If you thought that 2011 was a great year in terms of church development then ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’ because Jesus is building His church, the impact of which will be felt by people all around.
In cities and tows all around the country the landscape is changing as development and progress take place. Leave some time between visits and some places can almost be unrecognisable to the place we previously encountered. Colours, styles and incredible architecture make for a bright and different future. My journey into the church will change very soon as the new roundabout appears on the Tamworth road, allowing fresh access into the barracks at Whittington, but for anyone arriving in six months time it will be an established fixture. Our house could give way for the HS2 rail link if the government say yes – changing landscapes!
Our reading of the bible shows us that landscapes change as God’s will unfolds. Through the old testament you have Jericho which was a very physical landscape change, as the gospels progress into the history of Acts the spiritual climate changes which affects communities, businesses and religious groups. People have witnessed God at work in modern communities and noticed a landscape change as churches grow, people are helped and communities benefit (street pastors being one simple example) and we believe that Emmanuel will be largely unrecognisable this time next year from the church that we attended yesterday as we manage growth and accommodate the spiritual breakthrough that we are beginning to witness . The landscape is changing!
Ezekiel 37 is the very visible account of a changing landscape. The man of God walked on the bones of past generations who had stood and fought for the cause of Israel (Josiah, Zedekiah) and this valley was a memorial to all that had gone before. We too stand on similar ground as we seek to grow on the foundation of past leaders, past programmes, utilising the investment made and adding our own to theirs as we move into a new phase. Ezekiel’s part in the whole thing was threefold as he Saw (37:2 “I saw) Heard (37:4 “He said to me”) Spoke (37:7 “So I prophesied”) ours is the same as we recognise the situation around us both in the church and outside the church, listen to God’s word and its pointed understanding of all around and speak through prayer and confession as we overflow with God’s life and Spirit.
The physical army stood up and as Ezekiel Spoke, so the breath of God entered them and they were a vast army! This follows a biblical pattern as life is the key to all that God does. -
= Genesis 2:7 God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.
= John 1:14 The word became flesh and lived amongst us.
= John 10:10 The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come that you might have life.
= Ephesians 2:22 In him you too are being built together to be a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Fifty years after this account the first exiles returned to their land and the writings of Ezra and Nehemiah take up the story! The temple is built, the walls repaired the people restored – landscape change!
It begins now – our big launch is this month as we ask every member of Emmanuel to sign up for the 24/7 prayer week. This means committing to a minimum of 1 hour during that week to come to the prayer room and seek God for this church, city and people and an unbroken chain of 168 hours of prayer is a powerful tool – have you signed up yet? And the ‘together’ gatherings during that week. Don’t miss every opportunity to meet together in home groups and all the various groupings that run, and believe God as we see prayers answered and miracles take place and the landscape change.
Steve Speight (Rev)
Emmanuel Christian Centre
Lichfield
Staffs
steve@emmanuellichfield.com
www.emmanuellichfield.com
