Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray for the church (and other things -- 7:00 PM Wed., LHF time).

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Eph. 4:11-16)

God works to prepare the Church through people. He has given various gifts to the various members to prepare us, the Church, for works of service. We have apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers. They call us to eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. They teach us the word of God. They exhort us, rebuke us and encourage us to good works. And we also have the Holy Spirit of God to convict us and to make all the exhortations and teachings alive and powerful and sharp. In this way God causes us to grow and become mature -- to grow up into Christ, the Head, so that we will no longer be infants, easily led astray by the teachings of deceitful men.

The works of service we are being prepared for are really works of love. We are building each other up in love. We will reject the false teachings, and instead, speak the truth in love. I think the false teachings -- the various winds and waves of doctrine put forth by deceitful scheming men -- the teachings that are tossing the Church all over the place -- all have to do with selfishness. In Eph. 4:13, Paul said that we would be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Christ is the absolute opposite of selfishness. Toward the end of chapter 3 in his letter, Paul prayed for the his readers (and all of the Church) to have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge so that they would be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (3:18,19). This is the knowledge of the Son of God that Paul is talking about in Eph. 4:13 -- the knowledge of the greatness of his love -- his love that is beyond knowledge. We will grow up in truth and in love. We will become like Christ in love. When we are mature, selfishness will be gone.

If you don't think you are growing and maturing, consider where you were five years ago -- or ten years ago. Maybe you weren't even a believer. And when you examine yourself, don't just look at that one sin that seems to keep defeating you and has from the beginning of time. God will take care of that in his time. Look instead at how much you love your brothers and sisters -- how much you love God. You will become like Christ in his love and self-sacrifice as you grow up together with all believers into him who is the head of all things, Jesus Christ.

Come on Wednesday and pray for the Church. The Church is the overflowing abundance, the wealth beyond measure and the full and perfect nature of God who fulfills and completes everything in every way.

Grace and peace,
Dean Svoboda

PS: You can also bring you own prayer requests and pray for them with your brothers and sisters in Christ (i.e., with the Church). Bring your requests to God with thanksgiving and receive his peace.

PPS: Pass this invitation along to others in your household or to someone who doesn't have an e-mail address in the LHF directory