The prophet Isaiah said this in Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
Transitioning from one of God’s seasons to another is always difficult! Whether it be family, job or church, it doesn’t matter, its hard. Even a family goes through changes every year, especially as it ages and becomes more mature. Our most difficult days for Cheryl was going through the infamous “empty-nest” experience when Ashley, our daughter was married. For the initial 9 years of our marriage, there was the just the 2 of us. For the next 19 years, there was the 3 of us. For the last 9 yeas, there have been 3 grandkids added. As I “age’ in pastoral ministry, I’m discovering and as the church matures into perfection in Christ, seasons also change about every 10 years. With changes often comes different leadership and members of the congregation. It’s just the way it is. Jesus said that changes in times and seasons were just the way the kingdom is; Acts 1:6-7 (ESV)
“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”
As Jesus is head of the church, it is His right to move people around as He sees fit. The reason we find it so hard is because we do not see the church as He sees it. We see the church as “my” or “our” church. We often think that the main church is about “fellowship” and “community”. That’s what social clubs are for, not the church. The Apostle Paul says this about the purpose of the church in Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV).
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
Bishop Godwin Ekejuba once told Cheryl and I, “you will end up with a completely different congregation then the one you started with’. He seems to have been absolutely correct. Presently, we are in a season of shifting, God is bringing into Cornerstone those who will carry us through the next season successfully. In God’s wisdom, He couldn’t have done that with those who the Lord has recently removed. That’s not an attempt to “demonize” anyone, it’s just the way it is. So, we bless those in coming and going. Except Jesus build the church, we labor in vain. I want to share with you and word that one of our leaders, Karen Austin received from the Lord concerning our future;
From Karen Austin
Prior to service [on 10-03-21] I was praying for Cornerstone (CS). Heard a "new branding" for CS. What you have been known for in the past has paved the way to what you shall be known for today. There is now a narrowing of the path for CS. What was permitted then shall not be in this day. For all that is to come through CS shall come forth with new illumination and revelation. It will be as you take a step, a light will come on granting clarity for that step. Then the next step and the same until you reach this place with which you shall be branded. I sense this branding is that you will be known as "One with the Spirit ". Because of this, so much more will be accomplished for the Kingdom of God than all the previous years put together. I see baskets overflowing with hardy, lush, green vines. (Not sure what that represents). I see the new sound of Worship summoning the Spirit. I see Holy Spirit riding in on the waves/frequencies of the sound of new worship swirling releasing life, restoration and empowerment. There shall be a thin place over CS and know, access has been granted.
This word seems to match the words of this parable regarding fruitfulness. Mark 4:14-20 (ESV
The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
Now it was just explained to me over the weekend from a NASA scientist that “fold” has a different meaning than “times” in the Bible; 2 X (times) 10 = 20. However, 2 to the tenfold means 2 f 2 = 4, 4 F 4 = 16, 16 F 16 = 256, 256 F 256 = 66536 etc. it’s the law of the harvest. Friend “Ron Simmons” once told me that God is preparing Cornerstone for a 100 fold. Sounds like harvest to me!! Yea God!!! Get ready Cornerstone!! God is about ready to move.
IMPORTANT: there is a new ZOOM ID for tonight’s prayer call. It is 816 2312 8772