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Creating the Space for God to Move [Inaugural Second Service]

I will not be saying too much tonight. I do want to encourage us with a well known, oft quoted text.


Isaiah 54: 1-3: “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.

2  “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

3  For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.


This is one of the most famous verses in the Bible, usually associated with building projects. But there is something here for us.


When Isaiah prophecies this the children of Israel were captives in Babylon. The circumstances were not ideal. It comes directly after the prophecy of the suffering servant, about Jesus on Isaiah 53.


Things were not going well for them. They felt barren, suppressed, oppressed and distressed. But they were to enlarge the place of their tent. This would have seen the wrong time for them to try and take territory and make economic and societal inroads. 


What does this have to do with us:


The Right Time?

We have started here tonight a second service, is it the right time to do so? Well, there lots of church growth material that would affirm that the time to do this is when you are at 80% capacity of your building.


There is no ideal time though. It involves more work, more effort, more costs. It would be easier to be content and do nothing. Extending something takes effort and intentionality.


The Right Space:

The reason Isaiah’s prophecy is relevant to us is because he was calling them to expand their thinking and faith before God could move amongst them. They would need more space than Babylon.


We have the need for more space in several areas.


Space in our hearts: We need a fresh encounter with God. We will be offering more prayer opportunities, time to linger in worship. We need bigger hearts for what God is doing.


Space for more people: Physical space is an issue. We have a large building but the space is not that big. Holding another service potentially makes the space double in size without doubling the size of the building.


Space to equip: We have to create a way to raise up new tech, new worship teams, new speakers and others. Some evenings we will be giving opportunities for those who are developing. That’s a risk! I preach today because someone took a risk on me. My first messages were awful! They may not have improved. We need to make space for these others too.


Wrapping this up:

So we are taking a step faith. We are hopeful that God will fill this new space with His presence.

 

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