“[Values] are the shared convictions that guide the actions and reveal the strengths of the church… they represent the conscious and collective soul of your church because they express your most deeply held ideals.” (Will Mancini, Church Unique, 129)
Karissa and I both grew up actively involved in the Church and have had the privilege of serving in ministry our entire adult lives. However, nothing has opened our eyes to the power of God nor deepened our faith like the journey God has led us on to plant Eastside Christian Church. Every step of the way God has graciously revealed his plan and allowed us to experience immeasurably more than we could have ever asked or imagined!
We have identified six steps that God has challenged us to take over and over as we strive to exchange the common for the holy. These six steps have had profound influence on our story and have developed into the core convictions and values that have shaped our faith and ministry.
We are going to define these values through a series of blog posts over the the course of the next several weeks. We pray that the values God has placed on our hearts will shape your story in the same way they have shaped ours, that you would experience immeasurably more!
Value Number One / Lean In
At the risk of sounding overly simplistic the first step to exchanging the common for the holy and experiencing immeasurably more is to lean in and seek God, his direction, his will, his promise and his power.
Just before the Israelites miraculously crossed the Jordan River into the land that God promised to give them, Joshua commanded the people:
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5 ESV)
“Consecrate yourselves” was the Old Testament command for God’s people to lean in and draw near to him. It usually included ceremonial washing, a sacrifice for sins and abstinence from anything that would make them unclean. In this instance, Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves because God was about to do “wonders” among them, stacking up the waters of the Jordan for his people to step into the promised land on dry ground.
God performs wonders and miracles when his people lean in. The New Testament church at Antioch experienced his prompting and provision in this way.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2–3 ESV)
It’s much more than a coincidence that God provided his plan when his people leaned in. James the brother of Jesus said.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you... (James 4:8 ESV)
God will draw near and do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine when we lean in.
Karissa and I were in a season of prayer and fasting when God revealed his plan and prompted us to plant a church. We leaned in for more than a year as God opened our eyes, softened our hearts, strengthened our faith and expanded our vision. We continue to lean in and watch in amazement as he provides every step of the way.
While he may not call you to plant a church (though we are praying he stirs your heart to partner with one) God may be waiting to reveal a promise, provide an opportunity or give you direction. Whatever God has uniquely prepared for you, we are confident that he can do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine according to his power at work within you. The first step is to lean in.
How can we lean in?
Perhaps the most obvious answer is to pray. Simply spend time asking God to reveal what he has prepared for you and listen for his answer. It may come through the prompting of his Spirit or a conversation with a trusted friend but his power always presents itself through prayer.
Spend time reading God’s Word. The more time you spend understanding how God has worked in the past the more prepared you will be to step into the promises he has for your future.
I have found that fasting, though it may be my least favorite, is one of the most effective ways to lean in. As we have already seen, fasting was a regular discipline of church in the New Testament. They fasted while they sought God’s provision, his power and his promises. Fasting focuses our attention on God and tunes our heart to hear his promptings.
Lean in for the Lord will do wonders among you!