June 4, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

CSA Part 2

How to Call for a Solemn Assembly

Things are a mess in America these days. The structure of families, schools, and houses of worship are under attack from many political and community groups. What we are facing is not a health issue, a political issue, or a cultural issues—it is a spiritual issue!

If the Church refuses to do nothing then it has become part of the problem and avoids the calling God has placed on His Church in America. Phillip Lee, director of His Way Out Ministries, wrote this in one of his recent articles, “Holiness, godliness, and spiritual discipline should be, must be the distinctive marks of the true Church. Jesus prayed that His people be kept in truth: ‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth’. (John 17:17) Compromising God’s Word, His Truth, or withholding His Truth only leads to greater unity with the world and not His Church. As Christians, may we never forget that while our obedience to the Great Commission may cost us personally, the good news of spiritual deliverance through Jesus Christ remains an important and vital resource that Christians must share. On God’s truth is where the Church must stand.”

As I stated in my last article, “It is obvious that God’s Church in America has medicated itself with spiritual sedatives (has been putting itself to sleep with its decisions). As a whole the Church seems unable to find the direction and the calling God has given His Church as referenced in the New Testament. It is indeed time for a Call for a Solemn Assembly (CSA).”

The Book of Isaiah states, “Because the people did not do justice in the land” as Isaiah charged, “even though you make many prayers…your hands are full of blood” (Isa 1:15).

It is time for a CSA—a time of protest against sin! A time of repentance and mourning! A time of confession and admitting where we have gone wrong. A time to state that ‘sin is sin’ and it is the Bible that is our measuring stick—not the ‘watered-down gospel’ of compromise and seeking not to offend.

Here are the guidelines for a CSA and what God is expecting of His Church.

1. It is a time for an assembly, not within a church building but out in the open. We are the church (not a building)—His Church is the Body of Christ, not a physical structure. (Meet in a park, a parking lot, the street—anywhere a group of people can stand and pray while crying out to God for His forgiveness, healing and grace.)

2. We must find a voice of grief, humbleness, and admitting our failure—stating our sin and the sin of our community and nation. Many different people should pray for all the people. An assembly will probably last only 1-2 hours.

3. We must come together in an assembly desiring to be broken by the Holy Spirit. There is no repentance without the Spirit of God convicting us of our sin.

4. The Word of God must be read out loud. It is important to hear God’s word convicting us of all our sin and failures—individually and corporately.

5. Singing should be songs of repentance and forgiveness. It is not a time of rejoicing but a time of great mourning. Singing should not be organized but spontaneous.

6. Begin with 50 to 100 people. The assembly should not be ‘a church’ organized event but an ‘organic assembly’ organized by ‘lay-people’ with the sole purpose of confession and repentance. (This is not a political event nor a human rights protest.)

7. A CSA is an eight-day event. For eight days in a row come together to confess and protest the personal and corporate sin. Do not allow the assembly to become a political or a human rights event. A CSA is a religious protest-assembly.

8. Everyday the assembly should double in size so by the end of the eight days there should be almost 10,000 people in your assembly. Plan to have the assembly to be held in a large out-door area to accomplish all the gatherings.

9. Note: All the guidelines for the corona virus have been suspended for assemblies that are protests—so take advantage of this situation.

10. You will find opposition, criticism and persecution but this is what Jesus called us to—‘you will be persecuted just as I (Jesus) am persecuted.”

Plan a CSA now, begin tomorrow, and watch for God’s intervention in our nation.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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