ON THE VERGE OF DESTINY?

VERGE: n. 1) the extreme edge, margin or border of something... 2) the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; the brink, cusp, edge or threshold...

"On the verge..." It's an expression we've all used... When we're feeling a little stressed, we say stuff like, "I think I'm 'on the verge' of a nervous breakdown..." When our team is playing lights out and hitting on all cylinders we say stuff like, "They're 'on the verge' of another championship..."

The Bible is filled with "on the verge" stories... Pivotal moments when destinies were either embraced or abandoned, victories were either won or lost... " Over the next few weeks, I'm going to tackle some of those stories... On the verge..."

Twelve men are assigned a covert operation of checking out what they've been told is the "land of promise." After completing their operation, ten of the twelve come back to their leader, a guy named Moses, with this report: "The land is awesome! The opportunity is incredible, but there are some obstacles... The people are strong and some of them are even tall... There are giants who live there... In fact, we looked like grasshoppers compared to them... We looked like Justin Bieber... They looked like Shaquille O'Neal..."

These guys were "on the verge" of destiny, but they forfeited a chance at destiny because the "giants" were too big, their faith was too small and the challenge was beyond the scope of their vision in the greatness of God... (Numbers 13-14)

Steven Furtick makes this statement in his new book, Sun Stand Still: "...if the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God."

Ouch! Ten of the twelves spies missed their "on the verge" moment... The result? Their unbelief was such an insult to God that they ended up taking a forty year detour in the dessert until they all eventually died...

Here's why all of this is really important: a2 Church officially launched two years ago on November 9, 2008! We're about to celebrate our two year anniversary, and begin our third year as a church... Can you believe it?

IMPORTANT: Some church growth guys talk about the "third year" being the "grave yard" for a lot church plants... Hmmm... Let that sink in...

If I read my Bible correctly, the God we serve is the God who sat a really weird prophet down in the middle of graveyard and said to Ezekiel, "Zeke, prophecy! Preach!" And in his vision, as Ezekiel began to prophecy and preach, God resurrected an entire grave yard!

If I read my Bible right, the God we serve is the God whose power stepped into the grave where Jesus' dead body had lain lifeless for three days; and this same God breathed resurrection power into the body of Jesus miraculously raising Him back to life! He then rolled the stone away from the grave, and gave an angel the assignment of sitting on top of the stone that had just been rolled away from the entrance to his tomb and announcing to the world, "If you're looking for Jesus, He's not here! He has risen, just like He said..."

"On the verge..."

BIG QUESTION: What is a2 Church "on the verge" of? A funeral or a resurrection? Destiny or the same old, same old?

Amazingly, God says, "According to your faith, be it done to you..." (Matthew 9:29). We can be like the ten spies who took a forty year detour and became corpses in the wilderness of lost hopes and dreams... Or, we can be like the two spies who after looking at the size of the giants and getting a glimpse of the challenges ahead said: "Let's take them on! Our God is able! They're bread... Somebody open up a can a peanut butter, cause I'm ready to have lunch and giants are on the menu..." (Number 14)

"On the verge..."

As we prepare to celebrate a2's 2nd Anniversary, we really believe we're "on the verge..." Of what, you ask? Well, that's up to you and me... Will we settle for a mediocre and mundane version of life and church, or will we believe God for the miraculous and supernatural?

I don't know about you, but I'm believing we're on the verge of a miracle...

VERGE
a2's Two Year Anniversary
November 7, 2010

VERGE: The Worship Experience
Sunday, November 7, 2010 * 9:45 am

VERGE: The After Party
Sunday, November 7, 2010 * 5:00 pm