Standing Invitation

 This is a standing invitation:

                What: To read from the Bible and pray together

    Who: You? Anyone really, but namely God’s people, followers of Jesus Christ; but please, if you’re just curious, need any sort of comfort, etc… come. One exception (since this needs to be clarified in today’s world): if you’re sick, please stay home and join us in spirit from there.

                Where: My house

    When: Every Sunday evening, 6:00 p.m. (beginning TONIGHT January 10^th, 2021); come early, but no sooner than 5:30 p.m. please, but reading will begin at 6:00 p.m. sharp

                Why: Let me explain…

Whether you agree with the legitimacy of Biden’s presidential election, or you are on the side of Trump, you have to admit that this past week has surely been the exclamation point that we are in a period of political turmoil. And hopefully you see that it’s not just political turmoil, but the freedoms we have been afforded in this country and that we are now abusing to the point of sin, even within the Church, are leading us slowly into the shadows and eventual eternal death. By “Church” I DONT mean what’s being taught from our pulpits, but rather what’s happening and being excused in the hearts of those who profess loyalty and service to Christ the King: aka “Christians” aka “the Church”!! Search your heart – I know I’ve been evaluating my own a lot more recently – you have prideful, selfish sins like me too, ones that need repented of, confessed, prayed for.

One could argue that America, as a whole, is at the peak of human existence. We have more freedom and opportunity than ever before, financially, politically, spiritually, practically, leisurely – you name it! Though God is speaking of Solomon (the richest to have ever lived) and the temple, I can’t help but draw the parallels:

When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said… (2 Chronicles 7:11-12a)

Sounds somewhat like America, right? We’re (relatively) rich compared to the rest of the world as a whole, we have accomplished (relatively) everything we’ve set out to do, and the Church itself is thriving – in fact, there’s an intersection close by my house where until recently three different church buildings occupied three of the four corners!!!

So again, if you argue we’re at the peak of existence here, then here’s a shake-up:

I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

When I shut up the heavens so there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (God – 2 Chronicles 12b-15)

Again, though this isn’t speaking of America, you can see some similarities. What’s going on right now is somewhat of a drought, a plague, or an invasion of locusts on our so-called “crop”. And since God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8), what the above says to me is that if God’s people would humble themselves, pray, seek Him, and repent, even as with the above story, He will hear them, forgive them, and heal their land – His eyes will be open and ears attentive to their prayers.

So we need a revolution – not against the rulers of our time, or against frustrating neighbors, or that guy who cut you off on the highway, or ornery bosses – but against our own hearts and wickedness. The only way we can make a difference in this world is to seek God. Repent and go after Him.

So every Sunday, here’s what this will be:

·                Reading from the Bible (just like they did in Nehemiah 8)

·                 Prayer

·                 And if / when needed: confession

·                 Families – children will hopefully be participating, so we can pass this along to the next generation

What this will NOT be:

·                A sermon. We will simply read from the Bible together and pray – though feel free to linger and       discuss with others if necessary afterward.

·              Sitting in my living room with a copy of coffee and a Bible on our laps - dress for the weather, bring an umbrella or boots (my yard may be muddy), a chair, warm clothes…

·              American fellowship – eat before you come, or wait until you get home, but we won’t have a meal or snacks

·              A replacement for church attendance – if you regularly go to church on Sunday evenings, please don’t skip that to come here!

·              A political rally. We are leaving our political affiliations and the Constitution at home – this is for us to come together under the banner of Christ, and Him alone (what an opportunity)!!!

Remember, in the 2 Chronicles passage above, God seeks humility in our seeking Him, so this isn’t about meeting comfortably, but coming as you are and worshipping Him through our acknowledgement of scripture and communion through prayer with what we have when we’re here.

Obviously plans will be somewhat fluid and can / may change – meaning if there are only a few people and it’s pouring down rain, we can cram in the garage to stay dry. If there are only ten of us, we’ll prayer in a smaller circle – and if there are 200, we’ll have to split that up somehow. BUT – we will gather every Sunday evening at 6pm. And the bathroom will always be open for emergencies!!

Last thing I would ask is that you bring a physical, printed Bible. If at all possible, leave your phone at home, or at the least in your car when you arrive. If you don’t have a Bible, I will get one to you!!!

So mark your calendar for every Sunday and come. It’s a standing invitation. No need to RSVP. Just show up. I’m not planning anything other than scripture and prayer, which aren’t contingent upon the number of people who show up.

I pray God will awaken your heart to this goal of oneness. Just like Jesus himself prayed before he was arrested to be crucified: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23) Jesus is praying for us – we’ve heard the message passed down by his disciples, and he urges us to be in complete unity.

Questions? Text 330-466-7411.