And then the wind came to blow away all that was: all the systems and formulas the leaders of My Church had put into place to build their houses of worship. For these had decided to incorporate, within their congregational structures, a system for promoting and leading that resembled a more business type model, taking their cues for church administration from the world.
But the form and function of the Church was never supposed to mimic the ways of this world, for the manner in which I conduct My affairs will always be foreign, with My concepts seemingly erroneous to the thoughts of man. And though some leaders have felt that picking up a worldly model and placing it into My Church would simplify the format for running a smoother operation, yet all they have created are more small businesses rather than a unique structure which boasts a fluid form, instead of the rigid corporate configuration now found in most of My congregations.
And though this would seem the easier approach to managing a church, I do not want My houses run in this fashion any longer, even if this system of governing, because there is a set pattern to follow, was meant to ease the frustrations of leadership. And as many have used passages from the Old Testament to prop up their case that this is a sound model to follow, when My Son came He fulfilled ever part of what had been; for His presence here on the earth was to establish the “new” formation of My Church, which was not intended to look anything like the old pattern My people had followed long ago.
So then why, in this generation of the Church, would I have My children regress and utilize an outdated system to function in this world? If He was the fulfillment of Scripture, then none of these practices are meant to be followed literally any longer because He came to establish a new precedent for how My Church conducts itself corporately and individually; where My Spirit is given the Headship to lead the Body; for He always knows exactly what My wishes are at any given moment, and therefore is sent to guide My own into this new way of living and existing as the Church here on earth.
But because His instructions are often challenging, and lead into unexplored spiritual territory, most of those who stand behind the pulpit feel uncomfortable allowing Him to freely move. So then in most segments of My Body, as a means to keep order during their services, a cap has been placed over His ability to freely flow within their assemblies. This has stifled His movement, limiting the powerful effect My Church was meant to have on this nation. For when My children exercise their freedom to live and breathe in conjunction with the direction My Spirit is blowing, then a strong sense of identity is birthed, giving them the confidence to make stands of faith which displace the evil works of the enemy. Yet most who attend My houses have little understanding of how to walk in unity with My Spirit, for they have been told that the extent of their Christian experience consists of sitting in a pew on Sunday mornings, praying and reading their Bibles, but with very little taught about their connection to My Spirit: the One who was sent to guide them into all Truth.
And because He has been, for the most part, left out of the current “Christian” formula, most of My children have yet to tap into the divine gifts I deposited in each of them. So then, for them, there has been no expectation of “more”, as they have grown accustomed to the form and function of the business model now found in most churches. But because I was not content to leave My Church in this weakened condition, I have broken her free from perpetuating this cycle of stagnation, where only a few of My children (those considered more dedicated) are ministered to while the rest of the congregation is left wanting, longing to hear words from their Father specifically for them; and so many continually carry this sense of yearning, for no one has shown them that a deeper walk is possible.
Then, when the recent winds of change began to blow across this land, very few raised their finger into the atmosphere to see which direction it was blowing. And so, like the rest of America, My Church was caught off guard by the swift and sudden shift that occurred.
So in these days, where the government restrictions are preventing churches from resuming in the same pattern as before, know that, in part, My hand is driving this course of action. For I desire to see My Church rise as the “shining city on a hill” (which I have always envisioned would only be possible if “what used to be” was blown away). Yet to restructure My Church to fit the format I designed involves the participation of every member of My Body, as each one has a specific role to play (which does not involve making sure Sunday services run smoothly). What has been is a poor representation of the true purpose of My Church, for the callings on the lives of My children are much broader than where they serve at church.
And though some leaders have enthusiastically promoted involvement as a means to get believers started on their journey of faith, still, there is a formula that has been developed that centers around adherence to pathways established as the road to climb up the leadership ladder. However, this process leaves little room for the overriding authority of My Spirit to direct a person’s steps. For if He has offered differing instructions (those that don’t fit into this prescribed formula), which voice should My own ultimately listen to?
And since I have ordered a man’s steps, then not every path to maturity is going to look the same because I do not think, or exist, within the boxes man tries to fit Me in. As a result, these well meaning ideas have become an obstruction to the flow of My Spirit in the training up of those in My Church, as believers are now assigned to different “ministries” by means of mass herdings, eliminating any consideration for My creative strategies which are perfect for growing My children up into their individual identity and calling.
Consider My Son, who set the model when He called His disciples, where in this smaller, more intimate setting, these twelve were able to glean a deeper understanding of being the Church; for these did not set out after His resurrection to build large congregations, but instead established smaller gatherings among the faithful. Within these communities of believers, a unique family was born, where all were built up and encouraged because My Spirit was uninhibited in every way.
Then know that it’s a restoration of this model that I am after, where the Church thrives through these smaller groups: where those who are believers wait upon My Spirit and His direction to lead their meetings; where spontaneous worship is heard ringing in the atmosphere, or, perhaps another is lead to read a Psalm, or some have a vision, or another a prophetic word; but where all are united in the flow of His movement.
Then know, also, that during this season I come to strip away the unnecessary trappings My Church has embraced as the normal way of functioning, and am reconstituting the “new” My Son had left as the example for believers to follow. For what has been, won’t be able to contain the great move of My Spirit that is coming upon the Church.
So then, let go of what was, and embrace what My Church is becoming. For to be effective in the coming days, My overall Body must be internally strengthened so that she is seen as the pure beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness.
To this ideal, the idea of uniformity must end. For I did not make My Body to function where each member must behave in accordance with a certain standard set by a church culture, as this is only an excuse used to prohibit the manifestation of My Spirit from happening during congregational meetings. So though some churches say My Spirit is welcome, these still restrain His ability to move freely among My Body.
So therefore, I knew the change I preferred would not develop unless something drastic happened in this world that would leave My Church the sole option of meeting in their homes (if they still had it in their hearts to gather together). For those who had already begun to walk with Me more intimately would then have the opportunity to lead others down this deeper path.
So instead of standing against the wind facing the wrong direction, turn your head and lift your gaze, and you will then be able to get a better sense of which way the wind of My Spirit is blowing. For within this strong gust, which has covered My entire Body, a new direction has been given, meaning My Church, as a whole, must shift into alignment with what I am doing now.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. ” Romans 12:4-6
(Received: 5/28/2020)