When we decided to meet formerly as “The Gathering” in July 2014 our intentions were to:
- learn of God and grow into one mature man;
- encourage all the gifts of God to function for the overall benefit of all;
- strengthen one another as one body in Christ;
- provide a place where believers in Christ could gather regardless of denomination or church affiliation; and,
- provide a time and place as to not conflict with people’s church obligations.
Truly, we learned of God as He revealed His Word, Jesus. We grew in our understanding of Him and His will. We learned the true function of His body and were strengthen in this knowledge. Although our intentions were clear and the answer to our quest made known; although we desire to know Him and grow, we must make a choice. Will we walk in truth?
Let me explain. My function in the body is to teach and instruct. When we began to gather, I had certain expectations and thoughts regarding how our intentions would materialize. I expected us to grow. And grow we did, but not in numbers. We grew in our knowledge and understanding of Christ Jesus and Christ within was manifested (made clear). With each revelation of Christ, we saw more clearly His will for His church, His body. In light of what we know to be true, we are faced with a decision. One not taken lightly yet with great confidence. Will we walk in truth? The answer is yes. Therefore, effectively immediately we will no longer gather monthly at QLN. This decision is not because we are "out of the will of God". But precisely the opposite.
Each month in preparing for the Gathering, we discuss what we learned. Each month we examine ourselves in light of the truth of the Word of God and each month we ask ourselves will we walk in truth. This month was no different. In preparing for the Gathering, we began to look at what we know about leadership. In this discovery, we learned that again everything we knew is wrong exposing our error in Gathering. So in response to the revealed truth, we will no longer gather as we did at QLN.
Because of where the Lord has placed me in His Body, I am always mindful of the church the body of Christ. Like me, each member of the Body of Christ must ask will I walk in truth. At each revelation of Jesus our Lord, I desire to walk in truth. So again, I decide to forsake all that I know for the truth. I share this to teach you the ways of God and in seeing the ways of God, you will perhaps see yourself.
I am learning that He is revealed continuously and continuously we must decide to walk in that which He reveals, truth. This is the newness of life Paul spoke to the Romans regarding. As Christ died for us, we should walk in newness of life. In error, we have taken that scripture to be a one-time experience. That was my thinking and with that thinking, I sinned. I missed the mark and therefore could not share in the prize, which is the newness of life I now experience by walking in truth as revealed.
In a small aspect, I can relate to Abraham when God told him to go into a land he did not know. When we started the monthly gathering of the saints, I knew that what we saw of church was error. I saw the structure was not built upon the doctrines of the apostles and prophets. I saw that Jesus was not the chief cornerstone. It was revealed that what most called the church is an organization. However, I saw only in part. I now see clearer. I see clearer what we are concerning the will of God. We are an organism. A living body with Christ being our life force. He called us the Church. The called out ones. He calls. He builds His Church. We must answer. We must change again and again as we draw nearer to His will. As He reveals we must walk in truth. I am both excited and fearful. Interestingly, with each change in me, letting go of my thoughts, expectations, desires and interpretations, I gain understanding of and liberty in Him. I am discovering that as the head of His Church He will guide us. We must be willing to walk in truth, even when that truth is unknown or unseen, even when that truth dictates that we must stop doing what we've always done.
John the beloved told us, whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. I am beginning to understand that we cannot sin meaning we cannot continue to miss the mark because He is within us. He guides us and shows us, but will we walk in truth as it is revealed? It is my desire to do so.
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