Unity before during and after Diversity

For 40 days, I have been immersed in what I have come to call "The Promise of July 2, 2010." On That date - in my morning prayers - God spoke to me (not in an audible voice, but I'm just as certain it was him!) the word: "The kingdom of heaven is near." Since that time, He has been confirming and defining just what that means. It is exciting to see the picture develop before my spiritual eyes.

As I prayed earlier this week, God used some passages from Romans 4, The Message, to encourage my faith: "He [Abraham] didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. he plunged into the promise and came jup strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said... Abraham entered into what god was doing for him, and that was the turning point."

At Bethel Nazarene Church we have been praying about obtaining two modular classroom units. At a meeting leading up to our decision, I was asked, "How will you determine what God's will is?" To which I reponded, "I must trust the Holy Spirit to speak to and through The Church.

There is a process that we have been going through:

• The leadership was made aware of the availability of the modular units.
• The board was given all available information and asked to pray in prepration for a board meeting.
• The congregation was informed and asked to pray as well.
• An informal committee worked together to gather details and costs associated with moving and setting up the modular units.
• The board the was given that information and they were asked to vote on what to do. The board voted to recommend to the congregation that we procure the units. The date was set for the congregational meeting.
• We are now waiting for the congregation to speak (vote) to the issue.

At the board meeting, I shared with our church leaders the following...

It is important that - whatever we decide tonight - we remain united. I must trust that the Holy Spirit speaks in our deliberations and decision as much as He does in my own personal opinion. You must trust that the Holy Spirit speaks in this process as much as He does in your individual opinions. We must respct the Holy Spirit in each other and ultimately in us as a group.

As I have oten said, we must guard against "sanctifying" our opinions." Then, if it doesn't go "my way" I can be OK with it. I can rest knowing that the Lord has revealed His will through the collaboration of the Body. That is how I can then say, "I support the board fully in the direction we have set." And, I can say it honestly. As a matter of fact,I must say it honestly. There must be full support of all our decisions by every member of the board - even by those who are absent! That is how much we must trust the Holy Spirit's work in us. We owe as much to the church. For, if we cannot surrender our wills, how can we ever expect our congregation to do so?

Our people deserve to know that each of us has had a chance to:

• pray
• think
• consider
• express and
• participate (vote)

Then, they deserve to know that the Holy Spirit is so at work in each of our hearts that we - after making a decision (voting) - can set aside human opinions in favor of diving wisdom.

We will be reaching a conclusion tonight about these modular classrooms. Before we do so, however, we must all reach the conclusion that - whatever the outcome - we will wholeheartedly support the will of God revealed through The Church.

Some of you may be thinking,"OK, Pastor, but what do you think? We would like to hear." (Or maybe not! It's a dream all pastors have!)

I have hesitated to express muy opinions too strongly on most issues. I am new here at BNC. You have been here much longer than I and know the people and the community. I have to trust you - and the Holy Spirit in you - to help me hear from God. That said, I don't want to use it as a cop-out either. I will tell you, then, that I am in favor of obtaining these modular classrooms. i feel that God - through the growing awareness of "The Promise of July 2, 2010" - has indicated to me to go ahead and get both units.

Now, we may arrive at a different conclusion tonight. But wherever we end up together I pledge the full force of my support behind the decision that you make.

That concludes my remarks to the board before we entered into the discussion about the modular units. And, as I indicated above, the board voted overwhelmingly to obtain the units.

Now it is up to us - the board and pastor - to reiterate the same sentiment. We have done our best to arrive at a recommendation. You have helped us by your prayers. We must now surrender even this decision to the will of God as revealed through His Church!

What a place to be! What release from worry! What relief knowing that God has it under control. Hallelujah! What freedom is ours in Christ!