This past weekend at RBCC we talked about the idea that God places (or permits) His children to live in seasons. These seasons are not dictated by the calendar or the clock but rather ordained by God in His sovereignty (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Usually we tend to look at “seasons” through a strictly personal lens in that we identify a season based on what we are going through personally or perhaps with our family or close friends. However, as Christ-followers, we are not only individuals who enjoy a personal relationship with God, but we are also part of His church. God relates to us through our corporate and communal identity found in the church. In Romans 12:5 Paul teaches us that people in the church “are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”  In other words, our identity in Christ and relationship to God occur simultaneously through believing and belonging.

Practically, this means we need to understand the season our church is in so that we can cooperate with God as He works on and through His church.

What season are we in at Rock Bridge Community Church?

 I firmly believe that God has placed us in a season of seeking Him.

Here are the reasons I chose that description for our current season at RBCC–

There is a heightened awareness of our personal and corporate sinfulness … and therefore, deeper appreciation for and dependence on the Gospel of Christ.

• Within my walk with God and numerous others, we are seeing what Paul meant when he called himself the “worst” of sinners (I Timothy 1:15), learning that God is pleased with a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17), and understanding what Martin Luther meant when he said that “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”
• The solution to sin is always found in seeking the Lord and resting in Him, as Micah 7:8 says, “Because I have sinned against him, I must endure the Lord’s rage until he champions my cause and establishes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see his salvation.”
• His mercies are new every morning as we wake-up in dependence on Him.

The promises of God speaking most to our leadership right now are promises related to seeking Him.

• Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.”
• Luke 11:13 – “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
• Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—”
• Isaiah 64:4 – “no eye has seen any God except you who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him.”

The number of strategic opportunities, big decisions and prophecies coming before our church has increased.

• Over the past several months, several strategic Kingdom opportunities and decisions have presented themselves to us for consideration. They show great potential but the only way for us to discern their appropriateness is through seeking Him (Matthew 7:7-8).
• Several prophetic utterances are being heard by church members and being tested as Scripture instructs (I Thess. 5:20-21).

People are being moved to pray, fast, and worship with renewed zeal and intensity.

• I see God moving us to seek Him—in my own spirit, in our staff and elders, and through a heightened interest in corporate prayer throughout RBCC … I firmly believe that when God moves His people to pray then He means for them to receive.
• I continue to ask all Rock Bridgers to prioritize participation at First Wednesday services at your campuses.

 During this season of seeking we must realize that seeking the Lord is the opposite of drifting, mental coasting, and normal/routine times of prayer and worship.

• Seeking is about us consciously choosing and prioritizing the fixing and focusing of our attention and affections on God (Colossians 3:1-4).
• Seeking Him is done in pure faith without an initial return on our seeking efforts in terms of experiential or circumstantial evidence. We are seeking Him solely because of His promises and our faith that God will keep His word to us:
  • James 4:8a — “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
  • Hebrews 11:6 – “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
• Seeking Him—at this stage—is done in expectancy but without preconceived expectations; with hope and anticipation but trusting God with the results.

 Rock Bridge, we are seeking Him as He promises to be found … the best is YET to come!!