Game Changers
During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. … And also bless me." (Exodus 12:32-33)
In the recent Spring Harvest conference in Butlins UK, the theme was ‘Game Changers’. Spring Harvest is an annual teaching and worship event – a unique holiday, festival, conference, and an encounter with God. That theme reminds me of the last World Cup tournament which heavily dented Brazil’s long-standing glory in the world of soccer. On home soil, the five-time World Cup Champion received on behalf of their country a national humiliation by losing 1-7 to long time rivals Germany who went ahead later to lift the Cup, thus winning their fourth World Cup title, 24 years after their last win. Toni Kroos, who scored twice for Germany in less than two minutes, was elected Man of the Match – call him the Game Changer, as he waned all hopes for Brazil’s come back.
Think about how the slave nation in Egypt turned into a super power in the Middle East! It all started with Moses’ encounter with God. The long-lasting impact he made for the kingdom of heaven started when Moses met with God at the burning bush. From that encounter he was emboldened to speak up and stand up for the freedom of his people. He was part of a team that made history together. They had to learn to tune in to the right voice, hear the Spirit over the crowd, and fight for the Promised Land. And, of course, they empowered the next generation because beyond their lifetime there were far greater things to come.
At the time Pharaoh gave in, he was fully defeated when he and all the Egyptian families lost their first borns; he sent the Israelites away to worship the LORD as Moses had requested; and he also asked to be prayed for, because He realized the Most High God that Moses proclaimed was much greater than the Egyptian idols. The Egyptian magicians and priests who contended with Moses were defeated and could not rise against the power of Jehovah. God is the ultimate Game Changer.
Through an encounter with God, we are equipped to engage in our world and empower others to join in. We become a team of game changers in our society, transforming communities in the name of Jesus. When he rose from the dead, he won ultimate victory and now releases that transforming power to us. He is at work, constantly doing new things by the power of his Spirit. The exciting question is: do we want to join him? In every circle of our influence, his presence makes us game changers. Together, we can change the world.
God bless you all.