“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

September 24, 2008

[“What Do I See God Doing at Hill Point Church?” Part 4 ]

Last week we addressed the observation that God is doing a “New Thing” here at Hill Point. We examined the need to focus on what God is doing today and not dwelling on yesterday. Having established this as a priority, then, it becomes important to ask “What is He doing today?”

One of the key things I see happening is best described by the word “Gathering.” I believe God is gathering together a people of His choosing here at Hill Point to comprise the Body of Christ expressed in this local assembly. Initial evidences of this gathering began several years ago starting with a remnant of key people primarily from two different groups. This remnant soon was complimented by an influx of additional individuals from other sources, some related and some unrelated. As the “remnant” developed and stabilized, God literally began to bring in people from the North, East, South and West to add to the gathering. As they continue to come, they sense God’s clear leading that this is the place He has prepared for them, the spiritual family to which He is connecting them.

The leaders here are very intentional about keeping in mind the truth of Psalm 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” We are committed to letting the Lord Jesus fulfill His own words in Matthew 16:18, “I will build My Church.” In fact, we believe that God is the only One qualified to bring true growth to the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 we find that we can plant, we can water but it is “God who causes the growth.” In Acts 2:47, we are reminded that it was the Lord who “was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

This is why I prefer emphasizing the term “Gathering” rather than “Growing” when it comes to seeing what God is doing here. We need to focus on those God is bringing our way, and how we can best equip them to walk in mature relationships with God. “Growing” carries with it the connotation that we are promoting the growth, that somehow we are responsible to do the things which cause and effect growth. Church growth programs, mechanisms, books, conferences abound. I believe, instead, that God wants us to respond to His initiating work of gathering the people here of His choosing. This “gathering” concept forces us to stay focused on the work God is doing in our midst, and prompts us to respond by serving those He is bringing into the spiritual family here.

As we respond by focusing on the spiritual health of the church body and its individual members (Ephesians 4:12-16), we will grow – because God Himself will cause the growth. If we help people here discover how to “remain on the Vine,” they will bear much fruit (John 15:5). If we help people here discover the truth of God’s Word, He will “sanctify them in the truth because (His) Word is truth” (John 17:17). If we help people here discover how to walk by the Spirit, they will bear the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). If we help people here discover how to “hold fast to the Head” (that is Christ, the Head of the Church!), the entire body will “grow with a growth which is from God.” (Colossians 2:19)

The old saying is true here, “Everything that is healthy will grow – but not everything that grows is healthy.” We don’t want to fool ourselves into thinking that greater numbers equal greater success. We want to be successful by investing in the lives of those that God is gathering in our midst. I believe if we are intentional about being a healthy body of believers (by Biblical standards – which, by the way, clearly include God’s heart for the lost and His will for people to behold and believe in Jesus) then God will bring the increase. God’s plan for reaching people far from Him, has always been to have a people near to Him. He is gathering such a group right now in River Hills, Wisconsin!

Walking together with Him!

Scott