They Don't Belong to You. They Belong to God.

If you think your church is the epitome of the Kingdom, you are not representing His Kingdom, you are representing your castle. Are you building YOUR kingdom or THE Kingdom. - Tim Ross

Saw a snippet of one of Tim Ross’ recent The Basement vlogs and man did it convict me in a good way. Listen to the short video here: https://bit.ly/3T0DJlt

I’m pastoring a growing church in this city. Every week we are experiencing a harvest that God spoke of many times before. Here’s the thing, would you believe that I’m praying for the same thing to happen in every church in Killeen? Some wouldn’t believe it 👀 lol. There are over 100 churches in my city and which one is the best? Mine? NO! That is the wrong question. The Kingdom of God consists of the 2 billion people that profess that Jesus is Lord, not just your church. The local church is the subjects of His Kingdom. That consists of you and your family and the community of faith that you belong to. I will never say that my church is the best, in fact, we have had people close to us that have attended Revive for a couple months and then ultimately decided to move on to another church because they felt God was calling them elsewhere. I’ve learned in my walk that God will help move people from where they are to where God wants them to be. We blessed them, we celebrated them and we thanked them for their time served. You have to choose to guard your heart, be grateful for the time they served and be ok with someone moving on encouraging them to never leave God. The moment we cut someone off, ask others to do the same and turn against another believer, that’s not Kingdom. Sure some will leave based on emotion, others will leave out of spite and some will say my church was not for them at this time. As a Pastor, I have to understand that I have been called to care for the sheep regardless if they stay or go. 

Acts 20:28 - So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. NLT

Tim Challies says is best for Pastors but also applies to leaders: “Paul tells us here in Acts about the pastor’s calling, and as he does that, he turns to the metaphor of sheep and shepherds. The pastor is an overseer or shepherd who cares for a flock. At the heart of ministry is this: the pastor is a shepherd called to tend sheep. But it’s important for the pastor to remember, not just once, but again and again, that the sheep are not his. He is merely an under-shepherd who labors on behalf of the Head Shepherd. This flock, these sheep, don’t belong to the pastor. They don’t exist for the pastor. They belong to God and exist for God. The pastor is to tend to them, to care for them, on behalf of God. However else a pastor relates to his sheep, and whatever else he does for the sheep, he must first care for them.” 

So as Pastor Tim Ross said, “Am I building my castle or God’s Kingdom?” As a Pastor I have to check my heart always to ensure that its not about me, its not about being the best church, its about serving His people, being a church of excellence, hope and love and helping meet the need of the community around me. They don’t belong to me, they belong to a community of faith that I have the privilege to help lead. 

As a family we are a year and half in. We are not the best, we are just a potential asset that can grow the Kingdom of God and we are grateful we get to do this. I bless every church in this my city in Jesus name. I pray for every Pastor in my city and their heart for the people and His church. I celebrate every win for His Kingdom and pray for unity amongst the believers. One day we will see it! Killeen is for the Kingdom! What a time it is to be alive and chosen for  a time as this. 

- my heart, PA.