A Life of Faith - Lessons from the life of Abel

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on Sept 4th 2022  by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the Worship please click here.

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."”

Luke 10:17-20 ESV

  This is what Jesus is saying- we can rejoice if our names are written in heaven! It’s not because of anything we do but all because of grace. There is another record of names written in the Bible in Hebrews 11- the heroes of faith.

We can’t live without faith because the Bible says the righteous will live by faith.

Chapter Hebrews 11: 1- 40

 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Hebrews 11:4-7 ESV

 

It goes on to list all these people. Yes, our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. But wouldn’t you like to have your name on this list of faith? These people not only had faith but they walked it out. We are not saved by our works but the Hebrews 11 list is of people who did something!

 There are many characters in Hebrews 11. These things were written for us as an example. So today we will cover 1 person- Abel. Thousands of years after he died we are still talking about him. Salvation is by faith alone but 5e faith that saves is never alone.

 James 2: 14 ““What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”

James 2:14 ESV

James is saying genuine faith is always accompanied by works.

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”

James 2:15-16 ESV

 Our walk needs to display the faith that we believe in.

 “And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it."”

Genesis 4:2-7 ESV

 We know the mighty deeds of Joshua, David, Moses etc, but what did Abel do to deserve making it to this list? Abel gave an offering. He brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock. He was commended by God while Cain was cursed.

 The worship of faith:

 Throughout the OT and the NT, the greatest indicator of where your heart is, is where your treasure is. In Matthew 6: 21 Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your treasure is also. So the offering of Abel and Cain was a very important thing. Unbelievers bring offerings to their gods and we bring offerings to God. What makes the offering acceptable?

 

1. First fruits - Cain brought some fruit of the crop that he was tending, while Abel brought the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock. It speaks of Abel’s heart because he brought the best and the first from what he had. For us today, giving our first fruits means we bring him an offering that is first and best! What did God say about Abel’s offering? He calls it an excellent offering. Abel gave the first fruits and not the leftovers. This needs faith and trust in God. Everything we have belongs to God.
2. Generosity - Abel gave the fat portions. That indicates his generosity. It’s not just about the 10%, it’s about our generosity. The Pharisees were like this, tithing mint and cumin and dill and ignoring the bigger details of the law like love and generosity. It expresses the love of God! Eating together is a sign of generosity because we give of ourselves. Hospitality is not a suggestion, it’s a command. Romans 12:13 “practice hospitality” 1 Peter 4:9 “ offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”. We are growing as a church. So would you open your homes to people? Hospitality means loving strangers, and people you do not know. When people are unwell, it is another opportunity to be generous.

 

The result of this is that you will be commended by God. God is looking for men and women who walk the way Abel walked. Will you be one of them?

 

 

Advancing the Kingdom on our knees

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on August 28th 2022  by Lasya. For the audio & video please click here.  

Advancing the kingdom on our knees

2 Timothy 2:2 “ what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

So today I’m here to talk to us about a message that we have been entrusted with as a leadership team at the RB Leadership conference so that we all can walk it out together.

Last Sunday, Navaz shared with us about the Kingdom of God and how kingdom advance cannot happen with just one of two playing their roles. We need the whole body activated and engaged.

WAR

Consider the times we are in. We are in a new era. That means new doors opening, new wine, new cloth, and there is a drastic shift in the spiritual atmosphere. We have also experienced a new level of hostility against Christians. We can’t have a peacetime mentality. 

2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

During the pandemic, we thought we were living in peacetime. Each one of you is a chosen soldier dropped behind enemy lines, placed in this evil world to shine the light of Jesus. Jesus expects his church to be at war. 

Matt 16: 18 “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.”

Yes, Jesus will build his church but the context of that statement is war. There is a battle going on.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”  

So we know we are in a war but we need to learn and be trained in the weapons of our warfare so we don’t injure the wrong persons.

Mike spoke about 3 things that are essential as we engage in this battle and that is humility, authority and power. It’s the work of Jesus Christ in us, over us and through us. And since the kingdom of God is so upside down, I entitled this message, advancing the kingdom on our knees.

HUMILITY

The most powerful leaders are the humblest leaders like Jesus.

Eph 4: 1 “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Every time the Bible urges us to follow the example of Christ, it is in the context of humility.

John 13: 14-15 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

1 Peter 2:19-21 “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Philippians 2:3-5 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Character always trumps gifting. God wants us to be more like Jesus. Saul was physically and spiritually gifted. When Samuel confronted him, instead of being concerned with what God thinks, he was concerned with what people think. Then God tells Samuel, that people look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. David was also naturally gifted and supernaturally gifted. But he also had character flaws. When he was confronted by Nathan, his reaction was so different from Saul’s reaction. He fasts and mourns for his sin. He repented before God. It’s not a problem that we mess up and make mistakes because we will. But how do we respond to God after we make a mistake? Do we submit to God, do we come before him and let him teach us? How can we grow in humility?

1. Be clear about our identity in Christ. We have to be secure about who we are. We are chosen sons and daughters of God. When our security is in people we will live in pride.
2. Humility doesn’t mean we don’t lead. Not stepping into what God has given you can be pride. Stepping out in faith is humility. We have to be careful that we don’t fall into false humility.
3. Use difficulty- our pride often comes up when we are in difficult situations. When things are hard, we find our pride can easily rise to the surface. We need to use difficulty to grow. Instead of saying get me out of here, ask what are you teaching me in this situation?
4. Develop an attitude of thankfulness. When we are thankful our pride is reduced. We need to express our thankfulness to God and to one another.
5. Function in the gifting you have regardless of the role you’re in. You can lead all the time in every situation. That will help us to not rely on a position. So we will not be puffed up when you do get a position.
6. Accept praise graciously and authentically.
7. Stay open and transparent with God. Ask him to search our hearts. If we stay in intimacy with God, we will remain humble. Let intimacy be the measure of your success.
8. Pray and ask for the fruit of the spirit. All the fruit has to do with our character. We can ask God to give us that fruit.

AUTHORITY

There is an important part of stepping out in God's power and that is to understand authority. Firstly, Jesus has authority. Matthew 7:28- 29 “ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

Matthew 8: 8-10 “But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marvelled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel  have I found such faith.”

If our lives are truly submitted to god, then our lives should only make sense because of God. Our lives must be fully submitted to God. Then we are submitted to those around us. There is a right submission to each other that is not controlling or manipulating but released. We’re accountable to one another.  

Craig Groeschel “The greatest leaders don’t delegate tasks but they delegate authority.”

Matthew 10:1 “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

How do we respond to authority?

1. We submit

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Ephesians 5: 21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” 

2. We use the authority:

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

POWER

The church is called to be a people of power. John Wimber’s experience of the church. We don’t just want to talk about the things of God, we need to walk in step with the spirit. We can still have plans but the plans also must be in step with the spirit.

Jesus’ entire ministry was about declaring the kingdom has come. He preached it and he demonstrated it. Today we need to do this by the holy spirit's power. 

Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 

Some of these battles can be subtle and undercover. But more and more we need to see the demonstration of God's power. We need a visible and practical demonstration that Jesus is more powerful than the idols that are worshipped.

The power we have as Christ’s church:

1. Power to love. The love of God brings breakthroughs.
2. The power to hope: Romans 15:30 - may the God of hope fill you with all joy … church should be overflowing with hope and joy because of the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural and attractive.
3. The power to sacrifice: Paul tells us that God's power is made perfect in weakness. The holy spirit takes that and turns it into an incredible strength. When we are weak then we are strong.
4. The power to endure
5. The power to perform miracles, signs and wonders.
6. The power to grow in spiritual gifts.
7. The power to make known God's manifold wisdom
8. The power for unity. The Holy Spirit binds us together.
9. The power and authority to preach the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20. 1 Thessalonians - gospel coming not just with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
10. The power and authority to dispel the demonic. The demonic is no match for God's power.
11. Power in prayer to change situations: as we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, things change.

Yes, we are in a war but Jesus is the prince of peace. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

Book Release - Know Grow Show - Discovering your intimacy, identity and destiny in Jesus through John 15

 

We are excited to announce our first book release.

It gives us great joy to announce the release of Navaz DCruz’s first book titled “Know Grow Show”, a devotional based on John 15.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4

Change of cosmic proportions was standing on the cusp of history. Jesus knew that what He said in these last hours would be critical to the survival of His ragtag crew. It was crucial for them to understand their identity, destiny, and the way they could get there was by staying in intimate connection with Him.

John 15 is a part of the last conversation Jesus has with His disciples. It is one of the most challenging passages of scripture that takes us into the heart of what  He wants for each of us. Jesus wants us to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him. It is only from that place that we can love others as Jesus does and go on to produce lasting fruit.

This book is about discovering your intimacy, identity, and destiny in Jesus through John 15. 
We cannot produce lasting fruit without abiding in Jesus. We all produce fruit in our lives, by design or default. To produce fruit that will last into eternity takes intentionality. It comes from a delightful abiding in Jesus' presence that transforms us from the inside out. 

Two things are required of us as Christ followers: to love God and love people. Neither can truly happen without the other. This devotional helps us to journey into our own hearts and into the heart of God.

To order a copy of the book click here 📘

To order on Amazon or Kindle click here 

Possessing Promises and Taking Steps of Faith

This message was preached by Nigel P, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 POSSESSING PROMISES AND TAKING STEPS OF FAITH

We have heard a lot about the New Era and getting into big boats. The church cannot be like before – it needs an adjustment. The Kingdom of God will move forward based on the steps we take.

Jesus also introduced a New Era where the Kingdom of God was taken from the Jews and given to the church which will produce fruit.

The disciples would possess the Abrahamic promise. Jesus gave them the mandate to go and make disciples and raise the dead. And He gave them a promise that He will be with them.

In the book of Acts, 3000 get saved and then daily people are added to them.

In this New Era, it is about possessing the promises and we must believe that today.

 

However, there is one key thing – it cannot be done with our faith. The Promises are way beyond where we are.

 

FAITH – HEB 11

The book of Hebrews urges Christians to grow in maturity. The book was written in AD65 – it was a different picture now. Christianity had fallen to something less – less than possessing the promises.

The writer speaks that Jesus is better and superior to anything in the Old Testament. And yet the writer refers to the Old Testament people to stir faith in the New Testament – to show how some of them possessed things by faith.

 

Heb 11:1 When people in the Old Testament could do this how much more we. Noah – God spoke to him about a judgement coming. It took many years to build the Ark but he believed what God said would bring salvation. In the same way, we build the church because we know that it is the doorway to salvation. Noah took risks.

Abraham was told to go, and he went and in that decision was the making of a people. He never possessed it but he lived like he did!

When God calls, we possess something and some things we don’t in our lifetime. Because they believed they took risks, and the Kingdom of God was advanced by those steps. We rejoice about our names being written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But also rejoice about your name being among the heroes of faith. Hebrews 11 is the normal Christian life. We will see fruit if we take steps of faith.

 

REHAB has an incredible story. Heb 11:31 ( Josh6) In the story of Jericho is Rehab a prostitute. The two spies go to Rehab’s house and she says to them  “ I know God is with you and that God has given you this land. The king comes to know about these spies and Rehab takes steps of faith at great cost and hides the spies.

Israel crosses the Jordan in flood. They walk around the walls for 7 days and the walls come down and Rehab’s family is saved.

What can we learn from this as leaders? Here was an unbeliever who believed! Those who crossed the Red Sea did not believe it!! And here is Rehab who heard about the parting of the Red Sea 40 years ago and believe. What faith!!

1.    Her faith includes a consciousness of God. I know that the Lord has given you the land. We heard about the Red Sea and how you defeated two Kings. She recounts the details. Your God is the God of heaven and of what is happening on Earth. People may persecute us but I see a God who uses people and circumstances. God is calling us to change the nation. Can we be aware and conscious of God?

It’s important therefore to practice the presence of God we can talk to God. The New Era must be characterized by intimacy with God – there must be a coming to God and having God encounters. It means prayer takes on a whole new meaning in your church. We need to bring intercession to the front.

2.    Consciousness that God related to the world in a particular way. His commands are good for mankind and it requires obedience. Her faith had a consciousness that it required something. Disobedience has to be dealt with. Rehab was conscious that Jericho was going to be judged. As leaders and churches, we must walk in obedience to God. So many churches do not talk about sin anymore. In our daily prayer, we pray “forgive our sins”.

3.    She was conscious of the Grace of God. She was not killed along with the disobedient. She knew that there is a God who forgives her- mercy triumphs over judgement. She knew that repentance would lead her to be saved. As Christians when we sin, we must be strong in knowing the grace of God. So many live in the trap of shame. We do not have to undo it. God will give us a clean slate. Grace gives us a new beginning.

4.    She was conscious that she believed but she also had to take steps of faith. Heb 11:1 “…must believe that he exists and reward those who earnestly seek Him”

God is a giver of rewards. God has a plan, and we need to partner with it. Believing in Jesus is engaging with His plan, and I must believe. Her faith believed in the impossible and she finally became a part of Israel, and she is in Jesus’ lineage! WOW!!

Put faith goals on your church/House groups Pray for the sick. How does mission fit into your house groups?

Come and See.

 

This message was preached by Steve O via zoom, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

Come and see! 

These are days when you want to respond to what God is saying in His Word. In the New Era, those who will listen to God and will adjust to fit into His purposes will see the great blessing, real fruitfulness and worldwide impact. My concern is that too few are radical enough to change in obedience to God.

 

John 1:43 - 51

 Let’s understand what type of churches God wants us to build in this new era. Churches that put Jesus fully on display. When you read the early passages of the gospels, you can see that it was a new era for mankind. With the coming of Jesus, even time was divided into B.C and A.D.

The gospel of mark starts with quoting Malachi 3 pointing to what Scripture foretold about the birth of a New Era. It is in the context of this new era that Philip encounters Jesus face to face. Jesus looks him in the eyes and says follow me! Philip is overwhelmed by this experience. When he finds his friend Nathaniel, he is so excited! Nathaniel responds the way the world responds to us sometimes cynical, questioning – what good can come out of Nazareth?

 But Philip is not put off. Instead, he says come and see! This excitement and uniqueness of what Philip was sharing, it worked because Nathaniel goes to Jesus and as he encounters Jesus for himself, Jesus reveals his inner thoughts. He is totally undone before Jesus and his inner seeking is fully satisfied as Jesus unlocks him.

 

The Pandemic changed all our lives. The pandemic was a time that revealed some deep weaknesses in the way we did things. So many churches are depleted after the Pandemic. The Pandemic removed a lot of things we relied on i.e programmes, lack of relying on the Holy Spirit. It became a time of reset for all. God always renews his church and culture through a remnant with red hot faith. It is our responsibility to discover that faith and get back to what really matters in this new era. When Philip called Nathaniel and others, they were immediately caught up in the new era in Jesus.

 I want our churches to be like Philip. We have discovered something so beautiful and meaningful that no what who we meet, we can tell them “come and see- we have found the source of life”!

What type of church do we need in a new era that we can tell people to come and see:

 

4 DISTINCTIVES TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

 

1. Church in the New Era is a Family - an activated body: when unbelievers walk through our doors, the first thing I want them to experience is family. It’s not a community or congregation, it is the family that I want. We all have families. If you came to my family, you’ll find that everyone plays their part. As a family, we carry the household. For too long church has been pastor and audience where the pastor does everything. If you are a leader/pastor, your church is not your audience – they need to be your family. So we need to know what everyone’s gifts and passions are. We need to interchange and share the tasks that make the church a family. In our families we have fun. Fathers should serve the children and the children should honour the elders. It needs to be a family full of grace where we are free to make mistakes and be lovingly restored and where we forgive each other all the time. It needs to be a household full of hugs and holy kisses – security and celebration.

 

2. A family of the word and spirit: what makes us different from a club is our supernatural relation with a living God. When people come in they need to see that we are a people who know the living God.

There was a move to build seeker-friendly churches. The Father, Son and holy spirit are the most seeker-friendly union you can find. We need to put that on display. How?

Speak confidently and openly about our relationship with God. We can speak about him like he is in the room because he is! Sometimes we speak of God as though he is not around.

We need to put the supernatural on display in our worship and sing in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:22 says tongues are for the unbelievers. Praying for healing, praying for needs, it all puts God on display. Being still and having time to listen to the spirit. A community that breathes hope: because we are a community of the word.  Pray for the sick and for needs – it puts God on display and also allows the Spirit to do His seeker-friendly thing.

3. A kingdom people - church on Sunday to Saturday. We put so much focus on Sunday mornings but Sunday morning is not enough. We must take the church onto the streets. We must bring transformation to our communities. The world has many questions. You and I have the answers. For this, we need to grow to see every person empowered to be God’s healing community in their family, school, workplace, sports club etc. Don’t start projects, release gifts.
4. A family full of faith: Hebrews11:6 God wants us to live by faith. If we want to see the world overwhelmed that they know Jesus is alive, then we need active faith that works in our midst. 3 practical steps:
1. Prayer - when we pray we are saying, Jesus is alive, he listens to us and he answers us. They need to see us praying big bold prayers. Prayers that bring change to our community
2. Generosity- that’s how we share what we are and have with others. Let’s show the world where our provision comes from.
3. Faith goals- share your vision, and have goals by faith. Ask God what you can do. Faith puts Jesus on display.

As we see the New Era coming, we want to be a family. By your love, they will know that you are my disciples.

If we will adjust, there is a great grace that follows. Mark's gospel gets straight into the work of Jesus. No genealogies or anything. So, we get a view of this massive change that has taken place. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment. The old and the new can’t fit together for the purposes of God.

 If we are to fulfil God's call there are some aspects of the old that we need to let go of. Are you being radical in your church community? What are you doing differently now that you weren’t doing pre- pandemic? Are you trying to sew on a new cloth into the old era? 

The Gift of Encouragement.

 

This message was preached by Benny T, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

2020 was considered the perfect normal vision in optometry for the longest time. I want to encourage you to have a 2020 vision to advance forward.

 

Acts 20

 Till acts 19, 8 cities where Jews have stirred troubled and persecuted Paul. In 2 cities, the gentiles stirred trouble for him. He is the subject of ridicule, and beatings, and even splits with his friend Barnabas. Every statistic has a story.

AD33-36 – Paul’s conversion

AD 55-57 is when Acts 19 is happening. We are looking at 15-20 years of Paul’s life in Acts 20.

Twice Paul called the believers and encouraged them, and he went to all the towns and encouraged them. If there is one ministry the body of Christ should have it is encouragement.

 

We live encouraging others regardless of what we are going to. It is the oxygen that helps us.  Encouragement is the currency of the church. Jesus encouraged his disciples even in the last few days before the cross by telling them that He will give them peace.

 Paul encouraged people in the following

●     Public profession of faith

●     He encouraged the Corinthian church for functioning in all 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.  

●     He encouraged them for their partnership in the gospel, steadfastness

●      

If you want quality people, use the currency of encouragement. This is a beautiful gift.

We have made an idol of the prophetic ministry.The prophetic is one another ministry, not a one to others ministry. Paul is a good case study of how-to encourage. With Timothy, he reminded him of his lineage, his learning etc. Find out the family history of people and you will find something to encourage and God an redeem something in their history for the generations to come.

Encouragement promotes awareness – it lets people know what you are thinking.

Encouragement builds confidence. And confidence is key factor for every servant of God!

Encouragement improves your attitude – you never feel worse after an encouragement.

 

 

Some of us say I don’t know how to encourage. We’re going to learn.

Extraordinary accidents are opportunities for extraordinary miracles.

 

 

 

War, Power and Authority

 

This message was preached by Mike, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 War, power and authority 

 

Add another goal - send people to another nation to bless the nations.

 

Yesterday I spoke about being leaders who are humble and servant-hearted. But today I want to speak about us being leaders who are full of power! The church is called to be a people of power.

 John Wimber’s experience of the church. Re-reading John Wimber’s “Power  Evangelism” I realize that there is so much to re-learn. We can talk about battle, teach about it but never do it Is that our churches now? We don’t just want to talk about the things of God. We want to be the army that advances the gospel. We need to walk in step with the spirit. We can still have plans, but the plans also must be in step with the spirit. As leaders, we need to be people who know God’s power and authority.

.  Ephesians 3:10-21   These are amazing verses.  “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:11-21 ESV

 What are these Glorious Riches Paul talks about? It is unimaginable what these glorious riches are. But he prays for us that we may be filled with these riches by power. Nothing is beyond his reach. And he gives us power by his Holy Spirit. All power belongs to God. Psalm 62:11 – God rules and runs everything. Nothing is beyond His reach. We should be a people that proclaim His kingdom come. The Greek word for Kingdom is Baselia – kingship or royal rule.

 Jesus’ entire ministry was about declaring the kingdom has come. He preached that the kingdom has come and He preached repentance. He demonstrated kingdom rule. Today we need to do this by the Holy Spirits' power.

 

We fight on 3 fronts

 Internally against the flesh- temptation and sin

1. Against the world - we need to overcome the world's patterns of thinking.
2. Against Satan and his demons - satan comes to kill steal and destroy. John 10:10 We must not mistake his intentions.

 

Some of these battles can be subtle and undercover. But more and more we need to see the demonstration of God's power. We need a visible and practical demonstration that Jesus is more powerful than the worshipped idols.

 

There is an important part of stepping out in God's power is understanding authority. If our lives are truly submitted to God, then our lives should only make sense because of God- otherwise, we are no different from the world. Our lives must be fully submitted to God. Then we are submitted to those around us. There is a right to submission to each other that is not controlling or manipulating, but releases people. We’re accountable to one another.

Matt5:8-9 The Centurion understood power and authority. We do not want to be lone leaders but be under authority. If our lives are truly submitted to god then our lives are defined by God.

And we are submitted to those in our church. There is a right to submission to one another that is not controlling or manipulating- in this we will know God’s power. We need to be accountable to each other.

 

 The power we have Christ’s church:

1. Power to love. Eph3. The agape love is what we need to have for each other. The love of God brings breakthroughs. So we do works among the poor to show God’s love and allow His power to flow through us.
2. The power to hope: Romans 15:13 - may the God of hope fill you with all joy … church should be overflowing with hope and joy because of the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural and attractive.
3. The power to sacrifice: Paul tells us that God's power is made perfect in weakness. The holy spirit takes that and turns it into an incredible strength. When we are weak then we are strong.
4. The power to endure great difficulties
5. The power to perform miracles signs and wonders.
6. The power to grow in spiritual gifts. Allow the gifts to flow in your church – not just on Sundays but whenever you meet. Tongues are often overlooked.
7. The power to make known God's manifold wisdom
8. The power for unity. The Holy Spirit binds us together. The Holy Spirit does not just help us to agree with each other but binds us together. The unity that the Holy Spirit brings is so much bigger.
9. The power and authority to preach the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20. 1 Thessalonians - gospel coming not just with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
10. The power and authority to dispel the demonic. The demonic is no match for God's power.
11. Power in prayer to change situations: as we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, things change.