The Church Needs To Return To Gilgal

“The Church needs to go back to Gilgal.”

by

Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - I grew up in the church. I am what you call a back bench baby and a PK. For those that may not know a back bench baby is we slept on the back bench of the church during service because we had school in the morning or just because it was past our bedtime. Often my mother would have us in our pajamas on the way to church so all we had to do was lay down on the back bench and go to sleep during service. A P.K. is simply a preacher’s kid.

However, being around the church all my life I have certain memories of the older saints in the church. When I was around 2 or 3 years old, they sent my father and mother to Akron to assist Elder Hampton who was getting older and sickly. What I remember about Elder Hampton was how powerful he prayed. He prayed what seemed to me as a young child that he was literally talking face to face with Jesus and whatever he was praying for better watch out because he was praying. I remember one time my father having a migraine and Elder Hampton praying for him, my father was sitting in a chair in the front of the church and Elder Hampton was commanding the pain to leave and he moved around my father’s head and down his back like the pain was trying to run away but couldn’t escape Elder Hampton and had to go. Mother Hampton I remember was a little well-dressed lady that wore some sharp hats. The last time I seen Mother Hampton I was about 16 I believe but what I remember most about her was how she portrayed Holiness. Then there was Mother Tarpley and Mother King these ladies had the character that showed Holiness without no man shall see the Lord. They understood the importance of having their conversation holy, not just what they said, but how they carried themselves, how they lived, how they act, looked, and sound all aspects of their life portrayed God.

Then there were Deacons who would open service with prayer, pray the blood of Jesus and bring heaven down and by the time the opening prayer was done it was like you already had a full church service. Then there were the preachers as they walked down the aisle to the pulpit that seemed like the Elliott Ness and The Untouchables from the television show that were dressed nice and carried briefcases that in my young mind were filled with machine guns ready to unload on anything unholy.

But now we have preachers that are more concerned about being friends and having fellowship with the world than spiritual G-men ready to take out sin and anything unholy. The mothers of the church have been silenced and their ways called old fashion and antiquated. The deacons that had powerful prayers that touched the throne of God have been replaced with light shows, theatrics, musical bands and entertainment that rivals a Parliament concert.

It is a shame, but many so-called churches today promote worldly ideas and establish policies that are contrary to the standards of holiness. They have rejected God’s truth and standard of Holiness for crowds, fortune, and popularity. They think themselves wise, enlightened, and super powerful and that they have a new and better way of doing this. They think the principles of scripture and the way of Holiness are old and outdated and that we need a new gospel. Sure, they have followers some in the thousands, sure they can raise money, but unfortunately, they rob the church of its historical, traditional, and holiness impact. The future generation if the Lord tarries, will not have the memories and standards of true Holiness as those of us that grew up in the church.

It's time for the church to go back to the Old Landmark back to God’s timeless Truth and standards, it’s time for the church to go back to Gilgal.

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURES: - Joshua 5:2-9,

Names & Numbers in the Bible have meaning and often will reveal hidden prophecy. For EXAMPLE: - the number 10 represents Divine Order, Testimony, and Responsibility. There are 10 commandments which is the Divine order of God and describe our responsibility to God and Mankind, there were 10 plagues that fell upon Egypt although it was chaos to the Egyptians it was the Divine order of God. The phrase God said appears 10 times in Genesis 1 which establishes the Testimony of God in creation. Then there is what is called a Minyan in Judaism, which is the minimum number of males required to constitute a representative “community of Israel” for liturgical purposes or to have a meeting. The lamb for Passover was chosen on the 10th day of the 7th month – which represents Divine Order, Testimony, Responsibility, and perfection and completeness. There were 10 generations on earth before the flood.