“Imagine”
By Pastor Lynn Holmes

When does worship begin on Sunday?  Does it begin when you awake Sunday morning?  Is it time to worship when the music starts?  Or do we only worship during the sermon?

I asked Pastor Mark that question and I loved his response: 

“Technically, for the musicians, next Sunday’s worship begins the moment today’s service ends.” Worship is a process.  It requires preparation of heart and mind.  Everyone will receive something from God during the time we meet on Sunday if we have all prepared for that exciting event.  On a personal note, last Sunday I wanted desperately to hear a word from the Lord.  During the music worship time, I listened with my heart and not my ears.  From the soloists, this is what I heard:           

     Pastor Mark:  sings with his soul.  Amen and amen!           

     Heather Swartz:  spirit filled.  Hallelujah!           

     Shana LeFevers:  sung to the heavens.  Glory! 

Worship from God’s Word:The music (soloists, congregation, choir, orchestra, etc.) prepared my heart for the message to follow, the second part of the powerful series FAITH: Going to the Next Level, from Pastor Lynn.  He encouraged us to let go of doubt, look for a promise and lean on the Lord as we learn to IMAGINE God’s possibilities for our lives.  

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) 

Every great accomplishment in history began with an idea.  Napoleon said, “Imagination rules the world.”  Einstein was quoted as saying, “Imagination is greater than knowledge.”  Your life in Christ began as a God-idea, born in the heart of Jesus, nurtured in your mind and spirit, and came to fruition in your profession of faith in Him as your Lord and savior.   Imagine how God can use you!  He can best do that when you and I will: 

1. Let go of doubt. Joshua, the greatest military leader who ever lived (according to General Douglas McArthur), had to be reminded that he could get the job done.  Four times in a few verses from Joshua 1, Jehovah said:  “Be strong!”  To be used of God, we must abandon our doubt. 
2. For God to use me effectively, I need to look for a promise and hang onto it like there is no tomorrow!  To Joshua, God said, “I promised Moses I would give you this land, so I will give you every place you go in the land.”  Joshua 1:9 (NCV) God’s work, done God’s way receives God’s support.  He does not sponsor flops! 
3. To be used by God, we must lean on God.  “No one will be able to defeat you all your life.  Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you or forget you.”  Joshua 1:5 (NCV)
4. Finally, Pastor Lynn shared that to be useful in God’s work we must launch out in faith.  Joshua needed a miracle from the very beginning to cross over the flooded Jordan River.  “Then Joshua issued instructions to the leaders to tell the people to get ready to cross the Jordan River.”  Joshua 1:10-11 (LB) It wasn’t until the priests got their feet wet (by faith), stepped into the waters of that river at flood-stage, that the miracles began to happen, just as Jehovah had promised.