“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isa 43:18-19, NIV)

In my former blog I wrote about my disappointments and the finding of very little face to face, Spirit led fellowship among the believers in the area where we live. In doing so I was trying to measure “church going” and home fellowship times in the past with what seems to be lacking here. Ideally believers should function as a properly functioning family, for we are the family of God. Can you imagine the father in a family forcing his wife and the kids to rearrange all the chairs in the living room every Sunday morning and having them sit there facing forward while he stood in front and lectured them for an hour? Not only that but what if he had them sing songs that were written during the Great Reformation hundreds of years ago, then take up a collection for his pet projects when it was all over? Is this being a family? Not really and this methodology for the gathering of His saints is not found anywhere in the New Testament. This is all a collection of man’s traditions.

In my last blog Susanne in Germany wrote a comment that gave me much hope. You can read it here. https://awildernessvoice.blog/2023/07/26/michael-where-are-you/#comment-17675 She shared the above passage from Isaiah and asked me to consider that God may be doing a NEW thing in these days to bring us back into alignment as the Body of Christ. It was through the above passage that He said so clearly to me, “Forget the things you experienced in the past! I am doing a NEW thing!” Him doing a new thing had never entered my thinking because I was so focused on the old things He did before. By constantly remembering what He did in the past I was missing what He is doing in the here and now.

One thing I have observed is how most church leadership is occupying almost every moment with their own plans when the believers come together. According to the New Testament God desires to do and say much through EVERY member of Christ’s body, not just the few paid professionals. The system that dominates church gatherings today quenches the Spirit in believers and it turns them into passive observers. The Spirit in them is drowned out or even doubted because what they are hearing inside doesn’t always go along with what is being dished out in their sermons and Bible study groups. The churches are filled with people who are like dead or paralyzed organs in a sick body. This is totally contrary to the teachings of the New Testament where Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13, ESV2011). This includes, “I am doing a new thing.” Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63, KJ2000) In John chapter one Jesus is spoken of as the Word… He is the living Word and He still speaks through His Spirit. He often speaks to me through verses in the Bible, but not always. When I met my dear wife I heard Him say, “If you let this one go you will never find another one like her. She will go the distance,” Find that in the scriptures! Yes, after 57 years we are still together. Don’t get me wrong, having a good foundation in the scriptures helps us discern what is His voice and what is not. Jesus said,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28, KJ2000)

So What Is this New Thing He is Doing Now?

In Revelations we read that God is not like us. We tend to find something that God blesses and try to make it happen over and over again. God might have been in it initially, but God makes ALL things NEW and He is very imaginative. He is the Creator, isn’t He? He still creates!

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev 21:5, ESV2011)

As Susanne gave us this passage from Isaiah to consider in her comment she said how God uses the internet and phone calls for fellowship quite often and this might be part of the NEW thing that God is doing in this technical age we are in. There is no way I could have spent hours on the phone talking to a saint in a foreign country in the past. It would have cost way too much, but now we have apps that make that possible for free! Through this He is breaking down those religious walls that promote spiritual passivity in the gatherings of His saints spoken of above. Pastor Wonderful no longer controls the microphone. God is using internet blogs, chat rooms phone apps, emails and phone calls where we can share what we hear the Spirit saying and hear about what He is doing in our lives though we live hundreds of miles apart. In the 1800’s it took Hudson Taylor six months to get a letter in China from England! When I was in the Navy in Vietnam it took two to three weeks to receive a letter from my wife and for her to get my reply. Through these technical tools we are able to love and support one another like is supposed to happen in the New Testament Church. Even with the posting of the previous blog I have experienced some great emails, calls and comments that were very edifying not only to me but to some of the brothers and sisters I know. Many have said how blessed they have been by reading the comment sections on our blogs. Yes, face to face fellowship would be even better, but that seems to be lacking these days so God had to do a new thing.

One Anothering

Let’s consider that famous passage that is so often misquoted to support the typical Sunday church meeting system. How often do we hear, “Brother, we are not supposed to forsake the gathering!” In Hebrews is says,

And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. (Heb 10:24-25, AKJV)

We see the phrase “one another” twice in this passage. When does the body of Christ join in and do all of this one anothering?” In today’s church system, rarely.

Have you ever done a study on how many times in the New Testament it says we should be doing things with and for “one another?” Let’s take a look.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15, AKJV)

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. (John 13:34-35, AKJV) Also see John 15:12&17.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; hold to that which is good. Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (Rom 12:9-10, AKJV)

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. (Rom 13:8, AKJV)

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Rom 15:5-7, ESV2011)

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Rom 15:14, ESV2011)

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (Rom 16:16, ESV2011) See also 1 Cor. 16:20 and 2 Cor. 13:12.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:13, ESV2011)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2, ESV2011)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 4:32, ESV2011)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1Thess 5:11, ESV2011)

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Heb 3:13-14, ESV2011)

And this passage sums up the fact that we who are Christ’s are ALL called as His kingdom of priests (see Rev. 1:6)

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:14-16, ESV2011)

These are just some if the verses where we are instructed as to what we should do when we come together, whether in person of by electronic means. How many of these admonitions actually happen in today’s church gatherings or when we communicate with one another in His body? Do we wash one another’s feet? Do we teach and admonish one another in all wisdom? Do we exhort one another every day and come together to share in Christ? Do we encourage and build one another up? Do we by His love serve one another? In Christ’s love do we prefer one another? If the body of Christ was rich in fulfilling these admonitions what a witness we would be to the unsaved and the world around us!

Jesus, stir us up by Your Spirit to love and good works with and for one another in your body, Make a way in the wildernesses we live in and give us streams of your Spirit to drink from. Amen

(The above picture of a forest spring was taken by Michael Clark. All underlinings of scriptures were added by me for emphasis.)

Love to you all,

Michael