Post by water on May 19, 2008 11:48:29 GMT -5
Don't Wait For Church
by Robert Ricciardelli www.vision2advance.com
Don't Wait for Church, you are the Church! I still hear comments such
as "We have invited them to church several times, but they will not
come", or "If we can just get them to church, then the Lord will
touch them and they will get saved." Unfortunately, these comments
come from mature believers that know and love Jesus. In my
experience, 90% of believers have been taught, or have been led to
believe that this is the way. The gathering of the saints should be
the gathering of the saints, and yes, we should welcome unbelievers
to our gatherings, but better yet, lead them to Jesus first, then
bring them to the gathering for equipping.
You are the Temple
Part of the problem is that we do not understand who we are in Him.
When we realize that we are the house of God, then God is everywhere
we are. He is just as powerful in me, whether I am on a mountain top,
by the sea, in a Mosque, or in an organized church meeting. There is
no question there is magnified power and presence in Christ when 2,
3, or 30 gather in His name, but His power resides in you through the
Holy Spirit, all the time. The Holy Spirit in God's people often has
been dormant outside of Sunday, and outside of church meetings for
much of Christian history. The Kingdom of God wants so much to impact
every aspect of our lives; every day, every minute, every breath,
every step, every territory, every person, and every system we engage
with.
We need to have the mind of Christ, living out the life of Christ
through us. Wherever Jesus walked, ministry happened. Whatever Jesus
did, there was ministry. Whoever Jesus met, there was ministry.
Whoever he touched there was ministry. When he walked into the
building there was ministry, and when he walked out of the building
there was ministry. When He prayed, it was ministry, when he played,
it was ministry. When He worshiped, it was ministry, when he loved
unconditionally, it was ministry. His life was ministry from the time
He woke, until the day was done, and so likewise should our life be.
Transformation rather than Reformation
Most of us are thankful for the reformation. Is reformation the
answer? We must take a closer look at reformation, and what was
actually reformed. I once heard it said that Luther set me free, and
then became my jail warden. We are all thankful for the reformation
and many Catholic friends are as well, as it pushed all of us closer
to the Kingdom of God. Luther talked about the priesthood of all
believers and yet it still was the "men of the cloth" that did the
ministry. The ministry was still viewed as happening in the building.
Formal schooling and ordination were required to engage in the
priesthood ministry. And even today, we hear the priesthood of all
believers being preached often, but in practice, we are rarely seeing
it.
All of us are thankful and continue to be thankful for all gatherings
in the name of Jesus. We all benefit from them and it has brought us
to today. In the midst of denominationalism, and many systems of
faith and religion, even the very best of them are inadequate at
best. They are inadequate because they only are able to communicate
the Jesus who is the only one who can transform the hearts of men.
When transformed hearts enter their blood purchased Kingdom reality,
then we begin to see the nation of kings and priests engage with the
world.
Revelation 5:10 Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,
Priest-kings to rule over the earth.
Expect God moments right where you are
A transformed Kingdom personality now is not bound by systems,
because they are not of the system. They may be in a system, which
takes the form of Church organizations, families, corporations,
governments, culture, etc. But they are only in the system, but OF
His Kingdom. Life or death, success or failure, take on whole new
meanings in those that are consumed with Christ and impassioned, and
empowered for His Kingdom glory.
When a business man or woman are "Kingdomized", they get up each day
excited for what the Lord will have for them that day. They begin to
walk and flow in His "Now" presence all day long. They begin to hear
what the Father hears, they begin to see what the Father sees,
regardless of what they hear and see in the natural. When they go
into a meeting, they expect His presence to break down walls while
bringing divine insight. When they walk into a potential business
deal, they expect divine favor. When they encounter hostility, they
realize that this person is hurting and needs a word fitly spoken,
healing, but mostly needs love.
When they drive through their neighborhood, they pray for their
neighbors and ask the Lord for His desire and love to reach them. God
begins to open opportunities to touch those around them and because
many of them have never seen Jesus released with such love and
acceptance, they desire to follow these royal priests. They desire
relationship and wanting to know, "What is this love? I have never
seen this coming from a Christian. These types usually preach to me,
and tell me I am no good, but these guys are different, what is this
that I am feeling from them."
Go therefore and love
Our life is about loving God and loving others in everyday life; in
your home, in your business, and in your corporate gatherings. Don't
just wait for the corporate times to impact lives. You are a ready
instrument now if the Holy Spirit is within you. He is always ready
to impart His love and mercy through you. Be ready, be willing, and
be obedient to deliver His love and His touch wherever you go. Do not
worry about chapter and verse conversations. And please refrain from
using "thee" and "thou" when talking to unbelievers. They already
think we're crazy believing in an invisible God who sent His Son to
die. This is strictly my personal opinion, but please don't give them
any more rejection fuel by talking in a 500 year old language! Speak
from your heart, live the gospel of love, and be the gospel to the
world. It must be authentic and it must be birthed from His love.
The Kingdom of God is relational - supernaturally relational, so
watch for the people the Lord joins you with. Most conversions come
from relationships. You do not have to invite them to church for
ministry, you are the ministry. No need to feel compelled to lead
them in some form of prayer, first love them, be real, and watch Love
lead them to knowing who you know. Once Jesus has set them free, you
can invite them to the gathering, training, and corporate worship
centers to grow and relate with others. They will become part of your
Kingdom family and now have the opportunity to extend the Kingdom way
to their people.
His presence is within you wanting to impact every jurisdiction.
Watch the gates of resistance come crashing down as you bring His
presence and your faith to combustible kingdom influence. Expect
revelation, expect impartation, and expect miracles whenever you show
up. Vision and dreams will become regular realities of Kingdom life,
and what was once possible now becomes probable, all to the glory of
our King.
What a glorious Kingdom, what a glorious God!
by Robert Ricciardelli www.vision2advance.com
Don't Wait for Church, you are the Church! I still hear comments such
as "We have invited them to church several times, but they will not
come", or "If we can just get them to church, then the Lord will
touch them and they will get saved." Unfortunately, these comments
come from mature believers that know and love Jesus. In my
experience, 90% of believers have been taught, or have been led to
believe that this is the way. The gathering of the saints should be
the gathering of the saints, and yes, we should welcome unbelievers
to our gatherings, but better yet, lead them to Jesus first, then
bring them to the gathering for equipping.
You are the Temple
Part of the problem is that we do not understand who we are in Him.
When we realize that we are the house of God, then God is everywhere
we are. He is just as powerful in me, whether I am on a mountain top,
by the sea, in a Mosque, or in an organized church meeting. There is
no question there is magnified power and presence in Christ when 2,
3, or 30 gather in His name, but His power resides in you through the
Holy Spirit, all the time. The Holy Spirit in God's people often has
been dormant outside of Sunday, and outside of church meetings for
much of Christian history. The Kingdom of God wants so much to impact
every aspect of our lives; every day, every minute, every breath,
every step, every territory, every person, and every system we engage
with.
We need to have the mind of Christ, living out the life of Christ
through us. Wherever Jesus walked, ministry happened. Whatever Jesus
did, there was ministry. Whoever Jesus met, there was ministry.
Whoever he touched there was ministry. When he walked into the
building there was ministry, and when he walked out of the building
there was ministry. When He prayed, it was ministry, when he played,
it was ministry. When He worshiped, it was ministry, when he loved
unconditionally, it was ministry. His life was ministry from the time
He woke, until the day was done, and so likewise should our life be.
Transformation rather than Reformation
Most of us are thankful for the reformation. Is reformation the
answer? We must take a closer look at reformation, and what was
actually reformed. I once heard it said that Luther set me free, and
then became my jail warden. We are all thankful for the reformation
and many Catholic friends are as well, as it pushed all of us closer
to the Kingdom of God. Luther talked about the priesthood of all
believers and yet it still was the "men of the cloth" that did the
ministry. The ministry was still viewed as happening in the building.
Formal schooling and ordination were required to engage in the
priesthood ministry. And even today, we hear the priesthood of all
believers being preached often, but in practice, we are rarely seeing
it.
All of us are thankful and continue to be thankful for all gatherings
in the name of Jesus. We all benefit from them and it has brought us
to today. In the midst of denominationalism, and many systems of
faith and religion, even the very best of them are inadequate at
best. They are inadequate because they only are able to communicate
the Jesus who is the only one who can transform the hearts of men.
When transformed hearts enter their blood purchased Kingdom reality,
then we begin to see the nation of kings and priests engage with the
world.
Revelation 5:10 Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,
Priest-kings to rule over the earth.
Expect God moments right where you are
A transformed Kingdom personality now is not bound by systems,
because they are not of the system. They may be in a system, which
takes the form of Church organizations, families, corporations,
governments, culture, etc. But they are only in the system, but OF
His Kingdom. Life or death, success or failure, take on whole new
meanings in those that are consumed with Christ and impassioned, and
empowered for His Kingdom glory.
When a business man or woman are "Kingdomized", they get up each day
excited for what the Lord will have for them that day. They begin to
walk and flow in His "Now" presence all day long. They begin to hear
what the Father hears, they begin to see what the Father sees,
regardless of what they hear and see in the natural. When they go
into a meeting, they expect His presence to break down walls while
bringing divine insight. When they walk into a potential business
deal, they expect divine favor. When they encounter hostility, they
realize that this person is hurting and needs a word fitly spoken,
healing, but mostly needs love.
When they drive through their neighborhood, they pray for their
neighbors and ask the Lord for His desire and love to reach them. God
begins to open opportunities to touch those around them and because
many of them have never seen Jesus released with such love and
acceptance, they desire to follow these royal priests. They desire
relationship and wanting to know, "What is this love? I have never
seen this coming from a Christian. These types usually preach to me,
and tell me I am no good, but these guys are different, what is this
that I am feeling from them."
Go therefore and love
Our life is about loving God and loving others in everyday life; in
your home, in your business, and in your corporate gatherings. Don't
just wait for the corporate times to impact lives. You are a ready
instrument now if the Holy Spirit is within you. He is always ready
to impart His love and mercy through you. Be ready, be willing, and
be obedient to deliver His love and His touch wherever you go. Do not
worry about chapter and verse conversations. And please refrain from
using "thee" and "thou" when talking to unbelievers. They already
think we're crazy believing in an invisible God who sent His Son to
die. This is strictly my personal opinion, but please don't give them
any more rejection fuel by talking in a 500 year old language! Speak
from your heart, live the gospel of love, and be the gospel to the
world. It must be authentic and it must be birthed from His love.
The Kingdom of God is relational - supernaturally relational, so
watch for the people the Lord joins you with. Most conversions come
from relationships. You do not have to invite them to church for
ministry, you are the ministry. No need to feel compelled to lead
them in some form of prayer, first love them, be real, and watch Love
lead them to knowing who you know. Once Jesus has set them free, you
can invite them to the gathering, training, and corporate worship
centers to grow and relate with others. They will become part of your
Kingdom family and now have the opportunity to extend the Kingdom way
to their people.
His presence is within you wanting to impact every jurisdiction.
Watch the gates of resistance come crashing down as you bring His
presence and your faith to combustible kingdom influence. Expect
revelation, expect impartation, and expect miracles whenever you show
up. Vision and dreams will become regular realities of Kingdom life,
and what was once possible now becomes probable, all to the glory of
our King.
What a glorious Kingdom, what a glorious God!
