Sermon Central
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The Power Of The Congregation
Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 10, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: There is so much talk among self appointed prophets that the day of the gathering Church is over. I can’t sit back and let these words go un-challenged. God is into unity and its impossible to have unity sitting at home by ourselves or cutting ourselves o
The power of the congregation
There is so much talk among self appointed prophets that the day of the gathering Church is over. I can’t sit back and let these words go un-challenged. God is into unity and its impossible to have unity sitting at home by ourselves or cutting ourselves off from the congregation of the Lord! The Lord wants us to be in training for the day when we all stand as one before the throne and proclaim with one voice the glories of the Lord!
Our great pattern is the people of Israel. Even though they have been scattered. He is as he said He would, is gathering them together again.
You see scattered, the odd one who came to know Yeshua in recent times could do little harm. But gathered together we are seeing thousands beginning to turn again to the one whom was pierced. Satan hates a gathering together of people who can talk about the true and living God. Because together we inspire one another. And what’s more as we talk it brings great joy to the Lord.
Look at this verse which I think is one of my favorites
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Isnt it exciting? There is power in unity and agreement!
Lets look at the following message which is declared to be a message to the nations.
10 “Listen to this message from the LORD, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The LORD, who scattered his people, will gather them together and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. 11 For the LORD has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them. 12 They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the many gifts the LORD has given them—the good crops of wheat, wine, and oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. 13 The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. 14 I will supply the priests with an abundance of offerings. I will satisfy my people with my bounty. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
If we want wheat, wine & oil we must learn not only how to flow, but how to flow together.
Why because the Lord is wanting us not to be just a congregation but “The congregation of the Lord”
That’s why we should do things together.
Stand together
Lift our voices together
Raise our hands together
Dance together
At first it is mechanical but as we are obedient to the Holy Spirit we will begin to move with Him and be one with Him
We may begin worshiping as many voices but soon we will be as one voice.
(play CD) of world prayer centre spontaneous worship!
As we begin to lay aside our agenda in Church and begin to find His agenda.
We will begin to flow together into Wheat wine & Oil.
Wheat...Bread, food, word of God & Revelation
Wine... Joy of the Lord, exuberance, Party in the house.
Oil... Gifts of the Spirit, Glory.. Power..
Someone said to us the other day that when they moved to South Auckland they saw a mist covering the whole area. When they asked the Lord what it was the Lord said.. My people are sleeping.. It is a spiritual slumber covering the South.
To break the slumber we must arise and work together as a congregation
Put aside your pre-conceived ideas and learn to flow in what God is doing!
This is not the day of the individual... look at me... look at me... look at me!
But indeed it is the day of Gods glory in the midst of His congregation!
If you look at the instance’s when the glory of God was revealed in the Word it was usually when Gods people were together and in unity.
We need to remember we are all on the same team!
Prayer meetings where He turned up!
A few years ago we came very close to seeing a major breakthrough in Tuakau.
Some of us got together in one place from different church backgrounds to seek the face of God. They were all night affairs... the one good thing about all night prayer meetings is that the ones who want to pray al the time soon run out of things to pray and then the Spirit can begin to flow. The thing that would happen would be after some time of silence together One would begin to received something from God then the flow would go to another then another until the river was flowing in the midst of all. Many things were achieved in those meetings. Why? Because there was unity.. and the Wheat and the Wine and the Oil were released.
