Suddenly… !
This is the word I can use to describe what has happened for the past six weeks after the Apostolic Program Intake 11. Things have really worked out for good so fast and so suddenly.
I have known in my heart that the time of sending is coming, but I never imagined it came so quickly and so suddenly. Naturally, I prefer things to be done after some reasonable time of good planning, a proper preparation of the heart of people, and a fixing of the most suitable time for launching. As I work with God this so many years, there are times God does things suddenly but they have always worked out for good both according to His will and also for our benefit. Though things may not fall into place as we like them to be, God's ways is certainly higher than ours.
After choosing the twelve disciples, training them for almost three years, Christ died on the cross for sinners and did not wait for the Twelve to fully understand why He had to bear the sin of the world, to be nailed unjustly on the cross, and to be resurrected. Christ knew better what He was doing. After the resurrection, He appeared to the disciples who were confused and discouraged, and ordered them to wait at Jerusalem for a heavenly empowering to populate the gospel in the whole world. Then, another suddenly happened—
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" Acts 1:2-4 (NKJV).
The discouraged and disoriented disciples were energized with the power of the Holy Spirit and were transformed into the great apostles, starting the first church to begin the process of taking the world for Christ!
For me and World Harvest Church, we have entered into another stage of ministry progress. Many of our hearts and emotions are not well prepared for it. Things seem to fall off guard but were not disastrous and damaging. For we see the great grace of God is falling down on us to keep things moving on in perfect order and timing. We witnessed Pr. Kenneth and Pr. Sharon being sent out by the Lord to extend His kingdom at Penang while at the same time He sent me to establish another church according to the ways He has taught us. Both of them managed to sell off their apartment within three days of advertising it and are now able to rent a nice apartment in Penang with a good bargain. The favor of God is with them! At the early years of starting this church, God gave revelations to some people that churches would come to join us. I had no idea and no leading of how it would take place. I just had to put these revelations in my KIV cupboard and pray. Now it has come to pass, a church which I helped for a period of I think six years, in the pioneering and starting stage some sixteen to seventeen years ago has reconnected with me again after many years of losing contact with each other. With prayers, revelations, and confirmations on both sides, so quickly I had taken up the challenge to accept the senior pastor position of The Vine Sanctuary at Bandar Sunway. I had spoken partly of my vision during their preplanned leadership camp and some leaders came to join our A Day in the Secret Place.
If the Lord doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the Lord doesn't guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing. Psalms 127:1 (NCV)
When the Lord is leading, we will move with Him. Facing many 'suddenlies', all that we need to do is to agree with Him, make ourselves available, take a step at a time, plan whatever we can, and make necessary adjustments. The grace of God will fall as we take the first step of faith and we will have grace upon grace along the journey of faith to faith. Let us as a church rise up together in courage and embrace the new things that the Lord is pouring over us.
"No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." — 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NCV)
1 comment:
Yes, I fully agree that God at times did things suddenly and that His thoughts and ways are higher than us. All we need to do is follow Him. For people like me, asking a lot of 'WHYs' trap me. So, instead of asking why this and why that, is better for me to say "Yes, sir!". As you are listening and following the Lord, we are with you Pastor David! :)
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