Chapter 24: Eyes for the Field!

12/16/1990

FOR our gatherings to be full of Life and popping with the revelation of the Son through the gifts we bring, we must practically involve ourselves in “bringing many sons to Glory.” God will see to it that things grow stale without this. Thank Him for it!

Remember what Jesus said about His Presence in gatherings? “When you gather yourselves together in My Name, I will come into your midst.” There is an interesting and helpful Truth that you should know about gathering (or praying) “in His Name.” If we’re not “called according to His purposes,” living for what He lived for (“seeking and saving that which is lost,” living to “proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…”), then we’re not meeting “in His Name.” Remember that gathering “in His Name” is a prerequisite for His Presence (1Cor.5:4; Mat.16:18).

Meeting “in His Name” does not mean putting a sign over the door. It means that whatever Jesus represents, we also represent. We are investing our lives in the character of Christ. We are actively and continually seeking His purposes and giving Him honor with each of our lives. When you pray a prayer, and finish with “in Jesus’ name, Amen,” it is not a fancy way to say, “Roger, over and out.” What you are really saying is (if your heart and your understanding are in order): “To You be the glory, honor and power forever and ever. This is for You; not my will but Yours be done. I’m wearing Your Name. It is Your Will that I represent, not my own motives, and so I ask with the authority of the Name of Christ. For His sake, not mine. So be it! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

And so it must be when we gather, representing what He represents, or He is not “in our midst.” If He is not truly in our midst, the “Power of the Lord Jesus present” (1Cor.5:4, 4:20) must be artificially simulated by the props and programs, the shrewdly crafted “worship experience” and the powerful “sermon.”

If I sent you to the bank with a check that I had signed, you could take money out of the bank, right? You’re my representative; there is an ambassadorship going on. You are “authorized,” endued with “authority” in my name. And when you pray in His Name, you are investing yourself in His Character and His Purpose.

You can pray selfishly and never get an answer.

“You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I thought I could ask anything I wanted in His Name and it would be received!” The difference is that when you ask according to His Will, He hears you (1 John 5) — and that’s when you are truly praying in His Name. You are coming as an authentic representative of HIS Kingdom. That’s what it means to pray or to meet together “in His Name.”

If we are gathered in His Name, we are gathered for His Purpose. What is His Purpose? Among His prime purposes was His devotion to “seek and save that which is lost.” His heart was to “bring many sons to Glory.” His purpose was to proclaim good news to the poor and recovery of sight to the blind, and declare the year of the Lord’s favor. We’re not meeting in His Name if our purpose for existing isn’t the same as His — to bring many sons to Glory (not even just to salvation, but to a full expression of His Life — to “Glory”).

If loving Him and what He loves is not our reason for living, our meetings will surely grow to be stale and empty (unless pumped up with flesh, drama, programs, and videos). You may notice that if you’re not reaching out to people and living the Christ-life outside of meetings, they get more and more boring, quickly. And internal strife begins to be manifested. Inwardness always brings about a corrupted mutation eventually. These heartbreaking developments are a gift from God — flags along the road to let us know of our deviation from His Course. We are only meeting in His Name as far as we are serving His current Purposes. And He only promises to be in our midst when we are meeting in His Name for His current Intents.67 Does that make sense? And when He’s not with us, wherever we are is a lousy place to be. You know what I mean.

When He is in our midst, there will always be surprises, special joys. Maybe a brother or sister who is generally relatively quiet will burst forth with something from Heaven (a song they’ve written, a poem, an unexpected Word to the weary, a Faith-filled confession and expression of praise). Often Light from God’s realm will expose and reveal in spectacular ways that set long-bound prisoners free! “Times of refreshing come from repentance.” When He is in our midst, we may see conversions in a mighty way. Or be lifted with great laughter and jubilation. We may be visited by “an angel unawares.” There may be a “sending out” of the entire church (the adults) into the bars on a Friday night. Or, with the young ones, to the alleys and sewer grates where the street people make their homes. God has been gracious to allow His Saints in many cities and countries to see these things, and many more…. What else is out there for His Church, wherever she has chosen His Best?! I really do want to find out. God help us and sustain us.

Christ “circulates amongst the Lampstands” (Rev. 2:1-5; Mat. 18:20).68 In Ephesus they were doing some wonderfully “scriptural” things. They were benevolent, evangelistic and energetic in all of their ways. Great stuff was going on. However, they lost their first love and their Lampstand was going to be taken away. Christ only circulates “amongst the Lampstands”. Although the meeting may have been scriptural, they were going to lose their right to be called the church of Jesus Christ because their first love wasn’t Jesus Himself. They were going to lose their right to have Christ circulate in their midst…and that could happen with a 100% “scriptural” meeting. Without Jesus truly being here, this church will become a yucky “religious” place to be. And I, for one, wouldn’t want to be a part of anything that He is not a part of.

Our “Bread,” our Manna, our nourishment from God is to “do the Will of the One Who has sent us, and to FINISH His Work.”69 The Power of God is found only by gathering “in His Name” — existing for the sole purpose of doing His Will! Plug in!

Strength for the Battle

His truths God’s entrusted

to those He has named.

They’re clearly recorded,

But rarely proclaimed.

Truths that inspire us,

Make us fall on our knees;

Truths that are glorious,

Truths such as these —

The Creator majestic,

His glorious Son,

The Spirit who counsels,

Three persons in One.

The Father who loves us

Extends us His hands,

And to save us from harm

Gives us loving commands.

The Spirit, Convictor,

Awakening One,

Who shows us our sins

And points toward the Son.

Christ Jesus, the King,

the Ender of Strife,

Redeemer of sin,

And Giver of Life,

To those who will follow,

Repent of their sin,

Be washed with pure water,

Forsake everything,

He gives them a new life;

He births them again,

Into a kingdom

Unknown by mere men.

It’s a kingdom of love

Where we feed on His bread.

The redeemed form a body

Of which He’s the head.

In the kingdom, He comforts,

In the kingdom, He rules;

He shapes and transforms us,

Makes us His tools.

These truths are indeed glorious,

A lamp for our feet.

They inspire and strengthen

Until we’re complete.

These truths God’s entrusted

To those He has named.

They’re clearly recorded,

But rarely proclaimed.

Rarely proclaimed on the

job or at home,

In the streets or the market

Or to those trapped alone.

For speaking is risking

With subjects as these.

Confrontation invited

Unsteadies our knees.

The mind is convinced

To speak these truths bold,

But as the moment approaches

The heart will grow cold.

Self will assert itself,

Brilliantly plead

To silence the tongue

And postpone the deed.

For where the realms of ideas

And actions meet

There is a battleground

Fervent with heat.

Too many speak boldly

When no foes are in sight,

And think themselves soldiers

Of the Forces of Light.

But bravado in barracks

Will not meet the need.

What’s needed is courage

In word and in deed.

Overcomers are needed,

Overcomers this day,

Whose love for their Lord

Makes them join in the fray.

Willing to venture,

Willing to dare,

To speak for the One

They’ve entrusted their care.

God’s overcomer-

is he fearless and sure?

Free from infirmities,

Not needing a cure?

Oh, no, he is different,

Far different indeed!

He’s sure of his weakness,

Convinced of his need.

“Christ Jesus, Lord Jesus,

Please help me!” he cries,

And with unsteady knees

And stomach’s butterflies,

He opens his mouth,

God’s truths to express,

And words are soon given

To rightly address

The one now before him,

A captive to sin.

He tells him of Jesus

and bids him come in.

Into the kingdom

Of light and of love,

The gift of the Father

in heaven above.

He’s often rejected,

Insulted and jeered.

Though outwardly wounded,

He’s inwardly cheered.

Cheered by the strength

Christ freely gave,

And the knowledge that his God

Is mighty to save.

Great power will God

Entrust to his care.

Faithful he is,

Much fruit he will bear.

Since the time of our Lord

The battle’s the same.

Satan conspires

To silence His Name.

Would you the life of

An Overcomer live?

Your life you must lose

And your heart you must give.

To Him, who despite all

Was Faithful and True,

And overcame death

And Satan for you.

To obey Him in danger

When fears abound,

You must obey Him in safety

When no one’s around.

For God’s overcomer

Is a worshipper first.

His failures he knows,

But he’s filled with a thirst

For God’s kingdoms in heaven

and earth to be one.

He gives God no rest

Until it is done.

Be faithful, my brothers.

Deliver His Word.

Faithful, though fearful,

Hold fast to your Lord.

All in the great cloud

Had moments of fear,

But serve Him they did.

For their Savior was near.

On the foolishness of words

Does man’s destiny depend.

Let the Spirit through your words

A broken heart mend.

Cry out for His love;

Cry out for His zeal.

Be one through whom God

Can make His appeal.

— Kevin

Footnotes

67 Somehow, some have thought that if we have the right components of worship, “worship” in the “scriptural” way, God will automatically be there. Don’t be fooled! Our worship can be 100% “scriptural” and even “exciting” and Jesus not be there. That is, if we’re not meeting in HIS Name and called according to HIS purposes. Back

68 The booklet Apostolic Foundations and Apostolic Patterns goes into a significant amount of detail about this matter, and what a “church,” a “Lampstand,” truly is, from God’s perspective. Back

69 John 4:32-35; Mat.4:4; Philemon 6; Acts 1:8. Back

•  Chapter 24: Eyes for the Field!