Minister's Archive

June 2008

I am not long back from the General Assembly in Edinburgh. There was much talk and debate as one would expect, but I do believe there is a wind of change blowing through the structures of the church. The Church of Scotland is having a look at how it is structured and operates and asking how it all holds together in this time in which we live. Many of the laws of the church were made in a very different age and society from ours. I am also excited and encouraged by the number of churches that are now linking with the church in Africa, just as we have done. I believe great blessings will come from this since the Holy Spirit is not limited by distance and will continue to bless churches as they share one with another. Even the way churches pay their missionary dues to the central church is being reviewed to see how best to allow the local congregations to have a better say in how their money gets used.

I was also speaking with two ministers who had just come back from Lakeland, Florida, where the church is experiencing a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is good to hear of things first-hand from people you know and whose judgement you can trust.

God is working by His Spirit in his church and we need to ensure that we are hearing what He is saying to us in our time and respond accordingly. Of course, inevitably the question is asked about the individual and their relationship with God since the church is made up of individuals all dependent on one another – to be a church which will make a difference to the world around. I am firmly of the opinion that the churches which will find it easier to respond to what God is doing are those churches where relationships are good within the body.

It is a while since I had heard the term ‘gatekeepers’ used in a church context. This was alluded to at the General Assembly. Gatekeepers are those people who want to keep a tight grip on things to prevent change because it would affect their comfort zone or their area of influence or ministry. I would ask you the question, ‘How do you think your relationship is with God? Are you letting yourself, others, or issues get between you and God so that you are not being used by God in any great way to advance His Kingdom?’ Don’t miss out on what God is about to do.

          Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth;

          Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness

          And rivers in the desert.

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Billy Kelly