OUR PLACE IN OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE REDEMPTIVE HISTORY!HISTORY!

Sunday, July 6, 2008Sunday, July 6, 2008

John KimberJohn Kimber

POTENTIAL is no longer a dirty word! God has given us incredible POTENTIAL.

What I mean when I say Redemptive History is…

Redemptive history is a general term to describe the study of God's acts of redemption from creation to the present. Although a broad field of study, all of redemptive history can be

said to climax and culminate in the Cross, encompassing Jesus' death, burial, and

resurrection.

My question is: Where is our place in redemptive history?

I know that God has I know that God has instructed all Christians to:instructed all Christians to:

To live lives that To live lives that GLORIFYGLORIFY God God with every breath we take.with every breath we take.

We are to go and make We are to go and make DISCIPLESDISCIPLES. .

But God has also created each of us and our community for a UNIQUE

purpose that only we can fulfill.

FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF JUDAHJUDAH

The first of steps in this path is to The first of steps in this path is to REACH UPREACH UP to God. to God. Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat INQUIREDINQUIRED of the Lord in all decisions of the Lord in all decisions

he made.he made. Many Biblical Leaders Many Biblical Leaders INQUIREDINQUIRED of the Lord. of the Lord.

Moses established the Tent of Meeting where Moses established the Tent of Meeting where those who desired to inquire of the Lord could those who desired to inquire of the Lord could go to seek Him.go to seek Him.

David inquired of the Lord before battles and David inquired of the Lord before battles and decisions of where to live in his wandering.decisions of where to live in his wandering.

The Apostles sought God in replacing Judas.The Apostles sought God in replacing Judas. If we are to do If we are to do GOOD WORKSGOOD WORKS for God we must for God we must

reach up to Him.reach up to Him.

FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF

JUDAH.JUDAH. The second step in this path is to The second step in this path is to REACH INREACH IN to each to each

other.other.– In 2 Chronicles 20:3, we are told he called a fast for all In 2 Chronicles 20:3, we are told he called a fast for all

of Judah and that from every town in Judah the people of Judah and that from every town in Judah the people came together to inquire of the Lord. Part of their came together to inquire of the Lord. Part of their inquiring was to inquiring was to FASTFAST and and PRAYPRAY..

– We also see other Biblical leaders reaching in as they We also see other Biblical leaders reaching in as they sought God’s guidance:sought God’s guidance:

When Moses went into the Tent of Meetings to inquire of When Moses went into the Tent of Meetings to inquire of the Lord, each of the Israelites would stand outside his tent the Lord, each of the Israelites would stand outside his tent and worship the Lord.and worship the Lord.

When the Apostles had gathered together they dedicated When the Apostles had gathered together they dedicated themselves to prayer and asked God to choose the person themselves to prayer and asked God to choose the person to replace Judas. to replace Judas.

– God establishes God establishes COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY for us to seek Him for us to seek Him together. together.

FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE FINDING OUR PLACE IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF HISTORY THROUGH A KING OF

JUDAH.JUDAH. The third step is to The third step is to REACH OUTREACH OUT and share the good and share the good

things the Lord has done for you and His good news things the Lord has done for you and His good news for the world. for the world.

What you will notice in this story is that God is What you will notice in this story is that God is REALLYREALLY doing all the work. The case is true today. doing all the work. The case is true today. CHRISTCHRIST has already done everything needed to has already done everything needed to reconcile us to God. reconcile us to God.

Today, we share the good news of a God who is still Today, we share the good news of a God who is still PROTECTINGPROTECTING His people. His people.

HOW CAN I PRACTICALLY REACH UP, HOW CAN I PRACTICALLY REACH UP, REACH IN AND REACH OUT AT MERIDIAN REACH IN AND REACH OUT AT MERIDIAN WOODS AT THIS TIME?WOODS AT THIS TIME?

REACH UP by joining us on Sunday Morning REACH UP by joining us on Sunday Morning at at 9:00 AM9:00 AM to pray for God’s direction for us to pray for God’s direction for us and to ask him to help us glorify Him.and to ask him to help us glorify Him.

REACH IN through joining a small group here REACH IN through joining a small group here at Meridian Woods. at Meridian Woods. – Meet in a currently established Meet in a currently established LIFE GROUPSLIFE GROUPS– Meet with two or three others to Meet with two or three others to SUPPORTSUPPORT and and

Encourage each other and our work here.Encourage each other and our work here. REACH OUT. REACH OUT.

– One Person I can be praying for right now, who One Person I can be praying for right now, who needs God is needs God is ___________________________________________.___________________________________________.