Intro: What is the vision of the house? My desire for this house is not to establish a legacy or spend money for self glorification. My desire; the vision of this house is to establish this church as a light for this city. I don’t want us to be classified as a traditional church that is not willing to change and use what is available to spread the Gospel message to everyone. Just as Christ spoke to the people in parables and related to the people at their level, we need to do the same. We need to use modern methods to catch today’s fish. If you look at a fisherman their methods have changed but the results are still the same as when Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishing the Sea of Galilee.
We need to be a house that is open to everyone, white, black, yellow, brown, and red there is not to be a racially, economical or social barrier that divides us. Everyone that comes here I want them to feel free, even if that means they came from the wrong side of town all the way from the hood. This is the 21st century we live in 2008; it is time to move past racial discrimination, white people, black people all people can be bad people color doesn’t make you sin more or less. (Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)
I don’t want anyone to miss their appointment at the Masters table all because of a color issue. The only color that matters is red and that’s for the blood because it is the only thing that can turn a sinner into a saint.
My job is to hear from God that I may instruct and encourage you in your relationship with the Lord. We are all to be evangelist for the kingdom making known the Gospel message to all. That those that feel shackled by sin can be unshackled and freed in Jesus name! Church all that matters to me is that we win souls and know the Lord at an intimate level. That His kingdom may grow and that the enemies’ kingdom is diminished. That we all may be united in Praise to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Now that you know what I want for this house, I need your skills, gifts, and talents to help fulfill the vision that is set before you. I need you to stand with me and help me fulfill the vision.
I. Getting plugged in.
Ever wondered how far your faithfulness can take you? Faithfulness today helps set the stage for promotion tomorrow. (Read Matthew 25:14-29) Matthew 25:23 (Parable of the talents) “Be faithful over a few things and I’ll make you ruler over many.”
We show up at our jobs each day, not always seeing what our faithfulness is creating for our future. We go to church each week, sometimes not realizing the character, power, and stability that our faithful actions are producing not only in our lives but also the lives of others. Your faithfulness to this church will impact others for the Kingdom.
Faithfulness is a spiritual law that when activated, produces tangible evidence in our lives. Marks of greatness begin when we continue in a lifestyle of faithfulness. If we remain faithful over the little things big things are in store for those that are faithful.
Nobody starts a job on the top; if you want the better pay and position, you must be willing to work hard and give it your all. It is when you show yourself faithful that is when you are rewarded. (Tell story of getting 3 raises in one year.)
II. The local church is like an electrical outlet.
Nothing happens till we get plugged in.
Now you know that if you go down to Circuit City or Best Buy and you get the best HDTV, home theater, blu-ray player and satellite system with HD and DVR, and then take it home set it up real nice. But never plug any of it up, you have just made a nice display and spent a lot money, but you are not getting all that you paid for; it does more when you plug it up!
So many are like that in the church they have become fixtures and have never got plugged into the church.
The church is the outlet that the Holy Spirit uses to train and equip the saints for the work of the ministry. It is here in the Church where the Holy Spirit empowers you so that God can get all that He paid for with the blood of Jesus.
God places leaders over you to prepare you to fulfill His calling on your life. I am here to help you, and not to hinder you.
But it doesn’t matter how much the Holy Spirit is flowing or how great and anointed the outlet or church is, like electricity through wires if you don’t get plugged in nothing is going to happen. We are told in …
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. “Forsaking” means desert or leave. People leave the local church for many reasons.
The word “forsaking” means to “desert or leave”. People today find all kinds of reasons to forsake the church.
They get offended, well I hate to break the news but that is life. We all in some way or another will get offended. Just “Get over It”, there are people in church today that are holding to offences from ten years ago. “Well, such and such hurt me and I can’t get over it, they did this and that or they didn’t do this or that”, SO just get over it, get your eyes of things here and set them on things above. Who cares let it go and stop living in bondage.
People “forsake” because they are rebellious and don’t want to submit to spiritual authority.
They have allowed the spirit of the world to have greater influence than the Spirit of God.
The sad news is many forsake the church because they have become backslidden and many don’t even know it. Many leave the church because they have no accountability in their lives. They lead a life of totally ruled by circumstances, feelings, emotions, and ultimately, satan.
The Bible gives us many reasons to go to and respect the local church. The Lord considers the church to be:
• An assembly (Acts 19:39)
• A spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5)
• The house of God, pillar of God, ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
• The gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17)
• The building of God or holy temple (Ephesians 2:20-21)
• The habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22)
• The flock of God (1 Peter 5:2)
• The bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2)
The local church helps keep us in VICTORY!
The local church is vital because it is where we…
• Learn foundational truths
• Learn character and stability
• Discover our talents and sharpen them
• Learn about our unique anointing
• Develop Godly relationships are established
• Learn to respect and honor those leaders over us in the Lord
• Learn to submit to spiritual authority
• Develop a mature faith
• Learn to seek God
• Witness God’s power
• Learn about forgiveness
• Learn how to raise our children and lead our families (Hebrews 11:7)
(7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
The church is the ark that saves our household. I was raised in church and it was through being brought up in church and having family that loved the Lord that I am the man I am today. I strayed away as a teenager but it was the word that I learned from God’s House that got me back in. What was planted got watered and God gave the increase.
Church is where I learned about the Lord and it was where I got punished for acting up in service. You know what I am saying those looks and those pinches, my mom stayed seated in the back I think just so she had quick access to the door so that we could give me and brothers the “right hand of fellowship”.
All the best memories I have are here in God’s house. It was his where I was saved and rededicated, where I received the baptism in the Holy Ghost, where I was called into ministry. It was in God’s House that I was married, and it will be here in His house where my wife and I will raise our children. My best memories are here and they keep getting better.
A study says that about 61% of adults that regularly attend church now started out doing as a child, while 78% of adults that don’t attend church didn’t do attend as a child.
It is here where we can taste and see that the Lord is good.
The local church helps bring in the harvest.
I know that our time is short and the return of the Lord is near and that is why we don’t have time to waste. I believe the Lord brought us here to reach the harvest that is Greensboro.
I believe the harvest season is now! God is doing quick works in these last days and I we got to be prepared for that harvest. That is why I am casting the vision why we need to plan and build, we need the storage for the harvest.
The harvest is going to be bigger than any of us could dream! We cannot stop and build our barns during the harvest we got to get ready now.
Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 Corinthians 3:4-9 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
I pray that all of you will help me to make a way to reach this harvest and not stand in the way. I need each and every one of you to stand behind me in fulfilling the vision.
Pr 29:18 ¶ Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: That verse is saying that with no vision that the people are running around wild with no direction. If the church doesn’t get plugged in to the vision they are missing out on God’s vision.
By getting plugged in it helps to root and ground you. It gives you a course to sail and goals to reach. It will challenge you and your faith and will force you to trust in the Lord with all you might and understanding. It helps in giving purpose.
By coming to church, it helps you stay in tuned with the Spirit of God. Just as we read the paper and watch the news, and surf the web the keep in touch with the world so are we to come to church to keep in touch with the Kingdom.
Let me quickly say that it is essential that you must be first and foremost plugged into Jesus. Your relationship with Him is vital and if you are not in good standing with Him, you make yourself “fair game” to the enemy.
We need to answer the call and realize the harvest is ready. God is pouring out His spirit in advance of the harvest. We cannot afford to be out of place and let the harvest rot in the fields.
God is looking for a people that is willing to step up and take responsibility for their place in His plan.
I got to make sure I have done all I can for the Kingdom it is vital that I hear “well done”.
The local church is the instrument to display God’s glory. Paul said in (Ephesians 3:8-10)Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
God’s plan is to allow satan’s kingdom to take a step back and look in awe at the wisdom of God that is displayed in and through the church.
We each have a measure of the wisdom of God in us. When we come together in unity, Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is then that we become a force that is not to be reckoned with.
When Jesus walked the earth, He did it as the only body of Christ at that time and He did so as apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, and preacher. When He walked, he did so not only operating under the 5 fold ministry but in power of the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. Not just in one area but in all areas. The Bible says of Christ in John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (35) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Jesus had the spirit without measure; He had it all. When Christ ascended to the Father, He then distributed those gifts to mankind.
Jesus has given each of us an assignment and a place in the body. Eph 4:15 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.
Each of us has a part to play in the body. If I do my part and you do your part and the rest of the body does its part, we will make up an effective and powerful Church here in Greensboro and I believe in all the earth.
If you will commit to the assignment God has given to this church, I know that you will be rewarded and find no greater joy than that of the fulfilling of the vision.
There is nothing more exciting than being a part of a church that is going places that is on the move to greater heights in the glory of God.
III. I need you to bring your vision under the vision of this house. The lesson of the Shunamite woman. (Read 2 Kings 4:8-17)
This Shunamite woman invited Elisha into her home for a meal whenever he passed by. She knew he was a man of God, so she and husband decided to build an apartment or him on the top of their home.
After enjoying the comfort of the room, Elisha sent for the woman so he could express his gratitude for her love and compassion she had shown him. He asked what could be done for her. He wanted the desires of her heart fulfilled. When he learned that they had no child, he prophesied that she would give birth to a son. Fulfilling the desire of her heart.
What we can glean from this story is by supporting the vision of the house you in turn will receive your own heart’s desire. When we show ourselves to set aside our agenda to meet another’s you are setting yourself up for your own blessing.
Here are a few points I want to point out from this story.
1. She perceived Elisha was a man of God.
If we are going to move into the position God has for us in these last days, we must perceive the men and women of God who have been placed around us and give them the right to speak into our lives.
There is a story of a pastor who had many titles he had his doctorate and was a pastor. A young man asked him what do I call you, do call you ‘pastor’, ‘doctor’, ‘bishop’, ‘brother’, ‘servant’, or do I just call you by name. The pastor told the young man call me by whatever name speaks into your life.
I need you to see me as a servant of God.
2. She began construction of his room by first removing a wall.
Just like she removed a wall in her home to accommodate the man of God, if you will make the decision to allow me to be your pastor and the man God has destined me to be and the walls will come down.
I know that walls of hurt, rejection, confusion, insecurity, fear, intimidation, or whatever you may have inside will come down!
When these walls are removed, room is made for a new, fresh anointing to come into this house.
If I am free to fulfill my calling you are freed to fulfill yours.
3. She built an upper chamber over the top of her house. His room was above hers.
By placing the room over their home was symbolic of taking the vision of the man of God and placing it over their lives. The vision of the house became their vision when they placed it on top of theirs.
Likewise, I need you to place the vision of this house on top of yours, so that it may truly become yours.
4. She furnished him a bed, chair, table, and lamp.
a. Bed which is a place of rest and restoration.
b. Chair is s symbol of us taking our place and position in the Body of Christ.
c. Table represents the spiritual food and nourishment. We need to daily pray, read and study the word. You need more than just the meal I give you each Sunday. You got to feed yourself.
d. Lamp represents the revelation
5. She was rewarded for her support of the man of God (God gave her a son)
God’s will and goal for our lives is reproduction. When we take the vision of the house as our own, we will give birth to many sons and daughters for the Kingdom of God.
Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? We are not to despise the day of small beginnings.
