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Church |
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Week 1
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| Church is to be an expression of the government of heaven. Where this Kingdom government is found, there will also be confused people finding peace, ill people finding health, the solitary finding community and friendship, and correction coming from kindness.
However, somehow many have been more converted to church than Christ, and have developed stronger relationship with doctrine and structure than with the person of Jesus. Enter the law; exit the grace of God in Jesus Christ. It happened subtly, almost unperceivable, due to the loss of vision of Jesus Christ as the Lover of our souls. God Almighty however, will not abandon His church or His people. He will gather them in His arms, and shepherd them to green pastures. This, He promises to do.
Prayer:
Father, forgive us for making church something other than a place of adoration of Jesus Your Son, and the outworking of His amazing grace on the cross of Calvary. I make the choice today to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. I will seek to know You, more than to know about You. I will not run from Your voice, but will run to Your voice. I pray our church will become a place of release, and not a place of containment. Bring us the halt, the lame, and the broken, and we Oh God, in Your Name, and with the help of Your Holy Spirit, will do our best to bring healing and freedom to them, and send them out whole into a broken world. May our church change our community, and speak life to its neighbours in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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| Week 2 |
Sometimes it is easy to understand the person who said, “I wouldn’t mind going to church, if I didn’t have to deal with people.” Some of God’s people are definitely more peculiar than others. That’s understandable though as some are brand new, some are barely walking in the faith, and some are super saints. All of them can get on your nerves if you let them. But, that isn’t the heartbeat of God’s plan for His church is it?
The fellowship of the people of God isn’t to be based upon the fellowship of the people, but the fellowshipping of Christ, and the beauty of His holiness. It is easy to forget that in the midst of our many programs. People are what God is ultimately interested in however, so we may as well get used to the fact, that we can either stare at the people who are working their way towards understanding His life in them, or we can stare at God and let His healing and loving presence flow through us to touch them, and maybe change a life. Sounds good to me.
Prayer:
Father, I am so grateful that You are not a fault-finding God. Your word declares that in the book of James. Help me to use the same energy that I sometimes use in weighing other people, to weigh myself in Your eyes. Help me to always remember that Your love for me isn’t because of my performance or perfection, but because it’s just Who You are and What You do. You just keep loving me into change don’t You Lord. Help me to understand that better, and offer the same patience to others that You offer consistently to me. I know I’ll be a better person for it. Thank You Lord, You’re incredible. In Jesus Name’, Amen.
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