Do you think ministry only happens inside the walls of the church...?
After a moment considering the unexpected question... I answered...
I think life is ministry...
After the mid-massage discussion...
He reminded me of a vision I had several years ago...
Sitting in the sanctuary where I worship with others each week...
preparing for the service to start...
the walls folded outward...
and there it was...
church without walls...
Because really...
there's only ONE church...
and it has no walls...
At this moment in time...
His church is scattered about...
like the Israelites during their exile...
He alone knows who His church is...
where His church is...
and when He will gather it up into one place...
And I wonder at what we've done to His church...
with all the denominations... divisions... disagreement over doctrine...
With walls... and buildings...
we began to lose the vision...
of His one church...
The early Believers maintained it for a while...
most at the beginning were converted Jews...
they knew only one place... one temple... for worship...
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,
they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having favor with all the people.
Acts 2:46-47 ESV
But when we became scattered by persecution...
exiled over miles... and years...
we began to divide... build walls...
and call them churches...
People ask... What church do you belong to...?
My first response... There is only one church...
We need to remember the church is one...
and church is Believers in Jesus... not buildings with walls...
Even when others attempt to bring in false doctrine...
fall for the enemy's lies...
there is still just one church without walls...
Jesus never says... Divide... build another church...
when we don't agree... or get along...
He says... Overcome... stand firm... be light to the dark...
There is one church...
it has no walls...
and one day...
maybe soon...
He will return...
and take us to the place He has prepared for us...
"...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ..."---Jesus
John 14:3 ESV
And that sisters and brothers...
is a day I look forward to...
what I realize my heart longs for...
The perfect church...
where like-minded souls...
worship Him...
in spirit...
and truth...
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love
endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Psalm 107:1-3 ESV
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