Transformers, more than meets the eye.

Transformers, robots in disguise.

What is so intriguing about Transformers is that a Transformer is an ordinary thing like a car, or a plane, or truck and it transforms into something quite extraordinary. And the craziest thing about this whole transformation is that nothing at the core has changed. In its core, its still the same car or plane or truck, but by merely reorganizing what’s already there, something extraordinary shows up.

I think that’s what happens to congregations when God is at work. God takes whatever is already there, and when that congregation gives herself over to Jesus Christ, God transforms ordinary John’s, Lucy’s, Bill’s, and Judy’s and transforms them to do extraordinary things for the Kingdom.

The thing that is different about a congregation going through transformation versus your average church is that the things that move and touch the heart of God become the primary focus of that congregation.

• Grow new christians – Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
• Grow faithful disciples – teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
• Who share the love of Jesus with all people – Let your light shine before others so that when they see your good works they will glorify the Father who is in heaven

A congregation who makes growing new christians and growing faithful disciples its priority is one that is growing in impact:

• in new members
• and in members committed to growing up as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Guess what? God is at work through the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace!!! I can’t wait to see all that God will do through you.

“We all, like sheep (cattle?), have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way” (Isaiah 53:6).

Idiot savant is a French word meaning “learned idiot.” Eugene Peterson talks about the first time he came across this word when he was a boy in his book “Jesus Way.”

Peterson writes:
One of the chores to which my friend was routinely assigned by his parents was what they called “riding fence.” It was mindless work: he simply rode his horse along the barbed wire fence that enclosed the cattle, who were always, it seems, looking for breaks or weaknesses. When he found one he repaired it.

He told me that cattle are the dumbest members of the entire livestock family, animals of “little brain.” But in one thing they are absolutely brilliant: they have a genius for finding a hole or weak place in a fence. And the moment they find it they are through it, leading their sister cows and brother bulls after them into dangerous terrain where they have no skills for protecting themselves or avoiding calamity. You then have to spend the next two or three days rounding them up and returning them to where they belong and be kept alive.

I never knew human beings and cattle had so much in common: idiot savants.

“Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it” (Joshua 7:11-13).

“You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it,” declared the LORD.

Aren’t you curious what “it” is? If God tells you that the reason for your suffering, the reason for your losses, the reason for your devastation is because of “it,” wouldn’t you want to know what “it” is and be sure to correct “it”?

I know I would be.

This passage is the story of Achan. The Israelites just got done destroying Jericho – remember Jericho, march around the city for seven days and on the seventh day blow the trumpet and shout and the walls would come tumbling down?Remember the story of Rahab the prostitute and how she saved the spies of Israel and in return she and her family was saved?

You can read all about it in Joshua chapters 5 and 6. 

When the Israelites defeated Jericho, God gave specific instructions of how the Israelites were to destroy everything and everyone. Only the gold and silver, and articles of bronze and iron were to be saved for the treasury of the house of God. But someone cheated. They didn’t put all the gold and silver for the treasury of the house of God. They kept some of the items dedicated to God for themselves.

As a result, the Israelites – who just got done defeating one of the greatest cities of the time in Jericho – just got their butts whooped by a tiny insignificant foe – Ai.

Don’t miss this, ALL of Israel suffered because of one man.

The reason why the Israelites were routed? Well, because of “it”. They had stolen from God. They had sinned against God.

And here’s the thing. God says that the reason for the suffering and pain in our world is because of “it”, and as long as “it” stays around we will never be able to defeat our enemies, then why aren’t we doing everything we can deal with “it”?

That’s a great question.

So, what is “it” for you? What are you holding back that belongs to God?

So, who don’t you do something about “it” today?