Friday 18^th March 2022

It goes without saying that Berwick Church of Christ has been given a unique role to play in the establishment of God’s Kingdom in the lives of the people who cross its path. Even though we have a unique expression of being church we build upon the only foundation there can be. Paul states this:

'By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. '

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NIV

When Peter received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord proclaimed that the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) will be the rock upon which the church will be built:

'When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. '

Matthew 16:13-18 NIV

A stunning turn of events led to the Messiah addressing his church in the book of Revelation…and we find ‘the church’ addressed in seven different cities, each with it’s own unique characteristics and challenges:

'John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. '

Revelation 1:4-6 NIV

To this day, Jesus Christ is the head of the church, the foundation of the church and the Lord of the church! He has not forsaken us, but by His Spirit leads us towards filling everything in every way with His presence:

'God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'

Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT

A couple of years ago there was a prophet among us (and is among us to this day) that announced the need for us to be prepared for the harvest that Jesus said is “white in the field”…in other words…READY! We are still the very same Christ serving church we have been for the past 152 years, but we need to prepare ourselves to be able to accommodate something BIG that is coming. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this prophet confirmed that which Jesus spoke over us in Matt 16:18 when he said “the gates of Hades will not overcome it”. In biblical times ‘the gates of Hades’ kept people captive in a graveyard outside Jerusalem as a mechanism of punishment…but Jesus proclaimed that, through His church proclaiming the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, people will be able to step out of death and into life without being stopped or overcome in their move from darkness to light! These people are the church… I want you to read the prophetic word…and then start speaking/prophesying it on a regular basis:

The times are coming, says the Lord.

The times are coming. My word will go forth.

It will break the strongholds of the enemy.

It will bring many into my Kingdom.

But are you ready?

Prepare your nets, prepare your nets, prepare your nets, says the Lord.

The fish are coming, the fish are coming.

We need help from other boats, we need help from other boats.

The fish are coming, are you preparing?

Prepare your hearts, prepare your hearts, says the Lord

Prepare your hearts.

You have no idea of (where) I am at work, and what I am doing,

and the size of the harvest that is coming.

But I tell you prepare your nets, prepare your nets this day,

for my harvest will be great.

My Glory will be seen, and the lost will come into my kingdom.

Wake up, rise up my people. Wake up, rise up my people.

This is the day, this is the hour, this is the time.

Get ready, get ready, says the Lord.

What an exciting prophetic picture of our future. As we engage the journey of renaming the movement we’ve become it is important that we keep God’s prophetic words over us in mind so that our name carries prophetic alignment with His purposes. Everything we do…we do in cognisance of His word!