Drama…
Slide #1
Welcome to Vista Pointe...
For those here today who call Vista Pointe home…welcome…
I hope you all had a great week serving God the past week in your community.
If you are a guest with us today...We are thrilled to have you with us!
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to let God know that He is first in your life. (INFO CARD)
PRAYER....
Slide #2
This past week as I was preparing for the last message that God desired for me to share with you...
A familiar word continued to pop into my mind... transition.
Transition is a word that is not new to the church herself...
Matter of fact it has been around the church and the world for generations.
When most people hear the word transition…they immediately become concerned because transition represents change.
But change is not always a bad thing. Change can be good if it’s handled correctly.
Every Christian knows that the Bible is full of transition stories.
I believe that when God wrote the Bible...
He did it with the mindset of creating situations and stories that would help us through the transitional times in our lives.
And if I were asked to pick a favorite Bible Transitional story…I don’t know if I could narrow it down to a single character or story.
Slide# 3
But when I do think about the word transition...I cannot help but find myself thinking about the man name Moses
Moses lived his entire life around transition.
He was a man known not only for his desert survival expertise...but also his leadership characteristics.
Moses life was sort of divided into 3 time periods.
–The first period was from his birth until he reached the age of 40...during which he lived in Egypt and learned under Pharaohs’ Law.
-Then at age 40... God instructed him to leave Egypt and journey out towards the land of Midian… in what he soon learned to be… (God’s personal training ground)
-Then when he was 80 yrs...After 40 years of biblical training in the desert.....God instructed him to place his training into motion by…
God instructed Moses to return to Egypt to begin the process of speaking with Pharaoh and demand that the children of Israel be freed and allowed safe travel to the Promise Land.
After Pharaoh agreed to release the slaves we find Moses traveling around the desert for 40 more years...
And as life always does…40 more years of Moses life had slipped away and now Moses was 120...
It was then that God let him know that it was time to pass the baton off to Joshua...his faithful ministry companion.
Moses was a great leader…and God worked alongside of him to do incredible things.
Slide #4
Today I kinda feel like Moses in a way...not that I am 120...but that it’s time for me to pass on the Baton.
When God first shared with me His plans of having us move to Sesser Illinois and start a church ...believe it or not...my first concern was this ministry.
We have ministered alongside of you for the last 2 ½ rebuilding this ministry...and just like many of you…we all have invested a lot of sweat equity.
So I realize that7 short weeks ago...when I shared with you about God’s next plan.
You were all as surprised...as I was when I first heard myself.
As I previously mentioned…transition is uncomfortable…
And the only thing I knew to do about God’s request was to pray.
And that’s exactly what I did...I went to God in prayer...and asked...
God since you are calling me too take these steps of faith in Ministry...Clearly…My family and I are willing to follow.
But......please watch over this church…and its people and give them a passion to continue serving you in this community.
Slide #5
Last Sunday morning…this community saw evidence of what can happen when God’s people place Him first in their lives…
This is the very reason why transition is so difficult…
For the past 2 months I have spent extra time in prayer…
I shared with God how much I love each of you...and how important it is for all of you to understand that WE are in control…But God Is.
God always knows best...
It was at that very moment that God laid on my heart...the life of Moses.
In Numbers 27...We find Moses at a turning point in his life...
For the past 80 years of his life…he had shared in the joys and the sorrows of the people that God had called him to Sheppard.
And now God was telling him it was time for a new journey.
Being a leader is not easy…But one thing that I have found to be true is this…God knows best.
Slide #6
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Numbers 27:15-17...
“Moses said to the LORD, 16 “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Since Moses knew his time was short…he asked God to appoint a leader who was capable of directing both the external and internal affairs of the people.
One who could not only lead them into battle, but who would also take care of their personal needs.
And the Lord responded by appointing Joshua to the People.
This is where we find ourselves today.
Today is my last Sunday with you...and like Moses I am turning over the reins of this ministry to God’s next appointed Leader?
After reading through Joshua chapter 3& 4... It became clear to me that Joshua was the man that God appointed to lead the Children of Israel across the Jordon River into the promise land.
God knew that when Moses passed the Baton off to Joshua...he would be the leader to continue in preaching and teaching the truth of the word of God to His people.
And Just like Joshua...ever leader knows that in order for God’s work to continue in its effectiveness.
Slide #7
It must first begin with His people...
Joshua knew that God was preparing to perform another great miracle by allowing the children of Israel to enter into the promise land by crossing thru the Jordon River.
This is why in Joshua chapter 3:5...Joshua said... “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.”
What each of you needs to understand about Vista Pointe’s transition is this...
God is in control…but He needs each and every one of you to make it possible.
Personal Purification is the first step of obedience towards Godly relationship.
God and this community need to see a difference in you.
He has already placed the leadership into position to take this ministry to the next level…and now it is up to you.
The doors of the promise land are open… …and my question for you today is this.
Are you going to have faith that God will lead you across the Jordon River into the greatest land and opportunity of your life?
