Hey friends, things are good here in London-town. Its been a cram session getting ready to visit the States and preparing for the prayer tour. Pray with us, that God would continue to open an effective door to us in London.. 

Here is a blurb about what we talked about and prayed on this week.  

 

Our calling and mission as a church is to be in community and on mission to the Glory of God. If we are going to live out the N.T. model of church, we must be continually engaging in God and one another through Jesus as a redeemed community identified and built upon the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 2:20; Heb. 10:19-25; 1 Pet. 2:1-10)   

So the definition of community has never been settled and is an ongoing discussion among the intelligentsia, in whose company I am not, but here is my basic definition for the sake of this discussion.

Community = Common-Unity - Or a group of individuals united in a shared commonality (i.e. location, language, religion, etc.) The expression and byproduct of community is culture (art, media, institutions, customs, traditions, attitudes, etc.) thus a community can be defined by culture. It can be agreed then that what creates and builds community is relationships. Relationship is the key to community.

Now, Prior to the rising influence of western culture and philosophy, individual identity was more or less wrapped up in each individuals respective pre-existing community, established family, or tribe. One would define themselves as part of a whole in contrast to an isolated individual. Naturally, with this relational reference and dependancy followed a measure of responsibility and accountability to the community they identified with. One wasn't so free to live autonomously. 

Today however, for the most part in modern western culture, individuality is defined by self actualization, which is more dispositional as opposed to a respective role, distinct, and apart from relationship and community, but is enhanced and solidified through relationships. Hence we have the “Rugged Individualist” that is defined in terms of self-sufficiency and independence. We are living in an age of the autonomous that proclaims, “I AM AN INDIVIDUAL!” “I am independent” and "I will not be defined by any one or anything".  

This is contrary to what God has intended :  Gen. 1:26  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." 

God is relational! God is an individual community of three. Within the trinity, personhood is defined by relationship: father, son, spirit; and yet the three persons are distinct in terms of their relationship. Distinct individual parts of one.  

In light of this, past and present theologians have been defining human personhood, in the image of God, to be trinitarian, and defined solely upon our relationship to others (Based on the Vertical and Horizontal levels; our relationship with God and with man).  

Thus, rugged individualism, creates greater brokenness and death because it defies our relational nature. We are not our own “individuals” independently free to define and choose who we are of our own volition. We are relational beings, because God created us in his image. We are not self-contained persons, only God is because He is eternal. Therefore, for man to insist upon carrying out an autonomous independent existence is to seek to be like God, which is pride and the epitome of sin (Proverbs 18:1; Romans 1).   

With this in mind, all of humanity in general, is defined first and foremost in relationship to Adam, and therefore all are born into and exist in a community of fallen, broken, sinful rebellion that declares, I am God, I am not dependent nor accountable to anyone or anything. I will be and do what pleases my will, which is complete relational brokenness.    

What we have then, outside of God’s intervention, is humanity Identified by their relationship to Adam, living in rebellion, relationally broken, driving towards death and destruction and yet calling it sophistication or advancement.

But God has intervened and created a new humanity, identified and enveloped in relationship to Himself, which is a redeemed humanity (humanity as He intended). this began with God’s call upon Abraham and is realized and culminated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Gen. 12:1 Abraham was “called out” from his nation and family (his identity) to become a new nation in relationship to God. 

This relationship is established in Ex.19:4-6, 24:1-8 through the law and sacrificial system. Israel's identity was enveloped in their relationship to God, bound by the covenant of the Law, and maintained through the sacrificial system. But it wasn’t complete, nor would it be complete until the messiah, and Israel failed to fulfill their role of revealing the glory of God to the nations. But God was faithful to His initial covenant with Abraham and held a remnant that looked forward to a greater fulfillment (the new covenant).   

Jeremiah 31:31 - This new covenant was founded upon and completed through Jesus’ Christ’s work in His life, death, and resurrection, has been sealed in His blood, and held through His faithfulness (Luke 22:14).

Therefore, when we repent of our sin, and put our faith upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the place of punishment for our rebellion in Adam, we are saved, and born in to God's redeemed humanity bound in the New Covenant. We become identified with and in Christ through faith and repentance.    

Thus we have God’s redeemed humanity in completion, identified and existing in relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, in God the Holy Spirit, and called to be a testimony of salvation to all nations to the Glory of God. 

This community, this redeemed humanity, is the CHURCH - Matt. 1616-18 -The Church is the “called out” or “assembly” of people who share in the life of God together as individual parts of a whole, which is Biblically called the body of Christ. We are complete in Christ alone.  

The Problem today in the church, is the fact that we live in a secular pluralistic society which testifies that religion is and should be a personal individual and private matter only. This mind-set invades the christian community with the attitude that says “I can be a believer and not be committed or share in christian community. Church is only part of my individual life because I don’t have time to give myself to community."

This is a grievous hypocrisy. Each one of us is the Church! When we give ourselves to Jesus, we are joining in relationship with God and subsequently everyone else who have given their lives to Jesus! You cannot be independent of the Christian community because to be in Christ is to be in community. 

Heb. 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 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. 

 

1 Peter 2  also teaches us that we are a new people, a redeemed people, being built together upon and identified in Christ who is the foundation. Christ, The Word is at the center, and we are built together, upon, and around Him alone (not us and Him). 

           

Knowing this, we need to begin viewing the Church as the center and core of our identity as opposed to part of our individual and self-centered existence, and the essence of this Biblical view is the surrendering, sharing, and giving of ourselves to God and each other in community. We must engage! 

This is what fellowship / communion is: 1 John 1:3 - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 

This is what the early Church experienced! Their lives were completely enveloped in Jesus and each other. They lived their lives not independently, but shared in community together as distinct individual members of a whole. 

Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

We are God’s “called out” people. Called to live as a redeemed community, identified and centered upon Jesus, The Word of God, proclaiming to this world the salvation of God through our worship of God, to the Glory of God. When this is lived out, God is most glorified and the church is most fruitful. 

If we are going to live out the N.T. model of church, we must be continually engaging in God and one another through Jesus as a redeemed community identified and built upon the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God. 

   

"My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest..." -Ex. 33:14

One encouraging book I've been reading is by C.H. Spurgeon entitled "Only a Prayer Meeting", which is a compilation of different studies on prayer and various prayer meeting addresses I highly recommend. The subject of prayer and the role of the church prayer meeting was central to Spurgeon and I am always stoked up when I read his discourses concerning prayer.

We are currently calling upon God to build His church in this city by saving the lost, and by supplying a place for us to gather corporately for worship in the future. Though we know that we are taking part in the greater work of God, it's still a daily temptation to get overwhelmed knowing that we are God's instruments to accomplish His mission. Much like Moses, we are often led to that place of desperation that cries out to God, "show me now Your way, that I may know you and that I may find grace in your sight." and "If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." 

This leads to the exhortation Spurgeon gives concerning the above verse. * 

Moses, in Ex. 33 cries out to God in need of some superior help to which God replies, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Spurgeon comments:   

"What more could Moses want then that, and what more can we want? We are so foolish that we look about for strength away from God, but there is none except in Him."

Whatever great work God has called us to be used in, "... this is the assurance that you want in going forth, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' You will want much help in journeying from place to place; and that help lies in the constant fellowship of your heart with the Lord, the continual presence of God consciously enjoyed...We are only strong as we are overshadowed by the Eternal." 

"My presence shall go with thee." 

Moses, "is about to start on a journey of great importance, a journey that is to last for forty years; but this is all the provender that he needs, and God himself could not give him more... The most important thing to a Christian worker, as it was with Moses, is to have rest..." 

It's so refreshing to rest in the truth that God IS working, even if we feel like we are, like Moses, somewhere out in the middle of the desert. To know that God's presence goes with us, and that His rest will sustain us through the difficult path before us. Praise be to God that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that He will complete that good work which He has began in and through us...

Oh Lord, if your presence doesn't go with us, do not bring us up from here...

Please pray with us, that God would show us where to have future church gatherings, and that He would build His Church! 

Much love to ya'll 

M&L 

* C. H. Spurgeon, Only a Prayer Meeting

" Another Spiritual Honey-Drop" Pg.83-84  

This is a long one...

We had a blessed time at the prayer meeting this last week focusing on the power of true worship and its place in our lives. God has been so faithful to meet up with us during our prayer meetings, and its really been refreshing and encouraging. 

Lately, we have wanted to, and have already started a little (a few blogs back) posting the focal point of our prayer meeting each week. This way people can know the heart of what's goin' on with us and can join in our prayer and discussion. Actively speaking, there is nothing more valuable and powerful then prayer in the life of the church. Not mere monotonous, dry religious prayer, which flows from a heart preoccupied with the worship of things created; But pure and true prayer that pours out of a heart of worship to God,  from a reservoir filled with the life and presence of God the creator. We want to see the power of God move through our prayer, and it surely will if it is truly a response of worship to God. Otherwise we are wasting our time and energy, not to mention our entire existence.

Which leads me to the point of worship. Here's a definition in general concerning all people:

   

Worship is our (anyone's) response to what we BELIEVE will bring TOTAL satisfaction in life, which can and should be a single object (i.e. Jesus), however for many it is a plurality of things. 

Every human being that walks this earth worships, simply because we were created for that purpose. Worshiping isn't just something we do, it's what we are. We exist for God's glory, and God is glorified through our worship, therefore our existence is continually made up of worship, either of the creator or the created.  

It's in the action of worship that we give (offer or submit) ourselves fully to the object of our worship (that which we believe brings total satisfaction), ultimately exalting and giving glory and authority to that object, and sacrifice everything in relation to ourselves for the object of our worship (i.e. time, money, relationships, work etc.) naturally making glory, worship, and sacrifice all bound up together, but glory is the ultimate end and thirst or desire of the initiator. 

Our Conclusion then: God alone is Glorious, we were created to give glory through worship to that which is worthy of glory, therefore all of creation must worship the true and living God to reach complete fulfillment. For us to worship anything else in any other way would fall short of God's glory, which is idolatry, and the essence of sin. 

Romans 1:18-23 - The crux of all sin is that created man has taken God's glory and has given it to something created.    

This brings us to the heart of the matter. Are we fulfilling our purpose and existence by being completely fulfilled and satisfied in God? Do we believe that only God can satisfy and fulfill us completely?(Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.", Psa. 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!") Are we living lives of worship to God, seeking and being satisfied completely in Him, enjoying and experiencing Him through Jesus? Or are we living in unbelief, looking and giving ourselves to created things for comfort and satisfaction, thus giving worship and glory to things that fall short? Here is the truth: The world, flesh, and the devil tell us to look to ANYTHING but Jesus for satisfaction, but God says NOTHING will satisfy and complete us but Him. 

And so our prayer is that God would lead us in identifying the idols in our lives and culture, recognize that they fall short and will not satisfy us, and turn ourselves and return to the fountain of living waters in Jesus. 

If our worship of God is not satisfying and completely fulfilling then we are missing the mark, living in unbelief, and worshiping idols. As John Piper is renown for saying " God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in HIM"