When we hear or say, “we’re going to new levels”, what does that mean for us? Now, in many spheres of life it is true that there are levels of new experiences, new ventures, an increase of knowledge leading to new opportunities. But what about the Church of Christ? What does it mean to go to ‘new levels’ for the church?
At the commencement of the church nearly 2000 years ago, around 120 persons were gathered together for ten days praying. The Holy Spirit fell and empowered the Church to begin and have an impact to those around them. The church was at a high level of influence with the Gospel of Christ preached fearlessly. I would suggest that the church has lost its level of influence and that we are not wanting to take the church to new levels, but to the original level it had set! For us individually we will learn and experience new things on the way but as a whole, the church will once again reach the level of influence it had at the beginning. But how? Intimacy, prayer and a desire to seek the face of Jesus are key.
Times of prayer and devotion are critical in growing intimately with Jesus. In Matthew 6 verse 6, Jesus says:- “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”. A passion for secret devotion. Not looking for grandeur and popularity but seeking God alone. We must be a praying Church, seeking God with all of our heart. Psalm 27 verse 8 says: – “You have said, “Seek my face.”” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
We must never forget our prayer and worship with the Lord. It is He guiding you and His Church through the days we live. We see Abraham in Genesis, following the call on his life to go the land that God has shown him, that Abraham continued to build an altar of worship at every point! Let us read from Genesis 12, verses 7 and 8: –“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” He built an altar.
Going to new levels? Let us pray. Continue to seek His face alone and remember His love and mercy to underpin our worship! Then, we can see God bring us to experience new things that have always been available for His Church!
