PREVAILING PRAYER FOR END-TIME ENCOURAGEMENT
Preparing God's People for Works of Service so That the Body of Christ May Be Built up and Become Mature
Volume 6 Number 12 December, 2008
The Christ Centered Church
This won’t be a Christmas message even though I pray that Jesus will have first place in your heart this Christmas and always. I want to write about the church that the Bible talks about. I have been studying about the early church in the Bible. I have read in Acts, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and 1 Timothy. I have been writing extensive notes and mediating on what I am learning, actually relearning. We think that the church we go to or what we have come to know as modern church must be what God wanted, right? We’ve become comfortable with what we have learned from pastors and teachers and even our parents and grandparents. We need to ask ourselves were we taught tradition or the truth?
I want you to know my heart. What I will be writing is out of love and not judgment. I have gone to church most of my life. I have been a born again Christian for almost 31 years. My husband and I have had home churches and even had a church in two different towns believing we were following the Lord. Now after much prayer and study I resign from what has been known as the modern organized church. I am still part of the body of Christ and will promote Christian unity which I have always loved to do.
Whether you are a young Christian or mature, in an organized church or not, I want you to ask the Lord to reveal the truth to you. He knows the path He wants to take each of us on. I am going to share my path and what I see is the Christ Centered Church. I am finally at peace with being different as Caleb had a different spirit as he followed the Lord fully. After studying for almost two months now on the church as is described in the New Testament I see that it doesn’t resemble the organized modern church much at all. Jesus is to be the Master Builder and the Head of the church, after all we are His body. We are to be one body without all the divisions and without looking to mere men as the head of the church. The elders described throughout the New Testament were mature men who guided and guarded the church but were part of the group of believers not over them.
You may remember that my quest started when the Holy Spirit showed me that worldly or shallow Christians or those content in traditional churches were for the most part satisfied with where they were. They wanted to blend in or fit in and not rock the boat. He then told me that He would be pouring His new wine into new wineskins. I then red in Acts and 1 Corinthians 11-14 about the early church. I was shocked to see how far we have strayed from God’s original intent. I know that right now he is calling those who want to shed their man-made traditions concerning what they had learned about the church in other places than the Bible. He is looking for a people who will hand the church back to the complete mastery of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Never forget that the Biblical church belongs to Christ and not to us. If we retain our old yet comfortable “wineskins” how will we receive the new wine of the Spirit.
Let’s look at a Christ centered church meeting. Every member is to express Christ with our Holy Spirit endowed gifts. The purpose of our meetings is mutual encouragement or edification.
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:26
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16
In church meetings we are to all participate in the building of the Body. Too many today fear trusting in the leadership of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide their services so we have substituted with pastors and teachers we look to instead. Yet in the New Testament example we don’t see one leading and the rest following him. We should all have a shared responsibility to pass on to one another what we have received of the Lord in our individual times of prayer and Bible study. Sadly the modern day church has too often instilled the notion that the congregation should stay spiritual babies and not participate in the services but be passive receivers. It is now time to reclaim the ground lost and be believing priests.
We are to express Christ’s fullness. Of course His fullness cannot be expressed by just one person. He is to be formed in each of us not just a pastor, teacher or prophet. None of us know it all or have all the spiritual gifts. We need each other.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 1 Corinthians 13:9
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Paul wrote
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…Galatians 4:19
According to the Bible when we encourage and minister to one another as the Spirit leads we will also be less likely to be deceived, continue in willful sin or have an evil heart of unbelief.
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart
of unbelief in departing from the living God; but
exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have
become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast
to the end, while it is said:
“ Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:12-15
When every member of the church (Greek ekklesia – assembly) participates in the meeting, Christ will be seen in His body. Every word spoken, every prayer offered and every song sung will bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and not any man.
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:19-20
Too often going to church in the 21st century means receiving more than giving. The Word clearly shows we are to serve and edify one another.
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:16-19
Has the Lord’s glory departed from the modern organized church? Has it relied too heavily on man-programmed and centered services rather then the fresh fire and manna of the Spirit of God? How long will the church only have an outward form without the fire and passion of the Spirit of God? No wonder so many are spiritually hungry and even “dying” without true spiritual nourishment.
The truth is that no human should prohibit the priesthood of believers from expressing their spirit endowed gifts. Pastors too often control those entrusted to them and limit them in spiritual growth as well. They don’t encourage the flock. See a few examples from the New Testament of how it should be.
Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 2 Corinthians 7:6-7
And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 2 Thessalonians 3:4
Have we really believed we are equipped or perfected by listening to sermons and teachings week after week while being merely spectators in the congregation? I know in my own life I have received from all kinds of Christians the nourishment to grow. Have we falsely interpreted this Ephesians 4:11 to mean those who equip the saints are only in one place? The early Christian church had guidelines, order, edification and unity.
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.1 Corinthians 14:1
Have we as servants of the Lord and one another become irreverent by taking the control of worship and ministry out of His hands? We often talk about being spiritually free or having spiritual liberty but do we mean liberty to do the will of the Spirit of God or our own will or the will of a pastor or some other “church” leader?
There are true signs of those who are the Lords – His church. Here are a few –
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another John 13:35 (see also John 15:9-10 and 17:26)
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (see also v. 4-5)
One of my favorite examples is in the book of Acts and when I read this I say in my hear, ”This is what I want others to see especially the underlined part.”
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Acts 4:13-14
I
’ve hardly touched on all that I have learned about the Biblical or Christ Centered Church. For those of you who are on-line I will be starting a teaching group this week posting scriptures and all that I have learned from the Word on God’s intent and purpose for the church, the body of Christ. Here is the link http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristCenteredChurchPray about joining and if you don’t have a computer or don’t have time yet what I have written above agrees with what Holy Spirit has been ministering to you I pray that you will write me and I will send you teachings periodically through the mail. I pray that you will find even more room for the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, in your home and where you gather with other believers.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23
With love, Christmas blessings and prayers - Linda-Sue
If you need prayer or have comments or ideas about this prayer letter please write.
Spirit and Truth Ministries
OneinHim@InSpiritandTruth.com
Or on the web-site http://www.InSpiritandTruth.com click on contact us
We praise the Lord for those who have given a gift of any amount to this ministry. In the last year we have been able to help some of our own financially and also given offerings to three ministries that continually feed us on the various groups. We look forward to see what our Faithful Father will do in and through the Spirit and Truth Ministries' family now and until Jesus comes. I am trusting our Lord to give each of you a year filled with answered prayers and all of His best.
THIS MONTH'S PRAYER NEEDS
DECEMBER, 2008
* Betty Jo * Bob * Brandon * Carol * Charlotte * Clara * David * Dick * Dylan * Ernie * Gabriel * Heather * J * James * Jay * Jerry * Jimmie * Johnnie * Judy * Julie * Ken * Kerry * Kim * Lou Anne's Mom * Louie's sisters * Louis * Mary * Maryanne * Michele * Milton * Nancy's sister * Neil * Oliver * Pam * Randy * Samantha * Sandra * Scarlet * Steve
HEALTH & HEALING
* Agnes * Alison * Ann * Barbara * Becky * Belinda * Bob * Bridget * Brooke's mom * CC * CJ * Carl * Carroll * Casey * Cathy * Charlie * Chet * Christy * Cindy * Clair * Clarence * Daniel * David * Dean * Denny * Denton * Dick * Donna * Doug * Earl * Ed * Elma * Faye * Faye R. * Frank * Frank H. * Fred * Ginger * Guy * Janice * Jay * Jeannie * Jimmy * Joan * John * John's mom * Joyce * Katheryn * Kathy * Kathy D. * Kathy * Lance * Linda-Sue * Lindy * Liz * Loetta * Lolly * Marjorie * Marci * Mark * Mary * Max * Melanie * Melba * Mikey * Mildred * Nancy * Nicki * Olivia * Pam * Paul * Phyllis * Ralna * Rebecca * Rhonda * Rick * Robby * Robert * Robin * Roger * Ron * Ronnie * Rosanne * Sarah * Sarah Grace * Scott * Shelia * Shirley * Sierra * Steve * Steve J. * Susan * Tim * Will
FINANCIAL – EMPLOYMENT
* Alison * Audrey * Carlos * CJ * Daniel * Julie * Kathy Q. * Linda * Lon * Max * Mildred * Pam * Rick * Scott
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
* Cheryl * Jackie * Katie * Lil * Linda-Sue * Robin * Steven
DELIVERANCE & EMOTIONAL HEALING
* April * Arvilla * Belinda * Bev's aunt * Bev's Mom * Catherine * Christina * Cindy
* CJ * Deidre * Denice * Donna * Donnie * J * Jay * Jennifer * Joe * George * Helen * Jaime * Kim * Laurie family * Linda * Linda D. * Linda-Sue * Mary Lou * Max * Maxine * Nancy * Rebecca * Robin * Shanan * Sissy * Stephanie * Sylvia * Vickie * WinnieWISDOM – GUIDANCE – DISCERNMENT
* Amanda * Audrey * Cheryl * Christy * CJ * Doug * Jackie * Julie * Kathy Q * Linda * Lon * Marci * Max * Marta * Rick * Scott * Shirley
OTHER NEEDS (AS THE SPIRIT LEADS)
* Alex * Alison * Amanda * Audrey * CJ * Gayle * Jay * Kathy Q * Katie * Laura * Linda-Sue * Liz * Mary * Melody
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Intercede for
* our leaders in government and the transition between the two administration here in the US. Remember that God is in control. May He be exalted! Look up and know He rules and reigns no matter what we see, hear, think or feel.
* the financial systems in the US who have gone through a major downturn these last few months as has the stock market. Continue to pray for this country's economy which is also affecting the world economy
* Mudslides in CA.
Pray about all you see in the news but don't follow after their influence. Seek God.
Pray for -
* the thousands who have been displaced and those who have lost loved ones or are wounded in all the worlds wars.
* Continue to pray for those affected by all that is trying to distracting us and steal our peace. Seek God and remember we belong to His Kingdom and Jesus is our King!
More to pray about - still a drought in many Southern states of US but they had more rain in the last few months.
Pray about
* continued violence in the Middle East * all the kidnappings, rapes and murders * the human trafficking around the world and even in the United States that enslaves hundreds of thousands of mostly women and children (800,000 captured for enslavement latest statistic)
* the Senate and House - Republicans, Democrats and Independents will work together for the good of this nation * for those who lost loved ones in war, the suicide bombings and any weather related disasters
Pray for President Bush and his advisors concerning the war against terrorism and all domestic and foreign issues. * Pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem. * wisdom and help to protect children and even adults being abused, kidnapped, killed and in danger in US and around the world
Pray for these leaders -
Pray for
* President George W. Bush, President of the United States, Commander in Chief U.S. Armed Forces * Richard Cheney, Vice President
also President-elect Barack Obama May he make wise decisions concerning his future cabinet and advisors. I pray that He will seek God and His Word more than He ever has and be obedient to Him not following after any special interest group or listen to ungodly counsel as described in Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
White House Cabinet
* Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State * John Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State * Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General * Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense * Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce * Margaret Spelling, Secretary of Education * Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy * Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture * Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services * Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of Treasury * Dr. James Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs * Steve Preston, Secretary of Housing & Urban Development * Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor * Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior * Mary E. Peters, Secretary of Transportation
* Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff * Stephen J. Hadley, National Security Advisor * Mike McConnell, National Intelligence Director * Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security * David Paulison, Federal Emergency Management Agency Director * Jim Nussle, Office of Management and Budget Director * Robert Mueller, FBI Director * Michael V. Hayden, CIA Director * Michael Sullivan, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Acting Director * Mark Sullivan, Secret Service Director * Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu - Surgeon General * Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman * Susan Schwab, United States Trade Representative * Jay Hein, Director, Faith Based/Community Initiatives * John Walters, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director * Stephen Johnson, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator * Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman of Federal Reserve Board
Pray for
House and Senate Leaders including
* Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House * Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader * Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader * Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader * John Boehner, House Minority Leader * Dick Durbin & Jon Kyl, Senate Whips * James Clyburn & Roy Blunt, House Whips
Pray for the Members of Congress in the House or Representatives
Pray for Supreme Court Justices
* Chief Justice John Roberts * Samuel Alito * Stephen Breyer * Ruth Bader Ginsburg * Anthony Kennedy * Antonin Scalia * David Souter * John Paul Stevens * Clarence Thomas
Pray for all the Branches of the Armed Forces especially for the members who are fighting overseas or in harm's day
*Air Force * Army * Coast Guard * Marine Corps * Navy
CHURCHES & MINISTRIES
* Acts Ministries (FL) * Aglow International * Bayonne First Assembly of God (NJ) * Bayside Church of Roseville (CA) * Beach Assembly of God * Bellview Freewill Baptist Church (GA) * Biltmore Baptist Church (NC) * Calvary Chapel of Capistrano Beach (CA) * Christ Church (LA) * Faith Assembly (VA) * Faith Family Church (IL) * Family Christian Center (ME) * First Baptist Church of DeBary (FL) * First Freewill Baptist Church (MI) * First United Methodist Church (TN) * Freedom Fellowship (TN) * Fly Like a Mighty Eagle (FLAME) (TN) * Forerunner Generation Ministries (MO & OK) * Full Gospel Missionaries (IN) * Haven of Praise (VA) * Heartland (TX) * Horizon Church (NC) * Hosanna - A Place of Worship (TN) * Iglesia Cristiana Carismatica (NJ) * Jacksonville Church of God (NC) * Jubilee Mountain Church (WV) * Kenneth Copeland Ministries (TX) * Lascassas United Methodist Church (TN) * Light House of Mercy (IN) * Living by Faith Ministries (TN) * Living Word Fellowship (VA) * Middle Creek Church of God (TN) * New Covenant Christian Community (PA) * New Covenant Church (TX) * New Covenant Church of God in Christ (MD) * New Day Free Methodist Fellowship of Donegal (PA) * New Direction Christian Center (TN) * New Harvest Worship Center (VA) * New Hope Fellowship Church (CO) * Open Bible Holiness Evangelistic Church (IL) * Outreach of Love (TX) * Prayer and Warfare Deliverance Group (VA) * Sozo New Covenant Fellowship (GA) * Spirit & Truth Ministries (TN) *
Strong Tower Ministries (VA) * St. Thomas Aquinas (LA) * The Dalles Full Gospel Fellowship Center (OR) * The River at Tampa Bay (FL) * United Vision Pentecostal Church (NC) * Vineyard Christian Fellowship (PA) * Wilton Chapel and Christchurch (UK) * Word of Life Victory Center (FL)SPIRIT &TRUTH MINISTRIES GROUPS, SPIRIT & TRUTH CHRISTIAN CENTER & THEIR MEMBERS
* Christ Centered Church * Christian Music Lovers * Christian Remnant * Living by Faith Fellowship * Reflecting Christ * Spirit and Truth Prayer Partners * Scripture Prayers