What keeps me up at night is a deep sorrow that makes me long to help the institutional church be healthy. I have been praying and fasting for the institutional church for a very long time.
This morning the Lord revealed something to me as I was drifting back to sleep. I had listened to part of a message about the church needing to be awakened. And the Lord said to me as I drifted off to sleep.
Some churches can’t be awakened because they have C.O.V.I.D. (Consistently Overlooking Vital indicators of the Death (the disempowered, the depressed, the discouraged, the disenfranchised, the disillusioned and a lack of depth of teaching and preaching styles that penetrates and transforms hearts for the purpose of making disciples.).” Some churches just aren't safe.
To overcome C.O.V.I.D* the church (body of believers) must C.A.R.E thru:
o Helping one another discover and live out their Calling,
o Creating a community of Accountability,
o Spending time discerning the voice of God thru intentional reflection and Retreats
o Empowering the people to lead
In doing so the local church will experience the C.U.R.E. thru
o Open and honest Conversation about what God is speaking to them, and their experiences within that body,
o Unity without conformity (is it okay to respectfully disagree without being called a Jezebel or rebellious? Or to respectfully say no if asked to do something by a leader)?
o Repentance for not recognizing the vital indicators
o A willingness to become Equipped.
When churches overcome C.O.V.I.D*, it will thrive and impact the Kingdom and lives will be transformed.
Let’s make the church safe again.
*Consistently Overlooking the Vital Indicators of Death