Moving Into the Unknown with Confidence in God!

Luke 5:1-11

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Ephesians 2

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Moving Into The Unknown with Confidence in God!

Faith: Moving Into the Unknown with Confidence in God

I’ve been reflecting on a time in January 2008 when I felt prompting by God that He wanted me and others to take a step of faith into the unknown to join Him in something He wanted to accomplish. Mary and I spent the next six months in prayer seeking to discern what God was calling us to. We invited others to join us in those prayers as we were feeling hesitant to listen to what God might be saying. Thankfully, God surrounded us with wise, insightful people who were able to help us listen with understanding to what God was leading us towards.

We realized in July of that year that God was calling us to plant a church. It was an extension of a vision our parent church leaders had over thirty years prior to our coming to Rochester. Many people asked us over the next nine months of preparation about the plan and location of this new ministry. I mentioned this call was much like God's challenge to Abraham: “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
We did not know where we were going, but we were seeking his leading and trusting that He knew where he wanted us to be.

During the next four months we walked, prayed, and engaged people in conversations about this desire to plant a church that could further God’s kingdom work in an impactful way in our city. It stretched our faith to trust God despite not knowing where he was taking me, my family, and those friends who felt God’s leading as well. It was a crucial time that was necessary for us to learn how to trust Jesus when we did not know the outcome. Henry Blackaby puts it this way…

If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.

God did indeed have something in mind for us. It is one of the reasons we have been at our local YMCA for the past twelve years. I will tell you more of that story this coming Sunday morning!

Now we stand at another crossroads where we have an opportunity to continue our pattern of listening and trusting God for what He has in mind next for us as our local YMCA is closing their building at the end of January. During this time we will focus on praying, discussing, and seeking God’s leading together as a community. I ask that as we move together into the unknown that you might grow in your confidence that God has something truly in store for us as we listen to Him!

In the mixture of emotions at this time let us choose hope and faith in the God who loves us!

Grateful to walk in faith with you,
Pastor John

P.S. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Roger Hofer & the Leadership Team (leadership@newdaycov.org) or myself (john@newdaycov.org)