As we gathered together last Lord’s Day, perhaps like me, you had an Ebenezer moment.
When Samuel set up the pillar in his day, the nation of Israel had averted a crisis because of the intervention of God to protect and deliver them. In a similar way, God has hitherto intervened in the affairs of our assembly to protect and deliver us – in spite of what has been a difficult time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What led to this pillar raising moment? In Israels’ case, before the pillar was erected, The Lord overcame the nations oppressor. Before the Lord overcame the nations oppressor the people had a change of heart. The change of heart was necessary because of sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This suggests something to me – if I have not erected a pillar recently then is there a problem? Getting back in-person is a pillar raising moment. But so is every time you and I deal with sin in our lives. It is unlikely we will reach a point where we can reflect on God’s help if we are harbouring sin. In such circumstances may God help us to reach the point where the sin is acknowledged, the idols are removed and we offer ourselves as water poured out so (1 Sam. 7.6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point of raising the pillar was not just to make a point in the present but to make a memorial for the future. Future generations would look back at this pillar and it would remind them of God’s help. Very handy if you find yourself in a tight spot and are beginning to wonder where God is. Taking a moment to be thankful for God’s help today might just help us when we face difficulties tomorrow. You can journal, you can keep a prayer diary of answered prayers, you could create a thankfulness jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mizpeh, the location, was significant as well. The people of God had been beaten in this area multiple times. So it makes sense to raise a pillar especially when it is that God has provided deliverance in a particularly problematic area of our walk. As we look to how God has helped us through the pandemic there are some real victories to celebrate. If this is you then don’t pass up on the opportunity to raise a pillar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Brother Phil spoke on Lord’s Day about revival in our outreach and I wholly concur with this. May God so work in the lives of those around us so that we do indeed see a searching for truth. In Israel’s case, the Ebenezer moment came after revival in the nation<\/em>. This excites me at least as much as seeing revival in outreach – the revival of God’s people. And it has been an encouragement to see the work God is doing in our assembly over the 12 months, changing mindsets, deepening our experience of God, God’s Word bearing real fruit in lives – all during a time when we might have least expected it. I’m not white-washing what has been a difficult time. I’m seeing the green shoots of the fruit of The Spirit. Hitherto the Lord has helped us. May He continue to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As we gathered together last Lord’s Day, perhaps like me, you had an Ebenezer moment.When Samuel set up the pillar in his day, the nation…<\/p>\n