G.R.O.W. Campaign Devotional

February 4, 2018

 

G.R.O.W. Campaign Packet

  • I am excited to share with you about the capital campaign

    • We are calling it the G.R.O.W. Campaign

    • The acrostic stands for Give to Revive Our Worship

    • [Show the GROW Logo]

  • The Board of Administration has been diligently working to prepare a comprehensive document for the capital campaign

    • We have a packet for each family this morning as you leave the worship service

    • This project has been something that the board has been discussing for several years

    • We have been sharing it with you all through the Mission Possible Meetings over the last year

    • We believe that expanding is God’s vision for Idaville Church at this time

  • We realize that this requires a step of faith

    • So over the next four weeks you will be hearing devotionals from four leaders about faith and growth

    • As leadership we are committed to taking the step of faith that we are asking you all to take

 

Rebellion Against God’s Plan (Numbers 13:1-14:45)

  • The Lord instructed Moses to send some men into Canaan to explore the land (God said He was giving the Israelites the land)

  • If you remember Moses chose one leader from each tribe to be part of the scouting party

    • They spent 40 days exploring the land

    • They brought back a cluster of grapes that required two men to carry and also pomegranates and figs

  • Caleb immediately tells the Israelites that they should go up and take possession of the land, because they can certainly do it

  • The other 10 leaders didn’t feel the same way

    • They were probably afraid, which drove them to lead by fear instead of faith

    • They began to spread a bad report about the land among the people

    • Their tactic worked – the people wept and grumbled against Moses and Aaron

  • Leading by faith

    • Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the Israelites

    • Joshua, and Caleb tore their clothes and said this to the assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ​​ If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ​​ Only do not rebel against the Lord. ​​ And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. ​​ Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. ​​ Do not be afraid of them.”

    • God speaks to Moses and wants to destroy the entire Israelite community, but Moses intercedes for them

  • God’s punishment for being unfaithful

    • God explains to Moses that the punishment for the Israelite’s lack of faith in Him would be wandering through the desert for 40 years

    • The ten leaders who rebelled against the Lord and incited the Israelite community to do the same, were all struck down with a plague and died before the Lord

  • Continued rebellion

    • The morning after all of these things happened the Israelites went up toward the hill country

    • Moses told them not to disobey the Lord’s command

    • They didn’t listen and were beaten down by the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there

    • The Lord was no longer with them

  • Application

    • We as leadership have a choice to lead in fear or faith – we are choosing to lead in faith

    • You all have a choice to follow fear or faith

    • Our prayer is that you will follow faith instead of fear

      • We have an incredible opportunity over the coming weeks, months, and years to see God do something miraculous

      • This project is beyond our ability

      • If we try to do it in our own strength, we will fail

      • If we trust God to do it in His power, we will succeed, because God will grow our faith and He will be glorified

      • Isaiah 45:3, I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

    • The greatest way for us to follow in faith is through prayer

      • I want to challenge everyone to commit to praying about the “Give to Revive Our Worship” Campaign over the next seven weeks

      • We will be opening the church up every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm for anyone who would like to come and pray at the church for the church and this campaign

      • I also want to challenge everyone to commit to pray for the campaign on a daily basis

      • Fasting and prayer are a powerful combination, so I’m also challenging everyone to consider fasting at least once a week or more to pray for the growth of our church and this expansion plan

      • Ephesians 3:20-21, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! ​​ Amen.

    • ​​ Timeline

      • We will hear from three more leaders during the month of February

      • On March 4, 2018 we will have our regular quarterly Mission Possible Meeting during the Sunday school hour (9-10 am)

      • On March 25, 2018 we will have a special Commitment Service during the worship service where each person or family can privately choose to make a faith promise commitment for the next three years toward the G.R.O.W. Campaign [show commitment card]

        • In the coming weeks you will see the outline of a tree trunk painted on the green wall in the entryway to the gym

        • During the Commitment Service we will be asking everyone to place their hand print on the tree as a way of committing to the growth of the church

        • [Show the GROW Logo]

        • We will fill in the trunk of the tree as we grow through the capital campaign

      • If you have any questions about the packet, please contact any of the Campaign Team members at any time (their names are listed on the back page of the packet)