By Michael Hernandez
OXNARD—”The God who builds, can rebuild our church during the coronavirus, rebuild marriages, rebuild your health, rebuild your body and rebuild a fractured relationship after a divorce,” said New Life Pastor Steve Abraham at the Sunday livestream church service. “God is in the business of rebuilding. God uses people that are willing to bring about change or bring forth a dream,” said Pastor Abraham. The question we need to ask is: “How to make a difference?”
According to Pastor Abraham (speaking from Nehemiah 2), individuals can make a difference like Nehemiah did when he was burdened by the temple in Jerusalem being destroyed, the walls torn down and burned. His response to meeting the need:
- Pray over It (2:4). “We saw Nehemiah weep, mourn, fast and pray. You can do both a systematic time of praying and quick shotguns of prayer. Are you better at systematic praying or shotgun praying? I sense the presence of God with both. God answers small prayers; but He also answers big prayers. Make sure your dream is not too small.”
- Plan it out (2:5-8). “Narrow your calling. Narrow the vision down. Ask yourself how do you want to make a difference? God honors planning. God is a God of order.”
- Give it away (2:17-18). “People are great resources. The goal of New Life is not to recruit you to do our ministry. The goal is to release you; to do your ministry.
“Wikipedia launched trying to find professional experts to write articles in a certain field. After one year, they had produced 10 articles. Then they changed their strategy to find passionate individuals who could send in articles. Minor revisions and editing were done. Wikipedia received hundreds of thousands; millions of articles from individuals with passion.
“Pass the baton. Empower. Release others to do what God has asked you to do for the glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom.
“Let’s not make excuses. We’re not too old nor too young,” said Pastor Abraham. “God empowers us, (when) we have a dream or idea. If we bathe (the dream or idea) in prayer; if we get organized and get other people to rally to the cause; and if we go forth in Jesus name.
“If you have never made a personal decision to ask Jesus into your life; this is the greatest decision you will ever make. This does not mean that all your problems will go away but that you will have someone; who will walk with you in life.
“Make that decision today and click the connect box on our website or call the church at (805) 983-1890.”
(Editor’s Note: To connect by internet go to: https://www.newlifeoxnard.com/connect. New Life Oxnard is hosting a Young Adults live streaming service on Wednesday, July 22 at 7 p.m. To participate go to the church website at: https://www.newlifeoxnard.com/churchonline and click YouTube Live or Facebook Live.)
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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