- That
the trickle is going to be turned into a flood - very soon.
All the waiting, the seeking, the praying even the heartache is going to culminate in a massive flow of the Holy Ghost.
- Do
not be concerned about trying to ‘get'.
needs little explanation - most are concerned about seeking affluence
- Do
not be concerned about what you look like.
I don't mean physical appearance I mean how we portray Christianity. There is a move in the west, whether intentional or not, to portray Christianity as ‘relevant' to our culture by creating a Christian culture that is ‘cool'. This Christian culture is not necessarily Godly, not even necessarily Kingdom culture. I went to a conference where the leader said "we are about building the culture of the church". I thought we were supposed to be about building the culture of the Kingdom. Which today seems to be almost diametrically opposed. We cannot emulate the world, the ‘style' of the world to attract people. We must emulate Jesus & His Kingdom. I am not saying we shouldn't have a café in our meeting places, I am not saying we shouldn't have great music what I am saying is if we go after the form instead of His presence we have missed it. It is not in the form, it is in His presence. It is not in the form, it is in His power.
The Kingdom is manifest in power. Culturally relevant Churches lacking the power are religious clubs. Having a form of godliness but denying the power.
What is this new face of Christianity
Being relevant to our culture by manifesting the culture of the Kingdom and everything that pertains to it. The Apostle Paul stated in
1 Corinthians 2:4 - 5 (NCV) 4My teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. 5This was so that your faith would be in God's power and not in human wisdom.
1 Corinthians 4:20 (NCV) 20because the kingdom of God is present not in talk but in power.
I am not saying we should be weird. I am saying we should be normal, real Christians walking in the Power of the Holy Ghost manifesting His Kingdom. Yes having a café in Church if we want but also having the power of God manifest there in the café.
There are many small churches & many house churches that have been crying out to the Lord for His Presence, His Power, His Kingdom - that which they have been perceiving but not yet seeing - just a few drops - a trickle. It is as though they were before their time - flying in the face of what is ‘popular'.
The Lord would say - now is the time - the tide will rise rapidly - it will even catch many unawares.
Many large churches will go through major transition as this rises. They will need ‘spirit led leaders' not ‘corporate leaders' to help transition these Churches. Some will not transition & will close because people will flock to the rising tide elsewhere.
There is so much teaching about leadership today - most of it is only corporatizing the Church. I am not saying we don't need business sense but we don't need it at the expense of the lack of Spirit sense. We need to train leaders to be Spirit led leaders.
The dilemma for all is are we going to allow the Holy Ghost to transition us.
Will the cry be ‘change me Lord'?
I believe also the Lord saying simply that as we seek Him that the tin is ours & our appearance will be like Him.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Newsletter
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- This is good stuff brother and the heart of the good news. Christ in you is what this is about. Peter said you are the Christ the son of the living Go... More...
- I really liked your article Ian. But it seems your statment about comments being appercated is subject to approvel. Oh well some things never change n... More...
- This thing about what church is and is not could be carried through about all that we learned while in those places. Much of what we call the gospel o... More...
- Thank you for sharing your opinion here. I really value it. More...
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