Defining Our Purpose

DEFINING OUR PURPOSE

ACTS 26:16 – 18

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER NEW YEAR

IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS ONLY JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING THE COMING OF A NEW MILLENNIUM WITH THE COMING OF THE YEAR 2000

AND NOW HERE IT IS ALMOST 3 YEARS LATER AND IT IS STILL HARD TO IMAGINE ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME

IN THE LAST 3 YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD BLESS US AS A CHURCH IN MANY WAYS

ALSO AS INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO BE THANKFUL FOR

WHILE I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST FOR US I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IN OUR CHURCH FOR HIS GLORY IF WE ALLOW HIM TO

A PASTOR HAS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES ON HIS SHOULDERS

ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COMES WITH THE JOB IS HEARING FROM GOD AS IT PERTAINS TO THE DIRECTION OF THE CHURCH

IF THE CHURCH IS TO MOVE FORWARD IT WILL DO SO UNDER THE BIBLICAL PATTERN OUTLINED IN SCRIPTURE, ANYTHING ELSE IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD

GOD HAS BLESSED OUR CHURCH WITH AN INCREASE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,

BUT I BELIEVE THE BEST IS YET TO COME AS WE FOLLOW HIS LEADING

TODAY IN AMERICA WE ARE LIVING IN A GENERATION WHERE THERE ARE CHURCHES THAT ARE GROWING, AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE DYING

PROVERBS 29:18

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

THERE ARE CHURCHES CLOSETING THEIR DOORS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF VISION

#1 THE PASTOR HAS LOST OR NEVER HAD A VISION FOR THE CHURCH

#2 THE CHURCH IS IN A STATE OF REBELLION AND REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE MAN OF GOD

THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE SAYING IN YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW THAT WONT EVER HAPPEN HERE, BUT DON’T BE DECEIVED IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN HERE

JOEL 3:14

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

THIS MORNING WE STAND AT A CROSS ROAD AND WE MUST DECIDE WHICH PATH THAT WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT GOD HAS GIVEN ME A VISION AND A BURDEN FOR THIS CHURCH

AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER IN THE DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS AHEAD TO LEAD THIS CHURCH IN THE DIRECTION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME

RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME THINGS THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU CONCERNING A GREAT OUT POURING OF THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN THE LAST DAYS

ACTS 2:17

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

#1 WE CAN BE A DREAMER OR A VISIONARY

#2 WE CAN DETERMINE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE OF GREATER SERVICE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO FLOW THROUGH US OR - WE CAN CROSS OUR ARMS SIT AND DO NOTHING WHILE THE WORLD AROUND US SLIPS OUT INTO ENTREATY – THE CHOICE IS OURS

RECENTLY THE LORD HAS BEEN DEALING WITH MY HEART CONCERNING THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

IN THAT STILL SMALL VOICE OF THE SPIRIT, AS CLEAR AS THE NOONDAY SUN THE LORD HAS SPOKEN TO MY HEART THAT A CHURCH THAT IS PURPOSE DRIVEN IS A CHURCH THAT HE WILL OPERATE THROUGH IN THESE LAST DAYS

SAINTS OF GOD WE ARE LIVING SO CLOSE TO THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS, AND IF WE EVER HOPE TO SEE A MOVE OF GOD THAT WILL SAVE LOST SOULS, HEAL THE SICK, DELIVER THE OPPRESSED, WE HAD BETTER BE WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE

WE ARE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO DOWN IN DEFEAT, BUT WE CAN RISE TO GREATER HEIGHTS IN HIM