joel a'bell

7 Keys To Effective Follow-Up

2014-09-17T13:42:00.001+10:00

Every week in churches all across the globe people attend Sunday services for a variety reasons. Some might attend “just this once” because of an invitation from a friend, others simply because of tradition or special events across Christmas or Easter.

But, what makes those visitors come back a second time? What helps a visitor take their next step and become a member that finds life in (and bring life to) their congregation?

SEE ALSO: ENGAGING FIRST TIME VISITORS

Some of us might think when a visitor puts up of their hand and accepts Christ that it guarantees their return to church the following week. This is far from reality. The moment of salvation is not the culmination of someone’s journey into church life, it is only the beginning.

Starting is easy, but ask anyone who has ever begun a new diet or workout regimen. Seeing your commitment through to the end is the most challenging part. Events and goals are helpful, but they often only help people begin their journey.

Most people really begin to plug into church life after they have had a genuine connection with someone already plugged into the church. One of the most effective ways to facilitate connection is through following up and re-connecting with visitors.

In our experience at Hillsong Church we have realized that follow-ups are one of the biggest determining factors in the continued attendance of someone who is new to church. Simply put, people are much more likely to return when they’ve connected on a personal level.

How To Follow-Up Effectively:

1) Create a culture of connection: You can do this by having people welcoming on the doors, giving a moment in the service to chat with the person next to you, and by the MC/preacher recognising members of the congregation by name.

2) Manage expectations: If a visitor knows to expect a call from someone when they’re giving you their contact info, then they’ll answer that follow-up call very differently, and it won’t feel like a tele-marketing call.

3) Pick your team carefully: It’s critically important who you allow to be the “face” of your church, and anyone making or taking calls becomes your ambassador. Ensure they are well trained, have great personality, pastoral in nature and able to take initiative.

4) Determine the purpose of the call:Your follow-up call should have specific questions and desired outcome. This prevents any awkward silences and removes the pressure of it going on too long unnecessarily and talking about things that are not applicable at this stage in their journey.

5) Space the calls strategically: The aim of our follow-up is to make successful contact with a visitor 4 times within the first 12 weeks. Our calls are made at week 1, week 3, week 7 and week 12. This allows time for connection to be built, their questions raised and their journey to commence naturally.

6) Consistent reporting: By recording the success of a follow-up call and what may have been discussed helps other members of the team know where someone is at, and potentially what not to talk about. These cumulative statistics give Senior Leadership a clear view of the health of this process.

7) Build personal relationships:Announcements, websites, social media all have their place, but nothing can take the place of a relationship. Chances are, they came the first time because someone invited them, and they’ll come again if someone continues to invite them.

We don’t want to bombard people with texts or calls but we do want visitors to know they are important enough for someone to contact them personally. We want the new people in our church to know that there are people who are willing to pray with them, help them get plugged into a Connect Group, or help them take their next step in church life, whatever it may be.

If you want to see your church expand, don’t only focus on getting new people in every week, focus on retaining them.

Let’s aim to make sure that no one in our churches falls through the cracks.

Let’s aim to excel in hospitality, be intentional about getting contact details, and get on the phone to connect with people.

Often, the ‘old fashioned’ method is the most effective.

Joel

This thought was originally shared at a Hillsong Leadership Network Senior Leaders Boot Camp.
Hillsong Leadership Network members are resourced with tools such as our Follow Up Team training manual to give guidance in this area.

Accidentally Healed!

2014-04-15T07:14:00.001+10:00

Have you ever found yourself included in a group that you probably should not have been in? Granted special access to something because of who you were with?

Julia and I were coming through an airport one time and followed some people that were going a different way. Before we knew it, we had bypassed massive long lines at security and customs and were on the other side through some kind of private security check point!

The normalities of life are fine. It's the difficult situations that can be hard to bear. But every now and then you find yourself accidentally included in some amazing blessing that seemed to be designated for somebody else.

"He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:16 NLT)

Here is a story where a Samaritan finds himself accidentally healed because of his association with some Jews.

Samaritans were not meant to associate with Jewish people but Jesus often crossed cultural divides.

I am reminded again today that it's not who I am as much as it is who I am with. Jesus has allowed me to tag along with Him and all He is doing. And I am so grateful!

What seems to be an accident to us is God's purpose all along. We were broken and separate but His love is relentless and chase us down with His kindness until, once restored, we are left thinking we were accidentally healed!

Daily Deeds!

2014-01-02T10:12:00.001+11:00

It is fitting at the beginning of a new year to look back over the previous year and ask, what can I change this year? How can I do better or be better at this year?

Makes me wonder how I got to being this way and what contributed to it, good or bad!

I'm sitting here thinking about HOW to live a blessed life.. Not why (because we should) or where (because it should be everywhere) or when (because we should reflect the image of God) but HOW???

This is day 2 of our devotional at Hillsong Church. We are using Ps Brian's book, How To Maximise Your Life. http://hil.so/max2

So, how.. How do I live this way?

I don't even get stuck on the theology of why I should. Mostly, because we all should live this way. It's the way God has designed us to live!

I am responsible for my life and and it's contributions. Therefore, I must put aside wickedness and practise righteousness!

Reading my One Year Bible today revealed this verse.. "They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (Ps 1:3 NLT)

A life that is planted and flourishing and having great results in every season is the kind of life we all should be heading toward - not over somebody else but alongside everyone. This brings God great delight.

Imagine living from the result of good choices, the right behaviour and a balanced mindset?

The verse before it shows us how..

"But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." (Ps 1:2)

What I do daily really does matter and it seems to add up to a life lived through the seasons. Placing a priority on God's word in my daily life releases the wonder of Heaven's results through every season in my life.

It really comes down to Daily Deeds!

God Changes Without Changing!

2013-12-14T08:38:00.001+11:00

Many people struggle with the thought that God could ever change from something He has decided, yet the bible has so many references that specifically show God changing His mind.

Here is another one:

"Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened." (Jonah 3:9, 10 NLT)

The problem is largely for us who change all the time, but have somehow got stuck in our perception of who God is. Most of us have formulated who God is because we have been told who He is - by others.

Whenever I hear somebody saying something about God that just doesn't sound right, I often think to myself, "Who told you that? Is that what God told you about Himself or did someone else tell you that about God?"

Part of the problem might be thinking that because God is perfect He can't change, because all change has to do with becoming perfect and once you're perfect you no longer need to change!

Free will is what makes change so necessary!

Because God is perfect and cannot sin, He is always loving and caring and just and faithful, He will never change - who He is.

Because we are not perfect and can sin, we often fail to love and care and show justice and remain faithful - we often change who we are.

Because God is merciful He changes what He does in order to stay consistent (unchanging) with who He always is!

When you finally get to the end of the book of Jonah, you realise that Jonah knew this the whole time - because God doesn't change who He is, I know He will probably change what He has threatened if all the people of Nineveh change who they are!

God changes without changing!

Scripture Reunites..

2013-11-10T04:41:00.001+11:00

This year at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney we decided to spend moments each day honouring different people who have made huge contributions to our world at large. One of these areas was scripture. I volunteered for this task because scripture (SRE) has a close place to my heart as this is when I had my own personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

I was 14 years old when I first became a christian. This happened through a scripture class because I forgot to take in my signed permission slip that gave me exemption from attending that day. 30 years later and here I am casting my mind back over the events that led to total life transformation.

So, a few of us went back to Narrabeen High School to retell the story.
Whilst at the school I bumped into a few teachers who asked what we were doing. When I told them how I became a christian "right here in this classroom" and that my scripture teacher was a guy called Neville who used to go to St Faiths Anglican, the lady was excited to inform us that he still attended their church.

Well, before we even finished filming, I rang Neville and he was actually on his was home for a lunch break. So we organised to go around to his home and reconnect and here is what happened..

Today we honour all those like Neville who have tirelessly given of their time to go into schools and teach kids about Jesus.

Face Your Fears Sanga!

2013-11-10T03:46:00.001+11:00

Men's Conference 2013 - what a great encounter we had.
24hrs and so much was experienced.
In the lead up to men's conference this year, Sanga secretly found out the fear of some men in our church and then got them to face it on camera. Some fears were snakes, spiders, heights and mice!

We did these segments throughout the men's conference but the last segment backfired on poor old Sanga as the tables were turned and he was forced to face his own fears...

The Weight of The World!

2013-11-05T07:16:00.001+11:00

Have you ever had the weight of the world upon you? The cares and concerns of others, or perhaps just the cares and concerns FOR others?

I find one of the greatest wights is becoming concerned with what other people are thinking.

If I'm not careful, my mind can start to imagine what people are thinking about me or interpreting their body language for signs of distance mad recluse. Eventually everything says something about them!

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier. (Proverbs 27:3 NLT)

When we build up arguments in our own minds, ones we have never really had in person, they become a weight upon us.

The weight of the world is the thoughts we build while we wait for the truth of their reality.

Love belongs in the heart. The heart regulates the hands. Many hands make light work!

Today, let's make decisions from the heart to love people, regardless of what they may or may not be thinking. Let's build community with the reality of our conversations not the creativity of our imaginations.

It's the only way to escape The Weight of The World!

Free Will?

2013-08-31T08:21:00.001+10:00

God has given us free will but is your will free?
Is your will free to make the right decisions?

God has given us a free will - the ability to make choices. This means we can choose a direction separate to what God would want us to take. This also means we can make whatever choices we want to make, even contrary to what God's will might be!

God is not the only person trying to influence the decisions we make. The people around us are an influence. Family, friends, peers, even enemies. Sometimes it's our own quest for recognition or the deep desire to be accepted. Life is full of choices!

We often ask questions surrounding the events and circumstances of our lives, not realising that it was our choices, or somebody else's choices, that contributed to our current way of life.

Why is this happening to me?
What should I do now this has happened?
Where can I turn after such tragedy?
What on earth does all this mean?
Who is going to help me now?
What must I do?

Asking questions is good as long as it leads us to the right course of action...

Psalms 43:5 NLT
"Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again
— my Savior and my God!"

Use your free will to hope in God. Make decisions that run to Him and praise Him.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. This means we have free will, just like God who made us.

God will only ever always makes a decision that is right, just and loving! We can learn to make decisions like this too but it starts by asking a small question about our free will.

God has given us free will but is your will free?

Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?

2013-08-06T19:13:00.001+10:00

Psalms 103:7 NLT
"He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel."

I'm sure you have heard the old idiom, "Actions Speak Louder Than Words".

It has its origin in Ancient Greek and refers to the frustration people often felt when another would commit with words but fail to follow through with actions.

It is used in many different cultures and spans the horizon of countless languages as we ourselves grapple to frame an expression for other people's intensions!

Can you see the problem?
We are looking at the way people treat us and are demanding a commitment that they probably have no intension of keeping!

Now I know we should be careful to commit to anything with our words if we have no intention of follow through. Especially when it springs from an insecurity to be accepted.
But why do we hold others ransom to their words? Why must we insist that people follow through? Is that not their issue?

Perhaps a more generous response with other people would alleviate their need to over extend themselves with their words?

But I see an even bigger problem at play..
Idioms and cliches are used frequently to quickly express what would take longer if we actually had to think before we spoke!

And we often use our idioms and cliches when relating to God, even if it is subconscious.

God doesn't have any insecurities. So His words always line up with His actions. The problem is dire when we reverse the order. When we try to interpret His words because of His actions.

The Israelites often misunderstood God because they mostly looked only at His actions. They failed to first listen to His words. This is why God told Moses (and then Joshua) to meditate on His words day and night.

It is summed up beautifully here in Psalms.
"He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel."
(Psalms 103:7 NLT)

The Israelites only knew God's actions and so tried to interpret what He wanted.

Moses knew God's character because He spoke to Moses as a man speaks with his friend!

Moses never had an issue with God's actions!

The Journey!

2013-08-06T18:15:00.001+10:00

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"
(Proverbs 20:24 NLT)

There are only four people in our household that I have to look after. Directing their steps can be a challenge at times, especially when we are all headed in different directions.

As our two children grow older, Julia and I are constantly managing their desires and requests. We are constantly directing their steps in order to help them have the best possible head start in this life.

As a church leader I find this same principle at work throughout our many different campuses at Hillsong Church. We have people from every different back ground and many different nationalities. There are over 100 different languages in many of our weekend services.

As you journey in your friendship toward Jesus Christ, you begin to realise that there is always a next step to be taken. There is always a greater level of intimacy to be experienced in our relationship with The Lord.

God loves the whole world and is using the current friendships He has with humans to reach all the other humans that don't yet know Him!

When I look at what God is doing in the earth, it makes my job look very easy and miniature.

My kids don't always understand the decisions we make as parents but we are directing their steps. There are people in every church that don't understand the decisions pastors and leaders are making but they're are responsible to give direction of next steps.

Is it any wonder that we often have no clue in understanding everything along our journey when God is not just trying to grant the requests of individuals but also govern the general populous of several billion people across all the nations of the earth?

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" (Proverbs 20:24 NLT)

The Power of Preaching!

2013-08-05T19:02:00.001+10:00

Julia and I had the most amazing privilege to be in London last week for Hillsong Conference.

Everything about conference this year was fresh. Gary & Cathy Clarke and the London team did an amazing job - as did all their volunteers!

The main speakers who took the platform were Brian & Bobbie Houston, Judah Smith and Louie Giglio. These are among my favourite preachers. All of them very dynamic and passionate about Jesus and His church.

It is easy to get excited about all that is happening during a conference. The test is making it a reality when you get home. That's one reason why I really appreciate Hillsong Conferences - the inspiring messages leave you with a practical next step for all of us to apply. There is something deeper than the content. Something hidden within the message that gives you power to follow through.

For those of us who preach regularly, these speakers are definitely worth looking up to. The ability to articulate is world class. But what aspects should we attempt to copy?

1 Corinthians 1:21 NLT
"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. "

Here is what I have noticed about all these brilliant communicators. When you ask them about any keys to communicate, an immediate response is about the power of Jesus Christ to save people.

So here is my take home from Hillsong Conference.. Be inspired by the passion, presentation and message structure of these fantastic communicators. Desire to grow in the brilliant articulation of God's word.

BUT, follow their example in a greater understanding of God in scripture and the power of the cross to transform lives.

This is The Power of Preaching!

The Role of Nations!

2013-08-05T18:26:00.001+10:00

Here in Scripture we clearly see the role of nations is to turn to The Lord and practise righteousness. Then The Lord will raise them up as a beacon of hope for all people's of the earth.

Ezra 1:2-4 NLT
“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

Kingdoms rise and fall and many have had their turn throughout history. Ezra was during the Persian Empire. More recent have been the British and American.

It is a great reminder for us to pray for our national leaders, that God would arrest their attention and serve Him wholeheartedly.

Any nation that sets its heart toward The Lord will be exalted. The next step is for them to bless the church and allow God's word to have free course in the land and restore God's kingdom values.

This is The Role of Nations!

Stop Segregating

2013-08-04T20:32:00.001+10:00

Believers live segregated when they misunderstand the significance of Christ living in them!

We lose sight of our impact in society when going to church becomes the spiritual event of our week. One of the reasons we gather (and there are many) is so we can again be sent - to be the light of the world.

2 Chronicles 35:3 NLT
"He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord : “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel."

Here is a period in Israel's history where the temple was not in use, until Josiah restored the people to The Lord.

They would carry the ark back and forth, signifying that there spiritual life was segregated from their natural life. Josiah was convicted of this and restored worship back in the temple.

As New Testament believers we understand that we are that temple and that God dwells in us by His Spirit.

So we see there should no longer be any segregation between gathering as the church (on The Lords day) and being the church in our society.

The Spirit of God is calling all of us to teach others and serve The Lord so that we can Stop Segregating!

Withdrawn!

2013-08-02T18:53:00.001+10:00

Every Christian would long for an uninterrupted friendship with God. One where His presence is always felt and always close.

So why does it sometimes feel like He has withdrawn?

Every discussion we have about God must start from a foundation of who God is. The He is loving and just and merciful and kind. For example, God is never wanting to execute judgement on a person, which is why his mercy pleads with us to repent and return to Him - then He is able to forgive us restore us.

Here is an interesting passage in scripture:
2 Chronicles 32:31 NLT
"However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart."

God wants to give us more - more of everything! He wants us to have more knowledge, more understanding, more capacity, more strength, more ability to carry out His will, more resources to achieve His plans.

When you understand that God love you, you begin to realize that everything God does is for our benefit. Even if He is testing us it is to trust us more. This is why He has withdrawn!

Joel A'Bell shared an Instagram photo with you

2013-07-08T16:30:00.001+10:00

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Joel A'Bell shared an Instagram photo with you

2013-07-08T09:07:00.001+10:00

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The Privilege of Repenting!

2013-06-17T08:00:00.001+10:00

Salvation came first to the Jews, but God always wanted to save everyone. This is very evident by the way foreigners were allowed to join the Israelites and participate in the festivals. There are many Gentiles that were grafted into the family tree of Jesus, people like Ruth, Naomi & Rahab..

At the beginning of the early church, Peter was instructed by The Lord to go into the home of some Gentiles and preach the gospel to them. These Gentiles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and it had nothing to do with Peter.

This created some contention back at Jerusalem HQ and Peter had to explain himself..

"When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
(Acts 11:18 NLT)

What struck me the most were the words, "the privilege of repenting".

I guess most of us see repenting of our sins an obligation, not a privilege!

This is mostly to do with our Greek mindset because we grown up thinking, fundamentally, that we are the Center of the universe. It's me first and everything revolves around me. This is why it's important how I treat people, because it affects the world around me.

The Hebrew mind is very different, in that God is the Center of the universe and everything revolves around Him. It's still important how I treat people, but now because it affects the world I am in.

It's not my world!
It's God's world and I am in it.

Anything I do to hinder what God wants done deserves punishment. Its His world, His creation, and the realisation that God still wants me in it and part of it gives me The Privilege of Repenting!

Check with God!

2013-04-15T04:45:00.001+10:00

Israel are now progressing into their future and starting to occupy the promises God gave them. Along the way, there was a group of people who acted with deception in order to preserve themselves. They pretended they were from a far away land in order to get a peace treaty with Israel.

"So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord." (Joshua 9:14 NLT)

This is such an alarming verse because it takes longer to examine their belongings than it does to consult The Lord about this situation.

We will always run into trouble if we rely only on our own understanding. We cannot possibly know all we need to know for this life's journey. There will always be a bigger perspective that we just can't quite see.

But God is able to lead us and direct us in all our affairs. What's more, He wants to be involved in all our decisions and travels.

Check with God!

The Cost of The Cross!

2013-04-11T06:32:00.001+10:00

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27 NLT)

The cross was the final task of Jesus before He gave His life for the whole world. Giving up our lives also must be our complete resolve.

The cross represented an obedience to God, which should mark our journey also.

Our lives reflect His leading in our daily steps and lifelong path. It shows that we have received His calling, heeded His direction and followed His instruction.

It's a life that is filled with grace, emptied in service, and revived in His presence.
It's The Cost of The Cross!

The Key To Life!

2013-04-07T06:45:00.001+10:00

Many people are in hot pursuit of the secret to living a successful life. Bookshops have shelves filled with keys to life. Self-help seminars promise to deliver the keys to life.

When so many people have tried so many options and still come up empty, is there really any one particular key to life?

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 NLT)

In verse 20 God says, "this is the key to your life."

God made us and knows how we can experience this full life. In fact, God gave us the choice between life and death, and then pleads with us to choose life!

Here it is: You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him.

Loving God is The Key To Life!

#OnMission

2013-04-03T08:47:00.001+11:00

"As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51 NLT)

Most of us flee from suffering, we run from pressure and try to avoid pain at all costs.

When a cause is noble, it should be pursued from every angle.

There are many situations for the Christian that will include suffering and persecution, and these should not deter us from fulfilling the mission of God in our lives.

Jesus knew that the cross was waiting for Him at Jerusalem yet He resolutely set out for it.

Jesus was #OnMission

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#OnMission

2013-04-02T07:55:00.001+11:00

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51 NLT)

Most of us flee from suffering, we run from pressure and try to avoid pain at all costs.
When a cause is noble, it should be pursued from every angle.

There are many situations for the Christian that will include suffering and persecution, and these should not deter us from fulfilling the mission of God in our lives.

Jesus knew that the cross was waiting for Him at Jerusalem yet He resolutely set out for it.

Jesus was #OnMission

Redeem The Day!

2013-03-30T08:50:00.001+11:00

"One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out." (Luke 8:22)

Jesus planned a road trip (by boat) but it turned into a day trip. In fact, He didn't make it further than the shore they landed on. The people were so afraid, that they made Him get back into the boat and go back to where He came from.

"And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake." (Luke 8:37 NLT)

We are not sure what Jesus had in mind but we know from other Scriptures that He wanted to go to more towns and preach the good news of the kingdom of God.

This town was locked up with strong demonic powers. They were greeted by a demoniac who asked, "why are you interfering with us?" This could be why there was such a ferocious storm on the way across the lake.

Jesus had more trouble from the locals who were not demon possessed than with the man who was!

After being asked to leave, Jesus strategically leaves the healed man behind to tell his story and the town (the Decapolis) later experiences revival.

No matter how the day starts, lets be open to the possibilities before us, knowing that God can Redeem The Day!

Failure To Demonstrate!

2013-03-19T09:39:00.001+11:00

It is too easy to create my own little doctrine through the assumptions and feedback from others. I am grateful for the many amazing minds around me that allow for robust conversations in our search for truth.

It's not that God is 'trying' to reveal Himself but that we are 'trying' to understand what God has 'clearly' stated!

Here is a great example..
"..for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) (Numbers 27:14 NLT)

I recently heard that some scholars think their rebellion was striking the rock (for the second time) because the rock was only meant to be struck once, referring to Jesus being struck only once and not twice!

At first I loved this thought because it included Jesus and sounded so poetic, but maybe God meant exactly what He said in that they failed to demonstrate His holiness?

God is holy and to be revered.
We are not to hide Him, His name or any part of His being. To make a name for ourselves above His or give greater honour to any other name above His, is to fail to demonstrate His holiness!

If God says go and we stay, we fail to demonstrate His holiness.
If God then says stay but we try to go, again we fail to demonstrate His holiness.
If God says consume and we conserve, we fail to demonstrate His holiness.

We have ample examples from the Israelites of every time God got angry it was a failure to demonstrate His holiness.

God reveals Himself, we must ensure there's no Failure To Demonstrate!

Obedience Changes Things!

2013-03-18T21:51:00.001+11:00

Jesus lived a life that fulfilled all the prophetic writings about himself. But there was nothing about him needing to be a carpenter..

There is a sense that Jesus could have frequented the temple much more often if his parents had been ok with it. Instead, he went to Nazareth and was obedient to them, which changed the next several years of his life.

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51 NLT)

It would seem that obedience to anyone over you takes precedence while God is waiting..

Obedience Changes Things!