Sermon (notes) by Craig Marsh "Encountering God in Transition " 19th April 2009
We encounter God through transition.
God is on the move (around the world, in our local communities, our lives);
He is always active, creating and re-creating.
He stirs up and shakes our lives - we must have eyes to see (the unseen/spiritual).
Read Acts 10:1ff - Cornelius has a vision, St Peter has a vision - gives Peter a new understanding of the Kingdom of God.
God is preparing Peter to prepare believers for transition and change; to move into new ways of understanding, believing, and operating.
God is always seeking to build into our lives & circumstances:
1 relationally = our relationships with God, others (family/friends/work relationships, etc), self,
2 generationally = our family line
3 revelationary = God's revelation to us
Satan "tries" to interrupt/intersect/destroy the first 2 but he cannot affect the 3rd one at all!
God wants us to learn from Him and to advance from/through one revelation to another and so on.
Such is His love for us that God does not want us to remain the “same” but He desires that we grow more and more like His Son.
This is involves transformation and change (Romans 12:2).
However we are generally resistant to change (RTC) but change we must if we are to progress, grow and mature in our faith and journey with God.
We encounter God through transition.
CPAC is in a time of transition.
We are at the edge of a move of God transitioning us in a way that we will never be the same again both individually and corporately.
Transition takes on many shapes and forms.
Offer 8 ways for CPAC to consider “transition”:
1 Increase in signs and wonders from heaven.
During transition God in His grace often moves in the supernatural in response.
Refer to real experiences of gold dust, jewels, oil coming from bible….
Know God’s peace in storms, healings, anointings, miracles to break out of ruts & break from ‘stale’ traditions – we need to discern the moves of the Holy Spirit – 1Cor 2:9 > widen our horizons/mindset
2 Increase in Angelic visitation
God uses or employs angels in the supernatural transition.
· Joshua before he took Jericho
· Daniel in lions den
· Peter & Cornelius in Acts 10
· Paul on road to Damascus
· Mary & Joseph
· Zechariah when Elizabeth got pregnant with John the Baptist
Allendale – the Pastor experienced visit of 3 angels wearing backpacks – they were revisiting places of past revival.
3 Old mindsets & strongholds of thinking are broken off individuals and off the church
The old ways of doing things are dropped. Old ways of thinking are turned upside down like what happened to the NT church over associating with Gentiles
4 Fresh revelation unfolds for the journey ahead so you can move forward.
Not a time
to sit back but a time to sit up and go for it
to wait and see of it all works out
to throw in the towel
to move on because you don’t agree with the changes on the church
to resist, shut down, withdraw, go into hibernation/depression
Always aim to be a participant not a spectator or commentator.
5 Breakthrough advances into new geography, new cultures, new programs, new buildings, new people groups.
Expect breakthrough in prayer, finances, healings
6 New doors of opportunity in ministry for individuals and corporately as a church
New programmes and new outreaches will be launched – expect doors to open
7 Criticism and persecution will rise up/increase!!
This is good for strengthening your resolve! This is not meant to stop you but rather to empower you/us to break through and move to the next level.
Eg. see Acts 11 > Peter was criticised but he had the support of other believers who vouched for him.
Criticism can help focus us on the next God-inspired move.
8 The “lost” are more ready than you realise & the harvest becomes ripe.
Too often this is missed because of the time of the transition and being moved from one perspective to another. But if you have an eye for it and a willingness to go after the harvest the result will be the extension of the Kingdom of God!
Recognising, embracing, and understanding transition, even looking forward to it, will cause growth to happen, change to take place, and God’s Kingdom to advance – and you will never be the same again!
So get ready! See 2Cor 3:18, Eph 2:10, Acts 10 – God helps Peter to make a wise transition by giving him a revelation.
To transition well there will need to be an all round greater effort, be willing to move beyond our comfort zones, increased finances….
Prayer for healing for people…
