Dear Church …we have been locked down at home by COVID-19 for a period of time. Our lives are changed as we adjusted to the new normal, new way of life at home, in work or in church meetings.
Some lamented that these 6 to 12 months of our lives are wasted. Wasted? I don’t think so. Even though this is a difficult period individually and as a church, we know that God is in control and sovereign & in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Roman 8:28).
Y2020 is a year of “lockdown”. ROLC is in “SITTING” position. But all is not wasted. God is preparing us. It’s a period when we surrender & re-consecrate ourselves for God to bring us to our next level of faith and growth. But, we will first need to reset; to rebuild our family altar and mend our broken walls & foundation; to release and get rid of all the old things that bind us ..our hurts & disappointment that hold us back; a time to refresh like Prophet Elijah … sitting at the brook and let God feed us and get back our strength; to realign back to God’s will and purposes and not our human agenda; and to restructure for the tasks ahead. God is preparing his army.
If 2020 is “SIT”, next year 2021 is a year for us to “WALK”. And 2022 to “RUN”. Why do I say that? John 4:35 – Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
You do not need to be a prophet to see and sense this. Look around us and you will see all the new development and transformation around our church. God has placed a new community around us.
We need to ask ourselves what is God doing? And what do we need to do with the blocks of HDB flats, a new Northshore primary school and a shopping mall just down the road from our church which will be ready next year?
The Lord Jesus said to Simon Peter in Luke 5:4 “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch”. Simon had fish all night catching nothing. But when he heard the words and obeyed, there was a big catch.
Many of us will love and long to hear these words from our Lord, Jesus. We have sown for seasons in Punggol without much success. We waited eagerly and look forward towards the day when our Lord will tell us “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
It is coming. Are we ready for the harvest? And, are we ready to disciple the new people if God bring them to us?
This COVID-19 time is a time given for us to reset, to refresh, to prepare and restructure for the harvest ahead. This is a time to unite together and obey God’s words. We have engaged Rev Philip Huan and will embark on the DG training and coaching from the month of June onwards which I believe is essential and critical for us. DGLs need to be strengthen, core team identified and groomed. We need to take the opportunity now to prepare for the future.
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint”.
2020 – SIT. Renew. Restore. Realign. Restructure.
2021 – Walk. 2022 – Run. 2023 onwards – Soar like Eagles.
May we walk worthy of our calling, walking in unity and love (Eph 4:1-3)
Tung Weng Him