FIRST CENTURY WORSHIP / LAST CENTURY LIVING

The Wind of the Spirit was blowing through the land  where it willed, and people were being swept into the Kingdom of God. The days of the primitive Church were marked by the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. The Name of Jesus was lifted on high, He was proclaimed as Lord. The Word of God increased as boldness filled the disciples to speak the Truth as they raced throughout the land. The Holy Spirit was upon the people of God, leading them, anointing them, working miracles through their prayers. The disciples had all things common, and considered nothing as their own. They were people of "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22)

Skip ahead 2000 years and we cry Maranatha - O Lord Come. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!!! We find ourselves living in the midst of a perverse and demonic  generation, perilous times have descended upon us, the beast and the spirit of antichrist looms large. Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth when He returns. We humbly say yes, by God's grace...Maranatha is a Gathering of people who share this vision of "First Century Worship & Last Century Living".

MARANATHA FAITH

I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; and in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not made, of one essence with Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have be no end; And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets; and I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge One baptism for the remission of sins; I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

MARANATHA SPIRITUAL LIFE

The heart of "The Spiritual Life" is the teaching of Jesus found in the "Sermon on the Mount". By doing the sayings of Jesus we build our house on the rock which will then be able to withstand the storms of life. Jesus outlines for us His commands: first the "blessed" commands of the kingdom of heaven: to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be a peacemaker, to rejoice when persecuted, to be the salt of the earth, to be the light of the world; then He instructs us to keep the ten commandments with His deeper, spiritual understanding; Thirdly He commands us to keep the three basic spiritual practices of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; then He commands us to serve God rather than money(mammon), "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also", the eye of your heart is to be focused on God, we are to "take no thought" for the necessities of this life, but we are to seek first the kingdom of God. Then He commands us to "judge not" our brother, to guard holy things and spiritual pearls, and to ask, seek, and knock repeatedly for the "good things" of God. Jesus commands the golden rule be kept, and that you must enter the kingdom at the narrow gate and follow the narrow way of suffering and difficulty. Then you are commanded to "beware of false prophets", to discern who the ravening wolves are who come to mislead you. Just because these false teachers say "Lord, Lord" and claim to prophesy, cast out demons, and work wonders, does not mean they are true prophets. Do their lives(fruits) reflect genuine spirituality as taught by Jesus?

Jesus says, "Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock".

MARANATHA PRAYER

The Praying Church: Jesus said, "It is written(Isaiah 56:7), My house shall be called the house of prayer..."(Matthew 21:13). Following the teachings of Jesus on "the spiritual life/the heavenly kingdom life" in the "Sermon on the Mount" we endeavor to be a praying people, as a "gathered community", at home with our families, and moment-by-moment in our personal walk with God.

When We Gather for Worship or Bible Study: We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:1-8) "...that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peacable life in all godliness and honesty...I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." We will pray together; for the world, for the Church, for our loved ones; "the great litany", "the fervent supplication", "the Psalms of praise" and other ancient prayers that fullfill the Apostle's directive to "pray" in this divinely inspired order.

"The Prayer Corner" in Your Home: "Evening, and morning, and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice"(Psalm 55:17). The early Christians believed that their homes should be a "little church". This can be done by dedicating a space in your home to prayer. It could be an entire room, or a corner of a room, or on a wall facing east. You can have a wall cross, a table for your bible, and candles. The presence of a "sacred space" in your home will call you to prayer.


"The Prayer Rule" Of The Believer: Every believer should have a "rule of prayer" which can be recalled by memory. This can be your "evening, morning, noon" prayer, as well as your prayer while on the run throughout the day. Having a "rule of prayer" will fix your heart on God as well as form Christ in you, and inform your extemporaneous intercessory prayers. Study more about this at the link below.

Mikes Bible Notes on the "Rule of Prayer"
www.mikesbiblenotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-rule-of-prayer.html