Transcript Thy Kingdom come…

Expanding
the Kingdom
of God
Eastern Camp 2005
What’s your vision of God’s
Kingdom?
(Mat 6:10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven.
Is it a community of believers?
or
Is it a ministry to a dying world?
The Vision of the Kingdom
Community
• The Bible speaks of a wonderful sense of
commitment and belonging
– (Acts 2:44-46) And all that believed were together, and
had all things common; {45} And sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man
had need. {46} And they, continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house
to house, did eat their meat with gladness and
singleness of heart,
The Vision of the Kingdom
Community - positives
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Sense of belonging
Sharing
Accountability
Transparency
Support
Love
Prayer
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Relationship
Warmth
Fellowship
Hospitality
Not good for man to be
alone
• Bear each other’s
burdens
The Vision of Kingdom Ministry
• We are to be ‘Fishers of
Men’ (Mat 4:18)
• We are to bear fruit
(John 15:16)
• We are to go into all the
world – Great
Commission
• Motivated by a
compassion for the lost.
The Vision of the Kingdom
Ministry - positives
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Sense of purpose
Value
Impact
Direction
Meaningful
Expression of gratitude to God
Common goal
How do we determine what is the
correct vision for our church?
• Vote? (majority decides)
• Choose what’s popular
among other churches?
• Pragmatic – what will
most likely work?
• Look to the past or our
heritage?
We need GOD’S vision!
• (Prov 29:18 KJV) Where there is no vision, the
people perish [are left exposed]: but he that
keepeth the law, happy is he.
• Without vision from God, people are abandoned
to their own vision.
• Vision provides two blessings:
Security & Direction
What is God’s Vision for us?
• (Eph 4:13-16) Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ: {14} That we henceforth be no more children,
… {15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ: {16} From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
Community
Ministry
For the edifying
of the body
Eph 4:12c
For the work
of the ministry
Eph 4:12b
Nutrition
Exercise
Mother
Father
Nurture
Direction
Church as the Body of Christ
Church is … Body of Christ
Biblical focus
Called to follow
Christ
Priority
Love for all
Security in
Christ
Value of member
What they draw out
of me
Reaction to
pressure
Depend on God
End result
Form Christ in us
But what is man’s vision?
• The heart of a man has his own vision: his
happiness and comfort. (i.e. feed the flesh)
• Which accommodations were sold out first?
• He is a USER. He views everything from the
perspective of what it does to him, takes away
from him, or gives to him.
• I know what I want, and I want it NOW!
Man’s Vision Determines His Actions
• (Eph 4:19 ) Who being past feeling have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.
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Buy on credit
Relationships – Her vision is the same as mine
Entertainment
Instant gratification
“Instant Christian, changed overnight …”
Cheap grace
Man’s Vision applied to God’s
Kingdom
• Man’s vision for himself is to be happy, feel
comfortable, and serve himself.
• If he only acts based on his vision, what
happens when Man's vision is applied to the
biblical principles of Community and ministry?
Double-Vision
• God’s Vision: To make us
like Christ.
• Man’s Vision: To be
happy and comfortable.
Conflicting visions!
Di-Vision (two visions)
Community
Ministry
For the edifying
of the body
Eph 4:12c
For the work
of the ministry
Eph 4:12b
Happy & Comfortable Community
Church is … Body of Christ
Community
Biblical focus
Called to follow
Christ
Called out
Priority
Love for all
Love for inside
Security in
Christ
Community
(like-minded)
Pride
Exclusivity
Value of member
What they draw out
of me
Agree with me
Reaction to
pressure
Depend on God
Split the church
End result
Form Christ in us
Splintered and
stagnant
Kingdom = Community
SELF-EVALUATION
• Do you feel Christ’s compassion towards the sin-sick
people in your life?
• Do you feel that the great commission is something that
your church needs to fulfill?
• Do you see your disagreeing brother as being used by
God to help you grow?
• Do you feel uncomfortable reaching out to people who
are not like you? Is it because:
• They think differently?
• They live differently?
• They will force us to change?
Community
Ministry
For the edifying
of the body
Eph 4:12c
For the work
of the ministry
Eph 4:12b
Happy & Comfortable Ministry
Church is … Body of Christ
Community
Ministry
Biblical focus
Called to follow
Christ
Called out
Called to
Priority
Love for all
Love for inside
Love for outside
Security in
Christ
(like-minded)
Community
Ministry (results)
Exclusivity
Showcasing talents
Pride
Value of member
What they draw out
of me
Agree with me
Talents
Reaction to
pressure
Depend on God
Split the church
Compromise
End result
Form Christ in us
Splintered and
stagnant
Shallow
Revolving door
Kingdom = Ministry
SELF-EVALUATION
• Do you measure a brother’s value by their talent,
accent, or intellectual ability?
• Do you feel that outreach should take priority over
edifying the church?
• Are you impatient with accountability, and God-given
authority?
• How do you understand God’s authority and plan for the
church in the Scripture?
Called out of Comfort to Maturity
• God calls us out of our Comfort Zones to things
that we think are uncomfortable and difficult if not
impossible.
• We learn obedience and dependence on God as
our true source in the process.
(Heb 5:8-9) Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered; {9}
And being made perfect [mature] …
Calling Out of Sons by Fathers
Mother
Father
Nurture
Direction
Homeland [in]security:
our ‘Kingdom of Comfort’
• By retreating from God’s Vision and our dependence
on Him, into our Kingdom of Comfort, we have taken
upon ourselves our own security (we’re defending our
own kingdom!).
• If we leave our comfort zone (and the limited security
of our own vision) at God’s calling, where do we get
our security from?
Homeland Security:
GOD’s Kingdom
• Our security comes from knowing that our King is in control of
EVERYTHING in his Kingdom.
– (Heb 12:28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which
cannot be moved [shaken], let us have grace, whereby we
may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
• When we depend upon God for what we cannot do, and submit
to Him for what we can, we find REST for our souls.
– (Mat 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light.
God has subjected
ALL CREATION to Jesus.
(Heb 2:5-8) For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the
world to come, whereof we speak. {6} But one in a certain place
testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the
son of man, that thou visitest him? {7} Thou madest him a little
lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour,
and didst set him over the works of thy hands: {8} Thou hast
put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in
subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.
But now we see not yet all things put under him.
• Satan, as a created being, is also subject to Christ.
VISION predetermines ACTION
• We never act outside of our vision. This is true for both
Man and God!
• Like the potter, God exercises our imperfections to
make us like Christ:
The Potter’s Vision
• He’s orchestrating EVERYTHING to make us like Christ:
(Eph 1:9-11) Having made known unto us the mystery of his
will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself: {10} That in the dispensation of the fullness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both
which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: {11}
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who
worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
•Cup Illustration
The Potter’s Tools: Adversity
• God shakes us to reveal that Christ has not been
completely formed in us.
• Exposes our heart of Unbelief – by removing
mercy and grace. This allows us to repent, so
that God’s Kingdom can expand to fill this area.
• When we are maleable ‘Clay’ we’re completely
dependant on his Vision to shape us.
In Conflict:
• Am I in di-vision with God?
• Is my vision for this my own happiness or to display the Lord
Jesus?
• Is God shaking out my self-vision through this individual or
situation?
• When I find myself in di-vision with someone, ask:
What is my vision? What is their vision? Do I have the right to
hold onto my vision?
• How is God using this di-vision to make us both like Christ?
• Am I loving? Am I trusting?
• How can I gently, lovingly correct someone’s vision which is in
conflict with mine?
• Can we come to the same vision?
• Where you have been in error, confess, apologize, and refocus.
The Potter’s Tools: The Church
• The kingdom of heaven is not all about you: God’s vision is actually
for Christ’s whole body to grow into the fullness of Christ. (Eph 4:13)
• The Church is God’s tool to bring out Christ in each other:
– (Eph 4:16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase
of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
• (Eph 3:10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
of God,
• In this way INFINITE God is revealed in FINITE Creation!
God’s VISION for us IN ACTION:
Expanding His Kingdom
• (Rom 8:28-30) And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate [Vision predetermines Action] to be
conformed to the image of his Son [God’s Vision for us], that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren [The Church].
God’s Kingdom EXPANDS to the extent that
CHRIST IS FORMED IN ALL of US!
Summary: Expansion vs. Retreat
• It is more comfortable to retreat by:
– ignoring accountability and relationship
– ignoring the need to reach out and do Christ’s work
• But following Christ means denying ourselves and embracing the
cross and our brothers and those in need of the gospel.
• In doing this Christ is formed in us individually and collectively. In
this way God’s Kingdom expands.
• The confidence to follow Christ comes when we realize that He is
giving us everything we need to become like Christ in the
situation we are in right now.
Contact Info & Bibliography
Edmund Reinhardt – [email protected]
Phil Denzinger –
[email protected]
Presentation can downloaded from
http://www.accmbc.org/domestic_missions/presentation
s.htm
Some ideas inspired from
- Equipping Men For God by Elijah Ministries