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ACTS 2:42-47

The Church of the Book of Acts is far removed from the Church of 2005. If the Church of 2005 and beyond is to do anything to reach this present world it has some changing to do. If the Church of 2005 is to be on the cutting edge of ministering to this society the Church has some soul-searching and some frank reckoning to deal with.

CHURCH AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER

As we have begun 2005, the Church is at a major crossroads in her multi-millennial sojourn through time upon this earth. She has some very big decisions to make. But most of us are not aware of the change that is in the Wind. For church, as we know it, is over.

The church, (the one being built by Jesus), will move on with the gentle sound of His voice. The Church He is building will not need an earthquake, a hurricane, or pixie dust floating in the air to get her attention. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him because they follow His voice. This will be a big test of who we really are and whose kingdom we are really building. If it is His Kingdom, we will leap at the sound of His voice and go where he leads us. If we are building the counterfeit, we will not be so inclined to move very quickly.

The Charismatics, the Pentecostals and the Revivalists are all crowding at the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit is urging, calling, leading them to cross, but few have the faith to cross because few have the faith to risk what they have built. Maybe that is the problem...we have built it and it is OURS. We must protect what is ours at all costs, even at the cost of moving on with the Lord. It is always so easy to camp along the river rather than risk the dangers of fording the rapids, even when you have the voice of the Lord drawing you on..

So we invent, discover, and imagine all kinds of devices to keep everyone satisfied where they are... on the wrong side of the river. We go around the things He has shown us again and again. We devise newer and more complicated ways of saying and doing the things we have known for years. Oh, we will occasionally look longingly across the river, wondering if there really is more over there, but the safety is always here. Few will admit that we have lost the faith, the daring and the adventure of our earlier days. Although denominationalism is anathema to us, we gather around the same things and build the same walls and defend our position with the same conviction and piety as all those who have gone before us.

But those who do not cross the river do not change the world. It is true, they do not rock the boat, but they do not see anything new, experience anything deeper than what has been "felt and telt" many, many times and for many, many years.

Let me pause here a moment to make this statement. Living the "faith" life and serving God over the years faithfully is not anything to be taken lightly. What I am saying is not to be misconstrued as a lack of faith on our parts or to make us feel like we are less complete or failing in our efforts. Quite the contrary! What I am saying is that IF we are going to effect our world, our generation and do what is needed in this last day Church we are going to have to consider some Book of Acts innovations.

LET'S MOVE ON!

God does not talk in circles. He has a definite destination in mind and He fully intends to have a people that will be willing to be lead to the deepest reservoirs of His love and the very fullness of His Life.

Church as we know it is over. He is about to wrestle control of His own church from the carnal hands of insecure, angry, controlling and legalistic men and women, build His own church, just as He promised He would.

Church as we know it is passing away. The thing we have called church is but a dim shadow of the life-giving, empowering wholeness of that for which Jesus died, rather, rose from the dead to lavish upon mere mortal men.

We have asked for wealth when He wanted to give us nations. We focused on our healing when He wanted to make us healers. We have searched for mercy and compassion when He had called us to carry those same treasures to a dying world.

We are self-examining when He wants us to be pouring ourselves out so others can find Him.

We many times are too:
self-centered,
need-oriented,
program-driven,
growth-addicted,
destiny-snatching,
dream-killers.

This people that is making up the Church 2005 is:
the Christ-centered,
Kingdom-declaring,
light-shining
heart throb of God Himself.

His people hear His voice and respond with joy and anticipation, not fear and uncertainty. They are a devil-ignoring, life-giving, God-honoring group of worshipers whose greatest fulfillment in life is to be called to His service by the gentle sound of His voice.

This church understands that the hands Jesus will stretch out to heal will be her hands. They know they are His hug, His smile, His encouraging word and the world's only hope of glory.

The solution is clear...You are the church that Jesus Himself, is building!

There were some important questions, though, that can only begin to be addressed as we continue our sojourn on this earth. One thing is certain, Jesus is looking for a submitted people through whom He can do His work on this planet.

These people are submitted to Him and Him alone. The church He is building is the church that is submitted to Him and does His bidding. These people hear His voice and are about the business of the Father, not the kingdom of man or his religion.

This church has little to do with where we meet. The church can gather in a sanctuary, a storefront, living room, or in a tent on a field. It is not about where we meet but Who we meet with and our willingness to allow Him to rule and reign in the hearts of men and women.

The church has little to do with how we meet. Shall we meet on Sundays, Wednesdays or Thursdays? Shall we wear suits, or t-shirts and jeans? What is He really interested in anyway? He is interested in hearts that are open and ready for Him. He is waiting for ears that are eager to be taught by His Spirit and who love to worship. His people live and breathe His Presence and express His love in genuine, no-strings-attached ways that really minister to the needy whether or not that ministry brings the needy into the building.

His people trust the work of the Spirit in the hearts of man. His people know that the Spirit strives with all men just as He strives with them personally. The church Jesus is building sows seed everywhere even when they do not open their mouth. Their mere presence shines His love and draws the masses to His manifest Presence. The Holy Spirit is big enough to do what He is called to do if we just let Him.

It is a liberating and empowering moment when you realize that you are not in this alone. The church, the Kingdom, the saving of the world is not solely dependant upon you. Everywhere you go, you automatically sow seeds of His love.

You have no idea of the power of your smile, your kind word or your hug. Your understanding, your compassion, your helping hand all minister in ways many cannot imagine. The Evangelicals needs to pass out a tract and get a phone number to feel like they have done their job. The Pentecostals and Charismatics have to prophesy over someone or lay hands on them in some fashion in order to feel that they have done the right thing. But Jesus just loved on everyone!

I pray and lay hands over many people. Nonetheless, I minister to many more just by letting Jesus love the world through me. The Spirit does the rest. We just need to repent of our judgment, condemnation and lack of mercy of people so the Lord can minister all these and more to everyone around us.

This church He is building is an awesome church. He does not need our help or suggestions, He only needs us to get out of the way so He can do whatsoever He wants to do for us, in us, to us and most importantly, through us.

WHERE IS THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS BUILDING?

You Are the Church

More and more people are dissatisfied with bland doctrine and powerless principles. They are tired with the disconnect with what is taught and what is really believed by those who are supposed to be leading us to this City made without hands whose builder and maker is God.

We need to be looking within to find the church He is building. His tender mercy and grace gently builds us into a holy habitation for His manifest Presence.

Now if we truly believe that, everything changes. The focus is on Him, not on a building, an organization or a ministry. If it be true that we are the place of His Presence, the church is truly us, plain and simple. Buildings can come and go. They serve only as long as the church needs them.

Remember, the Kingdom comes without signs to be observed. It is within. The Kingdom is constructed within us, not around us. If you can see it, it is not the Kingdom. Did Jesus not pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done………….."

The focus of life and ministry, from the perspective of the One who is building the church, is the preparation, discipleship and release of the church into the dream He has dreamed for all her members. The flow of people through the process of discipleship, training and release should be a predictable as those who go through a university. They come to us to go. They come to us to be sent to the four corners of the world, as preachers, teachers and technicians. Physicians and missionaries!

They are not placed in a church for the benefit of man. When God calls someone to the side of another to share vision and purpose, it is for the purpose of God in their spiritual kinship and mutual fellowship.

The church comes together to encourage, bless, pray, prepare and cover one another as they are led by the Spirit. This church is free to be swept to who-knows-where by the power of the Holy Ghost. Their power comes from within, not from another and their future is dependant on their obedience to the Lord, not to a man.

Where is the church that Jesus is building? Check out Psalm 84:1. "How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!" Who do you think that the Prophet-King David saw when he wrote this most precious verse?

He saw you and I!!

Ephesians 4:14-16
[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. KJV

[14] As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
[15] but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
[16] from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. NASB

SEEING THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS BUILDING

It is becoming more clear each day that there is something afoot in the Spirit realm. Every time God moves, there are radical changes. When there is not the response from the hearts of man, the move of God is short lived. He moves in hearts that are open and willing to agree with what He is doing.

That is why there are two kinds of revival. The first will bring people to repentance from sin and open their hearts to the purposes of God for their lives.

But the second is completely different. The second form of revival turns the world upside down for the believer. It challenges believers to see things in ways they have never seen them before. The true sojourn of the believer through time is marked by when God visits us and causes us to change in remarkable ways. Our movement through time is energized by the willingness we have to say 'yes' to the things God is revealing to us by the Spirit.

The cat is out of the bag.

He will build His own church. He will do it through us or He will do it in spite of us. But He will do it, of that we can be certain.

Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

One in Three Adults Is Un-churched

March 28, 2005
(Ventura, CA)Despite widespread efforts to increase church attendance across the nation, the annual survey of church attendance conducted by The Barna Group shows that one-third of all adults (34%) remain "un-churched." That proportion has changed little during the past five years. However, because of the nation's population continuing growth, the number of un-churched adults continues to grow by nearly a million people annually.

Evangelism Is Most Effective Among Kids

October 11, 2004
(Ventura, CA) - The presidential election has focused attention on the born again population of the country. Currently representing 38% of all adults and one-third of all teenagers, there are an estimated 98 million adults and children who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. A substantial majority of the people who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching their 18th birthday. The survey also revealed that young people respond more positively to different outreach influences than do people who embrace Christ later in life.

Most Christians Were Young When Saved

For years, church leaders have heard the claim that nearly nine out of ten Christians accept Jesus as their savior before the age of 18. If that statistic was accurate in the past, it no longer depicts U.S. society. The current Barna study indicates that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday.