Never Mind the Old Days. How Does God Work Now?

Long ago, folks really knew how to pray.  Instead of just talking to God, people expected to also hear from God.   Guys like Samuel and King David prayed for signs and instructions, and they were prepared to obey and accept what God told them.  And He was faithful to speak to these men in supernatural ways.

God hasn't changed.

A few weeks ago, our church in Raleigh, Brier Creek Fellowship, learned that Brier Creek Elementary School (BCES) would soon be available to use for our Sunday morning church services.  The church which has been meeting there was moving.

Immediately, we connected with the staff at BCES.  They were incredibly kind and welcoming. 

The benefits of moving our church to BCES were obvious.  We're growing.  We need the space.  BCES is a landmark of northwest Raleigh - possibly the best known location in Brier Creek.  It is a gorgeous, $17M facility, with great exposure on Brier Creek Parkway.  It has lots of parking and handicapped accessibility.  It's walking distance from home for half of our members.  It seemed perfect.

But we didn't want to make the move from our current home just because it seemed wise to us.  We wanted God to speak.  In fact, from the beginning, we decided we wouldn't settle for less.  If God wasn't in it - if He didn't clearly tell us to move - we were going to stay right where we've been.

BCES's Chairs

We looked at the downside of moving to BCES.  The auditorium is too big for us, and it doubles as their cafeteria, which means it is cluttered with fold-up tables and a buffet line.  The folding metal chairs the school owns are noisy and uncomfortable.  The blinds are badly tattered.

We determined that $4,000 would be needed to rectify the problems by purchasing pipe & drape and nice, large, cushioned chairs.  We prayed that God would provide the funds to purchase these items if it was his will that we make the move.

As the ancients prayed, "Lord, let it be that if..." In other words, we asked God to tell us what He wanted, using a sign we made up ourselves, just like Gideon, David's friend Jonathan and King Hezekiah had done.   Even though we couldn't be sure that God even agreed that we needed the chairs and the drapes, our method gave God a clear way to say no to us.
 

The Chairs We Asked For

I determined to make the minimal possible appeal to raise the funds.  With just a 1 week notice before were to take up an offering, I announced our intentions to the church.  I made a short presentation on the case for moving.  There was no emotionalism employed.

I explained how we intended to entrust the entire decision to God.  If we raised $4,000, we would move.  If we got $3,999, we would refund whatever donations we had received, and stay right where we were. Large donors would be asked to reduce their offerings if we went over what we absolutely needed.

Either way - whether God said to stay or to move - we committed to praise Him and rejoice, in excitement or in disappointment. 

A week later - last Sunday - at the end of our worship service, we took up the offering.  I had not intended to share the outcome during the service, but the team was eager because they immediately saw that we had crossed the bar.  They announced to everyone that God had given us $5,550.  (Late donations would bring the total to $6,000.)

God had spoken.

What I did not expect was the emotional reaction.  Even first-time visitors - who were expressly asked not to contribute - were in tears when they saw what God had done.  Of course we were just as overwhelmed.

We received many donations, but four individuals each gave the same, large amount.  Incredibly, all four refused to reduce their donations later, when they were privately invited to do so.  I was amazed.

God had tangibly shown Himself to us.  Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we all realized that while we were wrestling with this decision, God had been right there with us.  And He was pleased because we were relying on Him, and because we were committed to obeying Him and praising Him, come what may.

That's how God works nowadays.  Which is exactly how He's always worked.