NEW BEGINNINGS

SOME OF US CELEBRATED THE COMING IN OF THE NEW YEAR A FEW DAYS AGO. SOME OTHERS JUST WENT FROM THE OLD INTO THE NEW BECAUSE WE DO NOT EVEN DARE TO REMEMBER ANY NEW YEAR.

YOU SEE, WHEN YOU ARE 60+, THOUGH WE LONG TO BE WITH JESUS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE IN THE TWILIGHT OF YOUR LIFE.

SOME OF US MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. SOME OTHERS MAKE A POINT THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WORK ANY WAY.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.

YOU KNOW THAT THE WORD OF GOD HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.

GAL 4 : 9-10
BUT NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUE GOD. REALLY, IT IS GOD WHO KNOWS YOU. SO WHY DO YOU TURN BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND USELESS RULES YOU FOLLOWED BEFORE ? DO YOU WANT TO BE SLAVES TO THOSE THINGS AGAIN ? YOU STILL FOLLOW TEACHINGS ABOUT SPECIAL DAYS, MONTHS, SEASONS, AND YEARS.

THE LORD, THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL, APPEARS TO SAY THAT THE OBSERVANCE OF SPECIAL DAYS OR TIMES IS IN FACT A WASTE OF OUR TIME.

THEN GO TO ROMANS 14:5-8
SOME THINK THAT ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER, AND OTHERS THINK THAT EVERY DAY IS THE SAME. LET ALL BE SURE IN THEIR OWN MIND. THOSE WHO THINK ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHER DAYS ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD. AND THOSE WHO EAT ALL KINDS OF FOOD ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD, AND THEY GIVE THANKS TO GOD. WE DO NOT LIVE OR DIE FOR OURSELVES. IF WE LIVE, WE ARE LIVING FOR THE LORD, AND IF WE DIE, WE ARE DYING FOR THE LORD. SO LIVING OR DYING, WE BELONG TO THE LORD.

THE APOSTLE AGAIN REMINDS US THAT THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT CERTAIN DAYS, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY DAY. IN ADDITION, HE TELLS US THAT WHATEVER WE DO, LIVING OR DYING, WE ARE DOING IT FOR THE LORD.

NOW, THAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT. BUT DID JESUS DO AWAY WITH OLD TESTAMENT TRUTH ? NO, OF COURSE NOT, JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW, NOT TO DO AWAY WITH IT. AND ALSO, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE WHOLE "COUNSEL OF GOD" IN BALANCE.

SO, IN GENESIS, WE SEE THAT THERE WAS A BEGINNING. IN GENESIS 1:1, WE READ "IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED...."

IN EXODUS 12:2, WE READ "THIS MONTH WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR YOU".

YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH CALENDAR, MONTHS WERE COUNTED. FIRST INSTANCE, THE TERM "THE FIRST MONTH" IS MENTIONED THE MOST IN THE OT SCRIPTURES (I.E. ABOUT 30 TIMES). "THE SEVENTH MONTH" (GOD’S FAVORITE NUMBER) IS IN SECOND PLACE.

THEN, IN GENERAL TERMS, IN THE PREACHER BOOK, ECCLESIASTES, IN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 WE READ :
"THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING ON EARTH HAS ITS SPECIAL SEASON".

SO, EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END.

TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW YEAR 2009, BUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW CHURCH PLANT, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL, WHICH, IN EARNEST, BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2008.

AS ALREADY STATED, WE NEED TO SEE EVERYTHING IN LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES, IN LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD, THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD (BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT). WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, AND FOR THAT MATTER, OUR CHURCH.

IN 2 PETER 3:1-2, WE READ
"MY FRIENDS, THIS IS THE SECOND LETTER I HAVE WRITTEN YOU TO HELP YOU HONEST MINDS REMEMBER. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE WORDS THE HOLY PROPHETS SPOKE IN THE PAST, AND REMEMBER THE COMMAND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR GAVE US THROUGH YOUR APOSTLES."

PETER REINFORCES THE IDEA THAT THE "WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD" IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER WHAT WE CONSIDER.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE THE LORD GAVE OF SUCH A CHURCH. STARTING WITH THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WE SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. GOD GAVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM, MIRACULOUS SIGNS FOLLOWED AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WAS BORN.

SO, ANY NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME PHASE.
IN ROMANS 8:8-9, WE READ "BUT YOU ARE NOT RULED BY YOUR SINFUL SELVES. YOU ARE RULED BY THE SPIRIT, IF THAT SPIRIT OF GOD REALLY LIVES IN YOU. BUT THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST."

AS YOU AND I MAKE UP THE CHURCH, THIS CHURCH - IF WE, COLLECTIVELY, DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, WE DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. IN FACT, WE WOULD NOT BE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

WHILE INITIALLY, THERE WAS A VERY RAPID, INITIAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH, THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR THAT, IN FACT, THE CHURCH REMAINED AS A SMALL, OFTEN-PERSECUTED ORGANISM.

"IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, REMEMBER THAT IT HATED ME FIRST. IF YOU BELONGED TO THE WORLD, IT WOULD LOVE YOU AS IT LOVES IT OWN. BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, SO YOU DON’T BELONG TO IT. THAT IS WHY THE WORLD HATES YOU." (JOHN 15:18-19)

"ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. THE GATE IS WIDE AND THE ROAD IS WIDE THAT LEADS TO HELL, AND MANY PEOPLE ENTER THROUGH THAT GATE. BUT THE GATE IS SMALL AND THE ROAD IS NARROW THAT LEADS TO TRUE LIFE. ONLY A FEW PEOPLE FIND THAT ROAD." (MATTHEW 7:13-14)

"DON’T FEAR, LITTLE FLOCK, BECAUSE YOUR FATHER WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM." (LUKE 12:32)

YOU SEE, JESUS PREDICTED (PROPHESIED) THAT HIS FLOCK WOULD REMAIN RELATIVELY SMALL. LATER ON IN THOSE SAME SCRIPTURES, HE FORETELLS US ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS, ARISING FROM THE CHURCH, DIVIDING IT AND DILUTING ITS MESSAGE.

SO, THIS IS WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TO THE SMALL GROUP GATHERED IN THIS NEW CHURCH, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL :

"LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISMAYED. LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. LITTLE FLOCK, HAVE FAITH, I INTENDED IT TO BE SMALL AND NOT TO GROW IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS, AT LEAST NOT INITIALLY. LITTLE FLOCK, YOU ARE DOING OKAY. LITTLE FLOCK, ALREADY NOW YOU ARE TOUCHING MORE LIVES THAN MANY OTHER, LARGER CHURCHES IN YOUR MIDST. I HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM TOO, BUT BE NOT CONCERNED WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING. BE ONLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING."

LOOKING AT THIS PROPHETIC WORD THE LORD GAVE ME YESTERDAY MORNING, I NEED TO QUICKLY SHOW YOU THAT IT IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING.

YES, SO FAR WE ARE A SMALL FLOCK – ABOUT 10 IN SIZE. BUT WHAT REALLY COUNTS IS NOT SIZE, BUT IMPACT.

WHICH CHURCH, THROUGH ITS RESOURCES, MINISTERS DIRECTLY, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO 16 IV DRUG USERS AND OTHERS WITH SEVERE ADDICTIONS, WHO USED TO WORK THE STREET, WHO HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, WHO HAD THEIR CHILDREN APPREHENDED ?

WHICH TINY CHURCH, OR FOR THAT MATTER LARGER CHURCH, HAS ITS OWN BIBLE TRAINING CENTRE WITH :

2 FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN PRINCE ALBERT (MAYBE EVEN MORE STARTING MONDAY)
3 ACTIVE PART-TIME DISTANCE STUDENTS
CLOSE TO 10 PART-TIME STUDENTS AT SASKATCHEWAN PENITENTIARY (WHICH SMALL OR EVEN LARGER CHURCH REGULARLY MINISTERS IN THE MORE THAN 10 JAILS IN THIS CITY ?)
8 TO 10 CASUAL STUDENTS IN OUR REGINA CAMPUS
AND ABOUT 100 REGULAR STUDENTS AT OUR THREE CAMPUSES IN PERU?

WHICH TINY CHURCH PROVIDES DIRECT AND ACTUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO A MISSIONS CHURCH IN TABLADA DE LURIN, A CHURCH WITH ABOUT 100 PRECIOUS PEOPLE (SEE E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT) ?

WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN BUILDING A BRAND NEW CHURCH BUILDING IN A SQUATTER COMMUNITY IN PERU CALLED PUENTE BOLIVAR. A CHURCH THAT NOW ATTRACTS 22 ADULTS AND ABOUT 10 TEENAGERS ?

WHICH TINY CHURCH, THROUGH ITS AFFILIATED MINISTRY OF JUBILATION PROGRAM, PROVIDED BRANDNEW HOUSING TO 4 SINGLE MOMS AND 9 CHILDREN IN 2008 ? WHICH TINY CHURCH IS PLANNING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS HOUSING PROGRAM AND HOPES TO BUILD ABOUT 30 HOUSES THIS YEAR ?

WHICH TINY CHURCH IS ACTIVELY PLANNING TO BUILD A TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR CLOSE TO 100 STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ?

WHICH TINY CHURCH ACTIVELY SUPPORTS A BRAND NEW CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION WHICH IS GOING TO MINISTER TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF PRINCE ALBERT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE LARGER CHURCHES HAVE NOT EVEN GIVEN ONE DOLLAR TO THIS OUTREACH EFFORT! LET’S ESTIMATE THAT JUST OUR PORTION OF SUPPORT ALLOWS THIS NEW RADIO STATION TO TOUCH ABOUT 500 HEARTS.

WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE BANK BALANCE ? DEBT DOES NOT RESTRICT US IN WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO. (SEE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT WHICH WAS HANDED OUT THIS MORNING.)

OUR SIZE SIMPLY DOES NOT DICTATE WHAT WE CAN DO. WHAT DICTATES WHAT WE CAN DO IS THE SPIRIT OF OUR ALLMIGHTY GOD. AND WITH HIM, EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE. PLEASE BE REMINDED THROUGH LUKE 1:37 "GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!"

IF YOU COUNT UP THE ABOVE FIGURES, WE DIRECTLY MINISTER TO ABOUT 870 PRECIOUS SOULS.

PLEASE BE ENCOURAGED IN THIS NEW BEGINNING!!!

PASTOR JOHN
(DELIVERED AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON January 4th, 2009)