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