Sermons and bible study

Understanding the Vision of God

Mathew 28 vs 18-20
18”All authority has been given to mi heaven and on earth 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and I am with you always even to the end of age”

Title

We believe that God has given us a vision which is summarized in Jesus’ great commission.  The command to go into all the world and make disciples is not meant for an exclusive group of believers but is a call to all Christians
For each Christian to endeavour to see it and realise it throughout their life. Gods vision is to change the world using the church because as Ephesians 3 vs 10-11 leaves us in no doubt as to Gods plan in order that the manifold wisdom of God might  now be made known through the church rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places 11This was in accordance with the sterna purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The church is nothing less than the eternal plan of God.  God’s intention before time began was to reveal His manifold wisdom to the world through the church
There is no other way to reach the world apart from building biblical churches that wil stand strong in obedience to God through all circumstances and be a positive influence in a decaying society.

Then only way to evangelise to the world effectively is to saturate it with people who live in accordance with Gods will and understand fully what God desires so that His glory will be revealed in His church.  Therefore we want to build the kind of churches Jesus expects.  This means churches established on the totality of the Bible that reflects everything in the bible in a balanced way and run totally in accordance with scriptural principles. 

Gods vision and our vision is to nurture people to maturity to bring them into the fullness of their potential in Christ Jesus both in their character and in their service within the local church.  With His help, we want to ensure that His church is perfect not only in knowledge and doctrine but also in the way it willingly and quickly follows His will. Because Christ has given us this command and because He has equipped us to complete it.  Acts 1:8 “but you shall receive power when the Holy spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses both  in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth”

Our efforts are thus focused on first reaching our nation and eventually the entire  world.  We want to bring the good news to every person who has not heard of the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Characteristics of God’s Church

Church of vision

Paul was loyal to the vision God gave him .  Acts 26:19 “ so then King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven” In the beginning of the church the disciples were propelled  by a vision to fulfil the great commission wherever they went.
The vision is te central motivation behind everything we do.  Over a period of a year God gave me a vision He said I was to “Bring the backsliders back to God, at end of a year God told me, I will give you the nations.  I started and International church for God from nothing and I could not speak English, no foreign person ever came to my church. 
As God said it, it all happened.  The first day that I stared the International Church with my minimal English, I saw foreign people coming to the service.  Then when I could no longer go forward on my own God sent faithful people to me Sister Gigi, Sister Baby, Pastor Malcolm, Sister Yvonne all of you were led here and I still have Hope that one day we will have many foreigners worshiping God together.  All we need to do is keep believing and do our best God is still working on us.  God will enable us to see His plans to completion. 
Habakkuk 2:2  “Then the Lord replied Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it “

Church teaching

Teaching the word of God is important because it enables Christians to mature in  the Lord The bible records how Barnabas and Paul; spent a year teaching the believers in Antioch Paul taught in Ephesus for two years so that the believers could mature in Christ and be built up for the effective service.

Churches of Prayer and worship

Prayer and worship is service to the Lord and brings us into a closer relationship with.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing
John 4:23
But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and truth for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.  God created man to worship Him in every aspect of our lives on earth and also throughout eternity

Churches of discipleship and training

Mathew 9: 37 – 38
Then He said to His disciples the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to send out workers into his harvest field. 
God wants us to aim to make disciples and prepare leaders who walk closely with the Lord and who display the fruits of the spirit as well as the character qualities of dedication an sacrificial giving.

Ephesians 4 11- 12
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be apostles some to be prophets some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare Gods people for works of service so that he body of Christ may be built up.

This is why we want all members to be trained and developed by leaders of each church.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Churches of Love and Fellowship

God desires that His believers express their love for one another in the same way brothers and sisters in a family would.  Expressions of help, concern, sharing and fellowship are outgrowths of the family atmosphere in churches.  When our church has grow in numbers we want our members to have sincere love and commitment towards each other according to God’s will.  Therefore we encourage every member to join a care group a small group where people can fellowship closely and take care of each other.  In these groups people can learn about one another pray for each other and help one another following the pattern of the Christians in the bible.

Acts 2 vs 42 – 46
We believe that God will help us to develop unconditional love, faithfulness and loyalty among our members  to the point that other people will confidently acknowledge that the love of Jesus is in our midst.

Churches full of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit gives every kind of spiritual gift mentioned in the bible and the changes in our character to be more like Christ.  So t is necessary for every believer to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit in order to expand His Kingdom effectively. 

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.  The work of God is the whole world Mathew 28 19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations we cannot work and serve Him without the power of the Holy Spirit.  That’s why the disciples in the first church waited for the Holy Spirit then they moved to serve God.

Churches of Evangelism and missions

Let us expand Gods kingdom through the sharing of the gospel.  Leading people to salvation and training them to be disciples of Jesus through building and planting biblical churches.  Together with others in the body of Christ.  We seek to fulfil the great commission.  For our part we have the vision to plant a strong and healthy church.  Jesus has promised to build His church Matthew 16:18
“And I also say to you that you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it”  Therefore we can be encouraged and assured of successes we continue to reach out to people and draw them into Gods Kingdom.