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God's House, what is its purpose? Is it a place to meet and enjoy being in fellowship with one another in Jesus Christ? Yes. Is it a place to collectively worship our father in heaven? Yes. Is it a place when believers are discipled through the Word and the lives of their fellow disciples? Yes. Is it a place where believers can outwork their discipleship in obedience, stewardship, service, generosity and love? YES YES YES! All of these things are a present and critical part of every local church. These are all things we are given the privilege of doing and being in the local church. Naturally we also, if Jesus said "My house shall be a house of prayer for the nations" should equally understand that this is a privilege given to us to accomplish! Do you agree? If yes please read on!...
Recently I have been challenged and frustrated by the lack of growth through salvations at PCC - especially as I look back over 2006. I have become very challenged by God about this and in particular by one scripture. In 2 Chronicles 7 after the establishment of his temple, the Lord gives Solomon a conditional promise about the temple. Along with it comes some free self-diagnostic advice. Listen to this...”When you have no rain Solomon, no new life, no refreshing, no flow of my water of life; then understand that "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways - then I will hear their prayers from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land." God's heart was to have a land AND people AND temple that honoured Him amongst the peoples (nations), and saw a constant steam of new life abounding. God's promise to Solomon was however conditional upon Solomon's obedience, and the continued obedience of his future generations. And as we know, they did not keep the ways of God and forfeited God’s promise over them and the temple set up by their ancestor Solomon; and judgment came upon their nation. Praise God however, that in Jesus, God's eyes ears and heart will always be in the church, and it will always bear his name - because Jesus is a perfect being and will not cause the promise to be forfeited. What did Jesus want for His house? To be a house of prayer for the nations! What would it look like if our rain from heaven were withheld? There would be limited salvations and limited new life. But what is our promise in Jesus? If we who are the heirs of Jesus (Romans 8) humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face and turn from placing ourselves first - then He promises to hear from heaven, forgive our faults and heal our land with new life! That's awesome!!! I believe God wants us to walk into a new season as a local church. It's our time as a church to humble ourselves - together - and seek His face (that is His favor) - and see new rain - new life via many many salvations. But this is not something that a pastor can do. This is something we must do together - as a people called by God. Let's seek God's favor for salvations in and through PCC. Let's pray together - in our CompactCommunities, in private and especially in our corporate prayer meetings.
Be encouraged, as there has been an increase in salvation growth at PCC in the last 2 months...as some 7 adults and 3 children have made first time commitments to living their life for God. That’s fantastic and we praise God for these lives. Let’s join together and see the Kingdom of God grow in this new season. Blessings
Ps Carey Clow.
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