View from the Watchtower - June 12, 2011

Early this year, we sensed a call from the Lord upon our congregation to be a watch tower, to "watch and be watched." This week the Lord expanded this vision to show us more about our mission. The image He highlighted in Scripture is Jacob's ladder.

When Jacob saw in his dream a ladder with angels ascending and descending, he declared: "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Gen. 28:17). As with so many other Old Testament experiences, Jesus transformed Jacob's vision. In John 1:47-51 when Jesus first meets Nathaniel, He exclaims: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" Nathaniel is so amazed by Jesus' comments that he declares Jesus to be the “Son of God” and “King of Israel”– i.e., the True Messiah. In reply Jesus says: You will see greater things than these. Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." This is a clear reference to Jacob's powerful vision except that Jesus turns the dream into reality by going on to perform great works of the Father.

Both of these stories apply to our congregation today. Angels ascend and descend to bring forth powerful works of the Father in our midst week to week. We see a gate of heaven open in our prayer, intercession and worship. And we are looking forward to greater things than these! As New Covenant followers of Jesus, we understand that God's work is accomplished through the Body of Christ functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit. Still, the picture of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man gives us a vivid image of what is happening at Reach Out For Christ.

Contemplating the image of a ladder to heaven, the Lord revealed that the vertical stringers of His ladder are called “Watch” and “Prepare”, and the rungs are the work of the Holy Spirit. The whole ladder stands on the ground of our repentance.

We are to watch because we do not know what hour our Lord is coming (Matt 24:42). We are to prepare because the Lord instructed us: “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:44). We are to tarry and wait upon the Lord until we receive power from on high that enables us to walk in the good works He has prepared beforehand for us. The end, the height and the goal of all this is to glorify God and to worship in His glory.

The passage about watching and preparing for the return of the Lord is followed in Matthew 25 by the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which illustrates clearly that those who fail to watch and prepare are shut out from the wedding of the Bridegroom. The parable concludes: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the son of man is coming.” As we wait for Jesus to return, we are instructed to watch and make ourselves ready.

This admonition has both personal and corporate spiritual applications. Personally, we are to be watchful over our hearts and keep our eyes on Jesus, so that we may abide in Him and bear fruit for the Kingdom. This means always being ready to listen and obey the Holy Spirit. If we do not know how to do this, we need to make it a priority to learn how!

Corporately, we as a congregation need to watch over our region and guard the covenant truths of the Lord on which we stand. We also need to prepare for any eventuality so that even in times of difficulty or tribulation, we can overcome and bear witness to the love of the Father, who desires that all should be saved. We need to be ready to share our faith in season and out of season, and “to give a defense to everyone who asks…a reason for the hope that is in [us], with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15.

In the second half of 2011, we will be working as a church to see more power of the Holy Spirit released, spiritual strongholds demolished, and the Body edified until we are truly able to lead others to their own personal encounter with God. We will also be focusing on strengthening marriages and disciples as important ways of building up our congregation. By way of “physical” preparedness, we are hoping to acquire a generator for the church and to build a partially enclosed pavilion for food storage and utility purposes, so that the church will be able to function even if we face an extended power outage or deepening of the financial crisis that surrounds us.

Remember, the ladder to heaven stands on the solid ground of our repentance! Turn away from the things of the world and turn toward Jesus, and you will find yourself ever more watchful and ready for His Second Coming, which will happen one day soon enough.

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