2012, A Second Harvest

A second harvest; a culture of commitment:
Over the years it has become increasingly clear to me that there is a great need to gather and build with those who desire the real thing...that which is genuine and authentic; people who truly love Jesus or desire to do so with their whole hearts, even if they’re immature and impious. If there is an attempt to build on anything other then this, it will usually prove to be an investment in a house that will collapse. After a time of acknowledging this, I was encouraged by the fact that as we approached 2012 a “second harvest” was at hand; those truly seeking the reality and life of God. In my view this has never been more critical. It will begin as a community’s core (its "gold, silver and precious stones") commit, or re-commit to focusing on the two essentials, Christ the Head and His body the church. They do so, in part, to lay solid foundation in the lives of God’s people, both those who currently participate in community and those soon to come. The strength of that community’s foundation will be directly related to their revelation of Christ and His church. (Mt.16:13-18, Eph.1:17-19). These are those who will purpose “to live, move and have their being in Him” (Acts 17:28). The ripple effect of a dedicated nucleus will establish a culture or “community of commitment”, those who “count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him…” (Philippians 3:8 ).

Not the next new thing, but something He birthed 2000 years ago:
So not something NEW in 2012, but something NEXT; not a new movement, “lo, He’s moving over here or there’s a revival over there”, but a greater revelation of the surpassing greatness and unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ in and through His BODY the church…something He birthed and began 2000 years ago. God had a dream, a purpose from the very beginning for His people…that they become the intersection between heaven and earth for the extension of His Kingdom, to bless the nations (Genesis 12:2,3, 28:17). In 2012 I believe there is a call to move into greater understanding and a higher regard for the MEANS of that mission…to where His blessing truly IS and where his heart is really AT…His church.


The two essentials:
In many ways, church planting in North America has been taking what’s left of Christianity and creating “new” versions or innovative expressions over and against the perceived failures of less “relevant” or “effective” existing churches. They organize themselves as “the next new thing”, compensating for what some other churches lack. But this way the church is susceptible to contextualizing itself into an unrecognizable form. Which is why, at least in my view, there is a call to the builders to return to the Scriptural blueprint, to foundation…to focus on those two essentials, Christ the Head and His body the church. (see Col.1:18, Eph.1:22,23, Mt.16:17,18, ICor.3:10,11, Eph.2:20-22, Eph.4:11-16 etc.).

All else is tributaries…outside of these two mainstreams of God. Those are the two essentials of God’s heart. Everything comes out of Christ, however, the mystery of this is that His church, His body, is the MEANS of that outflow, the increase of God in the earth; where "the exceeding greatness of His power” is towards all those who believe…His church! So, in essence, everything comes out of His church! Everything else, again, is tributaries. And this is why God wants to touch us and this new harvest with HIS heart for the church…Paul says the richest measure of His presence is in and manifests through the body of Christ. So in the coming year, not another “new thing” but a fresh harvest of those who will embrace Christ the Head and His body the church.

Solid foundation; individuals, families, communities:
It is no secret that you can recognize the value, stability and durability of a structure by the quality of its foundation. I don’t care how large a community or how pleasing to the eye the aesthetics of their meeting place, or how creative their initiatives; without a solid foundation…it won’t matter anyway. The stronger the foundation, the more solid and reliable the structure built upon it. In the coming year, the foundation will be critical. As the church experiences ongoing marginalization and complacency, as the global economy continues to falter, as the international community deals with political upheaval and cultural unrest, it will be imperative to see individuals, families and communities “Have their roots firmly and deeply planted in Him, fixed and founded in Him, being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith…” (Colossians 2:7). This, in turn, brings the greater, visible, supply of Jesus Christ to the world…Christ appearing, through His body, the church. Jesus said to His people, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”


The word in me and the purpose God gave me:
There are those of us who feel like we’ve brought forth a partial word regarding those two essential elements, but who now believe it is time to give a more complete word…of Christ and His church. Paul said he wanted to “finish his course and the ministry that he received from the Lord Jesus, declaring the whole counsel of God”. In Col.1:25 he wrote that he wanted to make the Word of God COMPLETE. I believe in 2012 the builders, those foundational to His church, are going to bring a greater revelation and more faithful expression of Jesus Christ and HIS Church, ESPECIALLY the foundation. And if I’m not declaring that; that is, that the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ are revealed to and made known through His church, (Eph.3:10) I’m not declaring the word in me and I’m not completing the purpose God gave me. It is upon that “rock of revelation” Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16:15-18 that a second harvest, that HIS church will be built upon; one that will prevail against the gates of hell.