Church Needs Spiritual Reformation
One of my relaxation enjoyments is watching rehab shows on television. Admittedly, I would not want to live in a house while it is being renovated. Just the thought of cooking in turmoil is not how I see life in my “home sweet home”. One show in particular never disappoints me, and that is Love It or List It.
The homeowner who desperately wants to leave the house, due to its limitations and problems, always tries to tilt the advantage in their favor by underfunding the renovation project. They set the designer up to fail by presenting massive demands and insufficient financial resources to accomplish the task.
But wait, the designer and her team are experienced enough to anticipate some unforeseen problems. One of the dangerous discoveries is a crack in
the foundation of the home. New wood floors, open concept floor plans, and the best staging cannot escape the danger of a cracked foundation. Its costly to reform, but absolutely necessary.
Paul provides a biblical reformation example and mindset in 1Corinthians 3:10-15. As an Apostle, Paul has laid a spiritual and practical foundation of the Church by teaching and preaching Jesus Christ. Reformation will come because the “Day of Disclosure” is promised.
"The “Day of Disclosure” will reveal if that which was built upon the foundation is solid or will cause cracks."
Yes, Paul expected unforeseen problems that would lead to reformation; a reforming of mindsets and practices. There is a mindset that God gives to Reformers. Its the mindset that knows to look not simply on the outside, but keener, by the Holy Spirit, to see the true work of each builder. The work is tested by fire, but the Reformer’s mindset doesn’t focus on the fire, it focuses on what the fire reveals.
Throughout the years of my 2016 campaign for Episcopal service in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, I continually made the prophetic announcement that God had released the “Winds of Change” upon our Church. This divine declaration communicated God’s current interest in our denomination. The “Day of Disclosure” has already come and revealed what sort of work has been built upon the foundation of Christ. God’s current interest in the Church is for reformation.
There is necessity all around for reformation. There is the necessity for workers to see what God has revealed by fire. There is the necessity for the courage to choose to update building processes. There is most importantly the necessity to hear God’s heart in this reformation process.
By the Spirit of God, I invite some and urge others to hear what God is communicating in this hour. Reformation is unpleasant but necessary. What’s on the heart of God, right now, for the Church? Reformation!
"For the Spirit of the Lord says to you, “Come closer to me in stillness, ask of me, and I will confirm my Word for this hour in the Church”."
Do you find this uncomfortable? Think it to be too bold? Set those thoughts to the side and begin to probe the mind of God on the matter. Trust me when I tell you that God will disclose His mind concerning the current form of His Church. Let the disclosure begin by yielding to the Holy Spirit, after all, according to 1Corinthians 2:10, the Holy Spirit knows the Father’s mind.
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