Peter started a new series - "From Exodus to Deuteronomy on the way to Joshua."
Deuteronomy 1:1-8
The Israelites were not lost in the desert, they were on a journey.
They learnt and grew on the way, physically and emotionally.
But God says “enough” and tells them to move on to their destination.
It's time to take the land.
But what about us?
Where have we been?
Website - mission statement
We exist to worship God & encounter his presence, committed to advancing his Kingdom through local church communities caught up in mission here and to the nations.
One of our founding prophetic verses was Isaiah 41:18: "I will make rivers flow on barren heights and springs within the valleys". Our expectation is for an outpouring of God's Spirit on dry and thirsty hills and valleys and we also believe that this river will flow out and affect towns and cities around the Peak.
God also gave a prophetic picture of fires burning in many places over the Peak District. This has shaped our vision for community groups in each community and for churches being planted wherever we have clusters of these groups
Our map looks like the desert Israelite one.
More recently God said that when we secure Matlock, then we will take the Peaks.
We are camped all around the Peak District.
We have small groups in the Peak District
But we have not seen the prophecy/command fulfilled to take the Peaks yet.
So how do you feel after wandering in the desert for the last 30 years?!
Disappointment or excitement?
People have left as they have not seen yet what god has promised.
Or because they are disillusioned on the journey.
God did not tell the Israelites how to get to where they were going, just that they needed to go.
Same with us.
Key people are doing things to gather, or change the expression of church locally.
Go
Matt 28:19-20
Acts 1:8
Rom 10:13-14
Ps 96:3
Don't give up trying
2chron 15:7
Isa 41:10
Gal 6:9
Phil 4:13
What are people planning already / doing?
So as God tells us to go….. What are you going to do?
Israel were stuck in the desert, partly through choice, it's difficult to move a million people, but partly as it was not god's time yet.
Last week, Johnny B provoked us about why we might be disillusioned and not ready for new adventures. [Click here for last week's preach.]
But it takes the whole community to move, if they are to take new land, it can't be just a few.
As we read Deuteronomy we see them try with just a few, and it's not pretty.
God is mobilising us, so together we need to start preparing to take the land.
Questions
What do you think of the journey we have been on as a church?
How do you feel about the command to take the land?
What are you going to do to see this realised?
