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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 792 April 26, 2003 A Prairie Palace PRAYER REQUESTS Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? If you are in need of prayer, simply drop us a note. A Prairie Palace With the coming of spring the local community of ground squirrels has been busy. Ground squirrels are also called gophers; pocket gophers; prairie dogs; prairie pooches and more. There is a wide range of species but they all look and act very similar. They live underground in burrows all winter, emerge in the spring to re-open their tunnels, expand their homes and eat. They don't stray very far from their tunnels because just about every predator known likes to eat them. Yesterday I noticed that one of the prairie pooches had been very busy expanding its front entrance way. The tunnel opens up at the base of a spruce tree on the side of a hill (and that must have taken some digging!) and opens up like a big front porch. The tunnel had been opened from the inside, so it wasn't as though a dog, cat, coyote or fox had tried to get dig in for a meal (which sometimes happens). This hole was a prairie palace compared to the homes of the neighbours. A big entrance to lie in and catch some sun in front of the safety of the tunnel, what more could a ground squirrel ask for? It seemed positively opulent. I don't know how wise a bigger front entrance way really is for a gopher but I guess time will tell. Since they are at the bottom of the food chain, I understand a gopher's desire to build a protective den and stay very close to it, running for cover at the least sign of a threat. I'd probably do exactly the same thing in their situation. Too often though, the church acts like ground squirrels. We build our nice safe buildings to hide in and retreat to them at the least sign of danger or persecution. We often make these little dens of safety into opulent places of worship. Huge buildings, with stained glass, expensive woodwork, fine art, and vessels made of precious metals. I appreciate having a building to go and worship in, and I love the atmosphere of a big, glorious cathedral but the fact is that that we're not at the bottom of the food chain and our timidity and hiding does a disservice to the power of God. When we've accepted Christ we're filled with His power. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NIV For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 NIV We have the power. There is no need for us to be timid and hide inside our palaces. We're called to go out and tell others about Jesus, not to build palaces and hope they come to find us. I can't find anywhere in Scripture the verse that say "Go ye therefore and spend vast sums of money to purchase land and build temples filled with objects d'art and frills then pray for the lost to come looking for the shepherd". Nor can I find a verse that says, "When I return, I will commend you for the buildings you have erected in my name and the fact that they are mortgage free." The great commission speaks nothing of church buildings. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 NIV If you need a building to meet in, by all means have one. Having a building is not unbiblical. It becomes a sin though when the building becomes our focus instead of the lost and hurting people in the world who need Jesus. It becomes an idol when we give more willingly to building committees than to missions and outreach. It becomes an idol when the reason we give to building funds is to have our name memorialized on a special brick or plaque. It becomes an idol when we use it as a place to hide instead of going out into the world. Is your focus on the nice, safe, pretty building you call your church? Or is it on doing the things that God has gifted you and called you to do? Until next time, if you are fortunate enough to have a building to worship in, praise God for the blessing, but check your heart to see if it has become an idol and a stumbling block. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are gifted anointed, filled with and sealed by Holy Spirit. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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