How To Have A Successful Home Meeting
By Lonnie Mackley
PHM 1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church
that meets in your home:
Below are some things to avoid and some things to do in order to have a successful home
meeting. As the Church becomes more fully empowered many new people will be saved and God may want to take them into a more
personal setting like your home in order to minister to and disciple them. There may also be a persecution
that breaks out where we will need to meet in homes exclusively. The main thing to remember with any home meeting, is
that the Holy Spirit needs to lead. The Holy Spirit is looking for places that allow Him to truly lead.
Things that can hinder and distract during a home meeting:
The Grandstander- This person likes to be the star of the show and either brags about how
experienced and anointed they are, or they use every aspect about what is being shared as an example to tell a story about
their life. This is just flesh and selfishness, so shut it down.
The Rabbit-trailer- This person may originally ask a question that is in line with the flow,
but then soon digress into other subjects that just create a distraction. If there is a strong spirit of revelation there
people will be getting lots of new insights, but try to keep them focused.
The Superminister- This person has a supreme leader complex where they feel they are
the be all end all authority on everything in the Kingdom, and that they are the only one there truly qualified to minister.
Have this person either get in line with the Spirit, or just get out.
The Arguer- There are some people that may or may not agree with what they are being taught
or what they are experiencing, so they will start to argue with you right during a meeting. Ask them to hold their issues
until the end of the meeting, or ask them to leave.
The Sponge- This person can be very self-centered and try to drag all of the focus of the
meeting onto their needs and issues alone. Many people with addictive backgrounds can oftentimes do this, so allow them some
ministry just like everyone else, but then move on.
The Debater- There are some people with a lot of head knowledge as far as God, but who have
little heart relationship or spiritual discernment with Him. This person will try to turn the meeting into an apologetics
forum rather than Spirit-led ministry so avoid their controversies.
The Fearmonger- Sometimes when the anointing gets very strong, when a dispute breaks out,
or when signs and miracles take place, someone can become very fearful because they feel they have no control and want to
put the breaks on things. Reassure them and move on.
The Jezebel- This person wants the authority and control of the leader and the meeting, but
they do not want the responsibility that goes along with it. They try to undermine and usurp the authority of the meeting
leader and divert the direction of the Holy Spirit. Don't tolerate it.
The Pharisee- This person loves the religious aspect of gathering together, but they do not
want to experience the true power and miracles that the Holy Spirit will manifest. Pharisees are the original control freaks
and they will resist anyone's control but theirs. Keep them out.
The Legalist- This person believes that unless they can read it in black and white then it
all must be from the devil. They will accept only basic teaching and nothing more unless it can be explained in detail. They rebel
against the Holy Spirit and just create doubt and discord.
The Distractor- This person needs to feel in control so they will oftentimes keep distracting
the flow of a meeting with off topic subjects, needs, or anything. Reassure this person, but kindly ask them to either go
with the flow and direction, or learn to just pray and wait more.
MT 18:20 For where two or three come together
in my name, there am I with them.
Things that can help to enhance during a home meeting:
1. Let the Holy Spirit set the direction for your meeting. Having three worship songs, a teaching,
and ministry time sounds nice, but it can be really boring and void of God's power. If you allow the Holy Spirit to lead your
meeting things will be vibrant, exciting, and powerful.
2. Have one point man (usually the homeowner) that can make the final call for the direction and
correction of the meeting. You will all follow and discern the Holy Spirit's will through the group, but one person needs
to make the final call as far as the end result of your meeting.
3. Allow everyone to share, but if something becomes more flesh than Spirit then limit the
amount of time that you spend on it, and move on. There may be some things during your meeting that are good, but not really
God. Be kind, but don't waste a lot of time with flesh.
4. Turn off all electronics (video games, computers, TV's) during the meeting because they
can become big demonic distractions once the flow of Spirit really begins. This includes cell phones and also your home
phone if necessary. Phones always tend to ring during ministry.
5. If you get someone that is disruptive ask them to hold what they are saying until later. If they
will not hold what they are saying invite them to leave. If they will not leave escort them out. Allow them to come back again
only if they truly repent, or it will all just happen again.
6. Remember that you are a manager of the Holy Spirit's will, not a dictator. Your job is just to
make sure that the Holy Spirit can have His way, and nothing more. God knows how to keep a meeting on track, so let things
just flow until and unless they start getting off track.
7. If a demon manifests bind it up in Jesus name and cast it out right there if you are so
led, but otherwise take the person to a more private place to help them. Some deliverance's can take many hours, so do not
allow a demon to derail the flow of your meeting and cast it out.
8. If someone brings there children allow them into the meeting if they want to be there, and if
they do not distract. Kids get bored easily sometimes, but with a good anointing the Holy Spirit can bless and use them just
as much as anyone else. Have a kids room as a backup.
9. Do not do structured meetings, just allow the Holy Spirit to structure it. The more we try to
structure and control something, the less freedom the Holy Spirit has to lead and change things. Do not set a time limit,
but allow people to slip out quietly if they really need to go.
10. Praise and worship should flow until the presence of Jesus is clearly felt and the glory of
God begins to manifest. There is no point in having a meeting when the guest of honor is not there yet. Have teaching and
ministry as well, but make sure that Jesus Christ is there first.
11. If signs, wonders, and miracles happen at your meetings praise and thank God for it, but do
not seek the manifestations, seek the man Christ Jesus. Your goal as a group should be to minister to Jesus and each
other plain and simple; if God does more then just thank Him.
12. Extend out from your home to evangelize as the Holy Spirit leads. Invite unsaved people after
the meeting is established. Avoid inviting people that are pharisaical, legalistic, or who are anti-Holy Spirit and miracles.
People come to receive from Jesus not to hear from satan.
13. Keep all personal ministry as public as possible. If someone is not fully willing to submit
what they have to minister in front of everyone else then there just might be an agenda there to control, seduce, or
manipulate. You will be responsible for what Jesus' sheep eat there.
14. Do not allow outside denominational control into your meeting where they try to take it
over or export it somewhere else. Religious control has killed more revivals than the plague, so stay away from it. If you
have the Holy Spirit's leadership there that is more than enough.
JN 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit Himself will teach you how and what you should do during your home
meetings. You may not feel up to having people in your home; but it's not about you, it's about Jesus and those that need
Him. Just be willing and then trust God to do the rest. The only plan that you need is whatever plan that the Holy Spirit
gives for your meeting. There are no perfect homes, so don't wait for yours to be in order to have a meeting. The wind
of the Holy Spirit is coming to blow in our homes so that all present there can be truly filled.
AC 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
