How Would You Describe Your Church… Messy or Nesty?
So how would you describe your church?
Is your church Messy or Nesty? In America you will find these two types of churches. The Nesty church is the kind of church that is like a mother bird in her nest. She creates this nest out of sticks and branches, and then places cotton and fabric and leaves to soften the nest. She is making it comfortable and pleasant for HER BABIES. This nest is not about other birds… it’s not intended for other birds… the comfort is for her “4 and no more”. She isn’t concerned about what other birds are doing. She isn’t concerned about what they are facing or if they even have a nest… this nest is all about her and the ones she loves… her family.
Then there is the messy church! Now I don’t mean chaoss and a lack of order… a messy church is one that is not about itself but focuses on those who are outside of God and who are in need of Him. A messy church is one that says we are not here to make a nest for our “4 and no more”, but we are here to GO get those lost without God and bring them into His house. When a church is focused on the lost… they become a messy church. They have a Lawyer sitting next to a lawbreaker… Messy church! They have a Doctor sitting next to a patient dyeing of Cancer… Messy church. They have a well put together family sitting next to a family on the brink of divorce and financial ruin.
The point here is that a Nesty church has very few MESSED UP PEOPLE! It is full of SAVED folks and no LOST folks who are messed up. A nesty church is one who becomes possessive of the church and when MESSY people show up, they run them off because they don’t want them messing up their nice soft nest, which in their eyes was made for just them and their families.
Just visit a church and within minutes you will know what kind of church it is… Nesty or Messy!
A Messy church understands it was created to have sinners and MESSY people sitting and participating in the church, after all it was a sinner woman who fell at the feet of Jesus and he never felt out-of-place… just the NESTER’s felt out-of-place.
In the last several months the heart of our church, Greater Life Church of Sherman TX, has really turned its focus on the lost in a much more intense degree. You can walk in our church and see a lot of people who don’t have it all together. They don’t have an understanding of holiness yet. They are still dealing with some things of the world. There is still small influences of the world fighting them. They don’t look like Pentecostals, they don’t act like Pentecostals, they don’t smell like Pentecostals, and they don’t talk like Pentecostals… and you know what… I wouldn’t want it any other way… I like that we have MESSY folks calling GLC their home church… I like that we are a MESSY church!
I love that our people embrace the people who show up to visit and even those who stay, that have Messy lives. I love that I look around and see some of our very seasoned saints hugging and smiling and embracing people who don’t get it yet! I love that our church people include the messy folks right along with the folks who Get it!
Some pastors and some church folk get nervous when the MESSY folk start showing up and staying. Some pastors and some church folk get uncomfortable when the MESSY folks numbers start increasing… but I have to admit… I never feel more Christ Like than when I look out and see so many MESSY people sitting in the midst of our church folk. I actually LOVE IT… and so does Greater Life Church, because they are a MESSY church, not a NESTY church.
Take a look around in your church… is it hard to find someone who doesn’t look and act and talk “Pentecostal”? Your church might be NESTY! But if you do see people who don’t look, act and talk “Pentecostal”, calling your church home… your church is a MESSY church and Jesus Christ couldn’t be more excited for that church!!!!
How To Handle the Promises of God, Part 1
Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Gen 17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
Gen 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
1. If we are going to Carry the promise, we have got to match the promise
The promise was given to Abram that he would be a father of many nations. But the man standing in front of God didn’t match the promise. So God said if your going to carry this promise and see it come to pass… you are going to have to match the promise. So God said the one thing that represents everything that you are is … your name! If you are to match your promise, I need to change your name!
Abram = High Father
Abraham = Father of a multitude
He went from a man were the accolades where about him, to a father where the accolades where about what he would produce. Look at what God told Jacob about matching the promise
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Jacob= Heal grabber
Israel= He will rule as god
The promise was that he would have power with God and with men, but he had to match the promise. He will rule as god, didn’t mean he would be God but that the power and authority that God had would flow through Jacob.
If God has given you a promise… start matching the promise!!! If he said our going to be healed… even though you know your sick, start speaking words that have faith in them and let that start matching the promise.
I might be broke… but I’m going to get a better job. My marriage isn’t so good, but we will be the example of greatness to all those in need of marital help. They had their names changed to match what was coming down the road… change your attitude and words and start thinking and speaking to match what is coming down the road!
40 Days of “Decrease So He Can Increase”
The number 40 holds particular significance in the Bible and refers to a precise number, not just a long period of time. There are at least ten instances in the Old Testament and New Testament where 40 occurs, either in days or years.
It rained for 40 days and 40 nights…
Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights…
The Israelites wandered 40 years…
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and was seen on the earth for 40 days after His crucifixion.
A 40-something time period, whether days, months, or years is ALWAYS a period of stretching, trials, decrease and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal.
Thankfully, God is consistent, so the meaning of a number in Genesis remains the same all the way to the book of Revelation. Sometimes the spiritual significance is not revealed directly, but in the case of “40″ and its many examples throughout the Bible, we can be certain of its importance and significance.
Because of this prophetic number… Greater Life Church is stepping out in faith and for the next 40 days, will be pursuing God by decreasing of ourselves. We have so appropriately named this… 40 days of “Decrease So He Can Increase”! This is a great time in the life of GLC and truly any church for that matter. 2012 is a year that will be marked as “That Year That Changed Everything” for so many people and churches. With this understanding of where we are standing as a church… we want to begin this year with 40 days of surrender and pursuit of God. Fasting is taking place everyday of the 40 days… Prayer at the church is taking place everyday of the 40 days… surrender, sacrifice, pursuit of HIM is taking place everyday of the 40 days!
It’s often said it doesn’t matter how you start, only how you finish… true, but sometimes how you start determines how you finish! We are determined to start with 40 days in pursuit of God! It’s going to be a great year! The foundation is being poured… everything else is relying on this!!!
Sunday Reflection
It is not by any coincidence that the first day of the year in 2012 was on a church day! 2012 is a prophetic year for God’s people. 2011 was a year of great struggle and battles… but this year will be marked not by how many trials we had but by the great triumphs we will have. Sunday’s services were tremendous. Sunday morning was the first service of the year and it was full! Never have I felt like I have done so much in one service. It seemed as if God stopped time.
Sunday night was a great time in the altars with so many pouring out their hearts and lives to God. If Sunday was any indication of what’s to come… I can’t wait!
2011 – 11 is the number of no order, mis-alignment
2012 – 12 is the number of divine order & alignment
Jesus had 12 (order & alignment) disciples and after Judas betrayed Jesus there was 11 ( no order & disruption)… later we know that 1 more was added making it back to 12… back from disruption and lack of order to a place of alignment! 2012 is a year where God steps in and divinely places things in order! Looking forward to a great year!
2011 Goodbye…
Looking back over 2011, I must say that there have been some days… even weeks that I fought it seems, every type of enemy! There were big mountains that I experienced great victories, but also some deep valleys that I just had to keep walking before I saw any break. There are definitely some battles I care little to return to in my mind, but there are so many more great victories that I can’t help but look back at and remember that if it hadn’t been for Jesus… well, let’s just say I stand here today because of the anointing.
1Ch_16:8
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
Chronicles tells us to give God thanks. It says to make known his deeds among everyone we know. Sure we have some bad times and some hard truggles… but the bible tells us to give God thanks for the things he made happen for our good. We are told to look back at 2011 and find the good in it… to find that one miracle, that one testimony, and give God thanks for that. We can talk about all the bad of 2011… but the truth is that as long as we live, each year will bring with it some bad things.
The bible tells us that in this world we will have tribulations… so we see that each year will bring some areas of testing and strecthing of our faith… but in that we will see many more times of God’s blessings and hand on our lives. I look back on 2011 and thank God for the Mountains!!!
2011 was up and down… but I’m still thankful! Now bring on 2012
