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)
2. The Lord’s Direction - v. 5
As illustrated by the Lord’s word for the church at Ephesus, there are three things the Lord wants to speak to your church about.
A. He wants to make us aware of reality - “Remember the height from which you have fallen”
Like the church in Ephesus, many churches need a wake-up call. For, as indicated in the latter part of verse 5, they are closer to having their lampstand removed than they realize.
Perhaps you’ve heard the illustration of the “frog in the kettle”. The illustration tells us that if you drop a frog in a kettle of boiling water it will jump out immediately in reaction to the pain. But if you put the frog in water that is room temperature, slowly heating it, the frog will remain in the kettle and eventually cook to death.
Too many churches are content to remain oblivious to the reality of how the Lord sees them and never make the effort to put themselves in a position to seek the Lord to hear what He has to say about the reality of how He sees them. And eventually, they die.
B. He wants to convict us of the need to repent - “repent”
What is repentance? The Greek word translated “repent” is “metanoia.” It literally means to change your mind.
That is where repentance starts. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of heart that results in a change of action. This change has to do with turning from sin to the Savior.
Repentance impacts me . . .
1) Mentally - I will recognize my sinfulness before God.
2) Emotionally - I will be repulsed by my sinfulness before God.
3) Volitionally - I will repudiate my sin and turn to God.
Sin can be wrong things I’ve done or right things I haven’t done; they can also be sins I have committed or sins we’ve committed.
C. He wants to lead you to reprioritize - “do the things you did at first”
Charlie Brown rested his head in his hands while leaning on the wall. He was looking miserable, as usual. Lucy approached him and asked, “Discouraged again, huh, Charlie Brown?” Charlie Brown doesn’t even answer. “You know what your trouble is?” Lucy asked, “the trouble with you is that you are you!” Charlie Brown turned to her and said, “Well, what in the world can I do about it?” Lucy replied, “I don’t pretend to be able to give advice Charlie Brown, I merely point out the trouble!”
Aren’t you glad God doesn’t just point out the trouble? He shows us the way to correct things. We just have to get in a position to hear what He has to say so we might do what He says to do. But know this: I cannot walk with God and remain where I am.
If your church fully participates in seeking God so you might hear His voice and do what He tells you to do, things will be different. And as Blackaby suggests that your church will reprioritize on things like: seeking first His kingdom, letting God direct your steps, giving yourselves away, and loving one another.
Conclusion: Dr. M.C. Williams, long time pastor in Denver, Colorado, used to say that the Lord’s Prayer was a dangerous prayer. Because if we seriously ask God to let His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven, they there’s going to be a whole lot of rearranging take place down here.
Are you really ready for a change? Often times, what we really want is determined by the price we learn we have to pay in order to get it. To see God move among you, you must know how He wants you to obey Him, which means you must hear His voice, which means you must seek His face. Let me encourage you will fully invest in this process.
