When you here the word "church" what images come to mind? Do we start to think about the place we meet to have our services each week? Do we think of music and preaching? Do we think of the children's classes and programs?
In the early church they thought of people. In fact the word church in the New Testament "EKKLESIA" literally meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place"
In Jesus' time a ekklesia was a gathering of Roman citizens that gathered together to peacefully over throw a corrupt government. It is people first and foremost. But a ekklesia isn't all people is it made up of only citizens. In this case citizens of a heavenly kingdom. Called together through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to overcome the "ruler of this world" with the peace and love we have through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The time to rise up in now! God is looking for men and women who are willing to stand in the gap for the poor, weak, hurting and oppressed. Ezekiel 22:30 says, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." If He looked today would He find us standing in the gap?
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