A popular highway game with some kids I know is to say, "Daaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrk" all the way through a tunnel, then as soon as you get out of the tunnel, yell, "LIGHT!" Of course, this only works in the daytime.
Try this. Walk into a dark room, and flip on the light switch. Did you ever wonder where the darkness goes? It's there, but as soon as the light is turned on, darkness is gone.
What is darkness? It's just the absence of light. Darkness CAN NOT exist where there is light.
I used to worry about the dark places in my heart. I would pray about them, quote scriptures against them, tell them to leave ... you name it, I did it. And I know there are a lot of people who do the same thing. But all we really have to do is get close to the Light, which is Jesus Christ.
You may ask, but what about the shadows? I say, get as close to the Light as you can, get IN the Light, get totally consumed by the Light. There will be no dark places, no shadows.
John 1:5 says this, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (apprehend, attain, overtake) it."
My prayer: "Father, thank You for giving us the Light, Your son, Jesus. He is so much more than enough for anything we need. Keep me focused on the Light, not on the darkness. Remind me, call me back to You by Your Holy Spirit when I start to look at the darkness. Keep me, Father, in the Light! In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus, Amen!"
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
What is Church?
What is church, anyway? Have you ever met a Christian friend on the street and shared what God's been speaking to you? Have you ever sat in your living room and sang worship songs with other believers? Have you ever witnessed to a non-believer? This is church. Church is where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus.
The word "church" is from the Greek word "ekklesia", which literally is "a calling out". Further description is "a meeting, especially a religious one, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both." Church is all about people, not about buildings. It is about those who are called out.
So where did the traditional "church" of pews, aisles, one preacher-with-a-message-from-God-standing-in-the-front originate? In the Jewish temple there was a priest who interceded between the people and God, but God tore that veil at the death of Jesus, ushering in a new kind of religious meeting. There was no more separation, no more one man speaking to God for the people, or speaking to the people for God. Then how did we get where we are today in our meetings? Whatever the roots, I don't believe that what we have today is the way church was intended to be, and it's our fault.
Today, most of us go to church unprepared to worship, unprepared to share anything of value with other believers. We take an hour or two from our schedules, run in, sit down, listen, and run out for another week. We just want to "be ministered to" by the preacher and the worship team. We have a consumer mentality.
In the early church of the New Testament, one would have a song, another would have a word of prophecy, another would have a scripture. I believe we need to get back to this. We are still in the New Testament. Believers need to take responsibility for for hearing from God on their own, and for encouraging one another.
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house..." Romans 16:3-5
My prayer today: "Father, I am helpless. I can do nothing without you. I need Your Spirit with me, in me, working through me to do the work You have set before me. May I be used for Your glory only. Consume me, Holy Spirit, with You. Don't let me be a consumer, but an encourager! Amen!"
The word "church" is from the Greek word "ekklesia", which literally is "a calling out". Further description is "a meeting, especially a religious one, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both." Church is all about people, not about buildings. It is about those who are called out.
So where did the traditional "church" of pews, aisles, one preacher-with-a-message-from-God-standing-in-the-front originate? In the Jewish temple there was a priest who interceded between the people and God, but God tore that veil at the death of Jesus, ushering in a new kind of religious meeting. There was no more separation, no more one man speaking to God for the people, or speaking to the people for God. Then how did we get where we are today in our meetings? Whatever the roots, I don't believe that what we have today is the way church was intended to be, and it's our fault.
Today, most of us go to church unprepared to worship, unprepared to share anything of value with other believers. We take an hour or two from our schedules, run in, sit down, listen, and run out for another week. We just want to "be ministered to" by the preacher and the worship team. We have a consumer mentality.
In the early church of the New Testament, one would have a song, another would have a word of prophecy, another would have a scripture. I believe we need to get back to this. We are still in the New Testament. Believers need to take responsibility for for hearing from God on their own, and for encouraging one another.
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house..." Romans 16:3-5
My prayer today: "Father, I am helpless. I can do nothing without you. I need Your Spirit with me, in me, working through me to do the work You have set before me. May I be used for Your glory only. Consume me, Holy Spirit, with You. Don't let me be a consumer, but an encourager! Amen!"
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