If the prophetic time of declaring God’s Word is condemning and judgmental, others will flee.  But if the prophetic time is a time of hope and building up out of deep love together, others will cry out with a deep desire to be a part of that level of intimacy.

So often we look at prophecy through the filter of the future of the church and the world.  Many times the prophets of old did declare things concerning the first and second comings of Christ, as well as, things concerning Israel, the church, and other peoples.  As we take this gift through the lens of intimate love of us with God and others, we see Him sharing the possibilities of healing and development in our lives as He does it.  We live in such a “self-help” world view that it is difficult to relinquish the control over to the only One who can transform us.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “do not be conformed any more to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.”  He continues on by telling us “not to think of ourselves more highly than we should, but think of ourselves with sober judgment.”

God uses different gifts at different times through different ones to speak His Word, loving each other intimately and sincerely, helping us stay focused on the only One who can transform us.  As He spoke this world into existence with His great power, He speaks with power into our lives with His Words today.

As there are those who come into our homes for church, they see and hear us confessing our struggles to each other, then they hear us declare God’s statements of deep love and power into each others lives, they will admit with honesty their own sinfulness.  As we set that pace of openness and vulnerability, accompanied by the focus on Jesus and His words of life to us to bring transformation, those coming in “will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you.’” (1 Cor. 14:22-25)

Neglecting the confessional and prophetic part of your Home Church restricts the intimacy with everyone with God and each other.  Celebrate Jesus in this way as your journey TOGETHER!

Because of the reactionary birthing out of “Big church” distortions, many (if not most) Home Churches live out their lives as Lone Ranger entities.  Submission, if it is a part of the Home Church at all, is limited to those relationships within itself.  Should anyone within the group challenge, or question, the life, Scripture interpretation, or anything within the group, they are escorted out…sometimes gracefully and sometimes not.

The reason God designed coming together corporately 3 times each year for Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles was to help each home in the OT and the Home Churches in the NT see what God was doing in expanding the Gospel.  In the OT it was as a nation and in the NT it was throughout the city.  It was a picture of what God had done in the past, was doing in the present, and what it would look like in the new heaven and new earth.

God also had elders in both the OT and NT.  Their purpose was not to dominate, but to serve as Jesus says in Mark 10:42,
”Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.’”  Yet He calls us to “submit one to another out of reverence for Christ” in Ephesians 5:18-20.

A dear friend of mine refers to house churches as being “loosey goosey.”  He hasn’t seen a willingness to submit to one another as Home Churches within a city, let alone as individuals within them.  I think he is probably right in most situations.  But why?  Distrust?  Nonconformity?  Pride?  Fear?  Let me know why you think that is the common response and what we could do about healing that.

It is a time to celebrate the past, present, and the future.  In the past this feast of joyful celebration followed the solemn Day of Atonement.  As a time of focusing on the past, this Feast of Tabernacles (booths) spoke of the days of wandering in the wilderness when they lived in booths, or tents.  It points back to how God tabernacled, or dwelt in a tent along side of the Hebrews.  He provided for them throughout the time in the wilderness and covered them with His grace, care, and protection.  For the New Testament believers and us today who journey with Jesus, it is a time of looking back to the wilderness of our life before Jesus and His care for us then, as well as, now as we go through the struggles of life.  Even then, God blessed us with all we had.  Nothing we have ever had – housing, food, drink, clothing, etc. – were things we obtained by ourselves.  He gave us the strength, energy, and health to receive all we had.

This feast is a time of focusing on the present and giving thanks for all we have today.  The Hebrew people were given the opportunity to celebrate what they were given as they entered the vast provisions they were given as they entered and embraced living in the Promised Land.  Although they no longer lived in tents, this feast gave them an opportunity that it was still God who provided their every need.  The Temple was built as a home for God as He dwelt with them on earth.  The early church and we celebrate the reality that God does not dwell in a tabernacle made with hands, but in ours hearts that He has transformed.  Hebrews 9 allows us to hear what Jesus did for us for each day of our lives.  He is to be praised!  The feast is a time to celebrate corporately what Jesus has done and is doing for us each day.

Then, the feast is a time of focusing on the future and the hope that is before us.  The OT Hebrews looked forward to Jesus coming.  Many did not see the distinction between His first and second coming.  The NT believers and believers today know of Jesus’ first coming and His impact upon all of the world and especially those of us who believe.  But the feast is also an opportunity to look toward Jesus’ second coming and His establishment of His Millenial Kingdom on earth, as well as, His everlasting Kingdom (Zechariah 14 and Revelation 21) where we will celebrate the final and full rejoicing of God’s earthly people.

The Feast of Tabernacles – you are invited to come and celebrate with us and we rejoice in God and His movement among us all!  Go to ourhomechurch.org for additional information.