Yesterday while in prayer at C3 Church in Greensboro I began thinking about one of the words they have on the their front wall, Repair. As I began to pray about the word, Repair, the Holy Spirit led me to Isaiah 58:9-12. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read through that passage. Meditate upon this word for the church. The yoke that the church oftens burdens people with is the yoke of performance, legalism, and man made traditions which all equate to religion. Pure religion is how we look after the widow and orphan while keeping ourselves from the influence of the world (Jas 1:27). In many ways we have added to the Word of God just as the Pharisees did in their time, adding burdens that most people cannot carry. The pointing of the finger is the spirit of the elder brother that has infected the church. The elder brother does not accept the returning prodigal sibling in love with joy but in judgment and condemnation. We are exhorted to gently restore a fallen brother and bear their burdens with them (Gal 6:1-2) and not turn them away from the church because they are not like us.
The promise of God is conditional concerning the restoration of the walls. Repair of the walls begins with the ministry to the least of these. We are to look after those who are broken and in need. Unfortunately, it is much easier to support a missionary in a foreign country than support the mission in our own community. One of my greatest joys is ministering to those that are in need. Years ago while giving groceries to a woman I asked her if I could pray for her. Her response was that Christians don't care about people like her. When I asked why Christians don't care about people like her she said she had AIDS, had been a prostitute, an IV drug user, and had been in prison and Christians just don't care about people like her. My response was that Jesus loved her and that I loved her and she allowed me the blessing of holding her hand and praying with her. In that moment of time the kingdom of God was at hand and she could sense the love of the Father. Blessings follow the ministry to the least of these and the church is in much need of blessings today.
As we repair the walls of the church we are laying a foundation for future generations. Today we are leaving our children a broken institution with a form of godliness but with no power. One of the questions that I like to ask teens is, do you believe there is more to Christianity than what you see in the adults around you? Generally the response is, if this is all there is to Christianity then I want nothing to do with it. There is so much more if we just go back to the words of Jesus. He came to give us abundant life not a life focused on ourselves.
The walls of the church are broken and are in need of repair. God is seeking those that are willing "to put their shoulders to the work of the Lord" (Neh 3:5 NKJV). To repair the walls of the church we must have a mind to work with a trowel in one hand and the sword of the Spirit in the other hand. Are you willing to put your shoulder to the task before you? The work is difficult but the rewards are amazing.
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