SEPTEMBER 2018

My prayer is that this letter finds you well and that you are living in expectation concerning your God-given future. Over the last few months in my letters to you, we have discussed the privilege we as believers have to live a lifestyle of dialogue and inquiry. I encourage you to review the previous letters as we have explored some of the principles related to living a lifestyle of inquiry. I began to learn the beauty of a lifestyle of inquiry about 16 years ago. I asked God a very specific question: How do I live a lifestyle (or how does the Church live) in a continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
When I asked this question of the Holy Spirit, I heard an immediate answer. “The Church is in need of reformation and is now currently being reformed.” The answer God gave me was simple, but my understanding of the answer to that question has become a life-long pursuit. My lifelong pursuit has been: How is the current reformation of the Church expressed? How can I personally be a part of this reformation? How can I equip others to be full participators in the reformation? God’s Church is at the very foundation of His purpose for the earth. God’s full purpose for the nations of earth will be expressed through the Church, not individuals or individual ministries. I define the Church as God’s governing body in the earth made of up many members and different expressions that is to disciple humanity for life in the Kingdom of God resulting in the transformation of nations. The following are a few key principles that God reveals to identify the power and necessity of the Church of God in the earth.

• Jesus called His disciples to be discipled within the context of a diverse community (Mark 3:13).
• The Great Commission was given to a community of disciples, not individuals (Matthew 28:19).
• God intended certain aspects of individual destiny to only be understood through the voice of His God- ordained
  leadership (I Samuel 3:8-9).
• Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, not against individuals (Matthew 13:18).
• The Apostle Paul declared “...we have the mind of Christ.” The promise is written to a local Church, not one
  individual person (1 Corinthians 2:16).
  As I have sought to understand the current reformation of the Church, I have developed a deep appreciation of the beauty that God has invested in the Church. My encouragement to you this month is to ask that Holy Spirit reveal to you the beauty and purpose of the Church in greater measure. I believe that as Holy Spirit reveals a greater understanding of the Church, you will have a greater understanding of your individual purpose and calling!
  Thank you once again for your faithful love and support for this ministry. My prayer for you is that God will continue to bring increase to you and your family daily.
  
  
• Pursuing Him,
  
• Abner