Wednesday Celebration Service: Mama Jordan
Donna Jordan came last night and spoke to all of our hearts. She was like a mama bear speaking to her cubs about the things that matter – the things that matter to God. It was a mixture of parental wisdom and Christian manifesto for our church’s success in this up and coming season.
What is a manifesto? Webster’s Dictonary defines it this way: a statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer. Well, Mama Jordan publicly laid out the intentions, motives, and views of the Lord for our church. It had that stamp of loving authority on it.
She started off by saying God loves us and that he placed us at Unified… and in Hawaii for such a time as this. This then led to this exhortation: we need to take our roles seriously. Like Esther of old, God has strategically placed us in this local body, as well as in the wider body, to live lives worthy of His Name. We are called to effect positive change for the Kingdom of God. We are called to do something great!
What’s happened here at Unified… is very rare. Many have laid down their rights in order to see a miracle occur in these islands and in the world. God has seen our sacrifices and wants to bless it, but we need to believe in the importance of our role; we need to take up our mantle.
How will we effect change? By being a family. It’s our strength. It’s not about gifting, but about belonging to a loving family that cherishes one another, that has fun together, that eats together, that honors one another, that forgives one another. We are called to walk this out into a perfected whole. We will do this together, not as individuals. It’s our call.
This ohana vision (family) is unique to our islands. There is a strong emphasis on family that wells up from the aina (land). God wants to spiritually market this to the rest of the nations and make an impact. He wants to combine the three family chords that have come together at Unified… and make one family chord not easily broken. “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart (Ecc 4:12).” God wants to move us away from just resisting the enemy (the church strategy for ages), and into ruling, reigning, and squashing the enemy with a full-blown, kick butt, head turning, head transforming, world changing revival (Psalm 133). True, God-anointed unity can do this.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think this is very common, this three chord strand. That’s why it’s so special. Two chords have come together in other movements (even this is rare), not three. It’s like the Trinity. It’s the ultimate, divine form of unity. God wanted it between Shem, Ham, and Japheth; Saul, Jonathan, and David; Himself, Adam, and Eve; Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, the twelve tribes of Israel (four three chord strands-super unity); Lucifer, Gabriel, and Michael. It didn’t happen.
We have seen some success in God’s desire for unity like Peter, James, and John; Moses, Caleb, and Joshua; Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah (David’s three mighty men 2 Sam 23:8-17); Paul, Silas, and Timothy; Peter, Paul, and Mary (jus joking).
That’s why Mama Jordan came to speak to us last night. Come to think of it, that’s why all the speakers have come to Unified… . God wants unity! That’s why we are called Unified… . God is doing something very new and powerful with our family. He is not holding any resources back. We are an important investment to Him. His Word is going forth!
She highlighted I Peter 4:7-11, Galatians 5:16-26, Matthew 6:25, Isaiah 42:9, James 5:13-20, 1 Corinthhians 11. The verses talk about God’s heart on how we grow as a family, discern who speaks to the family, how to network with other families, and what should motivate us to be family. I encourage you to read and meditate on each of these passages. Your life will change. You will catch the heart of God.
As we focus our eyes on our Papa in Heaven and wait for his directions on each step of the way, he will show us the path to walk on. It will prevent us from aborting what’s on God’s heart for our church. Again, it’s all about being family with God and with one another.
We ended our time by singing along with the Lord’s Prayer. I encourage all to get the CD copy of last night’s message. It was powerful. It will clarify the heart and intent of God. It will encourage you.
Thank you Mama Jordan for blessing us with your life and message. Thank you Dean and Kerry for bringing in great fathers and mothers of the faith to sow into our lives. Thank you for sowing into our lives. Thank you church for persevering with one another in love and truth.
Let’s say the Lord’s Prayer together to seal this time. Mahalo everyone.
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’