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Page 4 of 8 "...Bäpa, we've been talking about God's standards, but what does that mean?"
The
question came at Elcho Island after Bible studies on revival and the
Holy Spirita few months ago. Nungalinya College lecturer, Rev Jovilisi
Ragata, led the studies. Jo was recently in his homeland, Fiji, when
hundreds of people were turning to the Lord, and the King of Fiji came
with tears in his eyes and gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jo
has poured his heart out for the Lord at Elcho Island and Arnhem Land
for well over 30 years, and this was his last trip to Elcho Island
before he retires later this year.
This question comes from a
longing by Arnhem Land Yolngu to live God's way and not just talk about
Him – a growing hunger in many Aborigines over the last few years. It
was the one thing I have felt has been missing from the time God poured
out His Holy Spirit in revival in 1979, and I am excited to hear the
issue being raised. John & Annette Ives, Christian staff at Elcho
Island, have been talking with Yolngu about it for several years, and
this was the motivation for Yolngu asking June and I to minister there
five years ago.
But somehow we are still looking for a clear way
of explaining it in ways that speaks to Yolngu worldview and thinking.
During one of the Bible Studies that week, Rev Dan Armstrong stood back
to back with a tall Yolngu leader, showing that Dan was shorter, and
didn't meet the standard. Jesus is our measure, and our standard should
be: 'What would Jesus Do?'
We talked of rulers and measures, but
that is western thinking. At the rally just after I was asked the
question, I felt the Lord led me to tell the story of Nathan telling
King David of the rich man who stole a poor man's lamb [2 Samuel 12]. I
used the Simply the Story method of telling this story in different
ways to involve people and draw from them the treasures God has put in
the story [see the separate report on this sent out previously]. The
people saw more of God's holy ways in the New Covenant where we need to
live by standards that are better than the Old Covenant of law. But
they are still trying to grasp holiness and live it!
It is a major
breakthrough that people are hungry for God's ways and His holiness.
Please pray that they will see clearly what this means, and find Holy
Spirit power to live holy lives for God.
There are also discussions
over traditional leadership styles. Western leadership of 'bosses' has
taken over from traditional shared servant leadership, and Yolngu are
starting to realise this is destroying their community life.
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