Mats Ola from Moscow challenges us to think what we have not thought before. In John 4, Jesus shocked His disciples and the woman at the well. He broke barriers by talking to a woman, first of all, and to a Samaritan secondly. The Jews did not do this! What was the result? A village and then a whole region was opened to the Gospel. The first step is: BELIEVE GOD FOR NEW STEPS, THE ABILITY TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE RELEASE OF THE CREATIVE GIFT IN YOU. In I Cor. 2:9 we are told that we have not seen or heard and known in our hearts what things God has prepared for those who love Him. Mats Ola tells of a time he was called on to do something “impossible” (turn a glass right-side up with a tennis ball in it), but the Spirit of God showed him how to do it, and he shocked everyone there. In Acts 13:2 the Spirit clearly told the believers that Barnabas and Saul were to be separated for the work He had for them, but they had to seek Him to get the details (Acts 16:6). Mats Ola tells how he was led by the Spirit to go to a home group instead of to a big Christian concert and how he had to seek God and not give up in adopting his twin children. The unlimited is in us. Don’t give up too quickly! Think about your life in God. Ask: Where am I fruitless? Is there something lacking? Where am I stagnant? The second step is: BE BOLD TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT DONE BEFORE. Know that there will be resistance, especially in the getting-started stage! It takes more force to get the train started than to keep it going. There are seeds of revelation in us, but there are hindrances and postponements. In II Kings 2 Elisha knew Elijah was going home, so he asked for a double portion of the anointing. He had a challenge when he saw Elijah go. Would the double portion work for him? Standing by the Jordan River with the sons of the prophets watching him to see what he would do, he had to be bold and believe that he had what he asked for. It was a risk, but he took it and the water divided. BE BOLD!

Offering and communion: Pastor Dale reminds us that we can do all through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:13) and that we should see a need as an opportunity to touch others. He ministered communion using I Cor. 11:23-26. Pastor Mats Ola Ishoel, a Norwegian who pastors the vibrant Word of Life Church in Moscow, Russia, inspires the church to be Jesus to the unsaved and unbelievers. It is harvest time, and it is for a season. We should be attracting unbelievers to the church and to Jesus. How do we do that? It is the life and love of God and Jesus Christ in us! The house of Matthew (Matt. 9:9-13) was attractive to unbelievers with Jesus in the middle. There was no compromise, but there was fellowship and then life-changing salvations. Jesus was open and friendly. BE LIKE HIM! We should fear becoming cold and indifferent. Do we care about the fate of others around us? Be alive- from the inside out and care for others as Jesus does. Luke 6:36 tells us to be merciful. Our church should have new people all the time. We need to be interested in people and get to know them and take the initiative and be inclusive in our attitude. James 2:15-17 says clearly that our faith is dead without works. It’s the works and action that make our faith and love come alive. Invite and bring people to church. Connect with people. Do we love our church? Then we’ll talk about it to everyone we come in contact with. Ask God for wisdom and creativity to reach out to unbelievers, our neighbors, and co-workers. Matt. 9:36-38 Jesus was moved with compassion. The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are few. Always be looking for people to attract to Jesus and the church. Care and be genuinely interested in them.