Day 1 - The Builder and his Church

Writer: Josh Scripture:

“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18

Theme: Jesus builds; we obey. Prayer Focus: Surrender control and trust Christ to build His Church.

Reflection: Josh // Divergent Global

It may come as a surprise to many, but Ange and I were not at the first Sunday of Divergent Church.

We had moved to Canberra to plant what was to become LifeCity Church / Divergent. At the time we had scheduled in a date for our very first Sunday.

All the planning, preparation had been put in and it was on that day that our second son Isaiah was born. As we were driving to Cooma, where we had come from for Isaiah to be born, other friends from Cooma were travelling to Canberra to cover us being missing.

As we sat a number of hours later reflecting on this moment, this day, the birth of Isaiah and the first Sunday of Church, that we missed, we felt a deep sense of prophetic reminder, we are to obey (Matt 28:18-20) but it is his to build the Church (Matt 16:18)

This word, both prophetic in the moment and biblical in it’s reminder has become a constant source of comfort and hope. Jesus alone builds what lasts. When we grasp that His Church is His bride, not our project, the pressure lifts and awe returns. Every act of obedience, every seed planted, participates in His eternal work. Remember, Jesus does not say, “I will help you build my church,” but “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18, NIV). The Church is not sustained by constant presence, perfect planning or human control, but by the risen Christ who stands at its centre. As with Israel and God's promise to deliver her into the promise (Duet 6), even when they are disobedient, even when some within her may not make the promise land, God is committed to seeing his Bride, in the OT, Israel, in the NT, the Church become everything he has called her to. We can trust God as the builder.

Paul, the Apostle, captures this beautifully when reflecting on ministry itself: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7, NIV).

Scripture consistently warns us against confusing effort with effectiveness. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1, NIV). This does not diminish the value of labour, it rightly orders it.

Let this 21 days of fasting, prayer and devotion re-centre your heart on the One who builds, and include yourself in the “we” He is forming.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the builder of Your Church. Forgive us for the times we try to do Your work in our strength. Today, we yield our plans and ambitions to You. Build Your Church in us, through us, and beyond us. Amen.

Personal Reflection  Where in my faith or call am I tempted to take control, rather than trusting Jesus as the true builder of His Church?

What would it look like for me to practise simple obedience this season, without needing to see immediate results or outcomes?

How does viewing the Church as Christ’s bride, not my project, not a program or ‘service’ reshape my expectations, pressures, or sense of success?