Seasons
Natural seasons are
pretty equally divided with about three months for each period. Spiritual seasons are different. They last as long as they need to last. We as a church are in a spiritual season
different from all others we have ever known. It must last until the purposes of God are
achieved.
So the logical
question would be what actually are the purposes of God? This is not an easy question to answer in
absolute terms because God does so much with every individual during these
seasons. What I have come to understand
is an overall purpose for the church that brings us into experiences we have
never had before in order to learn something we didn’t know about our
relationship with Him before. We learn
something valuable about ourselves as well. So here goes.
When a church is
young, it is full of excitement and everyone wants to do his or her part. They
all have a stake in the birth of the work and have visions of grandeur. This is replaced be a period of infighting
and power struggles, and changes in leadership conflicting over forms of government. This too settles and the church begins to
think in terms of impact on the society or nations.
Certain elements of
the church’s identity begin to emerge and the work becomes known for a particular
ministry or takes on a role in the overall body. During these early stages growth is easy, as
people come to be identified with the newest work in town. Everybody loves each other — at least so it
seems.
In this early season
finances are not a problem. With plenty of people there is no concern if “so
and so” isn’t tithing. It doesn’t matter
since the numbers bury any individual issues. The same is true with attendance
and service to one another. Calls for
help are met because of the vast supply.
While others may respond out of a need to be
recognized or accepted. There is
an unquestioned assumption among many, though, that “the other guy” will do
it. So many never rise
to a place of sacrifice or laying down ones life for others.
Most ministry is done for the sake of being in ministry. The lesson of real servant-hood hasn’t been
learned. Personal responsibility and
accountability have never been considered other than an invasion of ones rights
to privacy and individual choices.
The next season usually is one of conflict to shake
the church to its very core. As Francis
Frangipane says, “ the issue isn’t the issue”. The real issue is whether or not a body is
being formed that knows how to love and build itself up and come to it’s own aid. Sadly
the paradox that says, “people love to root for the
underdog but follow the top dog” (what-ever the top dog is in their minds), is
true. Many individual disappointments
occur during this season, and some can’t cope, or choose not to. God is surveying their hearts and helping
them see what is inside. Some choose to
ignore this exposure and a few allow it.
During these times the guys on top get to be the ones on the bottom and
vice versa. Gods wants us to learn to
play both positions.
These seasons are
tests and God wants to see if you will become an over comer. He may decide to extend the season for your
sake or He may just break it off and bring it back later. He knows what we need. A temporary reprieve is not a sign you have
made it through.
So where are we as a
church body? Well, we are in the season
of finding out how to succeed with less.
We are in a season of personal sacrifice. We are in the season of learning we are
the other guy, and it is not “somebody else” anymore. It does matter if I participate, and I am
accountable and responsible for the work.
My life matters more
than ever. I can’t make excuses
anymore. People see right through me.
Fewer numbers make us more vulnerable to one another. Truth is vital and lies are easily
recognized. God wants me to live for
someone other than myself and is showing me what love is. Our personal enemies are selfishness and
independence at the expense of others.
Our absences from meetings are damaging for the effect they have on
others, to say nothing of the effect they have on us.
This season will last
as long as we want it to. The sooner we
decide to respond to what is obvious as the purpose of God, the sooner we
mature. We cannot skip classes. If we do, we are doomed to repeat every class
we fail and the season will go on.
Here is an insight to
achieving early success. You don’t have
to have a special ministry to serve, help or give in a multitude of ways. The people coming out of exile in Nehemiah’s
day didn’t know anything about building city walls, yet every man and woman was
involved in close approximation to each other.
God is going to close the gaps between us if we will let Him. Participation is vital. We can learn it or repeat it.
Blessings In Christ,
This Ephesians Ministries International®
article is a publication of Ephesians Ministries International®.
Ephesians
Ministries International,
Http://ephesiansministries.org