Jesus Continues to Build His Church
“Jesus Continues To Build His Church”
“All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”.
( Acts 9:35).
Its all about Jesus. It’s not about us. *Jesus is the One who saves.
*Jesus is the One who heals.
*Jesus is the One who restores us.
*Jesus is the One who does miracles in our midst.
*Jesus is the One who continues to build HIS church(Body of Believers).
The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but all are called to the work of spreading the gospel. This is not a suggestion; it is a command (Matthew 28:19). Believers living in God’s will are ALL to be involved in missionary work.
*God can get to you anytime anywhere
*Make up your mind who you are.
*You don’t Discover who you are, you Decide who you are.
***You can’t move into Destiny until you connect with Divinity.
In the last part of Acts chapter 9 we see two miracles: the healing of a man who had been bedridden for eight years who was paralyzed, and the resurrection of the woman Dorcas after being pronounced dead.
While the Apostle Peter is present at both of these miraculous events, he can not and does not take the credit for any of the work that was done to these two people.
In regards to the healing of the paralytic Peter tells him:
“And Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.’ And immediately he rose.” (Acts 9:34 )
Peter knew without a shadow of a doubt that he did NOT heal that man. Jesus did. ***It was JESUS’ power working through the words of Peter.
*** We know that it was Jesus because after this event verse 35 tells us that all the residents of Lydda “…turned to the LORD” (verse 35).
***They did NOT turn to Peter, or start to give their lives to the Apostles, they turned to JESUS and gave their lives to Him.
I do believe that God is still in the business of healing the sick and delivering the spiritually oppressed. For not only was this a large part of the ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, but this was also part of the ministry of the early church, as well.
Can an entire city be transformed for Jesus Christ?
The book of Acts(Acts 9:35) reveals that at least one city was.
I believe there are four key ingredients required among its Christian’s to see a city transformed.
These include Prayer, Humility, Unity, and Knowledge of God’s ways(His Word).
1. Prayer: In every city in which transformation has taken place, believers have come together to pray for their city.
* Prayer changes the spiritual climate of a city.
2. Humility: God uses men and women who recognize that they NEED each other and who do NOT seek glory for their work!!!!
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Ps. 25:9). I believe the leaders that God is using today care little about being in the limelight.
** Our motive should be out of Love and Obedience to Glorify JESUS!
3. Unity: Jesus said, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, BUT our independence, pride, selfishness and egos often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ.
4. Knowledge of God’s Ways:
Sometimes leaders can move in presumption instead of in a Faith that is rooted in knowledge of God’s ways.
Colossians 2:3- Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Hosea 4:6- my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests;
Romans 11:33 -Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
Do you want to see your City-your relationships -your Church-your work place-your Business transformed?
Make sure the Four ingredients of prayer, unity, humility and knowledge of God’s ways exist in your heart as well as the entire leadership team.
Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
*If you do what God says, you reap the promises of God, as well as begin a life of living for HIm.
*Live for God means listening to Him. Do what God says regardless of how you feel because it is not about you, but His faithfulness.
God’s Love helps us ALL endure, perservere, and hang on through ALL our trials, pain and suffering. HOPE in God’s Love is what will give us the FAITH to look beyond the current challenges and problems.
Psalm 31:7- I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
*We must “hear” the Word of GOD to “do it”. It is not a historical book of reference. I must hear what HE is saying to me through the Word.
When the Word of GOD becomes ALIVE to you, it becomes sacred.
(LUKE 5:4-6; MATTHEW 21:28-31a)
There are some people trying to get connected to the Word, but have so many distractions in the way. God will remove those distractions when YOU are ready for GOD to make a way.
*The Word of God is a need & necessity to guide US through our life.
*Don’t allow your experience to limit your exposure.
God, open our hearts and prepare them to believe, to have faith, to see with our hearts what our eyes don’t see and to turn to You at ONCE Lord.
Lord, help me pray bold prayers, not just as words to try to manipulate you into answering, but as your Holy Spirit leads so that lost people would turn to You as a result. Dear Jesus, thank you that you love me. Thank you for this day that you have given us. Let me live my life this day for you, and only for you. Let me trust you with all that I have and all that I am. Let it all be yours. Let me decrease, so that YOU can increase.
Lord help us to get more involved in our communities. Help me continue to grow in these key ingredients of Prayer, Humility, Unity, and Knowledge of YOUR PERFECT ways found in Your WORD! Open my heart, mind and soul to LISTEN to You as YOU- JESUS- BUILD YOUR CHURCH for YOUR Glory and our joy!
In Jesus name. Amen