Friday, March 21, 2014

The Church Father God is Seeking (and finding too few)



There are scriptural admonitions that demonstrate God's direction towards the Kind of Church that will worship his way... God is seeker sensitive:  He is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth

1. Deep Rich Passionate Worship

This church has responsive worship often marked by lifting of hands, verbal praise such as “Hallelujah”, “glory to God”, “praise You Jesus”, “I love you Lord”, “thank you Lord”, singing in the Spirit.  Worshiping with their whole heart, voice and being.  While it is orderly, it is exuberant and meaningful.  It will move a person in every way.
In Psalm 30:11, the psalmist says, “You turned my wailing into dancing.” Psalm 149:3 encourages the use of dancing to worship God: “Let them praise his name with dancing!” Likewise, Psalm 150:4 urges, “Praise him with tambourine and dancing!”
Psalm 47:1, 2: “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.”
Psalm 32:11 (NKJV), "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.   

2. Spiritual Hunger for More of Everything God Has to Offer
Zeal in the things of God and a desire to read, study and meditate on the Word of God.
Sometimes it's overwhelming and causes unusual reactions.  Psalm 42: 7-8 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJS) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."   Romans 12:2

3. Desire to be a witness to others as you live out your Love of God
No one can impart what they don't possess.  If someone tries to intellectually be a witness for Christ, they will fail.  Witness is a Noun.  If we have not speak of what we have seen and heard, you are without the power to witness.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."     Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.   1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,    Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

4. Desire for Fullness in Fruit of the Spirit and the greatest motivation of all: Love for others
Father Calls those who are called by his name to seek and find the treasures of heaven.  To become everything He created us for on this side of the Veil.  It is not enough to just be saved and go to heaven.  We are here for a purpose.  Finding it and walking it out in Love is the highest motivation.
1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

5. Desire for a Manifestation of the fullness of Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The kind of Church in God's will is open, and gives opportunity, to Holy Spirit and His fullness in its services. That manifestation could be, prophesy, laying on of hands, healing, or a miracle.  It will be one that recognizes that there is so much more that God has for us.  That we can enter into HIS realm, not our own.  That he has given gifts to the church and when they operate in harmony, God manifests himself among us.  1 Corinthians 14: 1-40

The acts of the Holy Spirit are described in 1 Corinthians 12.   The end of 1 Corinthians 12: 28-31   God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

IF a church body refuses to pursue into what God wants, then it is saying it doesn't want God to follow what according to scripture He wants to do.  When that happens I can do no other to go find my "Ichabod" sign.  The Glory has Departed 1 Samuel 4:21-22

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)