Are You Going To Church? » HARVEST MINISTRY

Are You Going To Church?
A prophetic essay about kingdom economy.

Recently during a telephone conversation, I was asked the question, "Are you going to church?" My reply was that we had attended a few churches in the area and I named one or two, but after the telephone visit ended, I began to realize that I was replying to the question in a way that I thought might be understood and accepted. The Holy Spirit began to take issue with me on this subject of "church," and with my reply. I felt convicted to respond to my friends’ question of "Are you going to church?" Because of what the Spirit had shown to me, I wrote the following.

Last time we talked you asked me if we were going to church. This, I believe, is an issue of Biblical truth. For instance, how does the Church appear today? Does the Church today look like the Church in the book of Acts? If God’s ways never change and His divine power has given us all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), shouldn’t the present-day Church be a reflection of His Word? I began to explain to my friend that we attend "church" with others every morning at six o’clock when we meet for prayer. We also share meals and fellowship together. Furthermore, we attend "church" at home some evenings, at least one of which is open to the community and neighbors for communion, dinner, praise and worship, prayer, and the study of God’s Word. I explained that we all are being discipled and, as we are led, we disciple those whom God brings for ministry. When a need is made known, prayer is applied; a place may be given to rest, food to eat, and clothes to wear if needed. We pray that our eyes will be open for God to show us His opportunities to invest what He has given to us. We also pray that our hearts will be united with His plans, not only for His direction for us, but for all those He leads. This is humbling and at the same time wonderful to observe and participate in. We also attend other types of denominational and non-denominational fellowships.

The Bible says the Word of God is divinely inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) The word "divine" means "relating to God," so what is learned reading and studying the Scriptures relates to God.

Matthew 25:14 speaks about the kingdom of heaven; it is a story of a king who, before he went away, distributed talents to three servants for investing. The king gave to the first servant five talents; when I read this verse the Spirit showed me that each talent represented one-fifth of the whole number of talents given to the servant. In this process of revelation, I was reminded of the five ministry gifts that God gave to His Church and the reason that He gave these gifts. (Ephesians 4:11-16) I pondered what the Spirit of the Lord was saying to me.

Later that day, while sharing what was on my heart with a friend, he said to me, "Do you know what one-fifth is?" He continued and said, "20 percent of 100 percent. Have you ever heard of the eighty/twenty rule?" Now the revelation was becoming clearer as we talked together. The eighty/twenty rule represents what is commonly known as 20 percent of a church congregation supporting 100 percent of that body of people through works, leadership, committees, finances, etc. What the Spirit of the Lord began to reveal was that one talent represents 20 percent of the value of the five talents and the five talents given represent 100 percent of the whole amount to be invested. The same kingdom principle is true for the Church. God has given the Church ministry gifts, which equal 100 percent of the amount to invest for Him. Suppose for a moment that the servant only invested one talent out of the five; what would have been the king’s return on his investment? God can release the fullness of His reward, but the Church must invest 100 percent of what God has already provided; five talents invested, five talents gained for the king.

We began to realize why ministers get so heavy-laden with the concerns of a congregation and begin to "burn out." Ministers burn out when 100 percent of the congregational need is placed upon them or when they take on more than God has given them. The pastor gift accounts for 20 percent of the ministry gifts God has provided to His Church for investing. When the Church operates in only 20 percent of what God has given, the results are obvious and manifests as spiritual deprivation. Without the full measure of God’s gifts, a congregation is left in need and is spiritually weakened, lacking the fullness of what God had originally intended. The eighty/twenty rule is manifesting in much of the Church today.

We see why whole congregations are not receiving the full measure of God’s conviction, or the ability to be fully converted, and why they don’t seem to respond in spiritual strength, or why people waver in their relationship with Jesus Christ. This spiritual deprivation called the eighty/twenty rule is an obvious outward manifestation and is also known as Biblical separation. Any assembly of people gathering under the auspices of a Biblically-centered Church, built upon God’s truth, should not manifest outwardly of the eighty/twenty rule, but should measure to the fullness of what God has already given.

In Matthew 25:21 the reward given to the faithful servant who fully invested what the king had provided was much more than the profit of five additional talents for the king. The king said he would make the servant ruler over many things, and that the servant was to enter into the joy of the Lord. A comparison may be drawn in regards to the rewards given by the king and the rewards God gave to the Church of Acts. To the servant in Matthew 25:21, much more responsibility was given in the form of ruling over many things, by which he came into the joy of the Lord. God’s reward to the faithful servant surpassed in measure the abundance of God’s original investment. The reward given by God to the Church of Acts was the daily growth of the Church, which is kingdom economy and brings glory to God. (Acts 2:41-47) It seems that much more responsibility was given so that many more could receive what God had for them.

God’s reward for the Church has not changed today; kingdom reward will always equal glory to God. It would appear that much of the present-day Church systems, programs, and leadership are out of alignment with the rewards of kingdom economy. Why does the present-day Church hierarchy feel it can accomplish what God has already done through His provision of giving through His gifts? To change from what God has put into place is to deny the fullness of what God has already given, and this clearly deprives the Body of the full measure of Christ, and God His due glory through His Church. The reality in this is that in most cases the Body of Christ suffers spiritual deprivation because only 20 percent of God’s gifts are allowed the freedom to operate within much of the present-day Church infrastructure. The favor of God has already been given through His gifts; however, the reality is that God is waiting for His Church to fully invest so that He will respond and release His blessings. In Matthew 25:15, the king provided the talents for the servant to invest for him. Only after the faithful servant fully invested what the king had given did the king’s reward come into reality. Psalm 127:1 reveals that, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain." Again, God provides His ministry gifts for the building of the Church so that she will not labor in vain and so no city will be deprived of His chosen authority.

The idea of investing involves risk. The fear of loss must be overcome in order to be able to take godly risks and invest wisely. In the Matthew 25 story, suppose the servant only risked one talent and held the other four talents back to try to control loss should his investment turn sour. By so doing, the servant would not realize the 100 percent gain he could have given to the king, and he would not receive his full commendation. A great number of ministers today will offer a variety of reasons for not investing in or for refusing to work together with one or more of the other four ministry gifts given to the Church by God. (Ephesians 4) Some of the concerns ministers have spoken are fear of confusion among the congregation; fear of people getting hurt; fear of too many agendas to deal with; fear of the possibility of apostasy; fear of jeopardizing their job security. Some ministers feel it is better to only invest in the pastor gifting and its duplication in an effort to keep the possible and unforeseen problems to a minimum. This is an unfortunate Biblical error that is costing the very spiritual well-being of whole congregations.

When only 20 percent of God’s resources are used to make a profit or spiritual return for God, God’s return on His 100 percent investment is equal to 20 percent application with 80 percent loss. We find no eighty/twenty rule as we search the Scriptures for the truth. God’s Church in the book of Acts had no such rule. The Church of Acts reflected the glory of God. In Matthew 25:22-23, one servant received fewer talents from the king to invest, but the message here is that he also invested 100 percent of what the king had given, and received the same fullness of reward for investing all of it.

In Matthew 25:24-25, the third servant accused the king of being hard and not deserving of his investing, and he also admitted being afraid to invest what the king had given to him. The results of the servant’s choices are clear in Matthew 25:26-30. The judgement the king gave to the third servant was based on the servant’s wicked and slothful behavior. The word "wicked" means "rejecting or deviating from the dictates of moral or divine law." A synonym for "wicked" is "evil" and a synonym for "slothful" is "lazy." The servant, by not investing in what he was given, was being judged by the king as lazy and evil, because the servant’s actions and words were in rebellion to the king’s purposes. In Matthew 25:27, the king told the evil servant that he should have at least invested the money with the exchangers for interest. The word "exchange" means "to give one thing in return for another with an expectation of gain." The king had no gain because the evil servant did not invest what he was given.

In Matthew 25:28, the king was ruthless in his judgement upon the servant. What was given to the servant to initially invest for the king was taken away and given to the faithful servant. We believe this is another picture of kingdom economy and how God is shifting the Body of Christ so that His original investment is made in full. Those who do not invest will have what He gave taken from them and given to another. Matthew 25:29 says, "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." The faithful servants received the abundance of the king and were given greater responsibilities to provide a higher gain for the king and his kingdom. In accordance with this kingdom economy, and as told by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter twenty-five, the same reward will be given to those who fully invest in the gifts of God for His Church.

In Matthew 25:30, the results of the evil servant being unfaithful, fearful, and lazy are unmistakable and are likened to the eighty/twenty rule. The king told the servant he was unprofitable to him and the servant was cast into the outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Anyone who stands in the minister position or in representation of God in His Church will be firmly judged by God, for His Church is His priceless possession—His Bride. When the gifts of God are not invested the way God has designed them to be invested, the results will be of no use to God. What is of no use to God is cast into the outer darkness. For the servant who misrepresents God’s kingdom purpose, there is no hiding place from His wrath.

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus was always asking questions. His questions stir the minds and hearts of His listeners. This writing is meant to stir and turn our minds and hearts to God so the many facets of His Biblical truth can be understood. Following is a choice and choices are based on what is understood or already known. To make decisions based on what another has said or done is following in their understanding. Man follows in one way or another; the question is who or what is man following? True wisdom is only found in God, for God is wisdom. He is made to man wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. By following God, man can come to know His wisdom. (1Corinthians 1:24,30) The Bible tells us not to believe in the ways of man because God’s ways are higher than man’s ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Let the Holy Spirit speak to you now. All life was created by God; where is man’s wisdom in this? Man cannot change God’s ways; man has to change and follow God’s ways. Every person has a choice concerning life. Choices are based in wisdom and whose wisdom will always be man’s choice. All matters are in God’s control; it would seem foolish not to choose His ways.

In 2 Peter 2:1, the Bible warns about false prophets and false teachers that will try to lead man astray. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." The term "ravening" means "excessively greedy as in appetite, reactions, or behavior." Jesus continues to teach in Matthew 7:16-20, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." The evil servant in Matthew 25:24-30 made a choice not to invest what the king initially provided to him. The king judged him as lazy and evil. This fatal error in the servant’s understanding of why the king wanted him to invest cost the servant his life. The evil servant may have been deceived, but the king still held him responsible for his words and behavior. The servant did not bear the fruit the king desired from his original investment. We are warned in Scripture to beware of false teachings and to watch for the outward manifestations of false prophets and teachers.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke these words to Jerry: "When Biblical misrepresentation is not corrected by Biblical truth, people feel it is safe to believe the lie." God set the Lordship of Jesus Christ in place before time began. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you now. What is outwardly manifesting in your congregation today? Is the Church of the city manifesting divine authority? Are people being added to your numbers daily by divine influence? Is the power of God clearly manifesting through the gifts He has provided in your congregation? Are people’s lives being foundationally changed by God’s divine influence in your congregation? How often are all the gifts allowed to be openly expressed? Do you see God’s gifts actively in operation in your city? How often are Bible studies and the preaching of God’s Word devoted to enlightenment about the operation of the gifts of God in your congregation and city?

Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The word "strait" means "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs." As a person comes to God for the true understanding of life in Jesus Christ, a crossroad appears before him. Critical and crucial choices have to be made; a crisis of belief is at hand. At that moment the whole of life matters, for this is the strait gate and God requires turning from man’s ways and entering into Jesus Christ and following in the wisdom of God. Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). To believe a man can please God because of what he thinks is best for God or for himself would be to stand in the position of God. Only God Himself knows how man is to please Him. If a man or a congregation will pray and seek God as in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested, and the results of their actions will be made known. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Jesus is the truth and He is willing and more than able to make free those who are willing to follow Him.

Since true believers are all disciples/servants of God, it is their responsibility to hold themselves accountable to God. What God has given each servant is for investing for Him. (Ephesians 4:7-8) God Himself will deal with unfaithful servants. God has provided the way to accomplish this self-help by His blessed investment in us, and His investment in us is found in His Word. "But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what He teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what He has taught you, and continue to live in Christ" (1 John 2:27 NLT). If a servant goes along with the status quo and does not invest what God has given to him, God’s judgement is clear through His Word. As each servant stood before the king to give account of what was given to him, the king’s judgement was levied in terms of abundance or devastation.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty" (Job 5:17).