3 Key Characteristics Of A Micro-Church
One of the most exciting revelations that I received from the Lord this year is the concept of micro-churches. The era of megachurch is the phenomena that we’ve looked at for the last decade. Yet, the Lord said, “Small is the new big.” Just like David slew the giant, God is going to raise up small micro-groups of people who are going to do big damage to the enemy this year.
A micro-church is what Daniel had in Babylon. No matter how dark our world becomes—even if it reaches the level of sin as in the days of Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar—those with the Daniel anointing will rise to lead. The Bible says that when Nebuchadnezzar had his dream, Daniel had to reach into the supernatural dream interpreting power of God.
In Daniel 2:17, Daniel went to his house and made the situation known to his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah. He encouraged them to desire mercies of the God of heaven—that the meaning of the dream would be revealed. Later, the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. God gave him Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and a download of what was going to happen in Babylon. As a result, Daniel was appointed by the king to rule over the province. When Daniel was promoted, he promoted his friends.
As I reflected on this story, I said to the Lord, “So this is a vision of a house church.” The Lord said, “No, not a house church. A house church doesn’t have a common work assignment.”
So what the are the characteristics of a micro-church?
- Common assignment. A micro-church is when you come together with those who share the same calling and faith. A house church is different. There is no common assignment in a house church other than fellowship and mutual edification. A micro-church has a kingdom agenda, a shared assignment that brings them together.
- Small in size. I asked the Lord for another reference, and He took me to Peter's arrest in Acts 12. There again, when Peter gets supernaturally delivered he went to the one location that made sense—the house of Mary the mother of John. When he arrived he discovered many gathered together in prayer for him (Acts 12:12). It was a house filled with intercessors. A micro-church is a praying company with a common assignment. This is a group small enough to fit into a first century house.
- A company of people connected to your assignment. Daniel's friends all shared the assignment of Government, but Peter’s group was different. They were a company connected to the Apostolic assignment of the twelve disciples. Therefore, even if the members do not share directly in your assignment, they may be connected to you as family and close friends. The key is that they are affected by what happens to you in the warfare of your assignment. This group could include your spouse, your closest friends, your children. Proximity is critical. Gathering together is a core principle.
Micro-church is the natural extension of any strong local or apostolic church. Not everyone has an assignment to go up against the gates of hell in the various mountains. Those who have been given this call need to be involved not only in the give and take of community life in a local church, but in a micro-church as well. You need to have a small company of people, who are holding up your arms and standing with you in the assignment God gave you. And you need to be standing with someone else in the battle they face. Until the local church establishes micro-churches in proximity to the gates of influence we are not yet an Apostolic church at the end of the age.
If this applies to you, I pray that this year you discover the power of a small committed company of like-minded warriors in your mountain. If you are on a college campus or in the military or traveling more than 100 days a year with your business you should answer the call of God to START your own MICRO-CHURCH!
Question: Are you already blessed by such a community? Comment below and share your experience!
As One!
Lance
Been in House Church for 20 years, but experiencing first “Micro” as small group ‘called’ together to start solar – renewable energy company in SE USA. The first year was filled with challenges, the battle intense, but the Lord commanded “Stay The Course!” We did, and ever so slowly, through travailing intercession, the dark clouds of oppression began to break. We are on the cusp of mighty breakthroughs, as we charge on with eyes on the Lord and His promise (not circumstances). To step over, we had to let Moses die in each of us, as only the eyes of Joshua/Caleb can bring victory. Switching to the offense (from defense so routinely taught by the church), is to switch from Moses thinking – “One day, some day, just not today!” The cry of today’s micro church is “Take the land!”
Clay, I am a CPA in the SE USA. I have been feeling the call to solar for years and strike out with what I have found so far. Too expensive with recovering from the Recession, but economy starting to come back. We have a great local fellowship here of between 150=385 persons that we communicate with computerized telephone calling regarding our regular services and our Accounting and Taxation Business with certified persons to represent taxpayers in audits and court. I would like to hear more information from you regarding your commitment to Solar, especially from someone with a Kindom viewpoint. Joninsc@aol.com
I had to created my own small group! I’m going to church online now. I’m also packing! I can’t go to any place that’s going through the motions anymore! I can’t do it! I SEE too much everyday! We are supposed to be changing society – not hanging out with each other like a social club! I’m assigned to the Human Service Industry and anointed for psychological warfare. The issue I have with most of the Christians I encounter, who are assigned to the same industry as myself, is that they are in a unsavory salt state! They won’t take a stand! They are kissing Pharaoh’s ring! They are doing the exact same ineffective things that everyone else is doing! I find that in a lot of cases, they know something is wrong with the methodologies they use but they don’t have a revelation of Jehovah-Jireh! It’s hard to fight a devil you think is paying your mortgage. I use a methodology I downloaded from the Throne Room! I associate with Kingdom Warriors who are battle ready!
Amen!! Your methodology must be awesome!!
Are you released to share it?
Thanks
Bonnie
Dr. Lance, My husband & I attended a Courts of Heaven conference end of Feb where you were keynote speaker. Having never heard of you before, we were delighted and overwhelmed with new manna that you imparted to us along with the joy that radiates from you.
Now we’ve become ardent fans of yours and are following closely even if you “don’t know where you are going”, we are certain, you know more than we do. Therefore, we follow as Paul says, “follow me as l follow the Lord.”
(Sorry,know I’m off topic but needed to tell you that.)
Following your teaching from 7M and reading Enlows’ book and with your info on micro church, I submit the following.
We have both discovered our talent and passion is in the Arts/Entertainment mountain. Coupled with our gift of ‘hospitalities’ whereby we often invite couples over for dinner,prayer,bible studies and fellowship, have decided to join the local Little Theater to add a different circle of friends.
Following the 7M teaching of the Ninja Sheep have discovered from the Little Theater website, there is opportunity to submit original scripts for consideration to be performed in Little Theaters around the country.
My heart leaped with joy to discovered this fact as I have been writing skits and plays for church’s and Christian schools since I received HS 33 years ago. Now I can see a Micro Church coming. Oh Happy Day?, We have our assignment and we are moving on.
My husband is also very much in this mix, being mechanically gifted to create stage sets and settings as well as the electronics of lights and sound.
There is a bonus here that is worth mentioning. We are in our 70’s and were beginning to feel that we had become irrelevant to the work of the kingdom and therefore relegated to the “just pray,” crowd. Praise The Lord, its a new day. Thanks Dr. Lance.
Hi Christa….I’m curious as to what your product is as I’m having some health issues. ☺
Bless you & your husband!!
I’m 58 & sometimes wonder about my “viability” in the Kingdom. I know its a lie when I hear that & your words reminded me again (as Lance does as well) that age is just a number in the Kingdom!! ❤
I thank God for your revelation. When the Lord asked me to open my house for prayer on the Shabbatt day and Hr insisted that I would start it because He had things to reveal . I had no clue what was about. We had 5 people and the Lord taught us so much about intercession, mission call, revelation of iniquities of our ancestors that needed to be confessed and repented and cancelled the curses over our lives, the power released in the heavens when we blow our shoffars., the deliverance of years of deppression of my daughter happened, strategies of what and how to pray about the assignments of the enemies against us, specific intercessions for nations ( He would name them and we just obeyed in prayer).
Since then our prayer life has totally changed and He has been using us as He desires with our prayers to shift, change or make His heavenly purposes to touch the earth. So beautiful. Praise God.
Then I reslized with your revrlation that He birthed a micro church with us.
Thank you again for EVERY broadcast that you are doing for us. It is making a difference in the world. God bless you. You and Annabelle are a blessing.
Yes, Lance, We have four micro type CHURCHES in Powhatan, Va. Each with a different calling and mission. The overall purpose is apostolic in reaching out to the nation’s. Dr. Jim Burck
Really funny . I had just finished describing the life , experiences, presence of God , faith expectations and HUNGER when at Byker City Fellowship International in Newcastle. Then read what you described here about micro churches . But there example is that is more a family than a church. And I still have very good contacts with my family after I moved to another country as part of its vision . It’s great to have friends that stick closer than a brother !
Oh Lance, thank you so much for this revelation. We were led to join a micro church over 4 years ago, and it has been a challenge! For us and the pastor whom was led to move to a small midwestern town to pastor a rural church that was ready to close it’s doors for good, but had in the past experienced amazing revivals and had sent out many apostles over the years. The Lord sent a handful of us from different directions, to attend this church and support the work. In March we had an official impartation and recognition of the callings and mantles that are operating right now in the body and we have been learning to walk in honor and love on a whole new level with each other. We have a sense of community now, that wasn’t there before. It is hard to explain but in the “spiritual atmosphere” there has been a real change this past year. We needed to hear this confirmation though, because there are times when you begin to really wonder, if what we see in the spirit is really true, since it sure doesn’t look like anything but discouraging in the natural. I was so encouraged by this word. p.s. thank you also for posting the encouraging information on your Facebook page. Love it! The recent one of KK’s really made a huge difference in the atmosphere!
I work at a small church in Northern California that has been destroyed by a church split. I feel called by the Lord to stay and intercede for the senior pastors (husband and wife) until they reach “safe passage” to deliverance and healing. All of my friends have left and It’s such a dysfunctional environment that I’m not supposed to fellowship with them. We have formed a ninja sheep micro church to pray for God to bring restoration and healing into this devastated fellowship. Thank you, Lance, for your awesome teachings. They bring encouragement and hope during this season and assignment! Blessings!!
A group of us who are mainly leaders and pastors of local churches came together because of shared heart and vision for the kingdom of God with a focus of worship, intercession and tasks to do in the intercessary ministry on behalf of what God is preparing in the UK and the world / the te micro church is new to me but it describes exactly what we are !’
Neil – UK
I would like to hear more of what your group are doing and how it is working.
Thanks for sharing what you are doing, Neil!!
We, four of us, recently started an early morning prayer group and discovery Bible study. Our common assignment is reaching the nations at a major university. A divine appointment (a crazy story of influence in the gates of influence and prayer) in March with a “not yet” Christ follower student who loved languages was the key spark! We have already seen amazing doors open with students from faraway places. And the unknowing catalyst, we met in March, who just graduated, secured a job locally and may even live at the complex where our “micro church” is taking place! We want to keep this discreet.