CHURCH AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER
by Don Nori Sr.
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The Church is at a major crossroads in her multi-millennial sojourn through time upon this earth. She has some very big decisions to make. But most of us are not aware of the change that is in the Wind. For church, as we know it is over.
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The Church, (the one being built by Jesus, not this monstrosity of a system we incorrectly call the Church), will move on with the gentle sound of His voice. The Church He is building will not need an earthquake, a hurricane, or pixie dust floating in the air to get her attention. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him because they follow His voice. This will be a big test of who we really are and whose kingdom we are really building. If it is His Kingdom, we will leap at the sound of His voice and go where he leads us. If we are building the counterfeit, we will not be so inclined to move very quickly. For there is much to lose and much to risk in responding to Him whilst building anything of our own.
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The charismatics, the Pentecostals and the revivalists are all crowding at the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit is urging, calling, leading them to cross, but few have the faith to cross because few have the faith to risk what they have built. Maybe that is the problem…we have built it and it is OURS. We must protect what is ours at all costs, even at the cost of moving on with the Lord. It is always so easy to camp along the river rather than risk the dangers of fording the rapids, even when you have the voice of the Lord drawing you on. So, we invent, discover, and imagine all kinds of histrionics to keep everyone satisfied where they are, on the wrong side of the river.
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We go around the things He has shown us again and again. We devise newer and more complicated ways of saying and doing the things we have known for years. Oh, we will occasionally look longingly across the river, wondering if there really is more over there, but the safety is always here.
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Few will admit that we have lost the faith, the daring, and the adventure of our earlier days. Although denominationalism is anathema to us, we gather around the same things and build the same walls and defend our position with the same conviction and piety as all those who have gone before us.
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But those who do not cross the river do not change the world. It is true, they do not rock the boat, but they do not see anything new, experience anything deeper than what has been “felt and telt” many, many times for many, many years.
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God does not talk in circles. He has a definite destination in mind and He fully intends to have people that are willing to be led by the deepest
reservoirs of His love and the very fullness of His life.
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Church as we know it is over…
He is about to wrestle control of His own church from the carnal hands of insecure, angry, controlling, and legalistic men and women, to build His own church, just as He promised He would.
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Church as we know it is passing away. The thing we have called church is but a dim shadow of the life-giving, empowering wholeness of that for which Jesus died, rather, rose from the dead to lavish upon mere mortal men.
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We have asked for wealth when He wanted to give us nations. We focused on our healing when He wanted to make us healers. We have searched for mercy and compassion when He has called us to carry those same treasures to a dying world. We are self – examining when He wants us to be pouring ourselves out so others can find Him.
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There is no doubt. The self-centered, need-oriented, program-driven, growth-addicted destiny-snatching, dream-killing counterfeit is about to be replaced by His church; a company of loosely connected people held together only by the bonds of love. This people are the Christ-centered, Kingdom-declaring, light-shining heart throb of God Himself. His people hear His voice and respond with joy and anticipation, not fear and uncertainty. They are a devil-ignoring, life-giving, God-honouring group of worshipers whose greatest fulfillment in life is to be called to His service by the gentle sound of His voice. This church understands that the hands Jesus will stretch out to heal will be their hands. They know they are His hug; His smile, His encouraging word, and the world’s only hope of glory. The solution is clear… You are the church that Jesus Himself, is building!
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