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Janet's Blog
Janet's Blog
Blog
Healthy Churches and House Churches
| Posted on 28 May, 2016 at 10:31 |
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This is a busy Day and Age we are living in with many distractions from day to day. Many of us fail to function our best as a family……. and
when it comes to functioning as The Lord’s family – be it a church or house
church, pressures abound in this stressful time, and it takes a lot of time keeping up with family and commitments. Scripture says, that’s when we need to “fellowship all the more as the
Day of The Lord draws near”. Church should not be something that makes you dry it should impart life and inspire. Also, it should be a place of participation where everyone is involved in some way we are not subordinate or stifled we are not spectators or
entertained. Scripture says that Apostles and Prophets, Pastors,
Evangelists and Teachers are of His making, not man's (selected in Bible
Colleges). Paul speaks of these ministries in Ephesians 4 when he says
that "Jesus gave gifts to us, that some would be.............." Notice that it
also says that these Ministry Gifts are "for the building up of
the Body of Christ........." not themselves. Definitely not the prestige etc like we see so often these days. If that sounds like an indictment, it's meant to be! I'm
tired of man taking the glory that is God's alone. He does not take it lightly when we use
His Name in vain - that includes some Pastors and Evangelists. Yes, with many,
their glory is their shame because The Lord over All still says "It should
not be so among you" Mk 10:43 So pay attention, you who lead God's people out there. It is best to avoid those you have doubts about........don't
continue to sit under their so-called
ministries. "God resists the proud" Jas 4:6 and you should also.
The Holy Spirit gave me this scripture when I was young in The Lord: "I
shall walk in the way of the blameless" PS 101:2 and many years later He
showed me another scripture "He who is blameless shall minister to
me" PS 101:6 That is the standard. Nothing else is good enough
for JESUS. That's why He said in relation to His Coming "Depart from
Me. I don't know YOU" Lk 13:27 Never
mind all the fancy sermons they give, acknowledgements from man and credentials
on paper. This is not the New Testament Pattern! A lot of churches are getting "professional" with
the way they preach, play music, lead worship and everything else. Some of them have more "leaders"
than those in the congregation, so to speak. All this is radically different
than The Lord and the Apostles set out for us and is intimidating for most
Christians. So many feel like they have to lead in some way to keep up with it
all or compete......this has generated a need to be acknowledged in some way to feel accepted. Let me tell you something and it's this: Constantine was a
Roman Emperor, not an Apostle__ he was self-commissioned when he changed the
practice of the Church into man-made customs and clergy. Ever since then, we have
had the problem of men running the ship. The Holy Spirit is not welcome to
lead us in worship with spontaneous praise and the Gifts of the Spirit any more in many
churches.......much as to say "don't interrupt us Holy Spirit, this is our
service". This is an artificial environment many of you have been
subjected to......some of you don't know the difference but others know there's
something wrong. Friends, it's hard to grow spiritually in an
atmosphere like that. House Churches Still Emerging This is why many believers who wish to have a closer walk
with Jesus are leaving the church system and finding a spiritual family setting
in a Home Church instead. Their hands are no longer tied in relation to
body-ministry and functioning in the Gifts of the Spirit. They are not stifled
anymore because Home Churches (a good home church) respects all those
things. They reverence The Lord and respect each-other. They accept
each-other like they are, so there's no pressure to perform or to be
subordinate......hey? This is real fellowship, this is spiritually
natural for a Child of God and it's healthy too. There is nothing
healthy about sitting like strangers, being continually told what to do and shut
up from worship because it's announcement time. In fact, even The Lord's Supper
is quickly interrupted by that part of a service usually. The Holy Spirit is very sensitive like a Dove and so is the
precious Heart of Jesus. "HE IS SAYING, GIVE MY CHURCH BACK TO ME" MANY MORE OF HIS CHILDREN ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE CHURCH
SCENE TO HOME CHURCHES, AND THIS IS A MOVE OF GOD. IF YOU ARE
AN ADVOCATE FOR EVANGELICAL OR PENTECOSTAL TRADITIONS, DO NOT STAND
IN THEIR WAY, THEY ARE THIRSTY FOR THE RIVER OF GOD. WHERE IT IS ALLOWED TO FLOW, THEY GROW! A sister called Sarah
said these words of wisdom today: "Many Christians take notice of everything
people say - especially the pastor - but The Lord would say: Come to Me often in that quiet place of Prayer and tune your
ears to Me". (Sarah) "This is where you find life and sustenance. I am the
Bread of Life - look to Me for your Daily Bread. This way, I will make you strong and
also equipped to share with others. You will be wise if you do this and I will
bless you". (Janet) A song says "Come to the waters. I know you are
thirsty, you won't be denied". It also says "Freely, freely you have received. Freely,
freely give. Go in my name and
because you believe, others will know that I Live". And that is the balance, when you give out, you receive
more. The Church is not meant to be a bless me
club. Neither are pastors (and leaders) meant to feel threatened
when you desire to move on in God. Who are they promoting, The Lord or
themselves? Also, if someone in ministry is really Called of God, they will be happy for
you to be better than themselves, not subject to their every word. Sometimes you have to ask
yourselves, "are they appointed by God?" If they are, you will sense
the Presence of God, if not, be careful__ they could make you dry. Many
Christians have left Jesus because of it. Not all Leaders are Led of God! There’s so much emphasis often on “the anointing” but King
Saul was anointed – he certainly did not carry the Presence of God. True ministries “Apostles and Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists
and Teachers” will concern themselves with our Giftings not “”Me, My and Mine”………everyone
is Called in some way………and fore-mostly to be like JESUS. No calling is higher
than that. Any calling of “Apostle or Prophet,
Pastor, Evangelist or Teacher” must be in line with that. If not, they are disqualified – Jesus did not call
them – they are self-elected of man-elected (produced by bible colleges). If you are offended at that,
so be it. As long as the One Man Show continues OR Celebrities out the
Front – JESUS cannot see His Vision and Purpose for His Church fulfilled. It’s His Design that I’m concerned with if you’re “in the ministry”………not your design, your plans,
your agenda. We ALL have a Ministry – Everyone has
a Spiritual or Natural gifting! Some Christians have a Natural Gift and Spiritual Gift that
work together or diversely different that makes for variety - they can be
used of The Lord in different ways. Christian friends of mine, the south side of
the city attend a church that functions in a healthy way similar to a Home
Church (very family orientated). Helen and Mark run a dairy providing natural milk and have a
voice in the community representing dairy-men who sell cow shares like they do.
Helen has a prophetic calling to real worship and teach others how to. She also
has an artistic gifting whereby she will be making oil-paintings of a spiritual
nature sometime in the near future - she is developing that gifting. A friend of hers has a spiritual gifting of songs (they're
beautiful) and a natural gifting with coordinating a women's group at Helen's church.
It's quite nifty__ they come along with their giftings and share them and become closely
acquainted while sharing an evening together. Helen and Mark like to show hospitality occasionally to Christians who live on their own. Other Christians at their church like to do the same thing.
They try their cooking skills out and bless their visitors, conversing around
the table and someone goes home happy. And others like to share some of their
privileges or belongings in common. Someone had a Spa-bath and invited a couple to visit their
house on hot days this summer while they were away on holidays. They were not
house-sitting, the sister just desired to bless them - they had been working
hard. Someone else became a hostess for Barn-Dances she commenced
to raise money for her sister who lives as a missionary overseas. It's such
a novelty here, young people love to go to them. Christians have lots of ideas in that
fellowship - many of them are engaged in something. I knew a couple who were pastors years
ago in the 80's who discovered they had different ministry giftings to what
they thought they had, so they took on different roles and everyone is happier. Christians were never meant to be stifled or entertained in
"services". There are so many things we can do - see if you can think of
a few. Many Home Churches have a buffet or casserole mealtime when they get
together. Some of them share The Lord's Supper around the table and
others share it in the lounge-room. Different ones I have been in never
rush this time. They also like to phone each-other during the week
sometimes - there is more interaction. Some House Churches have 15min
sermonettes and they participate in Gifts of the Spirit.
I strongly encourage you to read the following Post TAGS: True Ministries and Giftings, What is a Healthy Church? |