RiverLife Weekly #40: Our Posture In RL30
On 10 May 2020, I was reading 2 Chronicles 28-31 on the reign and reforms of King Hezekiah, when I felt the Lord impressing upon me what He desires for RiverLife when she turns 30 this August.
30 is a significant age in the Bible. Levites started serving at the age of 30. Joseph was 30 when Pharaoh placed him in charge over all that he ruled. Saul and David became kings at 30. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their public ministry at 30. I believe that as RiverLife turns 30, God’s heart is for us to reach a stage of maturity to steward the things that He wishes to do in us and through us. There is a big call ahead of us: transforming lives, touching nations.
Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, did not do right in the sight of the Lord. As a result, idolatry was rampant. The Lord humbled Judah because the king brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.
Based on this reading, this is what I sense from the Lord for our church.
1. A CALL TO CONSECRATION AND REPENTANCE
Hezekiah opened the doors of the temple and repaired them. He also gathered the priests and Levites and told them to consecrate themselves and remove all defilement from the sanctuary (2 Chronicles 29:5-11).
As His priests, we are to remove every defilement and filth in our hearts. Some are nursing wounds from ministry, offences, disappointment and bitter root judgment. Others are struggling with pride, selfish ambition and vain conceit; still others are struggling with mammon, busyness, distractions. We need to be sanctified by the blood of the lamb.
The second thing Hezekiah restored was temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:20-31). As the people gathered, this orchestra of corporate worship brought back the presence of the Lord in the temple and the service of the temple of the Lord was re-established (v35). The “church” was restored to her original purpose and order.
All of us are to come with a humble posture before God, honouring one another as sons and daughters of the Most High. Different groups may be burdened about different things, yet the convergence that is catalysed by prayer and worship will bring about a profound purity of heart and a selflessness that will be powerful.
2. A CALL TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER
As part of this process of consecration, the Lord gave Hezekiah a project. Hezekiah wrote to all Israel and Judah, inviting them to come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was a call to “Come Home”. The other group that the Lord wished to touch were the prodigals.
Hezekiah’s couriers passed from city to city in Ephraim and Manasseh and Zebulun. While some scorned and mocked them, there were those who humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
More importantly, this project united the people in Judah. What happened next was miraculous. God began to heal many people even though they ate of the Passover without having purified themselves (2 Chronicles 30:20).
Encouraged by what they saw, they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for another seven days. It was recorded that the people were filled with joy, the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
3. A CALL TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
The outcome of the call to consecrate and celebrate was that the idols in the land were destroyed (2 Chronicles 31:1). There was a massive deliverance for the people from their idolatrous lifestyle. Hezekiah then collected an offering and contributions to the house of the Lord. This resulted in such an outpouring of blessings (2 Chronicles 31:5-8).
As we grow in maturity as sons and daughters of the Most High, let’s learn to Consecrate our hearts, Celebrate God’s faithfulness in our lives and Contribute to the house of God as we continue to build this church together.
Elder Lee Ee Yang
On 10 May 2020, I was reading 2 Chronicles 28-31 on the reign and reforms of King Hezekiah, when I felt the Lord impressing upon me what He desires for RiverLife when she turns 30 this August.
30 is a significant age in the Bible. Levites started serving at the age of 30. Joseph was 30 when Pharaoh placed him in charge over all that he ruled. Saul and David became kings at 30. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their public ministry at 30. I believe that as RiverLife turns 30, God’s heart is for us to reach a stage of maturity to steward the things that He wishes to do in us and through us. There is a big call ahead of us: transforming lives, touching nations.
Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, did not do right in the sight of the Lord. As a result, idolatry was rampant. The Lord humbled Judah because the king brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.
Based on this reading, this is what I sense from the Lord for our church.
1. A CALL TO CONSECRATION AND REPENTANCE
Hezekiah opened the doors of the temple and repaired them. He also gathered the priests and Levites and told them to consecrate themselves and remove all defilement from the sanctuary (2 Chronicles 29:5-11).
As His priests, we are to remove every defilement and filth in our hearts. Some are nursing wounds from ministry, offences, disappointment and bitter root judgment. Others are struggling with pride, selfish ambition and vain conceit; still others are struggling with mammon, busyness, distractions. We need to be sanctified by the blood of the lamb.
The second thing Hezekiah restored was temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:20-31). As the people gathered, this orchestra of corporate worship brought back the presence of the Lord in the temple and the service of the temple of the Lord was re-established (v35). The “church” was restored to her original purpose and order.
All of us are to come with a humble posture before God, honouring one another as sons and daughters of the Most High. Different groups may be burdened about different things, yet the convergence that is catalysed by prayer and worship will bring about a profound purity of heart and a selflessness that will be powerful.
2. A CALL TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER
As part of this process of consecration, the Lord gave Hezekiah a project. Hezekiah wrote to all Israel and Judah, inviting them to come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was a call to “Come Home”. The other group that the Lord wished to touch were the prodigals.
Hezekiah’s couriers passed from city to city in Ephraim and Manasseh and Zebulun. While some scorned and mocked them, there were those who humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
More importantly, this project united the people in Judah. What happened next was miraculous. God began to heal many people even though they ate of the Passover without having purified themselves (2 Chronicles 30:20).
Encouraged by what they saw, they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for another seven days. It was recorded that the people were filled with joy, the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
3. A CALL TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD
The outcome of the call to consecrate and celebrate was that the idols in the land were destroyed (2 Chronicles 31:1). There was a massive deliverance for the people from their idolatrous lifestyle. Hezekiah then collected an offering and contributions to the house of the Lord. This resulted in such an outpouring of blessings (2 Chronicles 31:5-8).
As we grow in maturity as sons and daughters of the Most High, let’s learn to Consecrate our hearts, Celebrate God’s faithfulness in our lives and Contribute to the house of God as we continue to build this church together.
Elder Lee Ee Yang
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