pdave.me

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Yesterday we continued our series “The Collective” at Kfirst. We are taking a few weeks to cast vision for a shift in our church community. We are desiring to move from “Membership” to “Partnership.”

We are using Paul’s letter to Philemon to help be the launch point as Paul uses the word, Koinonia twice to emphasis his heart for for the church (v. 6 & v.17). This wonderful Greek word means

• fellowship, a collection, community, communion, joint participation, a proof of fellowship
  • Of business: it was a partnering or merging
  • Of the Church: it was sharing issues, sharing the load

This is the heart of the shift. We want to see ourselves as partnering (Koinonia) with God and each other to further His Kingdom.

In week 2, we settled in Nehemiah 6 at how the people of God stood to carry out the vision together.

1. I am engaged in a GREAT work. (Nehemiah 6:3)
   • “Walls” in scripture is meant to symbolize authority, protection, and security. And when opposition comes, there was the temptation to deal with things outside of the authority, protection, and security of God. Nehemiah doesn’t fall for it. He keeps himself focused on the “great work” God has in front of him. This is what steadies our feet in the direction God has placed us. We deal with life by what God by the example Jesus has given us.
2. I possess a GREATER determination. (Nehemiah 6:8-9)
   • When opposition comes, we don’t get distracted. We get determined. If we can see understand what truth looks/sounds like (Jesus), and we can realize who the Enemy is, we’ll develop a greater determination.
3. I live from a GREATER position. (Nehemiah 6:11)
   • Your stance depends upon your position. And who we are in Christ says everything about how we stand. Nehemiah didn’t worry about what others were saying, he knew who he was in God.

How different will your week look like if you approached it with the mindset of “I am a part of a GREATER work”? What would it change? Would you see people different? Would your attitude change? Would you be less passive with grace and mercy? Would you heart break for others?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you step into the week PARTNERING with the Holy Spirit as you stand in the greatness of God, shining your light to the greater Kalamazoo area.

Love you all. Praying for you this week.