What I proposed in last week’s Word for the Week is contrary to the way most churches are being built today, but are any of those ways working? Granted, there are some outstanding churches in our day, but are any of them even remotely like the one we read about in the New Testament? Are any so full of the manifest presence of the Lord that we know we will encounter Him when we go there?
Nothing is as interesting as our Creator, and nothing is as exciting as following Him. How can His church, which is supposed to be His habitation, be boring? How can those who should be walking with God be so unexcited and unexciting? If we are truly walking with God, and God is in our midst when we gather, nothing in this world should be as exciting and interesting as the gathering of God’s people. Until this happens, we do not yet have what we are called to, and there is nothing more important we can do with our lives than to seek Him and His dwelling place.
The first question Jesus’s followers asked was, “Rabbi, where do You dwell?” (see John 1:38) Isn’t that still the most important question? He will bless many places where He will not dwell. He will even visit people and places where He will not stay. The question asked by Jesus’ first two followers being translated meant, “Where do You stay?” I have been blessed to experience several spectacular visitations from the Lord, but He is no longer in those places. Though great places, they were not where He dwells.
Where does He dwell? Where does He stay? His answer to their question is key. He said, “Come and you will see.” Instead of just reading or hearing other people’s stories about where He dwelled, if they followed Him, they could see for themselves. This is not only a profound truth; this is also how we should live.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus did not dwell among or even go among the religious community? He dwelled among the common people and associated with the lowliest and most needy. He even died between two thieves, which was among the lowliest and most important things He could do as a man. He dwelled in every place a prideful person would never look for Him. Are we seeking Him in places that make us feel good about ourselves, places where we would not be ashamed to be seen?
Jesus was born in a stable. At the time, it was among the lowliest places, one where we would not even put our animals today. It took revelation to find Him then, and it still does. “Wisemen” needed revelation to find Him then and still do.
In I Corinthians 14:26, we are told that when we come together, each one will have something to share. In His house, everyone is valued and expected to have something to share to edify the rest. Jesus said, as we treat even the least of His little ones, that is how we should treat Him (see Matthew 25:40). Do we do this? Perhaps if we did, we would see, hear, and recognize Him more when we are in His presence.
I do not claim to be one who is doing this perfectly, but I do seek to be one. How is it possible for each one to have something to share in the gathering of His people? It must be in small groups. In small groups, the Lord can manifest Himself more than in any great gathering. Didn’t the Lord do some of His greatest works, like walking on water and meeting with Moses and Elijah, in small groups?
Great gatherings can be used mightily by the Lord as well, like the first church in Jerusalem which met in the temple to hear the apostles’ teaching, then also met in smaller groups in houses. The result was they all felt awe at the great things the Lord was doing in their midst. The healthiest churches have both—large corporate gatherings for worship and hearing important teachings and small group meetings, mostly in houses.
Both have their place in New Testament church life, so long as the Lord Himself is in them. How we meet is important, who we meet with is more important. The Lord loves to reveal Himself in unexpected places with unexpected people who all have one thing in common—the humility to look for Him there.
© 2023 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved
