Call to Rebuild the House of God

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Haggai 1:2-11  A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: “The people procrastinate. They say this isn’t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of God.” Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?” And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again. “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what. That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” Then God said: “Here’s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it. “And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That’s why. Because of your stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a skimpy crop. I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought, drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing—not man or woman, not animal or crop—is going to thrive.”

We are in the process of replanting God’s Church, but along with that comes a great need to repair, and refurbish the building and the grounds. Would you prayerfully consider sharing, in addition to your tithe, your time, and resources to help God’s be a place that glorifies Him? Here’s what we are needing:
 
* drought proof shrubs to replace the ones that have died and decayed
* washing of siding to remove mold on sanctuary and youth building
* removal of honey suckle vines, bushes, and weeds on the north parking lot between the church offices and prayer walk
* trimming of bushes around the youth building
* painting the blue plastic on the sun bleached playground equipment
* removal of dead trees and limbs in the northern part of our property
* painting the hallways, and church offices
* lawnmower for our volunteer landscaping crew
* new computer for sanctuary

Where Do We Go From Here?

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Back in the “eighties” a pop rock group called the Alan Parsons Project released a song titled, “Where Do We Go From Here?” It’s lyrics were:

“Where do we go from here now that all other children are growin’ up
And how do we spend our lives if there’s no one to lend us a hand
 
I don’t wanna live here no more, I don’t wanna stay
Ain’t gonna spend the rest of my life, Quietly fading away
 
Games people play, you take it or you leave it
Things that they say, Honor Brite
If I promise you the Moon and the Stars, Would you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night”
They express a condition in the Church regarding our present existence and history. Church history depicts something of a spiritual shell game that has manipulated and duped Church leadership and members for centuries. Not to bore you, but a brief history lesson is required to even grasp what I am attempting to communicate. From the birthing of the New Testament Church at Pentecost communing with Christ was the central focus of the Church. According to Acts 2:42 they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. But in 326 AD Emperor Constantine shifted the church from Apostolic authority to Church authority, making the Church the centerpiece of Christianity. Unfortunately with that shift the Church became an economic, political, religious power-broker. Paganism infiltrated the Church and communion – common union with Christ – became ritualized and diluted. Following this major event, a schism occurred between Greek Orthodoxy, in the East and Roman Catholicism, in the West. Greek Orthodoxy emphasized mysticism, and the supernatural, whereas Roman Catholicism emphasized the intellect. This event occurred around 1054 AD. Polishing these events off was the Protestant Reformation which occurred in 1517 AD with it’s emphasis on the authority of the Word of God devaluing the Catholic emphasis on Church and Pope.
If you were attempting to track the “seed” under the Christian shell you would have noticed some slight of hand happening slowly moving the focus away from what mattered to things that were secondary. Thoroughly distracted, the Church and it’s members, have forgotten all about that “seed” beneath the shell quite simply becoming enamored with the shells. New Testament Christians for 326 years focused on knowing and communing with Jesus. So much so that they practiced it every time they came together. Wonder, awe and expectation kept the blessed event from becoming empty ritual. It’s practice granted the participant a front row seat in knowing, and fellowshipping with Jesus. Through it a portal was open-end into His Presence. Unfortunately, 1692 years of Christian history has succeeded in substituting knowing Jesus with the Church, the Bible and the mind. These three helped to create a new trinity – a substitute trinity. Through these the divorce was solidified and intimacy, communion, and a personal relationship with the Godhead was no longer an emphasis. Through simple, slight of hand, the Church Triumphant has become the Church of Impotence. Games are being played alright, through the middle of the night, the children are growing up, and the church seems to be quietly fading away – yet, always, always, God sets aside a remnant who say:

I don’t wanna live here no more, I don’t wanna stay
Ain’t gonna spend the rest of my life, Quietly fading away.
There’s a Christian song I really like called “The Motions” by Matthew West. The lyrics are appropriate for a such a time as ours:
This might hurt, it’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care if I break,
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
What if I had given everything,
Instead of going through the motions?
No regrets, not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life
Cause I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
Maybe it’s time for a new reformation that ends this divorce, knocking the shells to the floor, exposing the “Seed” of knowing Christ.

National Day of Prayer at Red Classic Transportation

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Yesterday for the National Day of Prayer Robert Russell and I joined Ron and Lisa Drogan at Red Classic Transportation for the National Day of Prayer. We had a great time of prayer and intercession.

Being Saved and Seeing Jesus Are Not the Same

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Is it enough to “be saved?” Is there something deeper we are all called to? Do you only see what Jesus has done for you; what He can do for you? How big is your God? Is He big enough; bigger than your circumstances?

John 15:1 “I AM the True Vine…”

Vine in the Greek is “amphoteroi” which means “both the one and the other; both of the two.” How mind blowing is that? Mark 16:12 “After that He appeared in another form to two of them…” Oswald Chambers says the following: Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same….You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough…. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.”

Seeing Jesus drives you to promote Him to be first, foremost and pre-eniment. Your life becomes intertwined with His because He is your life. But there’s more. “Both of the two.” We are both of the Father and the Son. We are both of the Spirit and the Word. He is the True Vine and we are simply extensions of Him – we are His branches.

The root words of the Greek word “Vine” reveal more: “amph” = “around.” As we are around Jesus we are changed and transformed. What’s entirely mind blowing is that He grows as He is around us – we are His Body. Paul states: [Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Colossians 1:24

“Alon” = refers to a “ground plot or threshing floor.” We meet Jesus on the threshing floor as he cleanses us from the soil of Adam (Adamah = Hebrew for “dirt”). Within the “soil” of our hearts the Seed of His Spirit and Word are planted and He becomes the Rock of our planting. The Spirit and the Word working in unison to break us free from the packed, road ways of this world system, the blackbirds of the prince of the power of the air, and the thorns, weeds, and briars of the cares of this life. What is totally amazing is that God’s Temple in Jerusalem was built on a threshing floor: Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 Chronicles 3:1

According to the Apostle Paul you are the temple of the Lord: 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. 

And what’s entirely amazing is that the Apostle Paul referred his reader to another aspect of the foundations of God’s Temple: 1 Chronicles 21:18-24 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. So David went up at Gad’s word, which he spoke in the name of the Lord. Now Ornan was threshing wheat, and he turned back and saw the angel; and his four sons hid themselves. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw him, and went out from the threshing floor and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. You shall charge me the full price for it, that the plague may be averted from the people. Ornan said to David, Take it; and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for wood and the wheat for the meal offering. I give it all. And King David said to Ornan, No, but I will pay the full price. I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings which cost me nothing.

Jesus paid the “full price” to secure our salvation and the right to build His Temple in our heart.

Lastly there is the root word “Helisso” = “to coil; to wrap together.” Our dirt mixed with chaff and straw is crushed by the weight of His love, and the glory of seeing Him. We go beyond being saved to being wrapped in Him as He wraps His life around ours and we wrap our lives around Him. Through this intertwining and intermingling He pulls us up from the threshing floor – from the chaff, the straw, and the hard, packed soil. We are lifted from the soil into the Son, and watered by His Spirit. WE grow into the Vine as we see Him. Moving from simply being saved to knowing His resurrection and transformation.

Transformation Church Assessment Meeting Results

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Could you forward this to those you know aren’t necessarily reading the blogs or signed-up to receive them? What were the results of our Transformation Discovery Meeting? What are some ideas that I have regarding how to “flesh” these out over the next several months and year?

Following our Transformation Discovery Meeting with Dr. Bob Lohman we “roughed” out some goals that we would like to aim for in the next several months. The seven elements of Transformational Churches and our goals for each are as follows:

Missionary Mentality: 

  • Determine our spheres of influence including our specific neighborhoods
  • Look for opportunities to connect with people through our everyday activities (i.e. grocery store, eating out, hair cuts, etc.)
  • Missions training which provides ideas for making intimate connections, and practical models of outreach

Vibrant Leadership: 

  • prayer for leadership
  • understanding that we are all leaders (not just the pastor)
  • accountability for leaders
  • raising the standard (what does God say about leadership?)
  • follow-up with visitors (making disciples who make disciples)
  • discovering and developing our gifts and callings

Relational Intentionality:

  • New and Long-Term Members:
  • Monday night prayer group actively seeking support from members of the church
  • New members – conscious intention to sincerely engage new comers (Love for Jesus)
  • Make a church directory available (opt in)
  • All members – common interest get togethers/activites

Prayerful Dependence:

  • increase awareness of existing prayer room ad corporate prayer times
  • establish “go to” people/ social media – site to make prayer needs known and individuals available (for prayer?)
  • Prayer goals (corporate prayer)

Worship:

  • Bringing in freshness and innocence of and with children and youth
  • Finding the passion and excitement for all through the discovery of our spiritual gifts
  • Variety of styles of music (old and new)
  • Worshipping through song and prayer in different settings/days – in God’s creation (outside)
  • Worship through testimony
  • Uninhibited worship
  • Worship in the Community

Community:

  • Anchored on the Word of God
  • Being Kingdom Focused
  • Welcoming Environment – expecting and planning for guests
  • Look for ways to join God on Mission
  • Reproduce future leaders

Mission: 

  • Use the Acts 1:8 Model: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends of the Earth
  • Examples include but are not limited to: Wells In India, Raise You Up!, Nicaragua Mission (Los Rayos de Esperanza), Weddington Middle School

Be praying about the leadership and members developing these goals and “fleshing” them out. Also pray about how you can contribute specifically to these goals.  The fundamental component tools for the implementation of these goals will be found in prayerful dependence. As I was reading the results of our Transformational Church Assessments and praying here are some things I brainstormed before our Discovery Meeting:

Component Tools

a. Prayerful dependence (Preach, Teach, Model, and Experience)

Will be accomplished through:

  • Monday Night Corporate Prayer
  • Wednesday Night Prayer
  • Prayer-Walking
  • ASAP Prayer Training and Discipleship: “Abiding”
  • “Bless Every Home” – Prayer Outreach and Contact
  • Incorporate Praying for the City of Weddington/ Foreign Missions and Nica Prayer Initiative 
  • Triad Disciple Groups – Abide in the Word and Prayer
  • Pastors, Elders, Deacons – Abide and Prayer Connect With Shepherding Groups

       

b. Relational Intentionality (Preach, Teach, Model, and Experience)

  • Triad Disciple Groups 
  • ASAP Prayer Training and Discipleship: “Seeking” 
  • Implement Proto-Type Go 2/42 Connect Group
  • Go 2/42 Connect Neighborhood Missional Home Groups
  • Softball Connect
  • Men’s Fellowship Connect
  • Sunday Bible Study Connect
  • Ascend Bible Study Connect
  • “Bless Every Home” – Acts of Service
  • Greeter Connect Ministry
  • Pastors, Elders, Deacons – Seek

c. Worship (Preach, Teach, Model, and Experience)

  • Encourage Active Participation in Worship
  • Encourage People to Actively Seek Throughout the Week through training, tools, and resources
  • Teach About Worship
  • Develop – Set – Communicate – Encourage Annual Outreach Goals
  • ASAP Seeking and Evangelism Training and Discipleship: “Applying”
  • Pastors, Elders, Deacons – Apply

 d. Community (Preach, Teach, Model, and Experience)

  • Triad Disciple Groups – Reach Out
  • Implement Proto-Type Go 2/42 Connect Group
  • Go 2/42 Connect Neighborhood Missional Home Groups
  • Softball Connect
  • Sunday Bible Study Connect
  • Ascend Bible Study Connect
  • Celebrate Volunteers Who Serve
  • Workdays for Ownership
  • Quarterly Church-Wide Fellowships
  • Understanding Spiritual Gifts Training
  • Weddington Christmas Events
  • Pastors, Elders, Deacons – Connect to Community

 e. Mission (Preach, Teach, Model, and Experience)

  • Develop Corporate Church Vision
  • Develop Corporate Church Mission
  • Acts 1:8 Concentric Circles of Outreach
  • “Raise You Up” Homeless Ministry or Equivalent
  • Volunteers in Union County Schools
  • Train People How to Share Faith
  • “Bless Every Home” – Relational Evangelism
  • Nicaragua Mission Partnership
  • Triad Disciple Groups – Share Faith 
  • ASAP Prayer Training and Discipleship: “Planting”
  • Pastors, Elders, Deacons – Plant 

     f. Vibrant Leadership (Component Leadership)

  • Prayerful Dependence Leader: Jackie Shaw

          Co-Leader: _________________

  • Relational Intentionality Leader: __________________________
  • Worship Leader: John David Price
  • Community Leader: ___________________________________
  • Mission Leader: ______________________________________

In order to insure that the mission is kept fresh in front of our people we need to have monthly leadership meetings to coordinate, plan, and implement monthly emphasis. Each month could highlight a different component tool building upon the previous month. For example:

2018-2019

May, September: Prayerful Dependence

June, October, February: Relational Intentionality

July, December, April: Mission

August, November: Community

January, March: Worship

Possibly with each new emphasis enlist a leader

Church “Prayer Works” Room Open for Prayer at 2:00 PM!

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Lisa Drogan will be in the “Prayer Works” Room to pray with anyone who wants to join her for National Day of Prayer. Please send her an email to let her know that you are planning on attending. Her e-mail address is:

lisadrogan@gmail.com.

National Day of Prayer Suggests the Following Prayer Topics:

Corporate Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, while we come to You in complete humility, we also come to You with boldness in the authoritative name of Your One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Jesus’ name, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and lead us as we pray in Jesus’ name for America.

Oh God, we are burdened for our nation today. We turn from the sins that we have committed against Your Word and Your Name. We turn away from our contentious words and ways toward one another that has led us to division and polarization. We turn away from our disrespect and our lack of dignity toward each other, and we turn away from our continual devaluation of all human life from the womb until death in this world. We also turn away from and refuse to participate in skepticism, criticism, and cynicism in our nation. We turn away from anything that divides us, and we run toward the gospel of Jesus Christ that is the only thing that has the power to unite us together.

Lord, in this critical hour in our nation, we pray for unity in America. Only You can bring unity, harmony, and oneness in America. As Your word calls us in Ephesians 4:3, “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” we ask You to empower us to make every effort to live in unity, to call for unity, and to forward unity in America continually.

We pray for the churches in America to unify in Jesus Christ and to pray as one unified spiritual family for America. May Your Church pray for America passionately, perpetually, privately, and publicly.

We pray for God’s power to unify families, workplaces, communities, and cities in America. By Your Spirit, lead us to forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and unity.

We pray for all people of all ethnicities and races in America to come together as one, living in peace and unity together. Oh Lord, because You have created each of us in Your image, please give us the courage to stand against all racial and ethnic division, denouncing it as evil and sinful, while simultaneously coming together in unity with all persons, knowing this God’s will for us.

We pray in unity for the security of our nation. We ask You to preserve the United States of America from the forces of evil that are threatening our lives and our future. God, please guard all persons in public and private settings from anyone or anything that desires to harm us or take our lives. Our future is in Your hands.

We agree clearly, unite visibly, and pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America. Oh Lord, wake up Your Church spiritually and convict Your people to agree clearly, unite visibly, and pray extraordinarily until the next Great Spiritual Awakening occurs in our generation.

Oh God, we stand together upon Your words in Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” Through Jesus’ name and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we pray for all Americans to unify and to live together in unity.

In the mighty and majestic name of Jesus Christ, who is the Only Savior and the Only Hope in this world, we pray. Amen.

How to Pray for America

HOW TO PRAY FOR UNITY IN AMERICA

1. #PRAY4UNITY IN AMERICA.

“Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

  • Call upon God to empower us to make every effort to live in unity, call for unity, and forward unity in America continually.
  • Call upon God to empower the government, media, and those who finance them to be truth-bearers, life- givers, and contributors towards what unifies us steering us away from what divides us.

2.#PRAY4UNITY IN THE CHURCH OF AMERICA.

“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

  • Call upon God to draw His church in America to unify upon the authority of the Bible and the centrality of Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world.
  • Ask God for thousands of local churches to unify as one body of Christ, agreeing together that God is our greatest need in America.
  • Call upon God for Jesus’ Church in America to walk in unity, harmony, and oneness, so His Church personifies, calls, and leads America to unity.

3.#PRAY4UNITY IN THE FAMILIES, WORKPLACES, COMMUNITIES, AND CITIES IN AMERICA.

“Also, the power of God was at work in Judah to unite them to carry out the command of the king and his officials by the word of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 30:12

  • Call upon God’s power to unite our families, workplaces, communities, and cities in America.
  • Call upon God to empower our families, workplaces, communities, and cities to look to our only King, Jesus Christ, who is not only the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but also the Prince of Peace who can unify us.
  • Pray for America’s families, workplaces, communities, and cities. It is the spiritual energy that leads to forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and unity.

4. #PRAY4UNITY AMONG ALL ETHNICITIES AND PEOPLE IN AMERICA.

“For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.” Ephesians 2:14

  • Call upon God to tear down the walls of division among all ethnicities and people.
  • Pray that God will give us grace to trust only in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, to unify and live in peace with one another. 
  • Pray that we will stand as one people against all racial and ethnic division, denouncing it as sin and not God’s will for us.

5. #PRAY4UNITY THAT WE AGREE CLEARLY, UNITE VISIBLY, AND PRAY EXTRAORDINARILY FOR THE NEXT GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN AMERICA.

“They all were continually united in prayer.” Acts 1:14

  • Ask God to convict the church in America to wake up spiritually, agree clearly, unite visibly, and pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America to occur in our generation.
  • Call upon God to bring spiritual awakening now in America shaping the future of America, just as the Great Spiritual Awakenings in our history have shaped our spiritual heritage as a nation.

 

PRAY FOR THE SEVEN CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN AMERICA

GOVERNMENT

  • Federal: Executive, legislative, judicial
  • State: Executive, legislative, judicial
  • Local: Executive, judicial, police and first responders

MILITARY

  • Leaders
  • Divine protection
  • Courage and dependence on God

MEDIA

  • Truth-bearers
  • Life-giving
  • Unity-contributors

BUSINESS

  • Leaders of integrity
  • Creators of economic blessing
  • Givers of resources to the community

EDUCATION

  • Truth-centered
  • Excellence-driven
  • Opportunity-afforded

CHURCH

  • Gospel-centered in message
  • Disciple-makers in mission
  • Spirit-empowered to unity

FAMILY

  • Return to the biblical model
  • Reconciliation in broken relationships
  • Restoration to love and unity