So many churches today believe that a "great" church is one with a congregation of 10,000+ people attending every sunday. They believe a "great" church has over 100 programs from infant to senior citizen classes every day of every hour of every week. They believe that the "great" church must have the biggest stage with the best equipment and the best musicians in the country. They believe that their pastor must have the most sold copies of all of his books... Now don't get me wrong, all of these things are AMAZING! But why has there been so many "great" churches splitting up, losing their pastor, or simply not growing? The answer is this: If the Spirit isn't the driving force behind the music, the books, the sermons, the prayer, and all the colorful events, then you have a dying church ministry. Did you catch that? For those of you who didn't, read it again: "If the Spirit isn't the driving force behind the music, the books, the sermons, the prayer, and all the colorful events, then you have a dying church ministry." No church can claim that they are growing in the Lord without submitting to the Spirit. People today believe that they need to have a "Toys R Us" view on their ministry. They believe that if they don't have the newest "toys", lights, and guitars that they won't be able to effectively lead their congregation into the Spirit's presence! How mad! Did the early church (who preformed many miracles and caused their world to be turned upside down) use ANY of these things?! Did u know they didn't even have a designated CHURCH BUILDING!?! And yet they were probably the most influential of all the churches in history. period. The early church didn't focus on anything but The Word and The Spirit of the Most High God. And they moved mountains (really, God did through them)!!!! So if you're a pastor, leader, musician, author, or anything else, and you don't understand why your ministry isn't thriving, then take a look at how much you are giving over to the work of the Spirit. Are you studying the Word of God? Are you worshipping "in spirit and in truth"? Are you asking the Spirit to come in and take TOTAL control regardless of what that means? In order to be a thriving church, the Spirit must be the first one invited into the service.
Acts 2:42-47 "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
God the Father, The Son, AND the Holy Spirit.
