Christ's Plans For His Church

In Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV), we are told: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Often times, we think we know how to go about “doing church”. But since Christ is the head of the church, it stands to reason that we have much to learn from Him. Therefore, we must seek his face, in order to hear His voice, so we might do what He wants us to do.

The primary issue in every church is an issue of control. Churches die because someone other that Christ insists on having control. But churches thrive when everyone agrees that Christ must have control.

When we are in control, our focus is on what pleases me; when Christ is in control, our focus is on what pleases Him. When we are in control, we seek to have our way; when Christ is in control, we seek to yield to His way. When we are in control, everyone seeks his own glory; when Christ is in control, everyone seeks God’s glory. When we are in control, we depend on our resources; when Christ is in control, we depend on God’s resources. When we are in control, everyone promotes themselves; when Christ is in control, everyone dies to self. When we are in control, the result will be disappointingly ordinary; when Christ is in control, the result will be divinely extraordinary.

It is important that we learn how to go about God’s work, God’s way.

“Moses knew God’s purpose for the Israelites - free them from bondage in Egypt. But Moses was mistaken when he assumed he also knew God’s plans. He murdered an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing a Hebrew (Exodus 2:11-15). Using the wrong plan to accomplish the right purpose cost Moses forty years in the wilderness.” – Henry Blackaby

Can you imagine how long it would have taken Moses to see the Israelites set free from Egyptian captivity, by killing one Egyptian at a time? God’s plan was obviously better!

Well, too many churches today make the same mistake that Moses did. They try to fulfill God’s purpose of bringing Him glory, making disciples, and blessing their community by coming up with plans of their own and then asking God to bless them. Sadly, the end result has been that they have been banished to the wilderness of God’s discipline even as Moses was banished to the wilderness of Midian.

Instead of asking God to bless what we’re doing, we need to ask God to help us do what He is blessing!

Which is why we must seek His face, in order to hear His voice and then do what He tells us to do. The reason we are investing this time in prayer and seeking God is so you might be in a position to discern as a congregation what God’s plans are for you as a church. We are on this journey together with you.

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1. The Lord’s Inspection - vs. 1-4

The Lord had inspected each of the seven churches addressed in Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation. And in light of what He had observed, the Lord had a word for each church that was unique to that congregation. There were things for which the Lord commended them but there were things for which He condemned them.

This is something that is important for us to emphasize. To see a church revitalized, we cannot simply look to another congregation and ask, “What are they doing that seems to be working for them?” And then implement their strategy or ways of doing ministry.

No. God knows your congregation better than you know yourselves. He knows your weaknesses and your strengths. And God has a unique plan for each and every congregation. And His desire is to make His plans known to you.

In his study, “Experiencing God: Knowing and doing the Will of God,” Henry Blackaby speaks about what he calls “The crisis of belief.” The "crisis of belief” is a turning point where I must make a decision concerning what I really believe about God.

I would suggest to you that this is the point where we as a church are today. And what we do will reveal what we believe about God. If we believe that Christ has inspected your church and has a specific word of direction for us, we will fully participate with other members of our church in this process. If not, we won’t.

You see, faith is action, based on the certainty of what God will do. If you believe Christ is alive and aware of our church, and that He has inspected you and has a word of direction for you, you will seek Him will all your heart. And His promise is: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)