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URBAN CONNECT GROUP LEADERS TRAINING LESSON No. 4

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Leaders Training, tagged , , , , , , on August 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »

WEEK 4

Summary

What happens in an Urban Connect Group meeting?

How to run a meeting. Learning in the classroom and on the job.

The goal of every Urban Connection is – Discipleship – lives are being changed

BRAINSTORM

Q. Each Trainee leader will write down on your notepad what you believe discipleship means. What does it look like?

  • A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice.
  • Helping people to steadily learn from Jesus how to live the life of the Kingdom.
  • Reaching out to lost people and showing them what Jesus has done for them.
  • Teach people how to live as Christ lived and taught.
  • Show people how to be with Jesus in an attitude of observation, study, obedience and imitation.
  • Doing the journey with someone as they become like Jesus.
  • Learning how to love enemies, bless those that persecute, go the second mile etc, living out the gracious inward transformations of faith hope and love.

Q. Now what does that look like in the environment of an Urban Connect Group in this local church?

  • The Core leader gets to know the sheep in his group.
  • The Core leader asks the members great questions of his disciples about what they are learning.
  • The Core leader builds an environment of support for all.
  • The Core leader shares with the learners how he/she overcame certain difficulties.
  • The Core leader points the sheep to Jesus always.
  • The Core leader leads his sheep to the word of God and helps them express hwat they get out of it.
  • The Core leader leads the team in reaching lost people.

Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Mat 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Q. What does the Core leader do between meetings?

  •  The Core leader prays for his sheep regularly.
  • The Core leader contacts everyone who was away from the UC meeting.
  • The Core leader thinks strategically about what each member needs to keep growing. Eg. Water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, DNA, counselling, extra care etc
  • The Core leader refuels themself every week to be on fire for God and possessed by the vision.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE URBAN CONNECT MEETING

How to run your group on the night

  1. Warmly welcome each person
  2. Offer tea, coffee and biscuits or similar
  3. Ask each person to share either
  • Answers to prayer
  • About when they shared their faith with someone
  • A prayer need
  1. Discipleship growth – Remind the group of which passage/chapter that the group was asked to read since the last meeting. Encourage each member to share what is God saying to them through this passage and what will they do about it.
  2. Affirm each person who shares and ensure that members don’t hog the time preventing others from sharing.
  • There are no wrong answers let people express their thoughts, peer discipling means you don’t have to correct every doctrinal point, people will learn from one another.
  • Keep the focus on hearing God’s voice.
  1. Pray for each persons needs and PRAY FOR YOUR LOST FRIENDS YOU ARE REACHING OUT TO. – Use a harvest list.

URBAN CONNECT GROUP LEADERS ROLE

  1. You are a shepherding leader. Your role is to care for 10 placed under your care.
  2. Keep your focus on building relationships. Member with God, member to member and member to unsaved friends.
  3. Your main aim is to assist each person to grow in their walk with God.
  • Are they saved?
  • Next step be baptised in water
  • Then filled with the Holy Spirit – speaking in tongues is encouraged as the only clear evidence that one has received.
  • Invite them to participate in the DNA class to join the church, discover their gifts, and find a serving role.
  1. Community – when people are hurting the group must gather around them and assist in any way possible – phone calls, prayer, visitation, meals, work,
  2. Be a builder – call up each member that missed your Discipleship group meeting and see how they are going. You need to do this every time you meet to grow your UC.
  3. Plan an event at least quarterly to invite the unsaved friends you are praying for.

UC Leaders JD

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GOING FOR GOLD 2

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

If you’re going to go for Gold, then you better be prepared for some fails along the way. 

Here’s some of the painful moments in the London Games…

Bloopers – http://youtu.be/eHQSPjdfpmw

And now for a story of inspiration.

Matthias Steiner (born 1982 in Vienna) is an Austrian–German weightlifter, and Olympic gold medalist. Earl in life since an untreated infection[2] Steiner suffers from diabetes, diagnosed at his 18th birthday.[3] Before the diagnosis, the first symptom was an intense thirst, then he lost appetite, and 5 kilograms (11 lb) body weight within three months.[3] He went to the doctor when his sight deteriorated.[3]  Despite the diagnosis he followed his dream to become a weightlifter.

On July 16, 2007 his wife Susann died in a car accident.[8][9] Despite the tragic loss, and after losing 7 kilograms (15 lb)[6] body weight, he was able to continue his training.

He received German citizenship in early 2008, won overall silver at the 2008 European Championships, and the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Here is the story of his gold medal performance

VIDEO LINK http://youtu.be/xLN4OHxfbGQ

What a story of passion to triumph!

He won gold and broke his personal best.

German Olympic weightlifter Matthias Steiner promised his wife that one day he would win a gold medal in the Olympics. Just a year before the competition of 2008 Olympics, his wife tragically died in a car accident. In order to break the record, he needed to beat his personal record by 10 kg. This is the video of his attempt at the gold medal.

When he had lifted his final lift to win the gold he broke down and wept profusely… he was winning it for his wife. He told her on her death bed “I will win gold for you”

How huge was his motivation?

The medal ceremony was VERY moving! He wept so much holding a photo of his wife all the time.

What motivates you?

Winning a gold medal is a great motivation, but this man had an even bigger motivation – LOVE

He was motivated by doing it for another.

Often what separates gold medal winners from the rest of the pack is not the talent or ability; but the shear courage and will to win. Passion is a strong force that propels you towards your dream.

A famous Australian competitor Gillian Rolton is Australia’s first female equestrian gold-medallist. A schoolteacher from Adelaide, Gillian Rolton was a Show and Dressage rider from the age of ten until her early twenties. In 1992 she was a late inclusion the Australian equestrian team competing at the Barcelona Olympic Games after she beat all male members of the team in the final selection trial at Savernake, England. Competing alongside Matt Ryan and Andrew Hoy, Rolton rode an excellent round on Peppermint Grove on the final day of competition, and became the first Australian female equestrian to win a gold medal.

Rolton achieved even greater notoriety after the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. Thrown twice from Peppermint Grove in the cross-country section, Rolton remounted and finished the course despite a broken collar-bone and two broken ribs. The Australian team, comprised of Andrew Hoy, Wendy Schaeffer, Phillip Dutton and Rolton, won gold.

You would have to ask the question – how much do you want it?

What is the passion that rules your life?

Some people live passionless lives because they have not been shown a cause that has lifted them to strive for more.

Some people have begun in passion but have run out of gas along the way due to pain or disappointment.

What is the cause that you are passionate about?

My brother in law Tony Kirwan is passionate about rescuing young girls from sexual exploitation. His organisation Destiny Rescue rescues young girls from brothels. Its dangerous and difficult work, but he has a huge passion to rescue girls because as he says, “What would you do if your daughter was imprisoned against her will in one of these brothels.”

Passion for others is a powerful motivation and strength giver when you are on your quest for gold or for any great achievement

Jesus was motivated to do it for you.

For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross

Heb 12:2  Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps. 110:1.]

Is there not a cause?

King David, while stil, ayoung man saw goliath threatening Israel and wanted to see him defeated. But his older brother was cynical and negative about this young passion carrier…

1Sa 17:28  And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why did you come down here? and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.

1Sa 17:29  And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? (NKJV)

Isn’t there something that motivates us to live a bigger life?

To overcome every difficulty, to press on when we would rather give up, to try again when it all seems too hopeless?

Yes its for others. It’s for people who don’t know Jesus yet.

The Cause…… Australia For Christ

Jesus was motivated by love for others. He died on the cross for you.

His passion was enormous and carried Him through the most unbelievable agony of suffering just so you and I could find forgiveness and pardon for our sins.

Give your life to Christ and Go for Gold, find a cause worth giving your life for.

Mine is Australia For Christ.

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Why do some Christians commit adultery?

Posted in Church, Culture Watch, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2012| 20 Comments »

We live in a fallen world.

We live in a world where values of integrity and fidelity have moved significantly over the last 100 years.

Adultery has always been a factor in every era, but now in this day in which we live it is sold as exciting and adventurous; being openly displayed on almost every TV program, movie and magazine. It has become far more acceptable now then ever before.

MOVIE CLIP – AN AD FOR THE “GOOD WIFE”

http://youtu.be/M5wbUmhf3ro

The hurt caused by betrayal is seldom given the prominence that a salacious affair is given.

The Effect of the media.

The media glamorises adultery.

Catholic news service  http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=28831

LOS ANGELES (LifeSiteNews) – The Parents Television Council released a new study, Happily Never After: How Hollywood Favors Adultery and Promiscuity Over Marital Intimacy on Prime Time Broadcast Television, which revealed that broadcast networks depict sex in the context of marriage as either non-existent or burdensome, while showing positive depictions of extra-marital or adulterous sexual relationships with alarming frequency.
Across the broadcast networks, the new PTC report found that verbal references to non-marital sex outnumbered references to sex in the context of marriage by nearly 3 to 1, and scenes depicting or implying sex between non-married partners outnumbered similar scenes between married couples by a ratio of nearly 4 to 1.

Durex’s Global Sex Survey has found that worldwide 22% of people surveyed have had extramarital sex. Some countries the prevalence was as high as 58%

United States

Alfred Kinsey found in his studies that 50% of males and 26% of females had extramarital sex at least once during their lifetime.[20] Depending on studies, it was estimated that 26–50% of men and 21–38% women,[21]

In Australia http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Cheating-hearts/2004/12/22/1103391840011.html?oneclick=true

Depending on which study you believe, between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of people in long-term relationships have been unfaithful, and, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, infidelity is cited as the main provocation in 20 per cent of divorce cases.

In the 2005 Global sex survey taken by the condom company Durex; Australia rated second highest nation on earth for the number of sexual partners respondents had. An average of 13.3.

http://wayback.archive.org/web/jsp/Interstitial.jsp?seconds=5&date=1203149228000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.durex.com%2Fcm%2Fgss2005result.pdf&target=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20080216080708%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.durex.com%2Fcm%2Fgss2005result.pdf

There is now a website that facilitates adultery; It is a website for people who want a fling. AshleyMadison.com their slogan is Life is short – Have an affair.

Christians commit adultery too. In spite of the bible saying

1Co_6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,

1Co 6:10  Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. (AMP)

Yet many Christians fall into this trap.

Most likely your marriage is fine. This message may seem irrelevant to you, but consider who else you can help who may be struggling in this area. More to the point; be on your guard, for we are all subject to temptation and we need Godly advice to protect us from errors.

Why do some Christians fall into this trap?

1. The culture of the age

The culture of the age is drowning in moral relativism. That is: if it feels good – Do it! The trend is to question all kinds of restraint. Who says pre-marital sex is wrong? The result: the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases sky rockets. Who says adultery is wrong? Result: the divorce rate is the highest ever, throwing massive costs on to the economy through a multitude of ramifications.

As people move away form God, righteousness and fidelity, they look more and more like the nation of Israel who suffered the consequences of disobedience to God. If you don’t believe in God or don’t care about righteousness then none of this makes sense to you and Christians are just prudes and kill joys, hypocrites who try to tell others how to live.

But the bible calls us Christians to be salt and light. Not only are we called to live in righteousness but our example is to show the way for others. It’s our joy to walk with Jesus and to be ever so grateful for our release from the prison of sin and the horror of eternity in hell, that we draw on all His power to live a new life of freedom, righteousness and purity.

As born again Christians we have a new nature. We are born from above we don’t want to sin any longer; this salvation we have, is power over sin, and we have a new heart that wants to please God.

2. Everyone is tempted

Jas_1:14  But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). (AMP)

We learned last week about the power of walking in the spirit, we have a carnal nature – that old man that still has influence in our lives if we let it. But we choose to walk in the spirit and thereby we do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

You may be tempted, but here’s why you don’t yield to it.

  1. God is so generous and gracious to call you out of darkness. We say no to sin because of so great a salvation. We know what we are saved from.
  2. We count the cost. Is one night of passion worth losing our marriage, losing the respect of my kids, breaking up the family home, paying lawyers thousands of dollars in divorce settlements etc etc? (It cost Greg Norman $9mill to divorce his first wife… might have been less pain to stay together)
  3. There’s a massive amount of evidence that such relationships rarely work out. 41% of marriages end in divorce and 83% of second marriages.

MY STORY IN KIEV.

3. The absence of the fear of God

The church must stay true to the word of God. If the church strays away from truth it loses its power and effectiveness. The church cannot wink at pre-marital sex, adultery, or any immorality because the society is changing. We must preach bible values. To preach the gospel is to present the true picture of salvation. The reality of what Jesus has done on the cross is so awesome and amazing that we are deeply moved by our understanding of the consequences of sin and the great gift of salvation we have received. It is a gift that we do not deserve in any way. Our ability to see it and repent is totally a gift from God and for us to take it for granted is the height of foolishness.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Depth of His love equals the height of His anger against sin. If we truly know Him we are people who walk in a Godly fear and walk in a manner worthy of so great a salvation.

Heb 10:26  If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice

Heb 10:27  and are left on our own to face the Judgment–and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!

Heb 10:28  If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death,

Heb 10:29  what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?

Heb 10:30  This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing,” and, “God will judge his people.”

Heb 10:31  Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me. (MESS)

God is so gracious and forgiving, and yes, of course, adultery is not the unforgivable sin, but can we trade on that grace and enter a forbidden relationship in the belief that God will forgive and pardon us in the end?

I have counselled many people who have made that decision. Some ended up far from God, others serve in the ministry today. My only plea to all people I serve with the word of God, is walk carefully, this is very dangerous ground.

4. Spiritual and emotional adultery

Physical adultery breaks a covenant made in the sight of God between two people. Often this step comes at the end of what began as emotional and spiritual adultery.

Some people may even enter emotional and spiritual adultery and not actually come together physically.

Jesus speaks so clearly about this practice when he says…

Mat 5:27  You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. [Exod. 20:14; Deut. 5:18.]

Mat 5:28  But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (AMP)

When a man and a woman marry they covenant to live together and give each other their hearts and their souls and their bodies. Scientists have discovered that when a couple makes love, the hormone oxytocin is released in both the man and the woman. This hormone creates a bonding experience in the mind and emotions of each one. The act of sex is so much more than physical.

When a married person shares their heart with a person other than their spouse they begin to forge a link that supplies the rest and refreshment of the soul that should be provided only by your spouse. Often counsellors get into trouble because they show empathy and express care and listening skills which create a bond emotionally that leads to emotions of infidelity. That is why in this church we do not counsel the opposite sex.

These emotions can seem so real that the person believes they have fallen in love with someone else and now they feel their own partner does not love them.

Often the man feels his wife does not understand him and he finds solace in the caring of another woman. His own wife will sense he has distanced himself from her and alarm bells go off. Soon her fear of another being present in the relationship, pushes her to criticism and anger, pushing him away.

At this point the offending pair will say, “It all seems so right. Perhaps we married the wrong person.”

They have been duped by deception. This deception stops them from seeing the truth – that their new relationship is of their own making and it is fuelled by pride. “This is what I want – it’s for me”

Pro 6:32  But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks heart and understanding (moral principle and prudence); he who does it is destroying his own life.

Pro 6:33  Wounds and disgrace will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. (AMP)

 The way out

  1. Cut it off now. Don’t wait another hour. Don’t expect your feelings to approve. Run from the snare that has caught you.   Pro 7:21  With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] and forces him along.

Pro 7:22  Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction [to be given] to a fool or like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle

  1. Seek God and cry out for His mercy that perhaps He will lift the deception off your soul.
  2. See a counsellor. Be open to someone who is Godly and confess your sins and receive instruction. Chris and I are willing to see anyone. You may wish to see a professional counsellor outside the church. Here is a resource for Christian counsellors. http://www.ccaa.net.au/find-a-christian-counsellor/all-christian-counsellors.php?intstate=2  and another  http://www.totalwellbeing.com.au/counselling-service

We live in a crazy world where the moral standards are plummeting – lets be a church that shines the light so bright. Let’s be a church that empowers great marriages and heals broken ones. Let’s be a church that helps adulterers find a way back home and let’s be a church that helps to heal the broken hearted ones who have been betrayed.

Love one another, go easy on one another, pray for each other.

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The Most Amazing Church on Earth # 3

Posted in Church, Preaching messages on July 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The End Times or the Last Days Church

Days of Increase

There are two views of the last day’s church that the church has held.

  1. A picture of a strong and church triumphant in the midst of persecution.
  2. A weakened church grimly hanging on until the end when the Jesus comes to save her

The first picture is the one I believe is the scriptural one.

The second picture is drawn from verses like these:

Mat 24:10  And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. AMP

Luk 21:25  “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,

Luk 21:26  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ESV

In the last days all things increase – The power of God and also unrighteousness and difficult times.

God’s plan is to fill the earth with His glory

Num_14:21  But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, [Isa. 6:3; 11:9.]

In the last days the righteous and the unrighteous will rise together…

Jesus painted a picture of the kingdom as the last days approach.

Mat 13:24  Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Mat 13:25  But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat, and went on his way.

Mat 13:26  So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the darnel (weeds) appeared also.

Mat 13:27  And the servants of the owner came to him and said, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have darnel shoots in it?

Mat 13:28  He replied to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and weed them out?

Mat 13:29  But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat (weeds resembling wheat), you root up the [true] wheat along with it.

Mat 13:30  Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my granary.

The disciples asked – What is this parable all about?

Mat 13:36  Then He left the throngs and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field.

Mat 13:37  He answered, He Who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

Mat 13:38  The field is the world, and the good seed means the children of the kingdom; the darnel is the children of the evil one,

Mat 13:39  And the enemy who sowed it is the devil. The harvest is the close and consummation of the age, and the reapers are angels.

Mat 13:40  Just as the darnel (weeds resembling wheat) is gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the close of the age.

Mat 13:41  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense [persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin] and all who do iniquity and act wickedly,

Mat 13:42  And will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth.

Mat 13:43  Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing. [Dan. 12:3.]

In these last days the unrighteous will grow up with the righteous side by side as Jesus said He will allow this…

This teaching from Jesus allows us to see that within the church there are the true believers and then there are the pretenders.

Normally people do not see themselves as pretenders but when persecution comes they will not be able to stand.

Here is the sequence historically of the church, which at first was Israel and then the Gentiles were grafted in to the same olive tree.

God at the first preached the gospel to Abraham saying: In you shall the nations of the earth be blessed. Every Nation shall see the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Lord.

Jesus confirmed this when He commanded His disciples to go into all the world.

And then said, when the gospel has been published in EVERY nation then shall the end come. (Matt 24:14)

The Gospels give predictions about the church of the last days and what things will happen. See the whole of Matt 24, and the whole of Luke 21.

Summary of last times:

  1. Be on your guard – there will be false Christs arise.
  2. There will be wars, earthquakes, famines and pestilences.
  3. You will be persecuted, betrayed, hated
  4. Earthly Sign of second coming is armies surrounding Jerusalem
  5. Heavenly signs of His coming is in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth

Old testament prophecies of the last days

In Acts, Peter says we are in the last days and the signs are:

Act_2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. AMP

Peter is quoting the prophet Joel

Joe 2:28  And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Joe 2:29  Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit.

Joe 2:30  And I will show signs and wonders in the heavens, and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.

Joe 2:31  The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. [Isa. 13:6, 9-11; 24:21-23; Ezek. 32:7-10; Matt. 24:29, 30; Rev. 6:12-17.]

Joe 2:32  And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls. [Acts 2:17-21; Rom. 10:13.] AMP

This pouring out of Gods Spirit was to be in the last days, which Peter declares to be at the time he preached at Pentecost. That was the beginning of the last days. The time we are in is the end of the last days.

This picture contains two parts:

  1. The pouring out of God’s Spirit – a significant world changing impact
  2. The signs to be expected in the heavenlies

The fact that these two pictures are linked in the one prophecy gives us the timing of the events as being together

God wants us to see the church as He sees it…. Strong, Holy, Godly, Powerful and overcoming, because it represents Him. There is mixture in the church; the wheat and the tares are growing up together but the humble in heart will have discernment and will see the true believers, and will cling to God’s mercy.

 Latter rain

Principle – Ecc_7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. AMP

Eg. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, first adam, better covenant, wine at wedding

The former Versus the Latter

Joe_2:23  Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

Hag_2:9  The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.

Isa 2:2  It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be [firmly] established as the highest of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it.

These verses prophesy that these last of the last days will be more glorious than the former days such as the times of the early church.

The last days church in our times and continuing to the second coming of Jesus is a better and more powerful church than even the book of acts church.

Revelation gives us a picture of the church triumphant.

Rev 6:9  When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne.

Rev 6:10  They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth? [Gen. 4:10; Ps. 79:5; Zech. 1:12.]

Rev 6:11  Then they were each given a long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Rev 6:12  When He [the Lamb] broke open the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun grew black as sackcloth of hair, [the full disc of] the moon became like blood. [Joel 2:10, 31.]

Rev 7:9  After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Rev 7:13  Then, addressing me, one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come?

Rev 7:14  I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [Gen. 49:11; Dan. 12:1.] AMP

Here again we see the signs in the heavens linked with the multitude of God’s outpouring of salvation in the earth.

The church of the last days as described in the Epistles

A Church without spot or wrinkle

Eph 5:24  As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

Eph 5:26  So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,

Eph 5:27  That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

God is at work in the church to perfect her, and make her ready for His son the bridegroom.

At the same time the devil is at work to prevent the church from becoming that pure bride.

Eph 4:12  His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

Eph 4:13  [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

 Paul warns that perilous times shall come:

 2Ti 3:1  BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

2Ti 3:2  For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

2Ti 3:3  [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

2Ti 3:4  [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

2Ti 3:5  For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

2Ti 3:13  But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves. AMP

There are many warnings that ungodly people will get worse in the last days

1Ti 4:1  BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach,

1Ti 4:2  Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),

2Pe_3:3  To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires

1Jn 2:18  Boys (lads), it is the last time (hour, the end of this age). And as you have heard that the antichrist [he who will oppose Christ in the guise of Christ] is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms our belief that it is the final (the end) time.

1Jn 2:19  They went out from our number, but they did not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But [they withdrew] that it might be plain that they all are not of us.

Jud_1:18  They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. AMP

Conclusions

The last day’s church will be powerful and glorious.

The result will be huge multitudes of people coming into the kingdom.

Joh 14:12  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

At the same time there will be great persecution. This persecution God allows to sort out the true believers from the pretenders.

How should we then live?

What are the requirements of the people in this last day’s church.

  1. Don’t be deceived, because deception will rise – SO Be filled with the Holy Spirit of truth and love truth.
  2. Don’t be afraid because calamities must occur. – SO walk in faith.
  3. Persecution will rise – SO Trust in God’s protection and His voice.
  4. Worldliness will rise – SO Stay pure and walk in righteousness.
  5.  Be ready because the Jesus is coming back at an hour when you do not expect Him. – SO stay close to Jesus, keep short accounts with God

 

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The Most Amazing Church on Earth #1

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , on July 1, 2012| 3 Comments »

The most amazing church on earth # 1 Message @ PVCOCImage 1-7-12

This series called the most amazing church on earth is to introduce you to God’s ideas of the church in His heart, the church that He had in mind since the beginning of time, the church that He inhabits to change the world and bring about His awesome plan.

Message 1 will be about the church in the book of acts

Message two is about the church in history and how God shaped it.

Message 3 is about the last days church and how it will ushering in the second coming of Jesus.

THIS IS TEACHING FOLKS, – TO EMPOWER YOU WITH TRUTH SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE.

The word church means:

GK1577 {ekklēsía} \ek-klay-see’-ah\a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):–assembly, church. THE CALLED OUT ONES!

The word is used in the new testament to refer to the people of God in the old testament:

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:37, 38 KJV)

These are a people called out. A people who heard God’s voice and responded. Just the same for those who in Egypt heard the voice of God through Moses and heeded the call to place the blood of a lamb on the door posts of their house to be saved from the angel of death. And now this new testament era the called out ones are those who have heard the call of God through the mouth of the preachers of the gospel to come out of the world and obey God by placing the blood of Jesus on their hearts.

THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS BEGAN

Jesus prophesied about this church as one that would be invincible:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 ESV)

Jesus’ idea of church was a powerhouse of spiritual strength that would overcome all odds. He saw a church that would fill the earth, that would overcome demonic opposition, that would reach every nation, that would overcome every obstacle placed in its path.

Can you picture such a Church?

The people of God at the time of Jesus arrival in Israel were longing for a redeemer, they were longing for a savior. The long awaited and long promised messiah had finally come.

The Jews for centuries had longed for the coming king, the one they called messiach, the messiah. How their hearts ached for him to come. He was to come and rule over their enemies, conquering them and bring great victory to Israel. With Rome as the cruel oppressor this season was especially painful. Men would go to the wailing wall, a place where once the temple mount was the place of the temple of Solomon in the time of Israel’s greatest victory, her glory days. At this wailing wall they cried out to God for a messiah to come. Today they still go there and pray the same prayer.

For many of the Jews in Jesus day, they rejected Jesus as the messiah, but for those who accepted his claim to be the great I AM – there was intense joy, of a measure that could never be accurately described by any gentile person.

Into this scene came:

The 500 – who witnessed Jesus ascend up into heaven 40 days after his resurrection (1 Cor 15:6)

The 120 – who waited in the upper room for the Holy Spirit to fall on them to give them power in a spiritual sense. (Acts 1:15)

The 11 – who were his faithful disciples, who had lived on earth with him for three and half years. (Acts 1:13)

Marks of the first church

  1. There was explosive power. On the first day, the day of Pentecost ere was over 3000 saved and baptized in water.(Acts 2:41) In the first week there was 20,000 saved and committing to follow. (Acts 4:4 tells of 5000 men)Jesus Christ and become part of this new movement of believers called the people of the way, later to be called Christians. (Acts 11:26)
  2. There was very powerful miracles of every kind. Healings that were spectacular leading to the whole city knowing what happened. (Acts 4:16) Healings that resulted from just Peter’s shadow passing over them. (Acts 5:15) Healings resulting from a person coming into contact with a handkerchief that had touched one of the apostles. (Acts 19:12) Dead raised. (Acts 9:40)
  3. Works of judgement that produced fear in the people. One couple who lied to the apostles about their offering dropped dead when they were confronted with the truth that they had actually lied to the holy spirit. (Acts 5:5) Sorcerer who opposed the gospel was struck blind in a instant at the instruction of the apostle Paul. (Acts 13:11) A king who rejected the gospel and rose up in pride was suddenly filled with worms and died! (Acts 12:23)
  4. Strong persecution arose. The Jewish ruling council immediately opposed this new and fledgling movement, threatening the apostles and commanding them to stop preaching about Jesus, (Acts 4:21) had little effect as the apostles as they prayed to God for boldness. (Acts 4:29) The first martyr was Steven, who was stoned as Saul who later became the apostle Paul looked on. (Acts 7:58-59) Saul was responsible before his conversion for the death and imprisonment of many Christian believers. Paul himself ended up in prison for the last few years of his life for the preaching of the gospel. (Acts 28:20) Of the 11 apostles 8 of them were martyred for heir faith in places as far afield as turkey, India and Ethiopia.
  5. Whole cities were impacted by the life changing power of the gospel. By the end of the book of acts it is recorded that the apostles had filled the whole world with their message. This all took place over a matter of only 30 years. (Acts 17:6)

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