To read Part Two, click here.

HOW DO YOU LEAVE A CHURCH?

Having said all that ... there are times, legitimate times, when God indeed does move people from one Body/one local church to another for His purposes. Usually all or most of the parties involved feel good and right about a change ... it just seems good and seems right. When people leave a church from this perspective they can leave blessed ... God's hand is on them as He transplants them to another Church. We've been able to watch God move people from our church to other churches over the years and when God does it ... there is joy and peace about the whole thing. Everyone is ready for the move. It's blessed. It's just right. It's time. God is in it. The end result is that these people continue to flourish spiritually.

However ... we've also seen plenty of people that WENT, but they were not SENT. God never sent them ... God never uprooted them. In fact, God had them planted in a local church, THEY JUST DECIDED ON THEIR OWN TO GO. The most unfortunate thing is that the end result often is a "leanness of spirit"

If God has set you in a church ... it makes really good spiritual sense to spend some time, lots of time seeking God to make sure He is the one moving you on and He is the one who is setting you in another church. Be sure it's God and not your own impatience or fleshly desire. When God sends you from one place to another—it's a blessed event! When you just go on your own, with the wrong motivation or out of offense, you'll just spend lots time wandering in the wilderness wondering what went wrong.

So, the million dollar questions are these?

Are you connected to a local church? Are you planted in a church?

If not ... how do you respond to these questions? If Jesus is building His Church; if those that are planted in the house of God flourish; if Jesus is the Head of the Church and He has delegated spiritual authority and responsibility to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to lead His Church; if Jesus sets the members in the Body of Christ, His Church, as it pleases Him ... how do you justify NOT being connected to a church, not being submitted to spiritual authorities, not functioning in the place God has set you? How do you explain the leanness of spirit you experience?

If you don't have a really, really good Biblical answer for these questions ... then perhaps it's time to really, really seek God on what church He is setting you in and what pastors/leaders He is setting you under and then run to that place and get connected ... humbly.

What do you do if you left a church—not SENT by God, but you just WENT in the flesh?

If God did not lead you to move from one church to another ... then you ought to run to the throne of grace and mercy! Go straight to Jesus the Head of the Church and repent. Apologize and humble yourself under His mighty hand. Personally apologize to the pastors/leaders of the church you left and ask for forgiveness for any pain you have caused them or the church at large. It's very likely that if you left with the wrong spirit or at the wrong time that their heart has been grieved by the whole deal. After all, you were a part of their flock at one time and they loved you like a Shepherd loves the sheep. Get your heart right with them. Surrender to the Lordship of Jesus and ask Him if you are to return to the church from which you WENT and then ask the church leaders for permission to return. It requires a great deal of humility and a heartfelt desire to get back the place of flourishing to do these things, but in the end it's well worth it. It's very likely that your humility and repentant heart will be met with welcoming arms and lots of grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and acceptance.

Over the years, as I have personally sought the Lord regarding His plan for my own life as it relates to being connected to the local church and in the past 15 years to leadership/pastoring with my husband in the local church, here are several verses the Lord has used to encourage me. Perhaps these will encourage you as well.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4 NKJV)

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psalm 65:4 KJV)

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. (Psalm 84:4 KJV)

What about it? Are you "fat and sassy" or "skinny minny"?

Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.