Write up by Eudora Shin
Matt 9:16-17 – “New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
God is introducing new wine, but we are not to put them into old wine skin. The old wine is to teach the principles and composition of how this new wine is to be created, without enforcing the old wine’s preference onto the new wine. (eg: China nationals recreating French Bordeaux wine and discarding its original essence)
The elders govern the values and DNA of the community; they empower and protect, they give influence and watches the alignment of the church.
The leadership envisions, they discern God’s leading and they are the forefront of executing action plans and leading the community.
The wider community also looks to the Lord to corporately confirm the discerned direction. The elders do not hold functional authority over the leadership. The elders carry influential authority while the leaders carry functional authority.
Hence, as a body of Christ, everyone has an equal responsibility in seeking God’s face and discerning where Christ is leading the church. This is an important spiritual journey of waiting for one another as we wait upon the Lord, listening to one another as we listen to God. When you walk like this, your pace might be significantly slow moving; slower but nonetheless, together. You may not be very big, but you will go deep.
This prophetic destiny was released by Joseph Chean, National Director of YWAM Singapore, during Missions Sunday 2017. It supports the vision we received 2 years ago from a fellow WRPF member of a hand holding integrated community, contrastive to the ‘passing on of the baton’ church culture we’ve mechanically cultivated over the years.
Many of us took home valuable takeaways from the 2 sermons that were centered on how we, as a body of Christ, can bring about a God-ordained impact whenever and wherever we are. My first personal insight was the paraphrase of John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His best (only begotten Son)…” Out of His love, God gave His best. Every Christian is to become ‘a little Christ’. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else. Therefore, as representation of Christ, we are God’s best to whoever and wherever God has sent us to.
After reaffirming and securing our identity, Chean went on to seal that act by realigning our motives through practical ways on how we can be God’s best in faithful little ways. In our generation today, much emphasis is placed on bringing about an impact to our society. The term impact is an abstract and airy concept. If not defined succinctly, it could result in a juxtapositional outcome (ie: unrealistic expectations, unnecessary pressure, burnt out, etc). Conversely, the word of God always highlights the importance of taking a step at a time, being content with our portion and to be faithful even in the little things. Consequently, to rightly represent God’s character, I am committed to see the great commission accomplish through acts such as; laying down my rights to serve others, being a blessing by bringing lingering joy and giving more than I can spare.
God can only show Himself as He really is to people who are united together in one body, loving and helping one another and showing Him to one another. For that is what God meant humanity to be like.
The one really adequate instrument for learning about God is the whole Christian community, waiting for Him together. – CS Lewis
With this renewed sense of purpose and identity, may WRPF run every step with purpose. Together as one, let love be our highest goal!
1 Cor 12:25-26
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.