REVIVE YOUR CHURCH, O GOD, IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE . . Part Three of Three.

Hello Beloved Reader, Here is Part three of Pastor Carl Jackson's teaching on Revive your church int the midst of trouble: Happy Reading and let the Spirit of God burn this in your spirit.

Rev. Henry Falcone

‘Being the church’ is far different than ‘doing church’. ‘Which should it be?’ That is the question for those who are only ‘doing church’ today. Sadly, the latter is too often a religious commitment rather than a relational commitment of knowing God and His people in a deep, loving, and life-changing way through the Holy Spirit’s power working in us!

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10 the cry of his heart: “That I may know Him in the power of His resurrection, and in the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable to His death.” He continued, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (3:12, NKJV).

The pursuit Paul described is ‘being the church’ by virtue of ‘becoming a part of the body of Christ” as in ‘being a member in particular’ of His body. This is not an organization, it’s an organism. This is not a church building, program, ritual, form, or a tax exempt organization. ‘Being the church’ is ‘knowing intimately’ the One Who is “the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus” (John 14:6, transliteration). Six verses later, Jesus said to His followers, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12, NKJV).

As we move from the four gospels and into the Acts of the Apostles, we read that Jesus instructed His disciples in this manner: “John baptized with water . . . you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5, NKJV). In verse 8, Jesus instructed them further: “. . . you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . . you shall be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8, NKJV). Jesus ascended into heaven as the disciples and others watched and then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet and entered the upper room per the instructions of Jesus. They instantly started to learn what it was to ‘be the church’.

“They continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (v. 14). Two verses later, Luke, generally considered to be the writer of this great book, the Book of Acts, stated there were about 120 brethren and sisters gathered in the Upper Room. The only disciple of the 12 that was not present was Judas, the betrayer of our Lord. Peter was called upon by the Holy Spirit to lead in the selection of a replacement as we read in Acts 1:16-26.

Matthias, the one chosen, was a witness to the resurrection of Jesus following His crucifixion on the cross for the sins of the world. Three days later, of course, Jesus arose from the dead and later Matthias and the other eleven witnessed the evidence of His resurrection. Ten days later, Jesus ascended.

The day of Pentecost came forty days after the ascension and fifty days after His resurrection, and “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting . . . there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (other references indicating this phenomena was not a single experience, are found in Acts 8:14-25; 9:17-20; 10:44-48; 11:15; 19:1-7; I Cor. 14:1, 2, 4, 15, 39, 40).

In simple terms, the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head (Ephesians 1:20-23, the NKJV), came into ‘being’ with its’ many body parts working together, ‘being the church’ on earth. We are part of that same body of believers and the same promises given to the first-century church have been passed on to the church in all dispensations of time, including our own! God has given us everything we need. There is no lack. Buildings were not needed for purchase or construction. Organization was of a spiritual nature.

No workers in the family of God got rich by receiving offerings from members of the body. One person did not become the overseer of all, but lines of accountability were established and unity was stressed by Godly instruction and enforcement. The government endorsed by God was in place and working. The church grew exponentially without surveys, programs, extravagant events, or other worldly means or methods used by successful business entrepreneurs.

The church in China today is the most complete evidence that this plan still works. When the communist revolution took place in the late seventies, there were approximately 10 million believers in China. In 1987, there were 50 million believers growing to 100 million a few years later, and, now, there are 130 million believers in China --- all without the lights, sounds, surveys, crusades, technology, printed materials, books, special events, structures, strategies and church planting skills and energies promoted by the affluent American culture. The Christians in China are truly examples of the NT concept of ‘being the church’ rather than ‘doing church’, which, in most cases, has degenerated into a “form of godliness while denying the power of God. And from such people turn away” (II Timothy 3:5).

What does the church need to do today to be revived, set on fire, and thrust out into our pagan world? Sum it up in the words of King Solomon who spoke by revelation of the Holy Spirit after rebuilding the Tabernacle of the Lord in Israel: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves (admit and annulated pride), pray (earnestly and fervently; not in a hurry to go somewhere or do something else), and seek the face of God (having the purpose of intentional intimacy with and receiving revelation from God), turn from their wicked (self-centered, carnal ways and means), then, I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (while making them into a people who ‘say my words’ and ‘do my works’) (II Chron. 7:14, own transliteration based on Biblical admonitions). ‘Doing church’ is dead and boring. ‘Being the church’ is alive and exhilarating!

I am not saying that we should sell our churches, auction off the contents, give away our hymnals, or fire our contemporary worship teams, shorten or lengthen the services, or not continue to take advantage of tax-exemptions, but I am saying, we need to come to terms with what God is saying and what God wants to do through His church! Unfortunately, we are not ‘sold out’ to Jesus! We are, according to our own opinions, “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing!” (Rev. 3:17a, NKJV).

Our carnal minds seek after the best and the biggest, the finest and the most impressive artifacts, architecture, professionalism, technology and anything else that contemporarily defines success --- but, Jesus, the Head of the Church, has news for us: “You are dead and your body is already cold. You are wretched, poor, blind, and naked. You have need of everything God gave to the church on the day of Pentecost following My death and burial for the sins of the world, and My subsequent resurrection from the dead”

(Rev. 3:17b, own transliteration)! Jesus is saying to us today, ‘I poured out the Holy Spirit’ upon the ‘true believers and gave them the ‘fire power’, the wisdom and spiritual knowledge and understanding to do My Father’s will right where they lived’, and, then, take that ‘fire power’ to all the world for My Name’s sake and the sake of all who will believe and receive!’

Church, we must come together, first of all, to pray and seek the face of God, whether we are Protestants, Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Mainliners, Independents, in the House Church movement, or whatever. If we love Jesus and are following hard after Him, we must not allow these differences to keep us from united prayer – there is so much power in united prayer! It is a good starting point, but we must worship and praise together, too, reach out from time to time to our communities – together -- without worrying about who gets credit for anything, or who might get the greatest benefits!

If we love Jesus, we are one and all of us should be one with the Father even as Jesus and the Father are One. This is the key: don’t lose it – use it – and, fuse it to start a mighty work of God in our communities around the world! Most of us have no idea as to how powerfully God would use our praying, praising, worshipping, interceding, sharing, witnessing, and serving to bring powerful results for the Kingdom of God on earth. If we truly did it in the love of the Lord, no one would worry about who is going to benefit most --- the advancement of the Kingdom of God through the salvation of souls would be our reason for rejoicing!.

Church – it is spiritual, not material, forms, methods, buildings, programs, and all the rest we have added to the quotient. The only thing that matters is what ‘God is saying and doing’ through His people. Are you seeing signs, wonders, miracles, and the ‘greater things’ Jesus promised where you live and where you, or others, are ‘doing church’? Not that ‘signs, wonders, and miracles are the only evidences of ‘being the church’, but they surely should be a vital part of daily life manifestations in the church.

Read Mark’s Gospel for a fast read of what happened wherever Jesus went. My God, I must see and experience more than I have! Come on, now, be honest. We’re not seeing it as the norm in our cities, states, regions, and nations – but, Praise God, much is happening in various places in the world, such as, China, Israel, elsewhere in the middle east, and beyond! We need to get on our knees, our faces, even, and cry out to God for His forgiveness and for a fresh anointing of ‘the fire of the Holy Spirit’ in our lives!

As I close this message today, let me emphasize again what Solomon taught Israel by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is found in II Chronicles 7:14: ”and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (NASB). Understand this verse in context with the previous verses. God was saying what was going to happen if they didn’t follow the instructions in verse 14. He said, in brief, that He would shut up the heavens so there would be no rain, command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people --- unless My people does what I tell them in verse 14.

As you read this verse of instruction to Israel, take each phrase in that verse and read it from the Amplified and other versions, too. Pray over it as the Holy Spirit leads without making any alterations on your own to soften what is being said, and see if there be any hidden or known sin in your life. Should the Holy Spirit convict you of anything, first of all, refuse condemnation, but quickly confess your guilt and the need for forgiveness, and ask for it in ‘Godly sorrow’.

Agree with God about your sin, then He will hear from heaven and ‘forgive your sin and heal your land’! (v. 14). God does not enjoy punishing His people, but He loves us so much that when we sin and set ourselves against His Word, Will and Ways, then He will bring redemptive judgment to us if we do not heed His instructions early on! Isn’t God good? He gives us opportunity to repent before He brings judgment to us for not repenting!

Yes, God is good, all the time, even should He have to bring judgment upon us to convince us of our unrighteousness! Thanks be to God Who constantly causes us, if we yield to Him, to conquer through our Lord Jesus Christ – amen and amen!

Pastor Carl Jackson,

Arizona Prayer Network Coordinator for Flame of Fire Ministries.