
You'll be there, Lord
You'll be there in the struggle
You'll be there in the fight
You'll be there all the time
We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes
We thank you - for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you - for peace in our hearts
We thank you - for joy, as tomorrow comes
We will trust you, God
You're always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You -
The One who was and is and is to come
God is the God of the 2nd and 3rd and 4th.......chance. That's what we are told, that's what is so good and what is so hard to believe when inconsistency has been your watchword. A line is drawn, the old isn't denied, but it is dealt with, and you press forward rebuilding a life that becomes more consistent with the God who never left and never will. Does the world want to hear more and more words that amount to little more than theory? Not really.....
How about imperfect people, looking forwards not backwards, moving towards hope not away from it, believing in things like redemption and forgiveness and seeking to live them out in all their wonder and messiness, in all their clarity and confusion. In short, people committed to living the life. For me, as someone who is pretty good with words when the situation demands them, I know in my inner most being that this is the way to communicate, I also know it is not the easy option. Just being and becoming the person God has called you to be and being open and honest about this, learning from failures and past inconsistency, allowing God to weave them into who you are becoming is not easy and requires acceptance of forgiveness and a focus upon hope. This way, each of us, precisely because of our experiences, not despite them, will be in a position to demonstrate something real about our God. Jesus didn't just come with fine words, he lived them out, he demonstrated God.
Wherever we are, this represents a challenge to continue on the journey, called to a 'larger place', to somehwere new, called to always become someone new. It also represents hope as God leads you into a future where living the life is possible, where actions and words can be consistent, where you have a message the world wants to hear because it's real, it's honest and it's built on things that are less than ideal, but you have an experience of a God who rescues you, even from yourself.
So, after all the words - now to live the life - which is the title of a song by Matt Redman, and really does represent the best way to communicate to a culture that 'hears what it wants to hear and disregards the rest'
Many are the words we speak
Many are the songs we sing
Many kinds of offerings
But now to live the life
Help us live the life
All we want to do is bring you something real
Bring You something true
(We hope that) Precious are the words we speak
(We pray that) Precious are the songs we sing
Precious all these offerings
But now to live the life
Help us live the life
All we want to do is bring you something real
Bring You something true
Now to go the extra mile
Now to turn the other cheek
And to serve You with a life
Let us share your fellowship
Even of your sufferings
Never let the passion die...
Now to live the life...
Now to live the life
Now to live the life
Now to live the life
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Seeing and listening
Acts 8, v6
When the crowds SAW the miracles Philip did, they paid close attention to WHAT HE SAID.
Is this not one of the most important purposes of miracles today - yes they demonstrate the Kingdom, yes they show the intent of the King BUT they should also open a door that enables the King to be proclaimed. How can they believe if they have not heard? This use of the miraculous in evangelism is a truth that John Wimber taught, illustrated and demonstrated very well, and which was outlined in his book Power Evangelism, but it is also a truth that so easily 'drops out of our practice and expectation' although it may remain as the 'language of aspiration'.
Maybe, for many of us and our churches, it is time with regard to this to move into the realm of faith spoken of in Hebrews: 'the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen' so that our aspirational language manifests in our daily Christian ministry. However, our passion for it to be so is not, in itself, sufficient, as passion must be focussed and tested through prayer and a Spirit filled lifestyle. Here is my prayer for today, and each day - Lord give us vision which flows from Your Word, passion to see vision realised, prayer to see passion grow and faith to manifest vision and passion in our daily living.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
When the crowds SAW the miracles Philip did, they paid close attention to WHAT HE SAID.
Is this not one of the most important purposes of miracles today - yes they demonstrate the Kingdom, yes they show the intent of the King BUT they should also open a door that enables the King to be proclaimed. How can they believe if they have not heard? This use of the miraculous in evangelism is a truth that John Wimber taught, illustrated and demonstrated very well, and which was outlined in his book Power Evangelism, but it is also a truth that so easily 'drops out of our practice and expectation' although it may remain as the 'language of aspiration'.
Maybe, for many of us and our churches, it is time with regard to this to move into the realm of faith spoken of in Hebrews: 'the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen' so that our aspirational language manifests in our daily Christian ministry. However, our passion for it to be so is not, in itself, sufficient, as passion must be focussed and tested through prayer and a Spirit filled lifestyle. Here is my prayer for today, and each day - Lord give us vision which flows from Your Word, passion to see vision realised, prayer to see passion grow and faith to manifest vision and passion in our daily living.
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Monday, 31 May 2010
Where do our hearts turn?
As I was reading Acts 7 this morning a sequence of events, starting at v 39, that seemed too familiar for comfort!
'in their hearts they turned back to Egypt' This of course is a common theme for preachers on many occassions, although it's familiarity in no way diminishes it's truth. Familiarity may, however, cause us to pass it by without the considertion it merits or without the depth of 'heart engagement' that allows the word to really impact our life. When we are, for whatever reason, having a bad time, an off day, a spiritual low point we know where we should 'turn in our hearts' but knowing it is no gaurantee of doing it. It is all too easy, and sadly very common, to find your mind and then your heart wandering to some other place, some other time, other relationship, some other activity. In our hearts we turn back to Egypt, to places, times, people, relationships, situations that God has lead is from, and this can so easily trigger a series of events that leads us to places we really do not want to go.
As Stephen,in Acts 7, recounts these events we see that the next stage was the setting up of idols.
As they 'turn in their hearts' to a place they shouldn't be so they begin to turn and look elswhere for comfort, security, encouragement. Before they know it something, someone, some experience has come to the forefront of their heart and is competing for something that belongs only to God. That was stage two in this slippery process - the setting up of idols. They ended up in stage three before they could blink! The focus of their worship had turned away from the living God to other things.
So, firstly,there is a turning in the heart away from where God is leading us to,to where God has lead us from.
Secondly we began to look for our needs to be met by things other than our relationship with, and obedience to, God, and thirdly, the focus of our worship changes from the Living God to other things. This process can be very subtle. The things we can end up worshipping are not necessarily 'in your face' obvious and can include the works or gifts of God rather than God Himself, or it may be ourselves and our needs that we worship and serve -disguised with words about God!
I'm sure I am not the only person for whom that journey is familiar? Four thousand years of time separating us from the subjects of Stephen's story and what has changed? OK so I've got an iPhone and they didn't!! Otherwise, at the important levels of heart and spirit, needs and fears, joys and desires, and a propensity to wander into blind alleys and unhelpful places, very little!
Lord, by Your Spirit, help our hearts to remain focussed on You and where You are leading and keep them hungry for your presence.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
'in their hearts they turned back to Egypt' This of course is a common theme for preachers on many occassions, although it's familiarity in no way diminishes it's truth. Familiarity may, however, cause us to pass it by without the considertion it merits or without the depth of 'heart engagement' that allows the word to really impact our life. When we are, for whatever reason, having a bad time, an off day, a spiritual low point we know where we should 'turn in our hearts' but knowing it is no gaurantee of doing it. It is all too easy, and sadly very common, to find your mind and then your heart wandering to some other place, some other time, other relationship, some other activity. In our hearts we turn back to Egypt, to places, times, people, relationships, situations that God has lead is from, and this can so easily trigger a series of events that leads us to places we really do not want to go.
As Stephen,in Acts 7, recounts these events we see that the next stage was the setting up of idols.
As they 'turn in their hearts' to a place they shouldn't be so they begin to turn and look elswhere for comfort, security, encouragement. Before they know it something, someone, some experience has come to the forefront of their heart and is competing for something that belongs only to God. That was stage two in this slippery process - the setting up of idols. They ended up in stage three before they could blink! The focus of their worship had turned away from the living God to other things.
So, firstly,there is a turning in the heart away from where God is leading us to,to where God has lead us from.
Secondly we began to look for our needs to be met by things other than our relationship with, and obedience to, God, and thirdly, the focus of our worship changes from the Living God to other things. This process can be very subtle. The things we can end up worshipping are not necessarily 'in your face' obvious and can include the works or gifts of God rather than God Himself, or it may be ourselves and our needs that we worship and serve -disguised with words about God!
I'm sure I am not the only person for whom that journey is familiar? Four thousand years of time separating us from the subjects of Stephen's story and what has changed? OK so I've got an iPhone and they didn't!! Otherwise, at the important levels of heart and spirit, needs and fears, joys and desires, and a propensity to wander into blind alleys and unhelpful places, very little!
Lord, by Your Spirit, help our hearts to remain focussed on You and where You are leading and keep them hungry for your presence.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, 30 May 2010
I have heard with my ears, but now I've seen with my eyes
Sometimes you can read something and think to yourself 'that's really good' and you make a mental note to get back to it sometime in order to give it more thought...but all too often 'sometime' never comes....However, when the same thing crops up three times in a week from different sources, you knw that 'sometime' has arrived!
Firstly, in the 'Unqenchable Worshipper' I read 'Lord, my ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You' . Then, in my bible reading I read the section of Job (42:5) where that particular line is written and then, today, while worshipping at City Church in Newcastle we sang a worship song - Worthy, You are Worthy (Redman), which I personally have never sung before and which contained the lines (see bold below)
Worthy, You are worthy
Much more worthy than I know
I cannot imagine
Just how glorious You are
And I cannot begin to tell
How deep a love You bring
O Lord my ears have heard of You
But now my eyes have seen
You're worthy
You're worthy
You're worthy
You're worthy to be praised
Forever and a day
Glory, I give glory
To the One who saved my soul
You found me and You freed me
From the shame that was my own
And I cannot begin to tell
How merciful You've been
O Lord, my ears had heard of You
But now my eyes have seen
We'll sing an anthem of the highest praise
We'll sound an anthem of Your glorious name
And there they were again - this time reminding me forcefully that 'sometime' really had arrived.......
Have you ever noticed how you can have hear a 'worship' song many times but only when you actually sing it in worship does it impact you? This one is on Facedown, which I have listened to and heard many times - but I had never 'seen' this song it until this morning.
I know that the Lord is 'deconstructing' me in a number of areas and 'remoulding' me because we can so easily get knocked out of shape, or remould ourselves, and become someone who does not resemble the son or daughter that He knows we can be. One of these areas, for me, is about the nature of worship and what it is to be a worshipper.
As I read, heard and sung this line from God's word I 'saw' Him in a real and decisive way.As I did so I was really made aware of two 'levels' of heart experience which have a direct relationship to us as worshippers. We can have 'heard about' God, heard words from God, heard God's word spoken - all of which are important and all of which form a critical part of our worship journey BUT, there is so much more than 'just that'.
In a previous blog post I wrote about how struck I was by the concept of being a 'presence driven people' . People who are driven by knowing, experiencing and 'seeing' the presence of God, as well as hearing the words.People for whom 'spirit and truth' is more than just 3 words, people who are organising their world around the pursuit of His presence......which in turn drives us closer to Him and where He wants us to be.
'Seeing' God, particularly in the context of worship and our devotional life, is the most important element in the remoulding and rebuilding process that He is engaged in with each one of us, but more important still, we glimpse His Glory, we acknowledge His Worth and we bow before His Holiness.
Firstly, in the 'Unqenchable Worshipper' I read 'Lord, my ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You' . Then, in my bible reading I read the section of Job (42:5) where that particular line is written and then, today, while worshipping at City Church in Newcastle we sang a worship song - Worthy, You are Worthy (Redman), which I personally have never sung before and which contained the lines (see bold below)
Worthy, You are worthy
Much more worthy than I know
I cannot imagine
Just how glorious You are
And I cannot begin to tell
How deep a love You bring
O Lord my ears have heard of You
But now my eyes have seen
You're worthy
You're worthy
You're worthy
You're worthy to be praised
Forever and a day
Glory, I give glory
To the One who saved my soul
You found me and You freed me
From the shame that was my own
And I cannot begin to tell
How merciful You've been
O Lord, my ears had heard of You
But now my eyes have seen
We'll sing an anthem of the highest praise
We'll sound an anthem of Your glorious name
And there they were again - this time reminding me forcefully that 'sometime' really had arrived.......
Have you ever noticed how you can have hear a 'worship' song many times but only when you actually sing it in worship does it impact you? This one is on Facedown, which I have listened to and heard many times - but I had never 'seen' this song it until this morning.
I know that the Lord is 'deconstructing' me in a number of areas and 'remoulding' me because we can so easily get knocked out of shape, or remould ourselves, and become someone who does not resemble the son or daughter that He knows we can be. One of these areas, for me, is about the nature of worship and what it is to be a worshipper.
As I read, heard and sung this line from God's word I 'saw' Him in a real and decisive way.As I did so I was really made aware of two 'levels' of heart experience which have a direct relationship to us as worshippers. We can have 'heard about' God, heard words from God, heard God's word spoken - all of which are important and all of which form a critical part of our worship journey BUT, there is so much more than 'just that'.
In a previous blog post I wrote about how struck I was by the concept of being a 'presence driven people' . People who are driven by knowing, experiencing and 'seeing' the presence of God, as well as hearing the words.People for whom 'spirit and truth' is more than just 3 words, people who are organising their world around the pursuit of His presence......which in turn drives us closer to Him and where He wants us to be.
'Seeing' God, particularly in the context of worship and our devotional life, is the most important element in the remoulding and rebuilding process that He is engaged in with each one of us, but more important still, we glimpse His Glory, we acknowledge His Worth and we bow before His Holiness.
O Lord, my ears had heard of You
But now my eyes have seen
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Unveiled in worship
I am re-reading Matt Redmans book, the Unquenchable Worshipper, and although there is far too much in it to blog about here, the 'Unveiled' chapter is def worth a mention.
He talks about insight into two areas:
1. the deep revelation of God that can be ours and the massive change this brings about in those who experience it.
2. The greater the revelation the deeper the transformation.
There is the story in Exodus 34 in which Moses was so changed by the presence and revelation of God that he had to wear a veil when he was with the people - but in Gods presence he removed the veil. Unveiled in his worship and given incredible access to the presence of God which in turn brought deeper transformation to his life. Moses was a changed, and changing, worshipper who glowed with the glory of God.
2 Cor 3:18
'And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit'
What an incredible and inspiring passage, what an invitation a privelege and a truth if offers.
Are we 'unveiled' worshippers - it's the future :-)
Two other things that reading this book has said powerfully to me:
Being a worshipper starts and continues in people who want to press on and press into the presence of God, to become 'friends of God' a true worshipper, and even more so a worship leader WILL become a hungry student of God's word.
Moses was on the mountain not simply 'being' with God, he was also listening to the words of God.
Worshippers in spirit and truth - what the Father seeks and the church desperately needs. Such worshippers are those from whom the glory of the Lord is reflected for all to see and the truth is communicated for all to hear.
Lord, give us hearts that desire to seek your presence and revelation more than anything else.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
He talks about insight into two areas:
1. the deep revelation of God that can be ours and the massive change this brings about in those who experience it.
2. The greater the revelation the deeper the transformation.
There is the story in Exodus 34 in which Moses was so changed by the presence and revelation of God that he had to wear a veil when he was with the people - but in Gods presence he removed the veil. Unveiled in his worship and given incredible access to the presence of God which in turn brought deeper transformation to his life. Moses was a changed, and changing, worshipper who glowed with the glory of God.
2 Cor 3:18
'And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit'
What an incredible and inspiring passage, what an invitation a privelege and a truth if offers.
Are we 'unveiled' worshippers - it's the future :-)
Two other things that reading this book has said powerfully to me:
Being a worshipper starts and continues in people who want to press on and press into the presence of God, to become 'friends of God' a true worshipper, and even more so a worship leader WILL become a hungry student of God's word.
Moses was on the mountain not simply 'being' with God, he was also listening to the words of God.
Worshippers in spirit and truth - what the Father seeks and the church desperately needs. Such worshippers are those from whom the glory of the Lord is reflected for all to see and the truth is communicated for all to hear.
Lord, give us hearts that desire to seek your presence and revelation more than anything else.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Grace, more than we want?
On the theme of 'more than' I was at a bible study on discipleship last night (if you want to follow this at home you can download the material by following the 'Navigators' link on the 'Bible and teaching' page at http://www.westaucklandcc.net/ ) and one of the areas we were looking at was that of 'grace'. What a liberating concept - actually a reality, not just a concept! To be given something wonderful, something that no money can ever buy or no worldly position ever secrue - for free. Something we 'so don't deserve'..... One of the problems with this is that 'humanly' or 'rationally' it just seems too good to be true, too easy, so the enemy soon pops into the picture and begins to persuade you that it isn't true, it is 'too good' and you really need to do more to deserve it! But of course that really is what is 'so amazing about grace' - you don't and never will deserve it but God gives us stuff anyway. Grace is variously described as an 'unmerited gift' , 'divine favour' , 'undeserved blessing' and so on.
The bible creates what can only be described as a 'virtuous circle':
Ephesians 2:7-9 (New International Version)
.....in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 5:1-3 (New International Version)
Peace and Joy
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
So, we have gained access to grace through faith (Rom 5) but that very faith is itself a gift of God's grace (Eph 2).
We are given grace to have the faith to enter more deeply into grace - this grace in which we now stand.
Anyway, back to the study - it dawned on me as we read the bible that in His grace God has far more to give us :
a) than we understand
b) than we are ready to accept
(us not being ready doesn't mean we are waiting on God it means He is waiting on us!)
In other words God wants to give us far more than we receive and God wants to show us far more than we are prepared to see and God wants to move us far more quickly than we are often prepared to travel...... because He is gracious He will not force us, but let's not be fooled into thinking that somehow we are hanging around waiting for God...that is rarely if ever true. God is way out ahead, giving more, revealing more, calling us more urgently. I guess an analogy to the way we so often treat the grace of God is that of turning up at our own birthday party to find that our parents or loved ones have got us the most unexpected, lavish, 'over the top' gift and we can hardly believe it, so rather than accept it, be grateful for it, enjoy it to the full and make maximum use of it we say 'could I just have a little of it please, the timing isn't right, I'll get the rest when I am ready'..... Why would you do that?
God grace is just such a gift - almost unbelievable spiritual riches, resources and most importanntly, an intimate relationship with Him that cannot be earned, cannot be entered by works but is based purely on His love for us. So, are there areas in our lives where we are closing ourselves off to the fullness of his grace? Let the Holy Spirit speak to each of us about this and may our eyes and hearts be opened to the genorosity of our God and may He give us an urgency and desire to be where He is, not simply stay within the constraints we place upon ourselves.
Ephesians 1:18 (New International Version)
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
The bible creates what can only be described as a 'virtuous circle':
Ephesians 2:7-9 (New International Version)
.....in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 5:1-3 (New International Version)
Peace and Joy
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
So, we have gained access to grace through faith (Rom 5) but that very faith is itself a gift of God's grace (Eph 2).
We are given grace to have the faith to enter more deeply into grace - this grace in which we now stand.
Anyway, back to the study - it dawned on me as we read the bible that in His grace God has far more to give us :
a) than we understand
b) than we are ready to accept
(us not being ready doesn't mean we are waiting on God it means He is waiting on us!)
In other words God wants to give us far more than we receive and God wants to show us far more than we are prepared to see and God wants to move us far more quickly than we are often prepared to travel...... because He is gracious He will not force us, but let's not be fooled into thinking that somehow we are hanging around waiting for God...that is rarely if ever true. God is way out ahead, giving more, revealing more, calling us more urgently. I guess an analogy to the way we so often treat the grace of God is that of turning up at our own birthday party to find that our parents or loved ones have got us the most unexpected, lavish, 'over the top' gift and we can hardly believe it, so rather than accept it, be grateful for it, enjoy it to the full and make maximum use of it we say 'could I just have a little of it please, the timing isn't right, I'll get the rest when I am ready'..... Why would you do that?
God grace is just such a gift - almost unbelievable spiritual riches, resources and most importanntly, an intimate relationship with Him that cannot be earned, cannot be entered by works but is based purely on His love for us. So, are there areas in our lives where we are closing ourselves off to the fullness of his grace? Let the Holy Spirit speak to each of us about this and may our eyes and hearts be opened to the genorosity of our God and may He give us an urgency and desire to be where He is, not simply stay within the constraints we place upon ourselves.
Ephesians 1:18 (New International Version)
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
More than enough....
I was reading Exodus 36 this morning (5-7):
"The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done." [6] Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, [7] because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
The people brought more than was required for the work the Lord had commanded!
What an encouragement that must have been for Moses and what a challenge for us, especially in these recessionary times. I don't know about other situations, but here at WACC there is so much excitement and anticipation about what the Lord is leading us to do, and whilst it is an incredibly generous church, bringing far more than is required sets the bar pretty high! Mind you, I'm not entirely sure about 'restraining people from bringing more' (end of v6) - I'm fairly certain there must be a new testament principle that supercedes that particular section of Exodus :-)
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"The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done." [6] Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, [7] because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
The people brought more than was required for the work the Lord had commanded!
What an encouragement that must have been for Moses and what a challenge for us, especially in these recessionary times. I don't know about other situations, but here at WACC there is so much excitement and anticipation about what the Lord is leading us to do, and whilst it is an incredibly generous church, bringing far more than is required sets the bar pretty high! Mind you, I'm not entirely sure about 'restraining people from bringing more' (end of v6) - I'm fairly certain there must be a new testament principle that supercedes that particular section of Exodus :-)
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