"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart....And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 2:46; 5:42)
"Bhutan: Since the government shut down institutional churches in 1999, believers can only meet in their homes" (Open Doors Prayer Force, October 15, 20015). No problem: This is how the Church "started." And after the Romans destroyed the Temple, they had no choice----- houses only.
"Bhutan: Since the government shut down institutional churches in 1999, believers can only meet in their homes" (Open Doors Prayer Force, October 15, 20015). No problem: This is how the Church "started." And after the Romans destroyed the Temple, they had no choice----- houses only.
Now for some, it is a church-building-vs.-house-groups debate. Our text reveals, however, that the Early Church met in both, "the Temple," and, "from house to house." Moreover, the Book of Acts reveals that the Followers of Jesus traveled throughout the Empire going to "church buildings" first, then to houses. Maybe there was something like, "Okay, let's go to the synagogues first and find out those who are interested; then take them to someone's house." Regardless, the "place" is not as important as the heart after Jesus.
"The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they set up their banners for signs....They have set fire to Your sanctuary....They said in their hearts, 'Let us destroy them altogether.' They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.'" (Psalm 74) This has been being fulfilled throughout history all over the globe. Most notably, Germany in the 1930s, e.g., Kristallknacht. But I can also show you photos of the swastika over altars in the Evangelical church buildings all throughout Germany in the 1930s and 40s. The Enemy does not seem to change tactics. Destruction of the Church of Jesus Christ is His attempt, buildings, people, notwithstanding.
But I say to the "principalities and powers of the air," Go ahead; shut down our church buildings. Confiscate our church properties, schools, seminaries. We'll just "head for home." I have shared with you before the experience which Sarah and I had a couple of years ago during a snow storm. We couldn't get the car out of the garage, so we read from John 6 and had communion. I cannot remember when I enjoyed "church" so much, no hype, no big-name-awe, no performance, just, "....gladness and simplicity of heart."
Churches don't have to be big to be churches. Churches don't have to have a building to be churches. Just a note: Derek Prince once said that 10 tithing families could support a pastor.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for Your Church to manifest, "....gladness and simplicity of heart," no matter where we meet. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
