So often church fellowships have begun building programmes, selecting a building or borrowing money in order to build something in an attempt to fulfil a vision for a place where the gatherings and fellowship of God’s people can take place, and hopefully, accommodate the work we have been called to. Invariably, the vision fades and is replaced by a programme of appeals and ways of raising finance for the building programme, or maintenance of the building.
Thus provision becomes primary over THE VISION!
Difficulties arise and finance becomes the driving force of the leaders and congregation. Before long, relationships are broken, splintered and fractured, incurring much pain and criticism among God’s chosen people.
Thankfully, this is not the experience of every church fellowship, but it is of many throughout the western world in particular. We thank and praise the Lord for every well that is producing the Water of Life, and lifting up the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit, drawing lost souls into the Kingdom of God.
So…..are we saying it is wrong to take on a project which provides a building for God’s purposes? Certainly not! ! What we are declaring is, if the Holy Spirit is leading in this direction, how vital it is that the fellowship of Believers do not fall into the same mistakes that have been a pattern of history for so many. Surely we should learn from history and not continue to repeat it.
As posted on this website recently, we, at the Bron Wendon Fellowship, believe we are being led of the Holy Spirit, to take responsibility for the stewardship of the Oasis Christian Resource Centre. The vision for the property is to repair and refurbish it, that it may continue as a facility for the Body of Christ to use for the Glory of God. However, this blog is firstly a warning to ourselves:
WHERE THE APPOINTMENT IS THE PROVISION IS!
Jesus said, Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it“. He was not talking about beams, bricks and mortar, but about people, the Ecclesia, the called out ones.
In Acts 7: 48-50, Stephen declares, “Howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool, what house will you build me? says the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things?”
The many membered Body of Christ is the building the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are building. We are the lively stones mentioned in 1 Peter 2: 5-10 built on the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness and into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”.
Just as in a natural building the stones are joined together by mortar, in the spiritual building the Blood of Jesus bonds us together with humility, expressed by the love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building fitly framed TOGETHER grows unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom you also are built TOGETHER for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
The presence of God which we all value so much is manifested through a many membered Body, joined together as the temple not made with hands, yielded and submitted to the Lord as He directs, through the Holy Spirit and fitly framed TOGETHER.
