God is amazing! I know that’s not new news to all in the faith but when you see the revelation of His presence, confirmed through His Word and people in the week, it makes living our lives of faith more exciting. Have you seen any parallels in our E100 readings? This week we have been observing the Hebrew people, now in the Promised Land though struggling to become a people of faith. God called the descendents of Abraham to be His people of faith so they can take His blessings to the nations. They wobbled along as they were developed through the lessons of hard knocks to trust in God’s provision. Surrounding people oppressed them until they cried out to God for help. He’d provide a leader like Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Barak to bring victory over the oppressor; the people would rally to God through the leader until they forgot again and God would begin the process all over.  

The point being when God’s people cried out to Him, he heard their supplications and provided leadership for them to be rescued in their need.     

Last week someone shared a verse, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.” Of course we will remember this as Esther 4:14 when Esther’s cousin Mordecai challenged her to step up on behalf of the Hebrew people to bring about their salvation. Esther did provide the needed leadership and intercession, for God to bring a mighty redemptive miracle for all to witness.

“For such a time as this!” or as Ps Edwin preached two weeks ago “a defining moment” is now in the life of EBC and God is responding. During the last week the present elders have been interviewing many men who have stepped forward through your nominations, to take a role in leading EBC toward its future. With the support of their wives and families they have seen this time as an opportunity. On Wednesday evening at our prayer meeting we were led by men & women who in humility prayed and cried out to God for His church here. The Spirit of God hovered peace over the congregation present and has begun His reconciling work in our midst. It is not completed, with some still to follow His lead but it is happening.

We may be looking for a leader to arrive and guide us but Peter writes to us, telling us we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God..” All of us are priests being built into a spiritual house doing the work of life and ministry “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-10) Jesus is our given leader. We are all precious to God and through Jesus we are all leaders, working together to live out the Good News that others may see and praise our Father in heaven.

This long weekend a good number have responded to be together in Port Elliot camping. Others have arranged to join us for the day activities, which will definitely include some relaxing together! Come down for our church services on Sunday (camp style), where the morning service will include a Kidz time with Nikki & Simon S while I’m speaking, followed by lunch, kids activities, a young people’s time down at Horseshoe Bay… and then in the evening Ps Don is leading the service. Camp atmosphere, youth, maybe some spontaneous baptisms, should be a great day! Back here at EBC Ps Julio will be sharing the Word at a morning Service but the only evening service with be at Port Elliot. 

I am aware, as I write this, that today is Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time when many Christians and churches begin to think about and prepare for Easter. It is a forty-day period of fasting and prayer intended to encourage Christians to think about sin and forgiveness through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While for some it may be a vain attempt to follow a set of rules and regulations to be pious enough to find acceptance with God for many others it can be a genuine time of personal discipline and denial to encourage a greater awareness of God and devotion to Him.

This Lenten season as we head toward Easter we thought it might be a good idea to encourage our church family to be focusing on the Lord Jesus and draw near to Him through fasting and prayer. We have alerted our Lifegroup Shepherds about this and asked them to encourage their groups to consider fasting and praying. Fasting can take many forms such as fasting from; food, sweet things (sugar, cakes, ice-cream, especially chocolate!), meat, alcohol, caffeine, entertainment, television, technology, facebook, shopping, an attitude or bad habit. You name it, there are any number of things that we can deny ourselves as a form of spiritual self-discipline in order to prompt us to pray and read more of the Scriptures.

Currently our E100 is seeing great support in the church and is encouraging many so how about adding fasting and increased prayer to the spiritual discipline of reading the Word of God everyday?

It is significant that Lent is a period of 40 days in preparation for Easter as 40 day and year periods have great significance in Scripture, consider the following; God sent rain upon the earth in the great flood for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4), Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 34:28), Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8), the 12 spies spent 40 days exploring the Promised Land (Numbers 13:25), the Hebrew people spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 32:13), they also ate manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35), Jonah told the people of Nineveh they had 40 days to repent or face God’s judgement (Jonah 3:4), Israel was oppressed by the Philistines for 40 years (Judges 13:1), for 40 days Goliath taunted Israel (1 Samuel 17:16), David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4), Solomon also reigned over Israel for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42), Saul reigned for 40 years  (Acts 13:21), and perhaps most well known is Jesus spending 40 days fasting in the wilderness at the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matt 4:1-2).

What can you pray for during the next 40 days? Your spiritual growth, your attitudes, words, actions, your family, your marriage, your work, your health, your unsaved friends, the church, the pastors and elders, missionaries both local and overseas, marriages, churches in Adelaide and throughout Australia, government, political leaders, our nation. There are many things we can be in prayer for, how about taking the time to write a list and then pray through it? Perhaps Lent and a dedicated time of fasting and prayer could encourage you spiritually to go to a new level of growth and vibrancy in your walk with the Lord. Your life could increasingly become a source of spiritual influence and encouragement to Christians and non-Christians.

Remember God wants to walk with you, He wants you to fellowship and commune with Him through prayer, listening to Him, reading the Scriptures and obeying His will in your life. He wants to bless you that you in turn might be a blessing and an inspiration to others.