I wrote last week about the reformation that God is orchestrating in the Western Church. I’ll expand on several areas that I see great transition beginning to take place. 

The one key transition is the realignment of the church around the person and presence of Jesus. God is putting a priority on gathering together around Jesus’ presence as the centerpiece of church expression. The church has been centered around many programs but rarely has it been centered mostly on His presence. I believe God is changing that right now.

Just as He did in the days of David’s Tabernacle and the first century church at Antioch, when worship and prayer was the centerpiece of God’s people, so too, God is now requiring His Church to prioritize ministering to the Lord (Acts 13:1-2). Programs and human personas are not going to carry us where God is leading us. In a day of increased persecution only those with a depth of intimacy, rooted in the Word will be able to stand. We must live from His presence, hearing His voice, and obeying His word (Acts 13:3). 

There are a few more components to the current reformation. I don’t believe I have the exhaustive list, but I will share what I am sensing in order to spark your divine imagination as to what God may be doing:

• The church will be “presence-centered”. In the spirit of the tabernacle of David, with ongoing worship and prayer at its center, the church will flow from the place of intimacy with God manifesting His presence. It doesn’t have to be 24/7, but it will be prevailing and powerful. This doesn’t mean that the Word will be lacking. To the contrary, the Holy Spirit will only respond to worship in Spirit AND Truth (depth in the word).

• The church will host missions training and sending. From local churches missionaries will be raised up to take the gospel to the nations – planting “presence centered” churches domestically and internationally, even to the unreached people groups of the earth. Evangelism will break forth from the place of His presence.

• The church will operate house to house. In addition to the corporate gatherings, there will be house church networks as a part of the local church. Smaller communities of believers, who serve, give, fast, pray, living out the values of the kingdom in accountability and love will be a key component of the local church.

• The church will operate as family. The days are gone for the Church \to operate as a business that lacks the true fellowship and personal relationship that the first century church had. Believers will need to stick closely together in deep relationship for us to be able to stand through the trials ahead. Across cultures and generations, while the world is dividing and betraying the Church will grow together in love and unity to exemplify, Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21.

Truly God is reforming our practices and priorities in this hour. These changes have clear blueprints in the New Testament. They will bring the church to a place of maturity to stand in the hours of blessing and testing that are directly in front of us. I encourage you to lean in to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying and obey His leadership. 

The reformation is here.