Back to The Basics

Life is busy. Admittedly, no shocker there.

There are times when this busy lifestyle we lead bleeds over onto the sanctuary place we like to call, The Church. We "rush" to church with tires squealing in the parking lot! Rush to our appointed classes, offices or pews! Rush to the program; then through the program, all while hoping somewhere and sometime to feel the presence of The Lord. Shame on us.

First of all - "The Church" isn't a building or a place we gather to worship. The Church is the body of Christ. The elect. The bride. The redeemed! Humanity filled with the Holy Ghost is THE CHURCH!

Secondly - When we do get to the building it should be a place we should find "Sanctuary" in. The Church should always find an altar that ultimately yields safety, peace and love. Some would ask, Safety? Peace?? Love??? Yes, all three. I must say I am thankful for the spirit of SANCTUARY that GTPC offers! But, we must do BETTER.

I have called for GTPC to get back to the basics of living FOR God by giving Him our VERY best in 2010.

"Good Enough" will not do - we MUST offer him our VERY best. As we endeavor to do this, there are some other things that must be done along the way, they are simply, THE BASICS, and they still work! Programs, music, light shows, coffee bars, book clubs, fashion shows and social hours will never replace the POWER OF PENTECOST! (Acts 2) All those things can be good, enjoyable, inspiring, encouraging and helpful - but they are not what brings Pentecost to the Upper Room... Obedience and Unity brought Pentecost...they are basics!

- LIVE in The Spirit! You are called to LIVE for God - not die! Stop trying to survive on yesterday's revivals and experiences. Seek a FRESH touch from The Lord. You will find He is MORE than ready to touch, bless, heal and encourage you! Paul wrote, "Stir up the Spirit within you..." This will require ACTION on YOUR part!

- Prayer. It Works! Put the altar back in your home and in your life! What ever has stolen the altar's place in your life, get rid of it! Get your altar back! There is POWER at the altar! Prayer WORKS! Complaining does not!

- Study The Word! Pray The Word! Live The Word! - It Works! Heb 4:12 For the word of God is QUICK, and POWERFUL, and SHARPER than any two edged SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of SOUL and SPIRIT, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Church is only as powerful as it's dependency on the bread of life! Sometimes when we have lived for God for a long time we can lapse into thinking it's OK to rest on what we "know" and loose the need to know more! It seems to me it's now out of character anymore to bring our bibles to church, after all there's a screen for you... or for regular scripture memorization? Ouch...I know, I know this isn't going to be very popular, but I do know this - IT WORKS!

- Fasting! It works! Jesus himself told his disciples (Mk 9:29) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

- Your Personal Testimony - It works! Use it! There is only one, it's yours. No one else can communicate exactly what God has done for you and for your life like YOU can. He gave to you YOUR testimony to bring Him glory. Are you? No program or anything else replaces the need and effectiveness of personal evangelism!

- Obedience is still better than sacrifice! It works!

- Unity. Nothing can stop The Church when she STAYS in unity and fervent prayer.

Notice none of these things call for a cool looking bar stool in the middle of a stage with some swirly colorful light show and a cup of coffee... Nor does it call for a pulpit in a grand cathedral. What it does REQUIRE is real, honest, fervent RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ - An Old Fashioned PENTECOST if you will...

Yes, back to the basics - The Acts 2 Message and Method - still works -still yields evangelism, still changes lives and is still necessary! These simple things still WORK! Let's get back to them as fast and as quickly as we possibly can.

I know I will take some heat for this post and that's okay. I'm not saying we need to get out the horse and buggies, shut down our websites and stop e-mailing and the like - I am saying let it all have it's rightful place! Rightful being the keyword. Use media, use outreach programs, use media - but let's not forget to use the first things that work FIRST. This old ship has come along way - she's battle scarred and maybe a little weary and a little rough around the edges, but she's still sea worthy and she will land safely!

Preachers, teachers, pastors and evangelists - PREACH truth and PREACH it UNCOMPROMISING.

Miracles, signs and wonders STILL follow them that believe!