Growth

I could literally feel my pulse racing like it's gonna explode, my palms were exuding cold sweat and my legs were fidgeting.

That's how I knew God is impressing something heavy, powerful and significant upon me and the church.

I felt that so evidently yesterday in church service. Whoa, I'm not kidding with my opening paragraph okay. I could feel my heart pumping real hard, my hands were literally sweating and my legs were fidgeting. I simply couldn't sit still. But what caused this "manifestation" you wonder. Allow me to share, or rather, I believe God wants me to share this uncontainable impression. 

On Sunday, the word that was spoken was on growth, in line with next year theme which is "Year of Growth". My pastor began by saying that he changed his message last minute because he felt God wanted him to speak on growth instead of our series on spiritual disciplines. I was thinking to myself, sure something is up but just didn't know what. Anyway....

There are 3 areas that we need to put in place in order for us to GROW RIGHT and in line with God.

(1.) We need to ANTICIPATE and EXPECT growth to happen!

"No farmer would plant a seed and not expect it to growth", my pastor said with jest but also with an undertone of seriousness. The parable of the talents (Matt 25: 14) depicts that. The first two servants put their money to work and expected it to grow but the third servant thought otherwise. Many times we go through the motion of asking God to "grow" us but in actuality, we never even expect and anticipate growth to happen in the first place. And mind you, we shouldn't just expect to grow in the "spiritual" or "churchy" stuff but more than that, expect growth in your work, studies, relationships... every area of your life!

Question #1: What kind of growth are you expecting?

(2.) We need to be READY for growth! 

Be ready? But how??

By investing in heavenly things! That's how! We cannot succumb to laziness, like that of the third servant who did nothing with the talent. If we do, eventually we WILL die a natural death. Growth is natural and so is death. So, choose to grow in Christ! And when we invest in heavenly things, really, we're simply just saying "Lord, I want to remain in You!" (John 15) and when that happens, growth will just surge forth like an explosion. 

Question #2: What are we investing our energy, time and life in?

(3.) Growth comes with a sense of URGENCY!

Ah, this is the part where my heart began to palpitate and my body temperature rose. 

When it comes to growth, we must anticipate, be ready and be urgent about it. God made us with the capacity to grow beyond our imagination. He made us to bear fruits, fruits that will last. So if we are praying and asking God for growth, then be urgent and hungry enough to want it. Don't sit around and do nothing with the talent like the servant, invest and get yourself prepared for explosive growth! Pastor Edward also mentioned that in the parable of the talents, the first two servants who received the talents went out "AT ONCE" to put their talents to work.
AT ONCE = URGENCY! 

As I sat there listening to these anointed words, my heart began to beat hastily and I felt my body temperature rising. No kidding. I turned to my senior pastor's wife and told her, "Eh, my heart beating very fast and my palms sweating wei". She laughed. I was still sweating. The weight/impression of the Lord was heavy.  I could feel it.

My senior pastor closed by challenging all of us to expect, to prepare and to be urgent to grow individually and as a church in God. And God brought to mind my journey thus far with Him, in particular these two years since I became part of GCC. I felt as if He was assuring me that I've grown within these two years but that's just the beginning. "Hang in there, something bigger is about to come," I could almost hear it audibly. GCC is growing, that I don't doubt one bit. In fact, we're growing to the extent that we need to move out of where we are to a bigger sanctuary. Talk about growth, eh. And make no mistake, growth can be a scary thing IF God is not in the picture. Do we have the resources to move into a new place? Are we ready to be strong and courageous to step out in faith? Well, on our own, absolutely not, but with God, you can stand and stare River Jordan right in the eye and say, "Bring it on!".

As we closed in prayer, God reminded me again the calling of GCC, the call to be the contemporary Joshua and in this coming season, it's time to pack up our supplies, get ready and cross over the Jordan river!

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west.

Joshua 1: 2-4

"So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’”

Joshua 1: 10-11

God is commanding us to GET READY (to anticipate and to be prepared) to cross the Jordan river and TAKE POSSESSION (urgency and authority) of the land! As I thought about how I felt yesterday, with all the cold sweat and all, I realized that it's not so much of being scared of the unknown, or even afraid of lacking provision. It wasn't because I was looking at Jordan River and shook in fear. But I believe I felt what I felt is because I saw what's across Jordan River and just the sight of it caused me to have this uncontainable excitement! 

An explosion of growth is coming... Just you wait.

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. 

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; 

I will never leave you nor forsake you." 

 Joshua 1: 2-5

Disclaimer: I couldn't think of a bigger word than "explosion". Explosion is too small a word to express the sort of growth God is about to cause. Forgive me, Lord, for the lack of a better word :P