Inner View

Legacy that Lives

By Randy R.

We- Scott W., Rick F. and I - were talking recently about the changes Restoration Church is undergoing in this season. We recognized in that conversation how difficult it is for a people, a church, to make the kind of adjustments Restoration Church is being called upon to make. Why would we go through these changes? Why stir things up? Weren't we okay with the way things used to be? What is this about transition and a team of leaders? Why can't things just settle down so we can count on a routine, a schedule?

One of the conclusions at which we arrived was that we may not see, in our lifetime, the fruition of the church we see in the New Testament. That is, we may lay a foundation for an apostolic church, but we may be as those in Hebrews 11:13 who "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off..." We are beginning to see a church who is submitted to Jesus Christ as Lord, not only of our individual lives, but also of our life as a church. We are beginning to catch the idea that a church really can be about covenant friendships built together, who help one another to be who Jesus made us to be, and to do the things Father is showing us to do. So we are modeling the values that build that kind of church that Jesus desires on the earth. But, we are just getting a fresh start. Living kingdom life together is so radically different than anything we experienced or came to know in the United States of America, that we're struggling a bit to catch on.

Here's the point. We are sensing in this season that whatever has to change in order for us to become the people of God, we must change. There is no room for extras. We can't carry baggage with us into this season. There can't be extra programs. So, ministries many of us were giving our hearts, time and energy to are finding those ministries shut down, at least for a time. We would rather trim everything and go back to the foundation of Restoration Church than find ourselves in a year not being more prepared to accomplish the purposes for which God initiated this body. If it takes a lifetime to get this foundation right, the foundation of right relationship with God and with each other, then that's what we should do. Rather than raise up walls of ministry or installing doors of open opportunities for adding members to this church, it would be best to evaluate where we are, correct what needs correcting, and obey God in what He desires to accomplish with us.

Shutting down ministries and making constant changes tends to ruffle our feathers or make us feel insecure. But, as we have heard, "massive constant change is here to stay." If we get this phase of building the church right, then in the days to come we can expand the walls, reach out beyond ourselves, add to the family of God here, and not lose the friendship-orientation we're so desperately trying to establish. It's a fight. It was a fight in the days when Paul wrote to instruct young Timothy how to shepherd the flock of the church in Ephesus. Paul sent his son by adoption, Timothy, to pastor a church he knew would encounter wolves after he had left. (see Acts 20:29-30) Timothy was just a young man! What was he supposed to do about wolves and wicked men who had deserted Paul and attempted to use the church for their own selfish purposes? Actually, Timothy was supposed to do what Paul would do if he were there. That was the kind of legacy Paul had- "my own son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2). That was the kind of disciple Paul had raised up. Paul may have established the church in Ephesus, and may have been able to produce a very strong church, which the Ephesian church was. But without a people who would carry on after the generation of the apostles like Paul, Peter and the boys, the church would die after one generation. Churches around Ephesus, in Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia, along with the churches of other Asian cities, simply would not live after the first generation of the church. The church would have died.

And guess what. Restoration Church isn't intended to be a one generational kind of church. Just look around us and see all of the children and young adults with whom He has blessed us. Why do we have the kind of young adults we have who are Disciples in Action? Why does the youth group seem so different from the world, even the typical American church world? It is because God has plans and dreams for a church in Casper that we haven't even yet begun to understand or believe. In fact, the Father's plans are so vast and complete a one-generational church will not be able to fulfill those plans. So, what do we do?

Well, one thing we must do is model what it means to lay down our lives for Jesus and His kingdom. We do this by having the young people become the servants of all at fellowship meals. We do this by having a school that not only rescues the very ones who will carry legacy into the next generation from educational systems that will not lift them into their places in the heavenlies, but by equipping our school-age children for the future. They will be future apostles, prophets, ministers of hospitality. They will preach, teach, exhort, and be used to heal the sick. They will carry the gospel into nations and tribes who have never heard of Jesus Christ who was crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, and ascended to His Father's right hand.

Getting back to the conversation between Scott, Rick, and me: The point is this. If we want to be a part of Restoration Church, a church built according to a New Testament pattern, then we must begin again somewhere. We believe we're just a part of that beginning. We believe that you are just as integral a part. If it takes us the rest of our lives to prepare the next generation to do the things God desires to see done out of this church, will it be worth it? We concluded that, yes, it would be worth it. Legacy that lives begins with us.

Explosion

RFC Youth Group: Stand Firm

By Erin S.

Recently God took the youth group through an intense repentance. More of our pride and stubbornness had to be taken out of us so that we could have more of God. Even though our flesh didn't like the process and God had to confront us strongly, we reached a place where we could receive more of Him.

We had reached a point where the measure we had of God wasn't enough. We needed to turn even further toward Him so we could receive more of Him to go on. Father wants to give us as much of Himself as we can handle and that requires a lifestyle of repentance

It also requires firmness. Now that we have made a decision to give God everything, it is time to stand firm in our decision. God gives us armor for our lives so that we can pursue Him fully. He petitions us in Ephesians 6:13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." It would be very easy to step back into old places in God and forget the ground we have gained, but we have been petitioned to do something. We have been asked to stand firm.

I am convinced that if we will do this, God will take us to a whole new place in our relationship with Him. We will grow stronger as we continue to stand and will be able to fight harder and gain more and more ground. When the day of evil comes, we will be seasoned and able to do everything possible and will stand. We will not just stand, we will stand firm.

Kingdom Perspective

Born for a Purpose

By: Scott W.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34

It all began in a way that is hard for a creation trapped by time and space to understand. A story and its author so interwoven into one thread weaving its way through the hearts of every man and creation that its grandeur and wonder is hard to comprehend.

A father, a son and the spirit of them both had created a kingdom of which they had full kingship and authority. A place of serene presence clothed with the very essence of majesty and peace. The perfect kingdom for all time it would seem. One could hear angels rejoicing and celebrating their maker with adoration and thanksgiving as they walked by the river flowing from the throne from where the kingdom was ruled. It would seem everything was perfect, yet there remained a longing and desire within the hearts of the father and his son. Their spirit testified of it daily as they longed for something the angels could not give them: true fellowship!

Thus, our story begins as we can understand it. A kingdom and its creators were longing for deep fellowship with a creation that would walk its streets, live in its homes and most of all love deeply its makers. The father, the son, and the spirit of them both had created a creation they deeply loved known as man, but man had fallen away from the father and the son and had rejected the spirit of them both, leaving the kingdom streets empty of their presence. Man had once walked in the cool of the day with the father and known fellowship of the son by the spirit of them both, but now this was gone. The father in the fullness of time began a plan in order to bless his son and fill his kingdom with new citizens and friends who would believe their story. This pleased his spirit greatly, so 700 years before it would begin to take place, the father began to announce his plan into the earth where the story of his dream would be made a reality.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7. The father had boldly announced that he so desired fellowship that he would send his son to earth and he would live among his own creation. The son would come in the power of the spirit of them both and announce the story of the Kingdom of heaven to all he had made in hopes that man would once again come back into fellowship and live in the kingdom under their rule and authority. The father was so excited, for man had been lost for so long, living in a land of darkness and despair, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

It was a glorious night when the messengers of the kingdom began to announce it to the world, 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:11-14).

Truly we are a people of great design and destiny. "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2 Thess. 2:13).

I am overwhelmed with emotion when I reflect upon the love and heart of the father who looked down over heaven's banisters and saw you and I and the helplessness of humanity and was moved with compassion. The God who created all things after his own council and will, longing for fellowship with man- why? Think about it. We had forsaken him and lived our lives in spite of him, yet he continued to long for fellowship with us, a people for his own possession.

Christ came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes but lived and died as the full grown Son of God, Ruler of the Kingdom. That night that heaven bowed down and kissed the earth and the Messiah was given unto us, all of heaven rejoiced for the message of the Kingdom had come among men. This season we are in, as well as the holiday season coming upon us, is timely in conjunction with the dealings of God among us. In the New Testament the Kingdom of God and God's intent to gather a people unto himself through the message of the cross and the birth, death and resurrection of his son, Jesus, is spoken of 162 times.

Christmas and the season we are in as a church is not about a baby but about being a people who live in the Kingdom of the King and allow his Kingdom to live in us.

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

God is not looking for those of us who believe that a baby was once born, but rather for those who believe that he lived and died and rose again and is still living, ruling a Kingdom of which you and I are called to be a part. We are called to adhere to the message of Jesus which is repent and live like citizens of the Kingdom of God on earth because the King is in you and among you. What is this Kingdom the father has sent his son from heaven to proclaim and through his spirit make every believer a part? It is nothing more than the place of his complete rule and Lordship within one's life. Every place on earth and in the heavens where something or someone yields himself to God's authority and Lordship comes under the King's rule and dominion which we call his kingdom or the church of Jesus in the earth.

Jesus is seated upon the throne of his Kingdom. For those who call upon his name (nature) and believe in his salvation, that place is within them. We call this place your heart (or the place of decision within you.) Flesh cannot inherit this Kingdom but only those yielded to the Spirit of Jesus. If I live on the earth only for my pleasure I will miss the King when he calls me into a life in his kingdom.

Church, Christ is visiting us in the season and requiring real kingdom lifestyles which express real worship and real covenant relationships with other believers in the kingdom. Why is God demanding such things? Because the Father wants to see who we are living for, him or ourselves. It will be easy to tell because, as the Father demonstrated among us by sending his own son to serve and save us at his own expense with no promise of reward, we clearly see what God will see, that where my treasure is there my heart will be also.

Body Life

Trusting the Body(?)

By Gretchen T.

It is startling to be jobless. Questions arise: How will I pay my mortgage? Why did I buy that rice cooker last week? Why do I have so much stuff to support?

This morning when Pastor Randy asked me how I was doing, I told him okay. He pressed, "What does okay mean?" So I tried to tell him that every time I looked at the want ads, I felt sick to my stomach. I hadn't applied for even one job since being unemployed. Was I being disobedient? Tears began to well up. Randy replied, "God knows your heart. You keep going. God will show you where you need to be."

With that encouragement I decided to look at the want ads one more time. This time an ad stood out. I drove to the business, filled out an application and scheduled an interview. Within five hours of looking at the newspaper, I had a job.

Being jobless has been a battle to trust God and his people. Am I willing to say with Ruth, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do." (Ruth 3:5). Will I surrender to God the right to control my life, my working situation, and my choices? Will I work at McDonalds's if that is where He calls me?

It has also been a battle to trust the people of Restoration Church. I have cried desperately and then received hugs, meals and even an offer for gas money. This family has held me up and held my hands in ways that still surprise and humble me.

Being jobless has brought many blessings. I've seen God work and His people have truly been family to me. I pray that my response in future crises will be: I surrender all; I will do whatever you say, serve in any way, give up anything, even embrace a people and call them family.

I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Psalm 119:147

With the rising of another day, I find myself sitting with great hope in the cool morning darkness, waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting for you to speak. I lift my eyes to see through the dimly lit room the rough outlines of both young and old also awaiting your arrival. My heart is beating faster within me in expectation as to what you might say. Where will you lead me? What will you let me see that I might pray? Then suddenly it happens! All becomes quiet within me. Tears begin to run down my face as the very room itself becomes charged with the energy of You.

I feel you rise within me as I surrender to your leading. The voices of the saints around me ascend in harmony, piercing the darkness with cries of faith. Oh Lord, have mercy on me! Oh Lord, save now! Oh Lord, please forgive me! Holy Spirit, please, please take me to Jesus! I find myself once again overwhelmed by your love and compassion for a world in which I live, but am often unaware. The moments seem more than I can bear at times, but then I feel your gentle hand upon me, and worship begins to arise from deep within. How I love these moments; touching the grace of the Lord Jesus, feeling the love of God resting upon me, and the sweet fellowship with you Holy Spirit as you lead me.

Morning by morning you awaken me and beckon me to come that I might have the tongue of a disciple and know how to speak a word in season to the weary. I find myself a co-laborer with you, a mouth piece from heaven on earth, proclaiming your will through the eternities of time, knowing and being known. Oh Holy Spirit, Jesus, Precious Father, I rise before dawn and cry for help, I wait for your words. I long to see you arise upon the horizon of our Prayers and draw a people to yourself. Lord, when you call me to seek your face, I will come!

The Letter

By Scott W.

Dear Jesus,

How my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You in a dry and weary land, For I have seen You in the sanctuary, I have seen Your power and Your glory.

Your eyes are like fire, Your feet of fine brass, You are the Glory of His Image, Daddy's city of Glass. You are the Rose of Sharon, The Lamb of the Past, the Hope of Tomorrow, My Savior at Last;

You are the Power of the trees clapping in Praise, The Song of the Stream, the Cool of the Day, The Dew of the Morning, The Heat of the Sun, My Soon Coming King, Eternity Begun;

Arrayed in white linen, Blood stained to the seam, Righteous and True, King of all Kings, You are Patient and Kind for Love is Your name, The God of Forever, Eternal, The Same;

You are the God of Beginnings, no ending You know, Yet it seems to me the clock moves slow. One thousand years is just a day to You, my Lord, in whom I pray;

You are seated in Power yet humble in Heart, And far from me You will never depart. You are the Bread of Life, The Strength of my Bones, The Fire that burns deep inside my soul;

You are majestic in Name, and High in Praise, the Blood of the Covenant that still lives today. Beside You, Lord, there is no other; You see, You are the Friend who sticks closer than a Brother;

You are my Pastor and Shepherd, and my Baptizer, too. My Financial Provider, The Physician are You, You are the King of all Glory, The Father, right Hand; You are the Son of God, and the Son of Man;

You are the Rainbow of Noah and Isaac's Great Ram, You are Aaron's Staff and The Master's Plan. You are Moses' Bush and Pharaoh's Disease, David's Harp, and the Believer's Creed;

You are the Savior of Many, The Judgment to Come, Matthew's Messiah, the Promised One. You are the Greatness of Heaven, the Reality of Hell, You are the Sweetness of Praise, for the Father to Smell;

You're my Mansion in Glory, The Blessing of Seth, The Resurrection of those who now rest in Death; You are Jesus the Righteous, for Silver you were sold, Laying up for me a Crown of Gold;

So now I'll give my life for this Dream called Man. Taking my Place, Standing I'll Stand. Lord, I'll lay it all down even when it hurts, So live in Me and Build Your Church!