"Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, 'Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.' But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor." - Micah 4:11-12 ESV
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will," - Ephesians 1:7-11 ESV
"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord," - Ephesians 3:8-11 ESV
In this age God's plan is being revealed in clarity through the Church and the pursuits of the Church. You may say that is a narrow statement. Can't we just be believers and know God. Of course we can but will we see God's plan unfold before us or behind us? God used and uses the Church to reveal His wisdom (knowledge in action) to the angels.
I am not talking about the Church as an institution. I am talking about body life. A dynamic of believer interaction that is mystical and forms with and around Godly shepherd leadership where the Book is opened and life is revealed.
"Oh, Now I see... that was God's plan! This happened and that happened..." Outside body life we get hints of what was.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 ESV
For 'those' (plural) who are called... not just 'me' who is called. Us. It is 'us' who are called and when we are immersed we see that in spite of tremendous hardship this principle hold true and we can live in and expectation of it's reality in our own life.
God has a plan. It is a plan for 'us' where God is thinking of 'you' and loving 'you'.
Radio, television and internet ministries are great but It is my conviction that we can't be pastored by a radio preacher unless we can fellowship with others who heard the same message. Otherwise we just get the crumbs of the meal. They might be tasty crumbs and crumbs are something... but not the fullness.
I heard the radio and followed it to find a group of people.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" - Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV
God gave leaders but why did He give them and how are they used? He gave them to the body not just to us. He didn't give them to feed us knowledge. He gave them to build up the Church.
First we realize that God has a plan for our life. Things may seem haphazard but they are not that way to God. We can just stay there or we can go to the place where we get more definition. That place is where spirit filled like minded people are gathering under a covering that has a foundation in truth. A Church. A Bible Study. A prayer group. A youth group. An area meeting. It is in those places where God will reveal our gifting and give direction for what is next. Some of these places will only get a few things right in the Biblical dynamic but God will use them if they point to His Son. His Son Is the center of His plan.
When God brings us to a place that fires on multiple cylinders then watch out. It becomes a hot house for growth for a group of individuals that are knit together.
We can attack that dynamic or surrender to it. The place will make for an easy target. It is filled with flawed people and there are often barriers of different kinds to draw us away if we let them.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20 KJV
Yes. He really Is. I have seen it again and again. We just draw near. We must be led but we also must be 'around' whatever that means for the season we are in and that may change from month to month or year to year.
Times away will always be seen in hindsight. Times in the midst can be experienced in the great fullness of the 'eternal Is' because the anointing is here to break our yoke of bondage.
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