“The Levites were
brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of
thanksgiving and with music of cymbals, harps, and lyres. The singers also were
brought together from the region around Jerusalem…I assigned two large choirs
to give thanks.”(Neh. 12:27, 28, 31).
The scripture above was written by Nehemiah to chronicle the
celebration of a Jewish remnant having rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. While we
have not built any walls, the Holy Spirit has led us into a new venue of
worship, a new season of pursuing His purpose and presence, and a time of
harvesting from the seed sown across the world.
God has been faithful to lead us along a winding road that is our
corporate spiritual journey in Christ. This coming Sunday, September 8, we
celebrate the beginning of this new season.
The Lord has shown us that the glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the
former house. (Haggai 2:8, 9) Under the new covenant of grace and peace the
‘house’ is our corporate heart, transformed into the glory of God. But I
recognize that the building where we gather together to worship can have
significance and purpose in bringing forth the greater glory of God as a church
body.
We will now share a facility with two bodies of believers
that have welcomed us into a physical ‘house’ to bring forth God’s purpose and
His glory and to bring the goodness of the gospel to the world around us. One
body of believers is a messianic Jewish congregation with a heart to raise up
local leaders in their community. The other body of believers, formed almost
100 years ago, has a heart to meet the physical needs of less fortunate people
in this city. Our body of believers is called to bring the gospel beyond the
borders of countries and people groups to the nations across the world.
I am so excited about what God is doing! Come celebrate with us this Sunday September
8, if you can. If you cannot be with us,
then pray and celebrate with us in your local church as we advance the Kingdom
of God together in this new season. Celebrate joyfully with songs of
thanksgiving and with music of praise to the Most High God!
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