Dreaming of Gold in 2012
Our verse for the2012 is: - ‘Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.’ Luke 5v4b. For we believe:-
2012 is a Season of Extraordinary Opportunity
We are entering into a season of extra ordinary opportunity. I have been looking forward to 2012 for the last 6 years! Although 2012 is synonymous with the Olympics I have a real sense that it goes far beyond that (after all it is only 5 weeks or so of sporting activity). I believe the Olympics coming to this part of London is all part of God’s plan for our City and nation. In our prayer times we have had a sense of God saying: -
‘Behold I put before you an open door that no one can shut’ Revelation 3v8
‘This is the year of the favour of the Lord’ Luke 4v19
I also have had a picture of being a surfer who sees before him the wave of a lifetime. He could either let the wave pass him by or he could initially move towards the wave and then at the appropriate time start to move in the direction it is travelling and get up on the board to ride it. For if he catches the wave it will take him further than he has ever been before. That is what I feel God has been saying to us about the Olympics and 2012 – if we ride this wave of extraordinary opportunity we will go further than we have ever been before.
So 2012 is a real Kairos time ("an appointed time in the purpose of God"). This is a season when God is saying to us – ‘Put down your nets for a large catch of fish.’ Like Peter, James and John in Luke 5v1-11, the key thing is to seize the moment and to work hard to pull in as many fish as possible. The key thing is to seize our moment - Steve Hill said during the Pensacola revival ‘The opportunity of a lifetime needs to be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.’
2012 is a Season of Bold Obedience
It has to be said that Peter did not respond to Jesus’ command with overwhelming enthusiasm. They had been washing and mending the nets and exhausted after a fruitless night’s fishing.
‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything
We too might need to overcome any sense of fatigue, failure, and cynicism; after all we have probably heard many the heralding of many false dawns. I can just picture Peter as he looked at the conviction and certainty in the face of Jesus changing his tune and saying
‘But because you say so, I will let down my nets’
He was going to intentionally do what Jesus said just as the servants at the wedding in Cana had been instructed by Mary to - ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ John 2v5. Jesus really knows what he is doing. He knows that when we come to the end of ourselves we come to the beginning of God.
What is more Jesus knows where the fish are, so are we prepared to trust what Jesus sees? We have to move to the right place for a catch. Jesus had asked Peter previously to put out a little into the shallow waters. There he had preached to the crowds. Now he asks Peter to go out into the deep with him. The Father is asking us to move out of the shallows of our normal experience, our comfort zones and go for the deeper waters. It is there in that place of Spirit inspired risk taking, that the large catches of fish are to be found. To see what we have never seen before sometimes we have to do something we have never done before. Are we prepared to take those sorts of risks? ‘Faith is doing something that will only succeed if God is in it – it is not what we think we will be able to do anyway.’ David Stroud. Let this be a year that every day individually and as a congregation we confidently do whatever Jesus tells us. Moving from the shallows and going deeper in our relationships at home, and when appropriate demonstrate or communicate something of God’s love.
2012 is a Season of Partnership
With the great catch of fish it was ‘all hands on deck’ in Peter’s boat. The fishermen were dependent on teamwork; it was not just one individual trying to haul in the great quantity of fish. This season is a time for interdependence rather than independence. Working together as Life groups, ministry teams and as a congregation to ensure we go out into the deep waters and as put our nets down and make the most of the opportunity before us.
Even so it was too much for the one boat
So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. Luke 5v7
The quantity of fish is so great that one boat is not sufficient but the boats have to work together in partnership to land the catch. It is thrilling that over the last few years to see how the Stratford congregations have been working together as one church. There is no sense of competition but rather there is cooperation that we might together see Jesus’ Kingdom come in our part of the City. It is wonderful that we have over 15 congregations committed to playing a part in our Olympic Ultimate Gold festival, for which we are also partnering with Through Faith Mission. What is more throughout 2012 the church in Newham are in partnership with YWAM Megacities teams. Megacities are called to cities over one million people and bring international teams to come and work alongside the local church to move the city toward transformation! For this year’s bumper harvest God is bringing in even more workers to bring it in!
We are in for an exciting and challenging year one which will need us to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. The good news that is one of the very reasons for the Coming of the Holy Spirit as Jesus quotes in Luke 4v18-19
The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
Simon Clinton
Pastor
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