Coastal Expansion

Coastal Expansion.
Sermon Notes, Ps.Jim White
Sunday 13 December 2009
• One of the things that God seems to be stirring in people’s hearts at the moment is a desire to live outside the confines of what their life looks like right now.

• Many of us have comfortable lives – we’ve settled into a place where things are not perfect – but there’s a certain amount of predictability – there’s a level of satisfaction. We are living in a “comfort zone” – but the reality is – comfort zones aren’t really that comfortable. Because there’s something built into the DNA of a spirit filled believer that always desires more.

• It’s a desire to make your life count for something – to make a difference in the world – to somehow add value to the kingdom of God. I think all of us would like to think that the world is a better place for us having lived in it.

• I love the prayer of Jabez. 1Chron 4:9,10 – “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,[a] saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”

• There are lots of lists of names and genealogies in the bible. Most of the time it just talks about who begat whom, and how long they lived. Origins and family and generations are obviously important to God – and they should be important to us.

• But in the midst of one of these long lists of generations, all of a sudden we come across Jabez – and he gets a special mention. We don’t know anything else about him – he’s not mentioned anywhere else in the bible. But we know this: his mother called him Jabez, which means “pain”, because she must have had a pretty hard time bringing him into the world.

• But he is a man who is seen as being more honourable than his brethren. He was a man who called on God. He had no problem asking God to bless him. He asked God to increase and enlarge his territory – that God’s hand, which means His open hand would be with him, to lead him and provide for him.

• He asked that God would keep him from evil, and that even though his mother called him Jabez because of the pain he caused her – that his life would actually cause no one else pain. And another very important piece of information that we sometimes overlook – God actually heard his prayer and gave him all that he asked.

• I believe God is speaking to us as His church this morning, particularly about our launch into Mullumbimby next Sunday. That everything we do in relation to this outreach be honourable. That God’s blessing be upon it. That this will be an enlargement of our territory as the people of God. And not only that – but that this would be an enlargement of us as individuals – personally.

• That God’s open hand would be there for us – His leading and His provision – with Him upholding us every step of the way. Of course, that He would keep us from evil. But also that we do not cause any pain to the people we are reaching out to – to the community of Mullumbimby. Churches can and have caused pain. But by the grace of God, we will not cause pain to ourselves or to anyone else. Instead we will be a blessing.

• It’s not a bad prayer for us right now is it?

• I always look for confirmation in the word when God speaks to us about something. And if you look back to the King James Version of the bible, this prayer of Jabez says “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast...” (KJV)

• How significant is that for us? We are Seacoast. God is placing this prayer on our hearts – that He would increase our coast. The words coast and territory come from the same original Greek word. That’s why I have always said that the Seacoast is a region – a district – not just one town or city. And there have been prophetic words in years gone by that this church is a territorial church.

• I’m sure that means territorial in a spiritual sense – and in a kingdom of God sense. But it’s relevant also in a natural sense of having influence and impact over a region, not just one city.

• If our motivation is simply to be a big church for the ego trip – or to have more control – or to raise more money – than we will never have the blessing of God upon us.

• But I believe our heart is the same as Jabez – with a desire to see the kingdom of God expand – to see more people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord – to see righteousness exalt the nation. And we are taking the steps toward that in our patch of turf called the Seacoast region.

• It’s all part of living a larger life for God.

• The reason many of us are feeling that we need to expand and grow within ourselves, is because that’s part of the process of the greater kingdom of God growing and expanding. It makes sense that God would want us to enlarge our own personal territory before and at the same time that He enlarges the church.

• Another word that has been spoken over this place in the past is Isaiah 54:2,3 - “ Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. 3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.”

• Next week we are going to enlarge the place of our tent and stretch out the curtains of our dwellings. What is the place of our tent? It’s the place where we belong – it’s the heart of who we are – it’s the relationships, the vision, the values, the culture, the spirit of what Seacoast Church is all about.

• Some might ask the question – so what is the vision for Mullumbimby? Well, the vision is the same as it is for the Seacoast. Why would we have a different vision? Why would we be different? We are going to Mullumbimby as who we are – not as who they might be, or even want us to be. We will be true to ourselves.

• Have you noticed those T shirts people are wearing around the place that have on the front “Same Same”? And then on the back it says – “But Different”.

• I have seen a few different explanations of what that means – but apparently this is a common phrase that people in Thailand and other South-East Asian nations use when selling things on the streets.

• If you come across someone selling you a Rolex watch on the streets of Bangkok, and you ask is it an original – they will often say – Yes. It’s original. Same same but different!

• Well Mullumbimby is going to be “same same but different”. Same Seacoast vision, same God, same Holy Spirit anointing, same church – but different town and different people.

• We are enlarging and expanding ourselves – not changing ourselves.

• Mullumbimby will also be as it says in Zeph 2:6,7 - a pasture, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast – will be for the remnant of the house of Judah (the people of praise). Flocks will get fed there – there will be true rest in the evening – people will sleep in peace – God will intervene for them, and return their captives.

• It’s a fantastic vision!

• And Isaiah says, do not spare. In other words, don’t hold back – go for it – step out in faith.

• We will never achieve anything of significance if we do it sparingly. 2Cor 9:6 – “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

• Do not spare – be bountiful. I think everything about our outreach to Mullumbimby should be bountiful. We are meeting in the town’s Civic Hall – taking our whole worship team – hopefully, you are all planning on going up there as well to support it – the youth have already done a letter box drop with a bright and colourful flyer.

• But the most important thing is that we have a bountiful heart of expectation and faith that people will connect in with us and join with the vision of the Seacoast at Mullumbimby.

• Heb 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

• Every step of our walk with God should have a faith element in it. If you know you can do it – and you’re confident that you understand everything about what you are stepping into – and you’ve worked out how it’s all going to be provided for – then there’s a good chance that God’s not in it – because there’s no need for faith.

• One of the scriptures that keeps coming up at the moment is Heb 6:12 – “do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

• Staying in our sluggish comfort zones will never see the inheritance of God come to pass in our lives. It takes faith and patience – two things that our natural mindedness wants to baulk at. But natural mindedness has never accomplished anything of eternal value.

• Part of the bountiful sowing and expectation has been the anointed creativity in relation to the brochures that have gone out into the Mullumbimby community.

• Zac has made a slight alteration to our logo – which we will use for all things associated with Mullumbimby - it’s “same same but different.” Instead of having the wave next to the name, it has a graphic design of Mount Chincogan.

• Mount Chincogan is part of the volcanic ridge which takes in a large portion of this area, and includes Mt Warning at the centre. When I looked up some information about it, it says that it is a result of an eruption and explosion of volcanic activity thousands of years ago.

• It reminded me that eighteen months ago I preaching about a coming explosion, ignited by passion. There’s been an explosion with Seacoast Pantry here in Ballina – but there’s an explosion that’s about to hit Mullumbimby.

• The word explosion means – a violent expansion or outburst – a sudden rapid or great increase.

• The Message Bible talks about explosions of joy and explosions of praise. It says that Peter was exploding with the good news of the gospel.

• Let’s have faith together for an explosion to happen next weekend – and an explosion of praise and the good news of the gospel would be a fantastic start.

• Maybe it’s time for us all to have an explosion of passion and explode out of our comfort zones – out of our confined places of familiarity. Let the God given desires and passions of your heart be expressed in a way that takes you beyond where you have been before – to a place of enlargement – expansion – increase.

• I shared a quote with you not long ago that says: “God’s plan for us to redeem the world is for us to multiply.”

• We are multiplying ourselves into Mullumbimby – and who knows where after that. But I think that quote is speaking first of all about something much more personal.

• As we enlarge the place of our tent and stretch out the curtains of our dwellings, the gifts and talents and passions will begin to multiply.

• There are opportunities for you now to live larger. We are no longer a church that is contained within four walls. Every week we are increasing the influence and connectedness we have with our community, especially through Seacoast Pantry – but also through your life, wherever you are situated.

• Next week we are stepping out on the water, and by faith, reaching into a whole new community.

• What is God saying to you about growing and enlarging yourself? And I don’t mean with Christmas pudding either.

• God created us as spirit, soul and body. What can you do to increase your spirit life – in areas of prayer, worship, knowing the Word, developing your spiritual gifts?

• What about the gift of faith? Do you frequently take steps of faith in your everyday life? Because without faith, it is impossible to please God.

• What about your soul life? Are you becoming a bigger person emotionally? More whole and healthy in relationships? Renewing your mind with the Word of God? Making choices daily to align your will to the will of God?

• What about physically? What physical difference are you making to your world – to other people? When you are dead and gone, what legacy will you have left behind? What will you be remembered for? Who will remember you?

• What areas of your life need enlarging and expanding before you are ready to multiply yourself?

• I believe there is a call today for us to be bountiful in our faith – our expectations – our attitudes – our relationships – our worship – our lives.

• And we are going to see a bountiful reward – an explosion of the gospel of Jesus Christ – in our territory of the Seacoast.