When the leadership team looked at the figures in the financial
report a hush fell on the group. The deficit is sizeable and there are no
reserves. The unspoken question that hung in the air was, “What are we going to
do?” None of the obvious solutions are appealing. Each would change the way our
work is done in ways that would cause some need to be unmet. Part of me wanted
to just admit, “it’s just impossible.” Except
that I have experience with God creating possibilities where none appeared to
exist. Sixteen years ago I arrived at a new call to find that the church was on
the edge of financial collapse. There were unpaid bills in excess of $100,000,
no money in the bank, and commitments that were increasing the deficit monthly.
We faced the situation with faith and courage, made some real tough decisions,
and over the next 18 months saw God and the faithful of His people turn things
around.
So what’s your impossibility? Is your marriage ‘beyond repair’ to all
appearances? Have you felt a call to change your life in some way in response
to God’s call, but feel like to do so is all but impossible? Have you worked at
rebuilding a business only to find as you solve one problem, another appears to
take its place? Or, perhaps your struggle is with faith itself and you wonder
if you can ever reclaim that confidence in God you once owned?
God called a man named Jeremiah to go to His people with a
difficult message: “Change your ways or face destruction!” It was not a sermon that would attract enthusiastic
audiences in Jerusalem. Jeremiah saw the impossibility of the call and raised his
objection. “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said,
“I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (Jeremiah 1:6, NIV) Who’s going to listen to me? What credibility do
I have? I’m just a kid and these old guys around here will just laugh! “It’s
just impossible.” God’s answer did
not coddle the young man nor would the Lord confirm his fears. Instead, He
challenged Jeremiah to refocus his faith. “Don’t
say you’re too young,” the Lord answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to
someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don’t leave out a word! I
promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don’t be afraid.” (Jeremiah
1:7-8, CEV) Jeremiah took up the charge. It was a hard call,
demanding much of him, involving trials and suffering, but he did it and we admire
his faithfulness to this day. God’s
promise was not for an easy life, but that He would not leave the preacher
alone.
God calls us to follow Him, to become builders of His
kingdom, peace makers, people who are whole and holy in a world that is broken
and sinful. The way ahead sometimes looks impossible. Like Paul, we wonder aloud,
“who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:16) And to those impossibilities, His answer is
the same that He gave Jeremiah: “I will
be with you!”
Here is a word from the Word. Match the promise to that situation that
appears impossible. Don’t run, don’t
fret, don’t fear. Instead, wait, trust, and be confident in Him. "God has said, “I will never fail you. I will
never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I
will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NLT)
“Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.” (2
Chronicles 20:17)
_______________
Come set Your rule and
reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we're made
Come set our hearts
ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our
very souls
Holy Spirit come
invade us now
We are Your church
We need Your pow'r in
us
We seek Your kingdom
first
We hunger and we
thirst
Refuse to waste our
lives
For You're our joy and
prize
To see the captives'
hearts released
The hurt the sick the
poor at peace
We lay down our lives
for heaven's cause
We are Your church
We pray revive this
earth
Build Your kingdom
here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and
land
Set Your church on
fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom
here we pray
Unleash Your kingdom's
pow'r
Reaching the near and
far
No force of hell can
stop
Your beauty changing
hearts
You made us for much
more than this
Awake the kingdom seed
in us
Fill us with the
strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope on
earth
Rend Collective
© 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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