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Day 37 Devotion – 27 April 2020
We have not been this way before
The pandemic caught everyone by surprise. The majority of church leaders were no exception. After scrambling to get ourselves online, learning to Zoom in and out; and now waiting on an extended Movement Control Order (MCO), we have come to realize like the Israelites that we “have not passed this way before”. (Joshua 3:4).
Just like the people of God then, we are in uncharted territory now.
So, how do we shepherd? How do we grow the congregation when no one comes into our church buildings each week? How do we prepare the people to sanctify themselves in today’s world? Indeed, how do we even prepare for the future?
Here are eight practical things we can consider working at:
1. Prophetic shepherding
The MCO presents us an excellent opportunity to connect with all. With each extension of the lockdown, most will appreciate your initiatives to touch base. Even those who have been away from the church will welcome a message, a text or a personal call. But more than just a call to express our care, we have this prophetic responsibility to remind our flock of the need to prepare ourselves for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. No shepherding can be holistic without forewarning the local church of the impending return of her Bridegroom.
2. Online discipling
Easily eighty per cent of our people are not disciples as defined in Scripture. This season is an opportune time for us to disciple them (via online) the Biblical way. It would be folly to deny that most of our new converts refused to be “followed-up” and hence are usually not well-grounded in the Word of God. Consequently, many consider corporate prayer meetings optional rather than the lifeline of the church. In time, we risk these believers becoming leaders, albeit with poor spiritual habits. Despite being spiritually malnourished and ill-trained, such members potentially assume church leadership positions - often because they have succeeded in the secular world. Sadly, this anomaly is more common than not in many of our contemporary churches. It is time to relook at who we call disciples and whether our church pleases the Lord like the Smyrna and Philadelphia churches of Revelation 2 and 3.
3. Raising the next generation of youth
When it comes to career choice, God’s will is hardly sought after by most young people these days. In most cases, their parents’ ideals for their future outweighed all other promptings they may have - spiritual or otherwise. However, post Covid-19 pandemic may well throw many plans asunder. With travel restricted and financial resources curtailed in the foreseeable future, an overseas education will likely be a pipe dream for at least one generation of young people. Coupled with the unenviable prospect of unemployment in the coming years, we would do well to speak into the lives of our youth to raise them with the right attitude and aptitude for lean times in order to shine for Christ in a gloomy world.
4. Watch out for the demons lurking behind the screen
While we are thankful for the connectivity we enjoy in Malaysia, let us also not be naive. Greater access to the Internet poses a greater danger to the unprepared and weaker in the flesh. Almost anything is only one click away. No one can supervise another 24/7, and thus this season, all will meet the devil personally as he serves us pornography on a platter and corrupts the seemingly incorruptible. Men and women, young and old, no one are exempted. Do not be surprised in post-MCO that new addictions will rise, not just to the screen, but to uncleanness in the secrecy of our homes.
5. Caring for others and investing in the kingdom
During this pandemic, we note many goods and essential items have been freely given away by wholesalers, farmers, etc. in order to avoid wastage. However, we must not mistake the clearing of excess supplies as biblical caring for the poor and needy. What happens when there are no more extras available to be given away? Would we be willing to use our own personal resources to help those in dire straits? When we return to our busyness after the MCO and when caring is no longer in the limelight, can we still genuinely demonstrate our generosity to the poor, needy and migrants? God forbid our compassion be relegated once again to a mere seasonal act for the world to see. We must be intentional to carry on with our good works for His glory!
6. Need for a Digital Strategy
The MCO catapulted many of us into the digital world and there is no looking back from here. My devotion here is not intended to train you to be a YouTuber, much less to become an expert on social online media. But I do want to suggest every church must begin to consider a digital strategy. Find out what are the basics required to communicate digitally. How can we share the gospel online effectively? Who can help us? What are the essential tools and equipment we need? Our digital strategy will require drawing up a budget to move in this direction. Perhaps it is also time we have churches mentoring churches. With limited resources, the last thing we need is to make expensive mistakes because of ignorance.
7. Study the Word
Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy is still relevant today! “Study to show yourself approved…” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV). If we were to only listen to teachings and lectures at schools or universities, we would effectively fail as students. The same principle applies in church. Reading big chunks of the Bible or listening to sermons is not studying. Today’s churches survive on a diet built on video clips that explain the Bible in 3 minutes or less; short sermons with no complicated long expositions or teachings - all preferably at the cost of a song or less. Is it any surprise that we lament that our churches are not as strong as they should be? The long and short answer is not complicated. We just need to hunker down to do our homework - open the Book, dig into the Word, look up the necessary resources and study for ourselves. Aim for the meat, and not just the milk.
8. A Simpler Lifestyle in the Last Days
If there is something invaluable this lockdown has taught us, it is this: we can survive wearing non-designer clothes and not go for tours for weeks and months. Besides the benefits of an “enforced sabbatical” for many of us, the MCO has helped many of us to “save” as we live non-lavishly in our homes. But then, living the simple lifestyle has never been a seminar topic or a popular subject for a Sunday sermon.
It would not be extreme to state that holiday travel had become almost an idol to many prior to the pandemic. No matter our financial situation or constraints on time, we would never miss that opportunity to travel at the next available tour offer. Meanwhile, of all the billions of ringgit wiped off at the stock market, I do wonder how much of it had belonged to Christians. I suspect that if we have a chance to relive the pre-pandemic days, many would still take their chances and let their resources be diminished rather than invest them in the kingdom. Could our churches have been more blessed if many had been more willing to share their resources?
Because the forefathers “despised the pleasant land” (Psalm 106:24 NKJV), they were not there at the Jordan crossing. Similarly, when we neglect the basics, ignore what is common sense and reject the counsel of Scripture, what is before us is something this generation has not done before. May our God be merciful and gracious, as we embark on the journey where today’s believers have “not passed this way before”.
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Day 42 Devotion – 4 May 2020
“You Have Not Been This Way Before”: Preparations and Positioning for Revival
Preparations
Read Joshua 1-3:3-5
Revival is often defined as a sovereign move of God in respond to the hunger God has created in the heart of His people who have been moved to deep, soul- searching prayers. There have always been great revivals without preaching or passionate worship but never one without prayers. But more than prayers, there is always the need for preparation in the minds, emotions and structures of the churches to ensure its sustainability and the fruits.
God prepared Joshua and Israel in 4 specific ways before they reached the banks of Jordan as follows:
1. They were prepared to step into, function and live in a new day (1:1-2). It all begins with an irrevocable declaration, “Moses is DEAD!” That anointed, powerful and unique leadership is over. Moses is not dying or will die, he is DEAD!
We will not settle in and be committed to do, live and serve differently unless we mentally accept this new day. It is not necessarily a positive or easy day; it may be more challenging, but it is the only DAY we have. We have to accept it mentally and spiritually, face it and live it by the grace of God or deny it and it will paralyze and stop our quest for revival.
2. They were prepared to be mentally strong and courageous (1:6-8). We need to pray for mental courage and strength. Revival not only unleashes the glory of God, it also opens the gates of hell against those who dares to believe and be used by God.
Revival history is full of examples of casualties - mental, emotional, financial, organisationally, etc. No ordinary or casual believer can fathom and carry the full torrent of God’s glory and the unceasing demonic onslaught from the deepest pits of hell.
We need courage, which is the determination to move forward no matter what. We need strength, which is the ability to bounce back when we are struck down by our own failures or the enemy. The only key to these two qualities is the immersion of our soul and spirit in the unchanging Word. The Bible calls it, “meditating” on the Word.
3. They were prepared practically and logistically (1:10-11). Covid-19 pandemic will end. God will answer our soul-searching prayers for revival. Will we be ready when it comes? There have been evangelistic meetings without new Bibles ready to be given out, altar workers to lead the sinners to assurance and members do not even know what the purpose of the service was. Is ‘revival’ just a spiritual jargon?
James tells us, “faith without works is dead”. Are you mentally, emotionally and physically ready? Are we logistically, organisationally and financially prepared? Preachers, Are you ready to give your all since by asking for revival, we are asking God to unleash His all. Let us pray and prepare ourselves.
4. They were prepared to move together as a corporate body (3:3-4). The distancing of approximately 3000 feet is to ensure that EVERYONE gets to see, sense and follow the move of the Holy Spirit represented by the ark without hindrances.
Some people may be the catalyst of revival but revival has never and will never be about a person or ministry. In revival, God pour out His Spirit on His people not only on a person or selected few. We may need to pray and persevere alone but let us share the vision, the blessings, the burden and the need of revival to the whole body, irrespective of traditions or creed.
Let us inspire, teach and help EVERYONE to see the Ark of Covenant. May God use YOU to bless ALL.
Just before Israel moved out into a way they had not been before, Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (3:5).
Revival is not another great church growth or kingdom expansion programme that we must try since we have tried everything else. It requires full commitment from us, absolute surrender to God, and complete openness to how He chooses to manifest and magnify Himself. It is all of God and none of us. Let us separate, consecrate and purify ourselves for this special holy purpose.
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