Exodus 17:6  6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Underlining mine)

Numbers 20:8-12  "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."  9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"  11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.  12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them." (Underlining mine)

Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results.”  I was reading an article about the church and the author claimed this is one of the biggest challenges for the church.  This article claimed that the church needs to be willing to try different things – new styles of worship, new curriculum for small groups, new preaching methods for Sunday worship…eliminating the “but we’ve always done it that way.”

I began to think about this and wonder why is it that many churches make these changes, but still nothing changes?  Churches adjust worship times and add more contemporary music, we add flashy videos and media to our worship services, we make our kids’ areas more visually exciting, but we don’t see an increase.  Truly, the idea that, “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t apply to the church.

I think the issue is deeper than what we do; it resonates closer to who we are.  It’s an issue of the heart.  It’s insane to keep our hearts the same and expect different results.  God may be asking us to change, as He was asking Moses to change.  The first time the people of Israel needed water, God asked Moses to strike the rock.  He did and water flowed.  The second time they needed water, God asked Moses to speak to the rock.  What did Moses do?  He struck the rock…twice.  Maybe he was thinking, “if one strike is good, two will be better!!”  God said because of Moses’ lack of belief in Him, Moses would not enter the promise land.  This is a heart issue.

We can serve the Lord and never be His servant.  We can do works for the Lord and never allow Him to work in us.  I believe when we allow Him in, allow Him into every area of our lives, He will show up.  When we allow Him into our churches, He will show up.  Why do churches die and close?  Some would say it’s the natural lifecycle of the church and this may be somewhat true, but I believe deep down it’s a heart issue.

Where is your heart?  Who has reign of your heart?  Have you created a barrier around your heart, not allowing God in to mold and make you into what He desires?  Or have you allowed Him free reign?  If you allow Him in, if you allow Him to chisel away and make you into who you are designed to be, when He gives marching orders you won’t have any hesitation in following and you will be blessed.  Churches will grow.  People will come to Christ!  We will be allowed to see our promised land.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy