October 28, 2024

If you’ve seen the movie Castaway, you may recall a scene in which Tom Hanks plans to leave the island using a makeshift raft. His success depends not only on the raft's stability but also on a change in the winds. Recently, I have begun to sense the winds changing within Gateway. Suppose you’ve been with us for the recent months. In that case, you have heard me talk about the Refiner’s Fire (message here), repentance, suffering, pilgrimage, and victory. In a nutshell, I believe repentance has been the needed and necessary response to the refiner’s fire. It will continue to be an essential reality in our relationship with God and each other. The subtle wind change I shift is from the priority of repentance to ministering to the Lord. The idea of ministering to the Lord may be new to you, so let me tell you a little about what this means. 

1 Chronicles 16:4, “He (Kind David) appointed some of the Levites to minister before the Lord, to petition, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.” 

2 Chronicles 29:11, “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense. 

Of the various verses that highlight ministry to the Lord, these two emphasize the importance of thanksgiving, intercession, and declarations of praise. It is helpful for me to remember God's works and turn them into statements of praise and faith regarding His goodness, justice, holiness, and love. Ministry to the Lord is giving thanks for what He has done by the power of His mighty hands and seeking His face. Ministry to the Lord is telling Him what you love about Him and making statements that celebrate who God is. The temptation that each of us experiences is this: our praise depends on what He has done, not who He is. Ministry to the Lord can begin with thanksgiving and celebration of the works of God. Still, ministry to the Lord must mature beyond this. The ministry to the Lord that God calls us to involves understanding and experiencing His face, not just his hands, to know his heart and power. On Sunday, I asked the congregation, “What is your favorite thing about Jesus right now, and why is this favorite thing about Him?”

I hope you can take the time to experience His profound love towards us and get in touch with His personality, nature, and character. This is an urgent matter to this pastoral heart because the enemy wants us to agree with his verdicts against the nature of God and begin our journey down the slippery slope of growing cold in our faith and maybe even falling away from Jesus. I believe the refiner’s fire continues to burn, and we find ourselves in the caldron of His love. Welcome it. Receive it. And while you are in it, minister to the Lord and repent. You will not be disappointed. Beloved, the Father is for us! 

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CHURCH FINANCIAL REPORT:

Giving Report:  (*weekly income needed $23,000)

  • October 6: $27,347.49

  • October 13: $17,686.99

  • October 20: $19,164.16

  • October 27: Financial Office Closed Today

Greater Things YTD 2024: $43,849.94

Current Mortgage Balance: $513,222.96

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Stay hopeful and healthy. I look forward to seeing you soon. 

Transforming Lives Together,

Lance Bane
Lead Pastor
Phone: 203-934-0880
Email: office@yourgateway.com