Being the Church in Janesville - Six Months and Counting

On Sunday March 26th, the Mercy Hill Church Rock County campus will be celebrating our six month anniversary of our launch last September. Over these past months, it has been a blessing to see the birth of a church and watch as God causes it to grow. We’ve nearly doubled in size, and have seen the work of the Spirit in lives and hearts.

I wanted to take a few moments to share some of these things with you, so that you may join us in rejoicing and glorifying God for his grace and work in Janesville.

Because of our downtown location, we have been able to minister to a number of the homeless in the area. With the help of another local parachurch ministry, some have been able to receive training and secure jobs as they get back on their feet. Marriages have been strengthened, addictions have been battled, leaders are being developed, and a love of Christ is growing.

Currently we have four different community groups that meet at least monthly. Participation has been great, and we’ve seen God use these to begin to build a close community within the body. Because of this we are able to begin to encourage people to “be the church” in ministry towards one another.

As we have grown, we have been blessed to gain a wide spectrum of people and backgrounds. There are those seeking Christ, brand new Christians, children, young families, young single adults, and those that have been walking with the Lord for decades. This has given us an amazing mix of diversity to celebrate the many ways that God works in people's lives, as well as depth in relationships and encouragement to one another.

I would ask Mercy Hill as a whole to continue to pray that God continues his work in the Rock County location. It has been a privilege to see Jesus grow His church in these ways and others. Please pray that God would continue to provide the finances that we need to expand our children’s ministry area and materials for outreach. Pray that God would continue to grow His church through a healthy mix of unbelievers, Christians, the hurting, the healthy, and leaders. And pray that he grants us wisdom in ministering to the city, and new ways to authentically engage our city, proclaiming the Gospel in relationship and actions.

Thank you,
Pastor Joshua Dostal

Awakening Our Identity

I want to begin by asking a question that may seem strange in a post about spiritual warfare….

What determines your identity, who you truly are?

Now of course the Sunday School answer would be…. Jesus! (And you would be right)...

But at the same time, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we find our identity in a variety of places: family, relationships, money, our career, the list can seem endless.  We often put ourselves into these roles first, with our faith mixed in.  

But I submit to you that this perspective is backwards. Instead we ought to place our identity as a follower of Christ first and foremost, with all other roles becoming facets of the diamond that is our identity in Jesus. Now, obtaining and maintaining this mindset is where I think that most spiritual warfare is engaged.

Too often we have either completely neglected the reality of spiritual warfare, or relegated it to an occasional, intense fight when things get really tough.  I think we have fallen into this complacency for two reasons.  Firstly, because our concept of war is based on our nation's history, where intense warfare sporadically interrupts periods of relative peace. And secondly because we are ignorant to the spiritual reality described in the Bible…

When we come to the point of salvation in Christ, we find that we are no longer slaves to sin and darkness. We are made spiritually alive as new creations through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead. This means that we are no longer considered to be citizens of this finite and worldly system. Instead we are aliens and strangers, living in a spiritually dark world where we fight against the spiritual forces of evil that rule this present darkness. We still live here in order to be ambassadors for Jesus on an ongoing basis, bringing the hope of the Gospel in everything that we do. We are living in a spiritual war zone…. daily. And we are called to walk by faith, fighting in that war and denying our own desires. . (Ro 6:6, 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:1-10, 1 Cor 15:20-21, 1 Peter 2:11, Eph 6:12, 1 Cor 5:20, Luke 9:23)

Now what would happen if we lived with that reality, the true reality of our spiritual identity found in Jesus?  What would change in our lives?

Would we approach our family, neighbors, coworkers, and friends differently?  Would the spiritual reality of your life affect the way that you see your job, finances, recreation, and hobbies?  

The answer is absolutely yes!

Now keeping this spiritual focus is not an easy thing to do. Which is why I contend that spiritual warfare is something that we need to enter daily, continually making our identity the one purchased by the blood of Christ.  We need to recognize that spiritual war is won in the thousands of daily battles against temptations, laziness, our priorities and reactions. Not just the occasional massive battle.  In order to be successful, we must equip ourselves every day for the fight against temptations, and to be ready to proclaim the hope of the Gospel to a dark, and sometimes hostile world.

The New Testament is full of references to this daily equipping, but perhaps none so clearly stated as that of the verses in Ephesians chapter 6:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints". [Eph 6:10-18 ESV]

With this in mind, I am challenging myself to read, meditate upon, and pray through this passage in Ephesians for the next 7 days. Would you join me, and see what happens when we shift our focus from our earthly lives towards our heavenly calling?

If you do, I welcome you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments here.  It is my prayer that through this week the Holy Spirit would work in our lives so that our perspective consistently becomes: I am a follower of Christ, and I will live for him as I do... everything.

The Gathering 2016

We had such a great time gathering with all of our leaders and ministry volunteers from all three campuses.  We had over 200 volunteers join us for a great night of breakout sessions, dinner, worship and an inspiring message from Pastor Tommy about being the church and how we are one.  

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteers at Mercy Hill.  Your ministry for His church is extremely valuable and we appreciate all of you.  

Isolated and Alone, at Church?

This last weekend was the Fourth of July. It was a beautiful weekend full of cookouts, family, fireworks and freedom. I hope that your weekend was safe and enjoyable, and that you found time to reflect on our freedoms; both in this country as well as in Christ. I think that it was a remarkable coincidence that the sermon series at Mercy Hill Church was focused on freedom this last Sunday. The passage that we studied began with the words:

Gal 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free...”

If you haven’t listened to the messages yet, I encourage you to find some time to listen to and reflect upon this statement. (mercyhill.org/media) The concepts of this statement, if truly grasped, are life changing and eternity-driven.

However, my purpose for writing this week is not to reflect upon the sermon from last Sunday, but to share an observation and lesson that I learned on the 4th of July.

The neighborhood that I live in has a tradition on Independance day that has been running for the last 48 years. Each year on the 4th the whole neighborhood gathers together at the local park for a small breakfast followed by a parade. In the parade children ride bikes, adults wave flags and the procession ends with singing patriotic songs at the local assisted-living community. This year was the first year that I have been able to attend. While I was excited to attend and participate, it turned into a frustrating experience that I was tempted to simply walk away from. Why you ask?

Simply, I felt isolated and alone. My wife and daughter were with me and as we milled around in the middle of 60+ people (all our neighbors) only 4 people that we already knew approached and talked to us the entire time (about 5 minutes each). Now, I must admit that we have only lived in the area for the last 2 years, and do not know many of the neighbors yet. Also, I must admit that some of that is on us not stepping forward and making connections. However, on that morning I looked for connections to make. But as I looked around all I saw were small groups of people already established in conversation. I felt that it would be rude, as a stranger, to insert myself into the middle of a family group or a group of close friends. As Angie and I looked around it seemed that everyone was already engaged in conversation with the people that they knew and were comfortable with. The morning ended up with us hanging out as a 3 person family group with little interaction with others. As I stated before, I was nearly tempted to just go home.

What struck me that morning was that this often is the experience of visitors to our church. They may come not knowing many people and have the same feelings that I had this last weekend. If we as a church are too busy or too engaged with our friends to notice visitors and connect with them, they may simply leave and never return. Sometimes our natural response to this is that they need to take initiative and connect. There is a small weight of truth to that. However, if our posture is in small closed groups of people that we are comfortable with we will seem closed to the people that are outside of that group, unapproachable, unfriendly or unloving. This may not truly be the case (or it may be) but it is their perception and experience, and they will react to this.

As a church, we are called to be the body of Jesus Christ here on earth, reflecting the Gospel to those that are in need. Yes, we are called to edify and uplift one another within the church, but we need to serve all with love and sacrifice, even if we are uncomfortable approaching those that we do not know. In the passage from the sermon this last Sunday there was a verse that addresses this quite well:

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14 ESV

Are we free to engage in conversation with our friends at church? Yes.

Are we free to be ministered to by others in the church? Yes.

However, we are not to use the freedom that we have to selfishly consider only our needs, wants, desires and friendships. We are to serve others through love. The perfect example we have of this is Jesus himself:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:3-8 ESV

As imitators and ambassadors of Christ we are called to set aside our desires and needs to serve others. We are called to step out of our conversations and comfort on Sunday mornings to greet and engage with visitors and those that we do not know. To reflect Christ to them, to love and serve them, to edify them. To do this, we need to get to know them, do life with them and learn of their struggles and needs, praying with them and helping whenever possible.

Is this easy? No. Is it what we are called to do? Yes. And because we are called to do this we are empowered to do this by the Holy Spirit through faith and love. And if we do this we will be used of God to grow his church, his body. And as we do this, we ourselves will benefit and grow as we come to a deeper understanding of God’s love for us as we sacrificially serve and love as Jesus did.

The End is Coming

I woke up this morning to the news of 3 terrorist attacks on 3 continents in the span of 7 hours yesterday. ISIS related attacks killed 37 people on a beach in Tunisia, 25 at a mosque in Kuwait, and a factory explosion in France.

I sit here stunned, wanting... wanting for this violence and terror to end, and wanting words to express my sorrow, anger, and mourning over the condition of this world that we live in. As I cry out to God in anguish, am reminded of Jesus words in Matthew 24:

"4 And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." [Matthew 24:4-14 ESV]

Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus foretold the direction that the world would go, as well as the atmosphere of society. We live in a global community that is filled with selfishness, isolationism, greed, corruption darkness and evil. Where love and concern for our fellow human beings has grown cold as people seek success at the expense and exploitation of others. A world where evil men strive to create terror and fear. And in the midst of this darkness, the bright hope of Jesus shines forth. For we are promised that there is a time coming where

"...the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." [Rev 21:3-4 ESV]

This miracle will take place when Jesus Christ comes back to the earth to eradicate evil and sin. Because of this, today I pray, “Come quickly Lord Jesus.” And because of the increasing darkness of our world, I become increasingly resolved to share the great hope of have in the grace filled Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The world we live in is spinning out of control because those living in it are placing their trust and security in either themselves and in their own constructs of morality. We must find our hope and security in something outside of humanity. Humans have failed, will always fail. We are destructive to ourselves. We must find our hope, identity, security and trust outside of humanity and in something perfect and eternal. That hope and trust is found in God alone through Jesus Christ. We need to repent of our efforts to trust in ourselves, and creating our own morality and security. And we only find the ability to repent and trust in Jesus through the gracious, merciful, forgiveness of God, purchased by the sacrificial death of Christ.

This is the hope and light of the Gospel that must be shone forth in this world to provide an answer to those that are asking “when will this ever end?”

The end is coming.  We may not know when, and while we pray for Jesus to come quickly, we proclaim the grace filled hope of Jesus wherever and whenever we can, despite any persecution,  opposition or discomfort. We do this because the hope of Christ is the perfect and eternal solution to ending the evil in this world.  And because we want to share the hope that we have been lovingly and mercifully given.

I am in prayer for the family and friends of those who lost their lives in yesterday’s terror attacks. And because these are only the latest events in a marathon of evil and oppression, I pray for those in despair over the darkness of this world. And because evil will continue until Jesus returns, I pray that many will come to know and trust Christ, and that he will come quickly.

Cultivating Fields and Life

Just the other day as I was on my commute to Milwaukee for a staff meeting I was listening to a message by Matt Chandler from the Village Church. While the message was great, one of the things that stood out to me was a quote that he used from A.W. Tozer. In this quote, Tozer was examining two different types of life. One that is content to coast through and seek it’s own satisfaction and contentment, or one that allows God to challenge and grow.

I’ve included the message below, it’s worth the time to read. 

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A.W. Tozer
"Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12)

Here are two kinds of ground: fallow (Unplanted) ground and ground that has been broken up by the plow.

The fallow field is smug, contented, protected from the shock of the plow and the agitation of the harrow(spiked discs). Such a field, as it lies year after year, becomes a familiar landmark to the crow and the blue jay. Had it intelligence, it might take a lot of satisfaction in its reputation: it has stability; nature has adopted it; it can be counted upon to remain always the same, while the fields around it change from brown to green and back to brown again. Safe and undisturbed, it sprawls lazily in the sunshine, the picture of sleepy contentment.

But it is paying a terrible price for its tranquility; never does it feel the motions of mounting life, nor see the wonders of bursting seed, nor the beauty of ripening grain. Fruit it can never know, because it is afraid of the plow and the harrow.

In direct opposite to this, the cultivated field has yielded itself to the adventure of living. The protecting fence has opened to admit the plow, and the plow has come as plows always come, practical, cruel, business-like and in a hurry. Peace has been shattered by the shouting farmer and the rattle of machinery. The field has felt the travail of change; it has been upset, turned over, bruised and broken.

But its rewards come hard upon its labors. The seed shoots up into the daylight its miracle of life, curious, exploring the new world above it. All over the field, the hand of God is at work in the age-old and ever renewed service of creation. New things are born, to grow, mature, and consumate the grand prophecy latent in the seed when it entered the ground. Nature’s wonders follow the plow.

There are two kinds of lives also: the fallow and the plowed. For example of the fallow life, we need not go far. They are all too plentiful among us.The man of fallow life is contented with himself and the fruit he once bore. He does not want to be disturbed. He smiles in tolerant superiority at revivals, fastings, self- searching, and all the travail(hard work) of fruit bearing and the anguish of advance. The spirit of adventure is dead within him. He is steady, “faithful,” always in his accustomed place (like the old field), conservative, and something of a landmark in the little church. But he is fruitless.

The curse of such a life is that it is fixed, both in size and in content. “To be” has taken the place of “to become.” The worst that can be said of such a man is that he is what he will be. He has fenced himself in, and by the same act he has fenced out God and the miracle.

Broken To Bring Forth Fruit

The plowed life is the life that has, in the act of repentance, thrown down the protecting fences and sent the plow of confession into the soul. The urge of the Spirit, the pressure of circumstances and the distress of fruitless living have combined thoroughly to humble the heart. Such a life has put away defense, and has forsaken the safety of death for the peril of life. Discontent, yearning, contrition, courageous obedience to the will of God: these have bruised and broken the soil till it is ready again for the seed.

And, as always, fruit follows the plow. Life and growth begin as God “rains down righteousness.” Such a one can testify, “And the hand of the Lord was upon me there.” (Ezek. 3:22)

Corresponding to these two kinds of life, religious history shows two phases, the dynamic and the static. The dynamic periods were those heroic times when God’s people stirred themselves to do the Lord’s bidding and went out fearlessly to carry His witness to the world. They exchanged the safety of inaction for the hazards of God- inspired progress. Invariably, the power of God followed such action. The miracle of God went when and where his people went. It stayed when His people stopped.

The static periods were those times when the people of God tired of the struggle and sought a life of peace and security. They busied themselves, trying to conserve the gains made in those more-daring times when the power of God moved among them.

Bible history is replete with examples. Abraham “went out” on his great adventure of faith, and God went with him. Revelations, theophanies, the gift of Palestine, covenants and the promises of rich blessings to come were the result. Then Israel went down into Egypt, and the wonders ceased for four hundred years. At the end of that time, Moses heard the call of God and stepped forth to challenge the oppressor. A whirlwind of power accompanied that challenge, and Israel soon began to march. As long as she dared to march, God sent out His miracles to clear a way for her. Whenever she lay down like a fallow field, God turned off His blessing and waited for her to rise again and command his power.

This is a brief but fair outline of the history of Israel and the Church as well. As long as they “went forth and preached everywhere”, the Lord worked “with them…confirming the Word with signs following” (Mark 16:20). But when they retreated to monasteries or played at building pretty cathedrals, the help of God was withdrawn ‘till a Luther or a Wesley arose to challenge hell again. Then, invariably, God poured out His power as before.

In every denomination, missionary society, local church or individual Christian, this law operates. God works as long as His people live daringly: He ceases when they no longer need His aid. As soon as we seek protection out of God, we find it to our own undoing. Let us build a safety- wall of endowments, by-laws, prestige, multiplied agencies for the delegation of our duties, and creeping paralysis sets in at once, a paralysis which can only end in death.

Miracles Follow The Plow

The power of God comes only where it is called out by the plow. It is released into the Church only when she is doing something that demands it. By the word “doing”, I do not mean mere activity. The Church has plenty of “hustle” as it is, but in all her activities, she is very careful to leave her fallow ground mostly untouched. She is careful to confine her hustling within the fear-marked boundaries of complete safety. That is why she is fruitless; she is safe, but fallow.

The only way to power for such a church is to come out of hiding and once more take the danger-encircled path of obedience. Its security is its deadliest foe. The church that fears the plow writes its own epitaph. The church that uses the plow walks in the way of revival.

by A.W. Tozer