Psalms 2:8

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Psalms 2:8

Forum: Theological Expressions
Re:

Concerns on Church Growth (Forum Master)
Re:

Untitled (Wahshing)
Re:

Using all means to reach the masses? (Wahshing)
Date: 2001, Aug 15
From: SK SK

Just like to clarify this :-

"Peter Wagner has much influenced the church here, as can be seen by the current change of direction of some churches here in reaching the masses."

I don't think the church here (if you mean S'pore) is influenced by Peter Wagner. Long before the mega churches here sprung up, outreach to the masses is already a burden in some pastors' heart and plans were made to reach the whole island. While this is not the main point i'm stressing here, i still believe it is still in God's will to save the masses if you search the scriptures from the OT onwards.
Israel is not the only nation that God wants to save during the OT times. Abraham's blessing was intended to be a blessing from that nation to the whole world. But OT Israel failed God and God had to turn to the gentiles after the birth of Christ and the rejection by Israel of her Messiah and on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit has now been poured out on the masses to whosoever will call upon the Name of the Lord and they shall be saved.
If we track the book of Acts carefully, that will be the Lord's pattern for salvation of the masses, i believe. Evangelism by the common people where they live, work and travel to because of persecution (one good modern eg is China ) and healing encounters that will bring the whole city to God (Philip the evangelist's work in Acts and modern eg like the revivalists in Argentinia or in the past people like John G Lake and many others). The problem is we are too entrenched to this present world system in most of our church life and lack the spiritual power to do God's work through spiritual means that God has provided in the Third Person of the Trinity. So we resort to man's methods of attracting the masses to the church when God Himself wants to attract the lost to Himself. That is why i believe the current move of God is not in blessing methodologies though they may be blessed in the past but blessing those who are hungry for God, whether they're His children or from other religions. He is bringing the church to a new phase of seeking His Face and the Presence of God in the Church. Through the real encounters with God in Church much more spirtual growth can be accomplished than by just attending cell groups and being discipled by mere men, if our focus is still on God first and His Word always. If we can return to our first love for God and let Him be the Head of the Church, the Church will be revived and not going through the motions and the harvest that God Himself wanted to bring in before this Age closes will not be lost.