Coming Out of Lockdown
As we come out of lockdown, Dan Stafford shares an encouragement he has for the Church.
It was a joy to be able to meet in person as a church family on Sunday 25 April. I especially love that God uses these times when we gather together to speak to us, through his word, through our times of worship, and through prophetic gifts.
During the time of worship I felt the Holy Spirit give me a picture to encourage the church. In the picture, it was as though I was looking down on the city of Oxford from a bird’s eye view, seeing the whole of the city. As I looked, I saw different coloured pieces of thread come out from all over the city, north and south, east and west, and connect with other parts of the city. As all these different threads criss-crossed each other, what at first looked chaotic began to form a picture as God wove the threads in between each other.
We have been living through a season of disconnect and separation. I felt God may be saying to us, both as Emmanuel church but also the church in Oxford, that he is purposing to use his people to connect up across Oxford. In particular I felt God was emphasising the different colours, showing different gifts used to serve the kingdom, the fact that it was the whole of the city being connected, and especially the fact we got a bird’s eye view. I feel God might be encouraging us that what might look like chaos or a mess to us, he is still present in, and using to produce the picture of his perfect and good kingdom purposes.
I am really encouraged that God has dreams for Oxford that are bigger than our current challenges, and that it is his delight to work in all of Oxford, and using people from all over the city, using all kinds of talents and gifts! Here are some ways we can consider responding to this word:
Give thanks to God that he has plans and purposes, and we can trust that he sees the full picture.
Think about connections you have across Oxford – how might God use you as part of his big picture?
What are your gifts? If you are not already using them, could ask God how your gifts can be used for his kingdom in Oxford?
What are areas in life that look a bit messy at the moment? How might you invite God to show you his purposes in the midst of the mess?