Okay guys, today's topic is titled Rehoboth and it's the same title that I
will probably use tomorrow, Rehoboth. I referred to Rehoboth long ago but one of
the things I said in January when we were talking about Shekaina was when we
asked God why, oh God, are you using Acts 29 to revive the earth or to bring
revival across the nations of the earth, his reply was, for the last 15 years
through thick and thin you have lived out Genesis 2680. Like Isaac you have dug
again the wells which were dug in the days of his father Abraham but had been
clogged up by the Philistines after Abraham's death and Isaac renamed them
using the original names his father had given them. That was one of the things
God said, had him choose us that every time over the last 15 years one of the
things he's noticed is the world may be shutting down ancient wells because it's
not trendy or because their theology changes or because things are not
happening but he said every time an ancient well has been clogged up by the
Philistines you Acts 29 have gone up and dug those wells again and kept those
waters fresh and therefore I find you trustworthy to use as I begin to revive
the earth or send a revival across the earth. That is what he said and so I want
to read Genesis 2618 onwards but one of the things that I need to say and you
need to also cultivate as a leader is that part of a leader's job is to locate
the church in the seasons and the kairos of God. Part of a leader's job, part of a
leader's job and you could be the leader of a family of four or two or three or a
leader of a small group or a church or a house church. Part of a leader's job, part
of a leader's job is to locate his or her people, his or her people in the kairos
or fluid seasons of God and so that's something I want to do today because it
is my responsibility to do it. So this teaching is basically to try and help you
see the kairos or the season that we are in, to locate ourselves in it so that how
we go forward from here is easier because once you know where you are then
you know which way to travel. So I'm going to read Genesis 28 18 to 25. That's
first thing cops ask you when your car is stalled or when you notice something
first thing they ask you is what crossroads are you on? They try to locate
you. Once they locate you from there on they can give you directions. So this is
where we are located so we know what lies ahead and where we are at. Genesis
chapter 28 sorry Genesis chapter 26 18 to 25. Genesis chapter 26 18 to 25.
I'll start at 17. So Isaac moved away from there and then camped in the valley of
Gerar and settled there. Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time
of his father Abraham which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham
died and he gave them the same names his father had given them. Isaac's servants
dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there but the herdsmen of
Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said the water is ours so he named the
well Essek because it disputed with him. Then they dug another well but they
quarreled over that one too so he named it Sitna. He moved from there and dug
another well and no one quarreled over it he named it Rehoboth saying now the
Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land. From there he went up to
Beersheba that night the Lord appeared to him and said to him I am the God of
your father Abraham do not be afraid for I am with you I will bless you and will
increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham. Isaac
built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord there he pitched his
tent and there his servants dug a well. So here's where we are at.
Here's where we are he went from there he went from there and who's this he?
This he is now us. Acts 29 and all who are with us in different parts of the
world. I like it Acts 29 plus. He went from there and dug yet another well but
there was no fighting but I'm taking it from different versions but there was
no fighting no contest no can we have it at this time can we have it at that time
there was no fighting over this one there was no fighting over this one there
was no fighting over this one so he named it Rehoboth. So he named it Rehoboth
which basically means wide open spaces wide open spaces saying and this is so
important saying saying now God now God has made room now God has made room for
us and given us now God has made room for us and has given us plenty plenty
of space plenty of space to spread out plenty of space to spread out plenty of
space to spread out and we shall be fruitful in the land. This is where we
are at guys. If you're listening to what I'm saying deliberately choose to take a
pen or a paper or your phone and write this down not so that you remember it
write it down so that you you you you're actually doing something about a word
from heaven to the church. That is how weighty this is. This is why I said I
may not be able to convey what God is wanting to do or what God is saying I
may not be able to convey it I'm just trying to capture this this gift that
God has given us and it boggles my mind boggles my mind that we are getting a
place that we have not built wells that we have not dug vineyards we haven't
planted I do not understand really else why is there no dust why are there no
cobwebs why is there everything so clean why hasn't nothing been removed what is
it Oh God that you're doing how is it even possible Oh God all our lives in
the last 16 years we've been in warehouses coffee shops restaurants
shopfronts we've had to work hard to build a space we've had to sand down
walls put soundproofing face the neighbors ire not find parking make
adjustments apply for time slots adjust right from 2006 on till today we've
always found it very natural to do that we thought it was normal and then in a
matter of 36 hours of God how do you pull off something like this is anything
too difficult for you why is it that the amount doesn't frighten us why doesn't
frighten Heidi when I made a suggestion financially she said no Jacob if this is
God then he will provide
and so we suddenly take our eyes off this premise it's only a property we
we've done well with our property we have done well without dirty premises so
it's not about the premise the premise is just a symbol a symbol of what a
symbol of not just a geographical relocation a symbol of not just ancient
doors being opened but is a symbol of something else you're doing father I
really believe one of the things you're doing is bringing us to this well-called
Rehoboth and that is why this is so weighty Holy Spirit and that is why you
must convey it because I cannot I'm scared to despise this I'm scared to
complain about it because it is holy and precious not the premise it's only a
building of stucco and wood and concrete now that is just a symbolic gift that
says so much more about what you're really up to and never have you ever used
acts 29 for itself you've always used it for the nations so here you are again
setting us up
therefore then this scripture suddenly takes on so much weight that for the
next six to twelve months we must carry it well on our shoulders because it's
literally be like the government of God and what do you mean by that if God is
saying this is something I want you to do and if we can carry it on our
shoulders well not carry the weight of it carry it well then the then what
happens is God is able to govern well from amongst the people because they
believe it God is able to govern well in the area that he appoints of people
too because they carry it well they believe him so let's go over it again he
went from there acts 29 went from there from where from right now it's first
idea of geographical location so we were at 6075 in Venice and we went from there
and we dug yet another well but there was no fighting a contest over this one
so they named it Rehoboth. Rehoboth means wide open spaces and this was what was
said this is more important than the geographical changes is this that we
have to focus on because this is the spiritual Kairos or relocation or season
or time or change that is upon us that is already upon us which is partly why
there'll be no inaugural service at that place on the 18th Sunday we'll go into
that Sunday just carrying this that space in a sense it doesn't have to be
inaugurated so on Sunday when we go in there on the 18th there won't be some
great speech and some ribbon-cutting there'll be a ribbon-cutting in my
office but other than that there won't be any other ribbon-cutting it'll be
very ordinary it'll be just like ordinary extraordinary Sundays that we
always have and Saturdays and maybe Fridays and Thursdays God knows but this
is what we need to focus on I love it I love it I love it I can taste it look at
what it says now God has made room for us and given us plenty of space to
spread out and we shall be fruitful in the land just absorb it marinate in it
you'll have to spend time on this now now not tomorrow not day after now and
it'll be now for the next 12 months and more now who God God God of the universe
God has done what made room that's the whole idea of Rehoboth he has made room
as in he has created space as in he has created a broad place to stand even on a
mountain I love driving to Banff because I always see a mountain goat and this
blooming thing will stand at a 50 degree angle as if it's the most
comfortable place to stand because somehow it finds a broad place God will
give me broad places to stand on really dangerous ground now God has made room
made room he has made room for whom for us not for one person for us for a
people it's always his style and he has given us given us not will give us
given us there must be a Jericho like attitude God has already given us
Jericho therefore Jericho is shut up because they know that God has already
given Jericho into our hands he has given us what plenty not little bit
plenty of space God has given us plenty of space to do what to spread out and
don't for a moment think I understand all of it but I will God has given us
plenty of space to spread out and we shall be fruitful in the land you don't
know over the last two weeks I've received I know the last five days I've
received more than a few scriptures sent by people talking about how we will and
I am a fruitful tree and that we will have orchards that will be fruitful and
all this was before the scriptury just to say that God repeats things over and
over again we shall be fruitful in the land I'll leave it at that because I
don't know enough to break down the whole thing as much as I need to that is
something you need to understand we shall be fruitful in the land we shall
be fruitful in the land here's a strange thing though though guys no I'll tell you
I was changing a little bit later so Isaac finally finds an undisputed well
and he knows that okay he can prosper here there's no opposition he's
unhindered he can branch out to the north south east and west don't don't
guys don't quit on me yet hey I'll keep this really short I'll actually finish
in ten minutes because I don't have much to say today except what I'm saying so
don't quit on me yet don't get distracted not don't quit on me yet
don't quit on me so one it's an undisputed well as in it's completely
by Isaac and in this case acts 29 it will be a time to prosper guys this is
important when a people when a people are given this an individually you begin
to function like this too this is when I feel bad for the ones who will not
listen to this message deliberately not because they lack time not because they
had other things to do all those are really valid things because if I was
not a pastor I wouldn't be able to listen to every message that goes on I
but this is when I feel bad when people don't listen to something because
they're not interested that I really feel bad for because they'll never catch
it never get to participate in the promise of God that I feel bad about
it was an undisputed well Isaac knew he would prosper you know what the Bible
says during a time of famine Isaac prospered became really wealthy I don't
know what prosperity looks like to you and what prosperity you're looking for
at present but take advantage of the next 12 months is this the prosperity
gospel no it's a promise there'll be you will not be hindered by opposition will
not be hindered by opposition will not be hindered by opposition there's a
great time to branch out it's a great time to branch out to the north east
west and south let's keep it simple and go north southeast and west this is a
great time to branch out
whatever branch out means to you you can check and there'll be a sense of
unstoppable during this time unstoppable it's like something that's now gathered
momentum and even if you apply the brakes it'll be 110 meters before it
comes to a standstill
one of the things Jane sent me earlier today was that we are out of the
wilderness and into our inheritance and that's the way of looking at it it's a
day when it's almost this sense a there is something else that's waiting but
we've already entered so it's only a matter of time there is a promise
waiting and I'll just briefly touch on it but if this is what inheritance looks
like we have entered
God will show us how I mean Sheldon briefly touched on it when he was when
he was sobbing his way through that song he was making up he briefly touched on
this where we'll discover new ways to make room for his presence we will
discover new ways to make room for his presence we will discover new ways to
make room for his presence
it'll be so liberating for many people across the earth so liberating discover
new ways to make room for his presence to make room for his mission to make
room for his purpose new ways and whatever applies to a people applies to
individuals in the people so I'm looking forward to this things will emerge
things will sprout
remember these words guys he's he has made room plenty of space given now
fruitful think of these words take advantage of these 12 months that's why
I don't want to waste a Sunday doing an inauguration or whatever things happen
on a Sunday when you go into new space don't want to waste the 365 days goes
pretty fast man we're already almost at July 17th so so he he I wish you could
understand how how unhindered our progress will be
let me conclude he's in this amazing place called a hobo who wants to leave
this place but the very next words without explanation
Isaac moved to be a shepherd so now let me redraw that picture I said promise
be a shepherd a hobo without any explanation so if you go to verse 22
look at what it says in 22 then see what it happens in 23 he moved from there and
dug another well and no one quarreled over it he named it a hobo saying now
the Lord has given us room and we will flourish or be fruitful in this land and
then the very next verse from there he went up to be a shepherd without any
explanation the next verse says Isaac moved to be a shepherd even though this
would be such a cool place to live in he moves to be a shepherd and it says he
went up to be a shepherd and whenever you use went up in that sense it's an
expression which is always used of motion towards the land of promise it's
always used in that sense Jesus went up to a David went up to a Samuel went up
to there's always a sense of okay there is another destination that I'm finally
supposed to settle in and this is not it
so we won't fall in love with the premise we will be good stewards of the
premise because we don't know what awaits next
you don't know whether we are supposed to park there and Sheldon is supposed to
buy that plot of land so that we live there happily forever or whether we are
supposed to have I mean for all you know Sheldon and Jane may want to raise Phoebe there
they went up to be a shepherd an expression which is always used of motion
towards the land of promise but here's the thing guys it's in Beersheba that
the Lord appears to him on the night of his arrival and he confirms a promise
given to Abraham and I'm looking forward to that so as much as I'm going to be
absolutely thrilled with what happens here what's gonna happen there Jacob
well based on what God is saying he has made room for us and given us plenty of
space to spread out and we shall be fruitful in this land for at least 12 to
16 months so you're talking about August September October number almost
in December 2022 we're gonna have plenty of room plenty of space be fruitful
spread out we're gonna branch out we will not be hindered there'll be very
little opposition if there is opposition it's easily overcome it'll be
undisputed it'll be prosper it'll there'll be a sense of unstoppable iti
and we will discover new ways to make room for his presence mission and
purpose my god you really want to leave that space after a promise you've
received yes why because there's another promise that awaits me in a place called
Beersheba and what is that promise and the promise says I am the God of your
father Abraham do not be afraid for I am with you and will bless you I will
multiply your descendants and they will become a great nation that is what I'm
looking to where now we will have children who will become a great nation
and will completely change the way Christianity and the kingdom is done on
earth that is where God is taking us see and so Beersheba awaits but you cannot
get there without going through Rehoboth and the strange thing at Beersheba is
Abraham sorry Isaac builds an altar after Isaac builds an altar he digs a
while he's building an altar his servants are digging a well this well
altar connection we got to figure out we will do it that do that in the future I
made this time be a time of ridiculous joy please capitalize on the next 12 to
16 months Isaac means laughter don't get serious because there are pews and
because Sheldon is playing the organ so just learn to be learn to be joyful over
the next 12 to 16 months joyful last thing I want to say and this is just as
this is something that happened after I finished the teaching is guys over the
last two three years we've saved a lot of money because our rent was low and
our people were super generous and God blessed us as a new was super generous
God blessed us our rents and below so we've we've got money in the bank and
we don't have to struggle with regard to the rent and stuff like that like we
used to at Main Street at Main Street for those two storefronts we were paying
five thousand bucks and every month we didn't know how the rent would be met
because we were a very small group of people like if you think we are small
now imagine what really small looks like like on a good day 25 people used to
turn up now it's 35 but you see the big difference the point is this guys at
that time it is a struggle and right now it is not and so what I'm going to say
has nothing to do with money or costs but one of the things I felt God saying
is as you enter this new phase of your inheritance practice Deutronomy 26 1 to
11 as you enter this new phase of your inheritance practice Deutronomy 26 1 to
11 and I'm going to read that out and then I'll just tell you what I'm
suggesting and then we can leave it at that so Deutronomy 26 1 to 11 when you
have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and I've
taken possession of it and settled in it take some of the first fruits of all
that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and
put them in a basket then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a
dwelling for his name and say to the priest in the office at the time oh
there's an office there too and say to the priest in the office at the time I
declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to
our forefathers to give us the priest shall take the basket from your hand and
set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God then you shall declare
before the Lord your God my father was a wandering Aramean and he went down into
Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation powerful and
numerous but the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer putting us to hard
labor then we cried out to the Lord the God of her fathers and the Lord heard
our voice and saw our misery toil and oppression so the Lord brought us out of
Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm with great terror and
with miraculous signs and wonders he brought us to this place and gave us
this land a land flowing with milk and honey and now I bring the first fruits
of the soil that you O Lord have given me place the basket before the Lord your
God and bow down before him and you and the Levites and the aliens among you
shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your
household so what I would suggest is whatever you think you want to place
before God do it between July 11th and July 18th and then Acts 29 will take
first fruits from that and give it to a church that is either starting or in
need first fruits is not percentage so it's not that we'll take 10% and give it
to someone we may take 80% 60% 90% it's completely up to you so even what you
give is completely up to you can be five bucks it can be a thousand bucks
doesn't matter it's our recognition of this new place that God has brought us
into not so much geographically but more spiritually and then we'll take from
that and we will give it to either another church that is just starting or
another church that needs it my heart says another church that is just
starting so we give a portion of that to a church that is starting for he has
blessed us and now we get to be a source of blessing to someone else so between
July 11th and 18th do it put it put a line in the memo saying Rehoboth or if
you're writing a check just put Rehoboth in the memo however if you
whatever and if you don't know how to spell Rehoboth read Genesis 26 and it'll
all work out that's what I want to say today
which song I know we have to sing a song one of them is give thanks to the
Lord my God and King love and yours forever hi that's one it's another song
where you step from one phase into another anything where we step from one
stage to the other
ah
give thanks to the Lord my God and King no this time you will have to come and
play I ain't doing it on my own shall we go they're playing let's go okay let's
go that that that way
how tall am I yeah not very tall
do you have the words on the TV by any chance sorry Phoebe is distracting
everybody
Thanks forever by Chris Tong
Thanks to the Lord our God and King.
His love endures forever.
For he is good, he is above all things.
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise.
With the mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever.
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise.
Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us, forever.
Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us, forever.
From the rising star, the setting sun
His love endures forever.
By the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise.
From the rising star, the setting sun
His love endures forever.
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever.
We sing praise, sing praise.
Sing praise, sing praise.
Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us, forever.
Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us, forever.
Forever.