“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 English Standard Version)
I don’t need to embark on a research project, and I don’t feel a need to justify what I am about to say with a plethora of persuasive statistical proof. Biblical evidence is good enough for me to encourage you, regardless of the size of your church, in spite of the church’s physical location, and whether your place of worship is a magnificent sight to behold, or the structure is a repurposed building once used for retail or other businesses, I encourage you to keep God in it! For you see, when God is in it, you can achieve great things. When God is in it, you will be sustained in your years, strengthened in your ministries, and souls will be saved.
When God is not in it, overcoming obstacles is impossible. From the reverse perspective, when God is in it, all things are possible, and God will get the glory. When God is not in it, the doors of the church are literally closed. But when God is in it, God will open doors that you cannot see and your sanctuary will remain open and continually, invitations to come to Christ will be extended. When God is not in it, entertainment takes the place of education in the things of God. When God is in, edification of the saints happens and engaging continuously in the things that God wants His people to do prevails no matter what is going on in this world. When God is not in it, you will hear great speakers, perhaps, but not great preachers. The preacher has been admonished from the get-go to preach the word. When God is not in it, unexpected defeat will be experienced. As the Israelites who lost their first battle to little Ai. When God is in it, congregations will declare from a position of truth, “We have the victory.”
Why did the Lord put this on my heart? Perhaps because I see too much commercialism and profiteering associated presented in the form of “church.” Maybe because I have heard lectures and not lessons from the scriptures. Possibly because of the handful of church start-ups that began at the same time our church did 34 years ago, we are the only one still standing. I believe it is because we make sure that God is in it! Still, God may have put it on my heart because God is God and He knows all and, in this case, He know that we all need to hear this brief message.
Individually, and as believers who assemble together in local churches, hear this word. Keep God in it! Trends will come and go! Dress codes will vary over the years. Models for success will be presented, but none will help if God is not in it! Keep God in it! Have a good weekend, or should I say a godly weekend. Be blessed!
“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?” (Psalm 127:1-2 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King