This is a personal message for YP and perhaps GC on the CC, part of T4C. Of course, it is good stuff so if it applies to you, then you are welcome to take it ;)
As I was praying this morning, God gave me a word, a phrase, that came from a song the Pastor Steve Carpenter sang prophetically. This is an important word for us at The City Church Central Coast, for right now. God is saying:
"Keep your eye on the ark, you've not been this way before."
Scripturally, it comes from Joshua 3:3,4.
"When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."
The ark represents the presence of God. It contained the Word of God, given to Moses on the mountain. Keep your eyes on the ark. Keep your focus on the presence of God, on the throne. Keep your eye on the ark. Keep your eyes on the Word of God.
This is a critical time for us all. We are being stretched for a coming harvest. Keep your eye on the ark. We've not been this way before!
Just a quick note to answer a question that has even been bothering me. Why am I writing about worship when we could be talking about Christians in culture, and the arts, and what not. I mean, isn't that the focus of Renovo.
And the answer is that if we are to see a Renaissance, if we are to see God's people rise up and take their place as leaders in the creative arts, if we are to tap into the creativity of the Creator, we have got to understand what worship is and what it is not.
