Skyline SIB

NINE IS SPECIAL!
[25th July 2010]

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”. Is 43:18.

When I was nine I began life in a new school and a new town. The years that followed were some of the best. In those years I gave my heart to Jesus and grew in leaps and bounds. Today we are nine. I wonder if this means the end of an old phase and the beginning of a new, outstanding phase with the Lord? Yes!  I believe so! Consider this for a moment. Nine is a mathematically unique number. It is the number that always ends one phase prior to the beginning of a new one. As we transit from single to double digits,   we must pass nine. Nine signals the end of single digits. 99 signals the end of double digits, 999 signals the end of triple digits and so on. Nine ends a season and puts us on the cusp of a new. So today!!!

Nine also signifies reference. I believe we’ll always refer to this ninth year as a breakthrough in the history of Skyline. Why so? How can I best put it? There’s another amazing thing about nine. Multiply any number by nine; the sum of the digits formed are always a multiple of nine; e.g., 2 x 9 = 18 (and 1 + 8 = 9); 3 x 9 = 27 (and 2 + 7 = 9); 4 x 9 = 36 (and 3 + 6 =9); 5 x 9 = 45 (and 4 + 5 = 9), etc. This is true for any number multiplied by nine; the digits formed always come full circle back to being multiples of nine again. No other number does this. Does this mean that some of the most significant things about a future-Skyline will come back to seeds sown in our ninth year? I believe so. Nine is the year of reference for the    future. So today!!!

What has happened this year that is new? We have been touched by God’s outpouring these two months; revival has come! Waves of worshipping in the Spirit, tears of joy, repentance, healings, meetings going on way beyond time with no one leaving. Such has been the glory present. This year, God has led us to new ways of doing rural community work, mentoring in IDT groups, discipling in New Life, growing cells and even planning for a musical outreach (Joseph)! The ninth year has been special. So today!!!

Nine also is finality. Proverbially the cat has nine lives; Being on cloud nine is about being in an almost other world state of bliss. Nine is also the biblical number for final judgement. What is God saying today? Nine reminds us we must be ready for eternity. Today, give thanks for the past, spring from the present and soar as God leads into the future! Happy Anniversary!