Loving God, serving people

The Reunion Church
     8153 W. Cactus Rd, Peoria, AZ  85381

623.979.5465

GIVE NOW
LIVE STREAM

Philistine vs. the Reunion Church

 

By Dr. Stephen Isaac, D.TH.

 

The Vision Restored

(The Land, Old Enemies, and the

Glory of God’s Promises Fulfilled)

The Reunion Church


We love God, we teach His truth, we care for one another in fellowship
and prayer.
Introduction

When God gave us this land twelve years ago I walked this property over and over and over again. I wasn’t looking for exercise – I was waiting for a vision, a promise from God. He spoke to us – He confirmed what He spoke. Reunion now had a vision for this land and for ministry and equipping to whomever He would lead to us.

Phase One: Purchase the Property.

Phase Two: Fix, Maintain, and what was here: Gymnasium. Develop and Expand Ministry and Community space (Plaza and Pavilion).

Phase Three: Steel Building (Community Room/Kitchen/Restrooms), Parking Lot, Multi-Purpose Field, Activity Court.

This has always been the plan, this was the vision from the time we came to this place. The 2013 Build His House message was the beginning of fulfilling that vision. Philistine came against us hard and relentless. When I walked the land, I could hear him taunt and call us out. The vision grew dim and I stopped walking. We dug in to be who God had called us to be.

We navigated the storms, the attacks, the ones who said they would go, but found they could not stay. We stayed, we prayed, we loved, we spoke the truth, we taught the Word of God, we opened our doors, the vision never went away – we waited. Over those years the faithfulness of God was ever present and He continued to breathe the breath of His Spirit into us. We had hope – we had His presence – so we waited.

Psalm 130:5-6

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.” NRSV

Isaiah 40:31

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” KJV

Romans 8:25

“If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” NIV

Two years ago, this storm began to pass. I did not know why. I knew we had not been unfaithful to who He called us to be, I just knew that doors for the vision seemed closed, and even some hearts were closed as well. I did not publicly seek to blame, or try to over analyze – I only sought to be faithful and true to who God had called me to be. I heard many things, if you listen the walls talk. The enemy brought dark days over my mind and spirit – I only knew that I was going to get up every day and… love God, teach His truth, and care for you in fellowship, communion, and prayer.

Because of some faithful men and women in this room we broke through – the Plaza and the Pavilion. We opened our building to some missionaries who stayed here for a week during the Super Bowl two years ago. The Sunday they were here I said, “If I have to paint that dirt green, we are going to finish our field and finish this vision for the land God has given us. Two weeks later, those missionaries sent us a check for two thousand dollars towards our vision.

I started to walk the land again. Philistine was still there – taunting, challenging, and promising me that this property would always be dirt, and that I would die seeing it that way. But God had other plans – not a new plan, but the original vision restored. As I walked our property and prayed again, I could not see the dirt any longer – I saw the field, the new building, the activity court, the patio enclosed with a glass lobby and entry way; and I saw young and old in community loving God, loving our families and loving one another as Christ loved us. We were worshipping inside and outside the buildings, the Word of God was opened and people were coming to hear the Truth taught and proclaimed; people were gathered here at Reunion praying and interceding for our lost sheep and for the nations.

There were many, many new faces who were coming here on this property to be equipped for ministry, and to teach not only here at Reunion, but around the world. I spoke back to Philistine. I told him that the vision was restored and God’s promises to Reunion would be fulfilled and that I not only would see it – but that God had promised that I would tear that fence down as a sign that the glory and power of God’s promises had defeated the enemies of Reunion. I told Philistine that he had under-estimated God’s plan and purpose for Reunion, and that he would die as he watched this property come to life by the power of God’s Spirit.

Here are the passages God gave me… His Word upholds and strengthens me.

The Vision Restored

Habakkuk 2:1-4

“I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end —it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

The Land and Old Enemies

1 Chronicles 16:43; 17:1-2

“Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household. Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

1 Chronicles 17:9-10

“And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house.”

1 Chronicles 17:23-27; 18:1

“And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.” After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.”

The Power of God’s Promises Fulfilled

Ezekiel 12:21-28

“And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.” “And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”

Isaiah 55:8-11

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Share this:

Like this:

Like Loading...
Loving God, serving people

The Reunion Church

Site Links

Blog insights

Ⓒ 2023 - The Reunion Church. All Rights Are Reserved
Website design by Elevate Marketing

Discover more from The Reunion Church | Non-denominational Church Peoria, AZ

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading