Greetings -
The Lord spoke to me this a.m. about posting a piece about what it says in His Word about “daily” relative to worship.
I had forgotten about it until I read an online article today by Karen Gross. Why aren’t more churches open every day for prayer, teaching, and worship? Some probably cannot afford the practice but for sure, many can afford to operate more than a couple of times a week. It is necessary to add that those that are open for more days need to be REVELANT in HOLY operations. Last year, I was pleased to find a church that has daily Bible reading Monday – Saturday at 7:00 a.m. Some people would come before going to work. Usually one of the deacons and about 4-5 others would attend. Each person read a Bible passage and prayed. I attended for about two weeks but became disinclined because two women who regularly attended were not demonstrating love in their conduct. Their failure to reflect love was not an isolated occurrence. It was apparent each morning. The Lord has had me to remain in Christian surroundings where love did NOT flow, but in this instance, He told me to cease to go to that daily Bible reading/prayer. I think about it sometimes. It is the only church that I know of in my area that has such a daily program. Maybe the Lord will allow me to return there again. He recently told me that church people who refuse to love cannot be relevant to what our Lord is doing… Perhaps love is now evident from those two women. People do change. The Lord had to deal deeply with me about my love deficit. There is measurable improvement but I pray often that I will love more in ways that bring Him joy, pleasure and delight.
Our Father is NOT impressed by shallow motions from people who profess to know Him. In His Word, He speaks from Mark 7:6, “…This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” GOD yearns for authentic worship.
That said - there are desires for DAILY church operations that are RELEVANT with HOLY practices a constant. We cannot be unrealistic in beliefs that all in church attendance are going to flow in love and holiness. But there should be reasonable expectations that church leadership demonstrates and promotes holiness. If the heads are spiritually bereft, I believe that it is likelier that sheep may be so inclined. Of course, there are people who are determined to be holy in spite of whoever and whatever. Such are purposed towards GOD, and being kingdom-minded, regardless! Thank GOD for His remnant!
Posted below are some scriptures that I found relative to “daily.”
Matthew 26:55
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes,…I sat daily with you teaching in the temple,…
Mark 14:49
I was daily with you in the temple teaching, …
Luke 19:47
And he taught daily in the temple,…
Luke 22:53
When I was daily with you in the temple,…
The Acts 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, …
The Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
The Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Also, The Acts 17:17; 19:9, and Hebrews 10:11
Please comment on your beliefs relative to this post. Thank you for your indulgence.
Sandra
Who is game for daily?
ReplyDeleteDaily worshiping, fellowshiping, teaching, and learning with other believers. I'm there...
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me now that I have read this!
ReplyDeleteSomething just dawned on me...
ReplyDelete- Liquor stores are typically open 6 days a week
- Malls are open seven days a week (in my youth, they were closed on Sundays as were retail estabishments with some exceptions)
- Bars are open seven days a week
- Casinos are open seven days a week
- Theaters/movies are open seven days a week
Most churches - how many days a week? - go figure...
A traditional "church" is too big. A facility for that would have to be open, air conditioned & guarded at all times. Our communities are not Christianized anymore, so unbelievers have no respect for holy ground. Zoning laws usually stop people from living in church buildings.
ReplyDeleteA "church" in a house that is zoned for residence would work, but zoning may object to too many people & cars showing up and oversized signage. It can't be called a "church." Even home Bible studies have run up against this size barrier.
If there is a home business in there with an oversized living room and no kids and a way to block off the bedrooms and kitchen, that would be best. The residents would sacrifice their living room. They couldn't just lock up and go shopping unless someone else would take care of the sanctuary while they were gone.
Sorry, I'm letting my Aspergers run off on the idea!
I think that if people in God's church, as a whole, had more fellowship with each other in the small group setting, the Church would not be in the state that it's in. This once, or twice a week just doesn't work, we need more contact, and accountability than that.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Rev, John Wesley ad hoced a small group organization onto a normal church in the 1700's. It brought a revival.
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your comments.
ReplyDeleteTimothy, I believe if enough holy minds come together, ways can be developed to accommodate, reasonably, churches being open more days in the week. I believe that the Lord is willing to give the means and ways - but are more people willing to know from our Lord how to get it done? NOT!
The Word of GOD says that there is nothing too hard for GOD. My belief is that HE does NOT have enough willing participants with clean hands and pure hearts who have minds to work on plans to get the more frequent church operations done. It, to me, is not a matter of size, logistics, geography - largely it is a matter of desires of hearts.
Yes, there is the matter of zoning laws, legal issues, security etc. Whatever...there are holy legal ways to get it done if the people have a mind to work (remember Nehemiah?).
People figure out how to do just about anything else that they want/need to do.
The Lord, I believe, has given me one solution...it will be posted as soon as I finish typing it. It will be posted under a new topic - probably in the next 10-15 minutes.
ReplyDeleteOur church is open pretty much every day except Saturday. If you go in through the door next to the office. The trick would be getting a group of people who would meet every day... But that would be in God's hands. He would lead the right people there.
ReplyDelete