This past week we have had revival meetings with Pastor Jonathan Stanly, an assistant Pastor from Bethel in IL. The theme of the week was "A Glorious Church." Our first message on Sunday was on the fact that a glorious church has peace. This starts with a relationship with Christ but then comes through faith and dependence on God. So often we want God to change our circumstances but we must realize even if he takes one trial away their is another one coming down the road. We should instead give our burdens to the Lord, knowing he knows what we can handle, what is best for us, and what is the best timing. His goal is for us to be Christlike.
The next message was on the truth that a glorious church will exalt its Head - Jesus Christ. This message dealt with the structure God desires a church to have. Foremost, Christ must have all authority in the church but then also we must structure our church God's way. The Pastor is to Shepherd the flock of God by his example in submitting to God. The Deacons are to be servants who support the Pastor. The members are to be doing their job of submitting and supplying the body.
Monday night the message was how a glorious church is a family. I cried most of the message because I have certainly felt this in my life. We do not live close to our families so the church does become our family. The prerequisite for receiving a hundredfold of family, houses, and lands is that you leave all and follow Christ. It is a sacrifice to leave our families even for New Zealand but we know the Lord will give us the "family" we need even far away.
Tuesday night was along the same theme that a glorious church knows its members. But this was more in regard to our abilities and realizing we have a special importance and purpose found in the body of Christ. We are not to hold back from using our God given abilities as we depend on all our members to work together in the body. One other point that touched me was that our identity is to be found in the body of Christ. We can only wave one flag...if we are identifying with the world we are not identifying with Christ. What do others know me for? I want it to be my relationship with Christ.
Pastor Stanley had to leave so our interim pastor finished up the meetings last night sharing that the glue to make us a glorious church is love. We must love one another as Christ loved us. Although this was a tiring week for me I am so thankful for the challenges as well as the spirit of thankfulness that has come over me. I keep singing, from Matt and Christy Taylor's newest CD, the song that says "I am so blest to be a child of the King!"
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