Envisioning the Microchurch Network
By George Vasquez
Prepare by remembering
In Revelation chapter six, the association of death with illness is unmistakable in the Bible's description of the “Pale Horse”. Since the “Pandemic of 2020,” the Church has become aware of how vulnerable our freedom to gather together is (Heb. 10:24), especially when the Government intervenes with its mandates.
Bible prophets and other spiritual leaders have been sounding this warning for centuries. It's no surprise that we are seeing the Spirit move away from the old traditions of what we have come to know as the Church. Your interest in the future of God’s Church has undoubtedly led you to this article.
First, we need to be reminded that the Church is not the building we meet in, nor is it some consumer-oriented service or program designed to “enhance your worship experience”. The Bible explicitly states that the Church is made up of a body of believers (Eph. 1:22-23). A Microchurch is simply a small group of believers.
Prepared for the coming persecution
I remember how decades ago people were talking about the end of the world. Stuff like Y2K and the Mayan calendar running out. We heard reports about FEMA camps, stacks, and stacks of coffins, bees dying, beached whales you name it.
Yet when news like the Coronavirus pandemic outweighs other stories like Australia burning and people dying of dehydration in Africa, it is easy to lose perspective of the true scale of deaths. The media does this internationally to maximize public concern for the stories that fit the globalist agenda. Showing how they use the news to keep us from the real truth to justify the Government's unjust mandates on church gatherings.
Besides the effects of pestilence, the Bible predicts how worship will move toward the goals of a One World Government and the Antichrist. Satan is using organizations such as the “National Council of Churches” to target and destroy true Christianity and their conservative views (Myron Fagan – 1967).
Further evidence of a shift is seen in the destructive teachings entering the new emergent church. Seminaries are increasingly adopting the umbilical teachings of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and other liberal ideas like climate change. Sadly, members of such Churches are completely unaware of how their offerings may be funding socialist organizations that advocate human reason over God's Word (Revelation 20:7-9).
The government is even offering incentives to pastors who volunteer to share its ideology. As an N.C.C. member, pastors and their families are promised favorable treatment with first access to vaccines and food shipments in times of emergency.
It is also well-documented that governments are using thuggish and unlawful means to suppress even the most basic of fundamental biblical truths. So, it has become clear to many, that the “New World Order” will use the State to persecute incorporated Churches by mandating its authority over them. One thing we can be sure of, there is a motivation behind this that is so evil as to reveal the devil himself.
Then, when you hear of how the globalist elite are building bunkers and storing food, it makes you wonder what they know. The Microchurch recognizes the “Beast” of John’s Revelation when good is violated by the unlawful practices of governors of the Globalist Agenda.
A Picture of Today's Church
The fact is that most Churches of today are run like businesses, they are founded on the fame of the pastor and how many books he has sold, the rock band he uses for worship, and especially his charismatic personality.
They have a staff, a building that must be maintained in compliance with code enforcement, they have a program for everyone, and for the pastor a comfortable salary that many times includes luxury items like motorcycles, etc. All are under government control.
A far cry from the Churches founded in scripture, today’s churches Stick out like a sore thumb. They are ripe for persecution by the State. So the real question is what is the future of God’s church through the tribulation?
God has a Plan, and His Calling to Join Him
“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” — 1Cor 15:58
Now some may say, “I don’t need to watch the news…I know I’m saved…there is nothing I could do anyway…when your numbers up, your numbers up!” But, should we just go about life as usual without regard for the signs of the times? Or to put it another way. If you knew you would die tomorrow isn't there a few things you would like to do or say before you go?
The Christian walk is one filled with activity and, we are not the type to go through life unaware of our surroundings. With the great commission of Jesus, we are called to a life of ministry and making disciples into new disciple-makers.
In His parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the church is represented as those called to the marriage feast. Jesus tells us, it would be foolish to be caught unprepared for His coming so our lamps need timing and filling. There is much to learn about this parable. For instance, the word trimming refers to decorating, like trimming a Christmas tree. At Christ's coming we are called to make ourselves presentable, and how will He be able to see us if our lamp goes out?
Then in verse 13 the word “watch” is not to be taken lightly. Here the definition is in reference to “a vigilant scanning of the horizon”. What Jesus is telling us, is to have an acute awareness of current events. To be ready at all times (Heb. 10:5).
Once a believer matures and has been around the block a couple of times, he begins to have insight into the blessings of God that are to come. As God allows us to see firsthand His empowerment to prepare lives to His glory there is the ever-present contrast of a darkened generation of egocentric religiosity.
Our Calling during the End Times
As a Church, there is a part of our calling that causes us to look forward to our uniting with the Grom who is Christ. That together we may see an eternal dynamic on the other side of this life.
Why would the bible tell us to be strong and endure these troublesome times if the rapture were to occur first? The fact is, most Christians have been deceived. The Bible clearly speaks of believers going through hard times in the great tribulation that leads up to God’s judgment. (Mat. 24:29-31) This adds to even more layers of insight as we study what God’s Word says about the “signs of the times” (Mat. 24:14).
Scripture is also full of examples of how the early Church gathered together in a mission-oriented lifestyle within a social environment that was extremely oppressive (Acts 2:42). The effectiveness of the Micro-Church is that it is a house-based church group that is lead by Christ alone. It is made up of a body of believers who have a desire for community on a personal level.
The goal of a Microchurch is to be an intentional community of extended family that is not under any authority except that of Jesus. We recognize that all of us are called and strive to move away from command and control leadership to that of servanthood (2 Co. 4:5). The idea is to overcome the limitations of traditional consumer-based worship to that of a group responsive to the Spirit of God. This means we are free to be on mission together, to reach people who don’t know Jesus, and to make disciples who become disciple-makers.
When we join with God in His work it is always a refreshing and positive experience even through persecution. We have so much to be thankful for with the Bible's influence on this matter. It's this kind of encouragement that goes beyond our wildest expectations.
You can do anything God has called you to do.
As God plots out even more for the Microchurch movement we see Him restoring the biblical Church to endure persecution and tribulation. Rejoicing at the sign of the coming of Jesus, there is no need for panic as reports of events in the bible were foretold well over two millennia ago. We rejoice because we are watching and we are ready.
We understand what we are being saved from. It's obviously not sickness and death, sins or evil, these are things that have been with us throughout the ages. No, what we are saved from is God’s judgment as issued by his wrath! The great tribulation is only a symptom of sin throughout the ages, while the wrath of God is His final judgment.
The Revelation of end times given to John is not to make us fearful but to make clear God’s promise to draw His Church to Himself. Many are seeing the Lord restore His vision of the Church because of this amazing really. What a blessing!
As a new season of gathering begins to build up the social side of who we are as God's servants, let us share those positive connections that are the driving force behind our fellowship.
Getting back to a grassroots experience of the biblical Church means we can connect with Christ through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as God intended. The Microchurch Network is here as an expression of a solid hope with clear expectations that have an everlasting reality.
- GV
“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring.” - Prov.27:1