Matthew 16:18 – “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
We have entered into a time of divine reset. God has pushed the reset button. We continually hear people using the words, “A new normal.” Perhaps Romans 8:22-23 describes the times we are currently experiencing. “ For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
Many are wondering, what will our future look like? There are many businesses that will not survive the Covid-19 lockdowns and economic downturn. People’s jobs and livelihood have been threatened and some are very fearful of the future. I want to encourage you. As believers, we know the steps of a good man or woman are ordered by the Lord (Psalms 37:23).
What will the New Testament Church look like after this pandemic? What is God’s plan? Perhaps He is calling us back to pure worship. There are many characteristics of a successful church, but recently in a time of prayer the Lord gave me three very important traits of a successful church.
A successful church is a Word-centered church. When we abandon the Word of God we are in trouble. The Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, a young pastor to give him these instructions concerning the priority of God’s Word in the life of the New Testament Church. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” A church that preaches, studies, and lives the Word of God will be successful. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Secondly, a successful church is a witnessing church. We must not allow the Great Commission to become the great omission. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” We are called to be a light in a dark world. I Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
Third, a successful church is a weeping church. Joel 2:17 says, “Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” A successful church is a church that weeps between the porch and the altar.
When was the last we wept over the condition of our nation? When was the last time you wept for your lost family members? The shortest verse in the Bible is found in John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” Our witness will change when we weep over lost humanity. A successful church will be a church that makes the Word of God a priority, witnesses to our family and friends, and weeps in the presence of the Lord.
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