Corporate Obedience

Greetings Fredonia Hill Family,

 We are officially in full swing for the Fall semester and it’s so exciting to see what God is doing all over our city.
 
On Sunday mornings and in some life groups we have been discussing the book of Revelation.  I have throughly enjoyed this study so far and I wanted to share with you something which has really stood out to me.

Revelation 2:5 says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”  Of course God is speaking to the church in Ephesus when he makes this statement.  He is urging them to return to Him, while giving the stern warning of the removal of their position.

What I want us to see here is God is not just looking for individual obedience among His people.  He wants individual obedience and calls us as individuals to pursue Him and be obedient to His word but He is also looking for corporate obedience.  He is also looking corporately at the heart, will, and intentions of his people.  This scripture clearly tells us that corporate devotion to Him is not just in the global church, but in local churches all over the world.

God has given us a position of tremendous influence in the city of Nacogdoches.  By His grace, He has allowed us to literally be a light set on a hill in our city and in East Texas.  However, our corporate obedience and devotion to Him is extremely important.

We want to go where He is going and we want to say what He is saying.  As a church, together, we want to do exactly what God is doing.

Jesus promised the gates of hell would not be able to stand against the church operating by revelation of truth from the Father.  What an exciting promise.  God has not called us on this hill to figure out the best way to reach our city.  He has called us here so that collectively we might set our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith, and be obedient to whatever HE wants to do in this city.

The word provision is literally “for the vision”.  The exciting thing is, when we drop our own agendas and as a church we align ourselves with God’s will, we unlock the storehouse of heaven.  God is faithful to supply all we will need for the work HE wants to do.  It’s no longer up to us to come up with creative ways to get things done.  When we operate in revelation, we get to sit back and watch God miraculously provide for all He said He wants to do in us and through us.

I would like to ask you to pray for our church.  As we continue to study through Revelation, pray that our church would corporately seek the will of the Father.  Pray that we would be a group of believers who, when we get together, seek His will and follow it up with bold obedience to His word.  What an amazing work we will see in this city as we allow the power of God to work through us as we corporately pray and seek His will.

Shalom,

Kendall