“An Example Church of the Love of God” by Pastor Grant Dufresne
God spoke to my heart recently and said, “World Harvest Church is to be an example church of the love of God.” When this came to me, I began to dive into the Word to see what that looks like for us.
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) says, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
World Harvest Church is doing good works, and it has for well over 30 years. Many lives have been set on course, miracles, signs, wonders, and healings have taken place, the Gospel has been going all over the world reaching millions, and the list goes on. But I see in my spirit World Harvest Church doing more than it’s ever done before, in ways untapped before.
While I was praying in the spirit during a Sunday morning service recently, the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “There is a great harvest of people coming to this place; we must prepare.” There is a harvest of souls coming. My dad, Dr. Ed Dufresne, used to always say, “Ministry is people.” What is God after? People. There are people who God is calling to this place. Right now, there are people headed for hell. Their lives are scattered. Their hearts are broken. They are sick in their body and mind, searching for answers, and I can see these people in my spirit. And in this place, they will find answers, healing, restoration, salvation, and the beginning of a new life as they discover the plan God has for them, which they were destined to fulfill.
In Matthew, it says, “Ye are the light of the world.” That’s us! The Body of Christ. When we go out of this church into our daily lives, we are to be a light to this world and this community. People should be able to look at you and recognize a notable difference. You may notice, “Huh, people always approach me, or people are staring, or why do people enjoy talking to me?” Don’t think or assume that’s just you. There is a light in you that the world can sense, but may not always be able to put into words what it is that draws them to you. Maybe you're not this type of person and you avoid interactions with people; regardless, that light is still in you, and like the song says, “Let it shine!”
When you became born again, the love of God was shed abroad in your heart. You have the capability to let Jesus’ love work and move through you to people. Where you fall short, the love of God in you makes it up. You might be the only Jesus people ever come across. Don’t live every day so mindlessly focused on yourself that you miss an opportunity to show that love. Someone’s eternity may depend on it.
So, I see in my spirit our church doing things it hasn’t fully done before. And it involves reaching the lost and blessing our community. But I know as the pastor that I need to lay some groundwork in the church. If we are not effective in walking in the God-kind of love in our homes, at our jobs, and with our friends and family, how are we going to be effective loving the lost? If we can’t love each other, our brothers and sisters in Christ, how are we going to love those outside the church? We have a very loving church, but it’s easier to love people when you’re familiar with them. What about the filthy person who is bound, but seeking help and answers, who doesn’t look like us? It shows our true self when we are met with an inconvenience to our regular routine. We all have been at that place in our lives where someone was patient with us when we were just born again or a baby Christian learning the Word. We should be at such a place that this church is seeking opportunities to love on people and show them the love Jesus has for them. Mind you, not everyone you come across will be a member of our church or should be; there’s a place for everyone. And maybe some encounters are just for you on your path to minister to them. BUT there are certainly people who are called to this place, so we must be led!
John 13:35 (KJV) states, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
When people walk into World Harvest Church, I want them to sense such a love that it draws them to want to know God and get right with Him and not be met with judgment. He can do that through us if we allow Him. The world should notice a difference in us, that when the world hates, we show God’s love, and because of that, people will come to know Him.
I want to show God that, “Yes, World Harvest Church will be the light. Yes, God, You can entrust us with this harvest. Yes, we will show people the love You have for them. And many will come to this place and find the truth in You.” We must prepare. We must represent Christ that’s in us in everything we do. It’s not you alone who does this, but Christ in you is what makes this easy. As we walk in this revelation of love and meditate on the Word and live it, our light will shine to the world, and this church will become “an example church of the love of God.”