Unity in the Church
Our monthly meetings for ‘Marketplace Ministers’ – those God has called to the marketplace (by which I include the workplace, education, business, government, even the school gates) – bring together a group of people from different Church congregations in the region around Maidstone, united by a vision to grow together in effectiveness as we take the kingdom of God right into the heart of our towns and nation through our daily lives. The meetings are born out of a passion to see the Church glorify Christ through our unity and relevance to our community. As Jesus prayed for believers in John 17:
“…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me“. (John 17:21-23 NIV)
This week we held the second of our 2012 meetings, and we shared testimonies about how God has been at work in and through us over the past weeks. It’s encouraging to hear the testimony of the Saints! Several shared how as they see their day to day work as a vehicle through which to serve God, He is opening up significant relationships and favour.
Because you’re worth it..
We talked about praying for the lost and thought about Jesus’ first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana. Why on earth would Jesus turn water into wine at a party where the guests had drunk more wine than had been expected, when he knew that what they really needed was a revelation from God? Picture the modern day equivalent – you are at a party where people have drunk plenty of wine, and the wine runs out. Would you pray for more wine? The idea is one that many would find shocking.
Yet Jesus did. He miraculously supplied a vast quantity of the very best wine. I believe that the reason he did this was to demonstrate how to pray for the lost. He met the most immediate need that they were aware of. And through this act he revealed His glory.
When we pray for the immediate needs that an unbeliever is aware of, we demonstrate the love of Christ. Or, as one of our group put it, we give them the “L’Oreal” effect: “Because you’re worth it”. When God answers with a miracle, Jesus is glorified. What a brilliant way to draw people’s attention to how good God is!
The Heavenly Places
Over the coming months we will be taking a journey together through teaching that I hope will challenge and encourage us as we share together, and bear fruit as we put it into practice. At this week’s meeting I gave everybody a copy of a book, ‘That None Should Perish’ by Ed Silvoso. The book lays a foundation for much of what we will cover this year, starting with an understanding of the spiritual dimension at work around us in the heavenly places as we reach the lost (if you’d like a copy or to order more, you can do so here).
I encouraged members of the group to read the book by the next time we meet in four weeks (that’s just ten pages each day!). I also highly recommend watching this 30-minute teaching, below, on the heavenly places outlined in Ephesians as you start to read the book:
Watch this 30-minute lesson on the heavenly places (source: transformourworld.org)
Did you watch the teaching above? If not, why not watch it now or set aside half an hour in your diary now to go back and watch it.
The last scripture Ed Silvoso shares in the teaching above is a section of Ephesians 4:25-32:
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-32 NIV)
The passage in Ephesians above describes the antidote to the enemy’s attack on unity: forgiveness. If we are to see Christ glorified in our workplaces, neighbourhoods, towns, region and nation, then we must preserve and build unity in the whole Church.
So to sum up, five actions to take away until we meet next on Tuesday 20th March:
- Watch the 30-minute teaching video above and then read That None Should Perish over the next 4 weeks (that’s just 10 pages each day, about 10 minutes if you’re a slow reader like me). If you’d like to order a copy you can do so here.
- Think about how you pray for the lost. Look for the felt needs of those around you and trust God for miracles.
- Watch out for the devil’s schemes to create disunity and fight back with forgiveness. Eph 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Make it a proactive move, not a passive one.
- Put our next meeting date in your diary, 20th March 7:30pm. Invite others who might be encouraged to come along too.
- Meanwhile, if you’d like to pray for Maidstone, for God’s move here and in Kent, in the UK, for the Church, for the lost, you are welcome to join us as we do so every Monday morning, 7-8am. Get in touch to find out more.
If you would like to comment on any of the above, please do so! Contact me directly or leave a public comment below.
