What’s Divine in 2009?

28 December 2008

This week’s study was prepared by Rev Rocco Scarcella

Now that Christmas has passed, our focus naturally goes to the coming new year. Probably the first things that come to mind include the world economic crisis, jobs, mortgages and the like. We immediately want to zoom in on the problems out there. (Of course, we cannot ignore these issues altogether!) But what about the things inside of us? What spiritual changes (or “upgrades”) could God intend for each of us that would have a far-reaching impact on the world around us?

Last month, I had the privilege of taking a week off and flying to WA to attend the “Living The Kingdom” Conference. This visit has had a major impact on a number of areas of my spiritual life. The key note speaker was Graham Cooke, who presented what seemed an almost endless stream of challenges to some 500 of us gathered in Perth from many parts of our nation as well as from overseas. On the final night of the conference, Graham spoke passionately and prophetically declaring that those present were called to be instruments of an impartation – to take home this message: “You have a year of training so that at the end of that year when that is finished you are now thoroughly established in a lifestyle of favour – because the favour that God wants to put upon you is for your entire family, your entire place of work, your entire neighbourhood, your city, your state, your country and the nations.. This is the year of your rising - unparalleled, unprecedented favour of God.”

Let me say that I went to this conference at short notice under (what I now believe with hindsight was) a divinely orchestrated sequence of events. Today, I hope to share more of this encounter, so that together we can have the mind of Christ about the year ahead of us. Ultimately, we know that our loving God of Grace will not force anything on us. We need to discern and embrace His will for us freely in faith and obedience. As God does His part, we need to do ours. So, under God, what will happen for you in 2009? In the end, I must say that it is unavoidably “Over To You”.

Bless you all!
Rocco.

Something to think or talk about

You don’t have to answer all the questions: choose those that seem most relevant.
Read Hebrew 4:1-11

Biblical
1. What prevented the Israelites from entering into the Promised Land? (See Numbers 14:1-9). Why didn’t they want to confront the Canaanites?
2. What was missing from their experience? (See Romans 10:16-17)
3. Who has entered into God’s rest (v3)?
4. Discuss the three “rests” that God provides (vv4, 8, 9-10). When do people enter into these “rests”? What must they do to enter in?
5. Why did Israel not enter into “rest” (vv 6, 7)? Was the “rest” in the Promised Land the final one referred to in Revelation 14:13?

Personal and practical
6. How will your faith enable you to trust God and obey Him in 2009?
7. Graham Cooke has said that “Favour is God’s absolute bias towards you.” If 2009 were to become for you “a year of unprecedented, unparalleled favour of the LORD”, what might you expect to see (i) in your life (ii) in our church? Is such favour “conditional”? Why?
8. Discuss our need to be “diligent” as His church. What might this mean for you in practical terms this coming year?
9. On a scale of one (little) to ten (much) how would you describe the level of your willingness in 2009 “to run with God and not just walk with Him” (Graham Cooke). Explain your answer.
10. Ask the Lord to reveal necessary changes in your life or lifestyle for “an upgrade” that would make you more effective as a Christian. Share your answer with someone you trust and commit to be accountable to them for 2009.

Christian Life