Freedom House Church and Healing Centre


Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light;
and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  (Mt 10:27)

 


I have been reminded of a word the Lord declared over His Church back in November 2017.  He declared, “You shine like stars.”  This was an exciting word.  These words the Lord spoke out over His Church were very loud and powerful and will not return to Him void.  The Lord says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void (empty; without fruit), But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa 55:11 NKJV)


 

At the time the Lord led me to Phil 2: 12-18 AMPC

Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. 

Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent, and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose. Even if [my lifeblood] must be poured out as a libation on the sacrificial offering of your faith [to God], still I am glad [to do it] and congratulate you all on [your share in] it. And you also in like manner be glad and congratulate me on [my share in] it.

I am not going to add much to the Word.  The gospel teaches itself.  Read it, meditate on it and allow Holy Spirit to write it on your heart and change your life!

Phil 2:12-18 explains how we as followers of Jesus ought to live, considering all that Jesus has done for us.  The command to “work out” salvation (Phil 2:12) is a directive to let the new birth in Christ translate into actions.  As part of this, we should serve God without grumbling and complaining so that we will stand out like stars shining in the darkness.  Paul’s life in Christ is an example of sacrificial, selfless service to God.  We are called to serve in the same way.

“You shine like stars!”  What is the Lord declaring over His Church?  What do bright lights shining out clearly in the dark world look like?  According to this scripture they look like a people who serve God without complaining in an annoyed, angry way (grumbling), continual criticism (faultfinding) or expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something (complaining) against God and questioning and doubting ourselves.  They are a people who are blameless (holy), without deception, innocent and uncontaminated.  A people who are faultless and unrebukable.  A people who holds firmly to the gospel and God’s truths and offer to all men the Word of Life-Jesus!

Let us agree as the Church of Jesus Christ that we want to shine brighter, that we want the lives of the Church of Jesus Christ to lighten the moral darkness of the world.

The Lord is fulfilling this word as He is working in His Church a desire to truly be a Church who looks like we belong to God, serving God and offering to everyone the good news about Jesus Christ!

 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” Rev 2:7

Comment

On Thursday, April 8, 2021, leanne taylor said:

Thank you Wendy for sharing the word of the Lord, I pray with his strength and help I and the church will shine like stars and be a light in the darkness in a sinful generation. father God please shift out of me anything that offends you and lead me to life everlasting !

On Thursday, April 8, 2021, leanne taylor said:

this is how I want to live, however it is my current struggle, especially at work. I really appreciate how God can speak through your blog Wendy, I pray for anyone who is also struggling with this for the Holy Spirit to help them. I also pray for the Holy Spirit to help me, to change me into the person that is joy filled and pleasing to God. I also really appreciate how you reminded us that when we complain, against eg. work or others we are actually complaining against God. That makes me think and feel repentant of all the times I have grumbled and complained or talked about someone in a negative way because I am only grumbling against God, Lord Please forgive me and Help me to change Holy Spirit. I thank you Wendy for posting this and I thank the Lord for reminding me and showing me how to live. Please Lord remind me of this when I am in difficult situations, (which will probably happen today at work ! I am very greived that I would essentially complain about God, it is greivious to think I have done that. Would God have mercy on us all and especially me a sinner saved by Grace !

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