BEING PART OF JESUS' DREAM CHURCH | Matthew 6:18

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

OBJECTIVES:

To understand the qualities of the Church that Jesus established in order to redefine our mindset and action to conform to the Church of Jesus' dream.

INTRODUCTION:

➢    How many of you have dreamt of accomplishing something great during your lifetime?  A noble profession or a high career perhaps? Establishing a great business venture? Becoming an influential public servant?  No one dreams to be an ordinary person or an employee!  Being ordinary would be your destiny if you don't dream.  If you dream a simple and easy life, you don't need a miracle to achieve that.  When you dream, dream big!  Dream something different and seemingly impossible to achieve!   Dream something where you would need the hands of God to accomplish it.  Dream a challenging dream!

➢    Every one is entitled to dream!  It is a divine privilege!  You can accomplish your dream with God's help!  Especially when your dream is aligned with the dream of God.

➢    Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ had a dream so great that He did everything to fulfill it all His life?  His dream is establishing a generation of people who would believe in Him, follow Him to the point of sacrificing their very own lives in order to fight for the redemption of His creation.  He called that generation of people His own Ekklessia, known in our modern time as the Church.  You and me are both part of Jesus' dream!

THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE EKKLESSIA.

➢    The original purpose of the Ekklessia or Church of Jesus Christ is to be the implementing Body of the Victory He won at the Cross of Calvary two thousand eighteen years ago.  Whereas before, we were the slaves of sin and satan himself, but now, we are being made part of the Army that would stop and reverse the works of darkness!  Tell the person next to you,"Isinilang na ang katapat ng diablo, at iyon ay Tayo!"  Aren't you exited that you are now part of the body that would destroy the works of the enemy? Not only destroy, but you are now an agent of Transformation, of Renewal and Restoration.  Once you have experienced the power of God in your life and transformed, you are automatically enlisted in His own Ekklessia!  Otherwise, you are a candidate to be enslaved again!

➢    You cannot fight the battle alone, you need to be part of the fighting Army, the Ekklessia, the Church of Jesus Christ!  The enemy is organized and have a hierarchy of "principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12).  The "gates of hell" is satanic activities and strategies to destroy the Church, but they shall not prevail against His Ekklessia.

THE QUALITIES OF JESUS' DREAM CHURCH:

1.    A VICTORIOUS CHURCH.

 You are victorious!  Don't just give up, because if you do, God can call others to do your part.

2.    A PREVAILING CHURCH.

 Have a good start and make sure you will finish to the end! 

3.    A GROWING CHURCH.

 Be progressive!  To have an effective team, you must be complete.  Everyday added (Act 2:41).

4.    AN UNSTOPPABLE CHURCH.

 No one and nothing can stop us doing the Vision of Christ

ACHIEVING JESUS' DREAM CHURCH: 1.        REDEFINE OUR DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP.

➢    John Maxwell definition of Leadership: LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE.

➢    It is not enough that you are a great leader.  It is not enough that you have a good education,  not enough that you are an influential person.  You need to know who you are in God!

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."  The fruit that Jesus is referring to is disciples.  Character is also a fruit that we need, but you don't need to go to produce character.  On the other hand, we need character to produce disciples.

➢    Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained (assigned) you a prophet to the nations.” 

➢    I am CHOSEN; I am APPOINTED; I have an ASSIGNMENT.

➢    Your Purpose: That you should "GO" and "BEAR FRUIT",  "FRUIT THAT WOULD LAST".   We do not collect followers or members.

➢    Therefore, "LEADERSHIP" is production of cell leaders.  This is our definition of LEADERSHIP! 2. REDEFINE OUR DEFINITION OF A LEADER.

➢    Do not ask God to talk to your neighbors or your loved ones.  It is your job to do that.  He already died on the cross, don't ask Him to do what He already assigned you to do. ➢ A "LEADER" is one who leads and handles people in a Cell group. 3. UNLEASH YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.

➢    Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

➢    What God has, we also have!  At Creation, you and me were loaded with potentials!  Adam named every animals and plants there is.  There is a design of leadership that God has placed inside of you.

All we have to do is to decide.  Don't be hindered by circumstances! Don't even doubt your potential.

2.    DEVELOP YOURSELF AS A LEADER. 

➢    Develop the way you speak, think and act.  Be communicative with eye to eye contact.  Develop yourself, form your habits as a leader.

3.    CREATE LEADERSHIP CULTURE.

➢    Starts at home.  Think as a leader, not a follower. 

➢    COMER > FOLLOWER > DISCIPLE > LEADER > AGENT OF CHANGE.

4.    MAKE A FRESH START OF FOLLOWING THE LORD.

➢    How is your commitment?  Start again a fresh commitment of following the Lord in your devotional life, in your Cell Group, in Sunday Celebrations, in Trainings and Conferences. 

➢    Make a decision not to turn back. 

➢    Even the disqualified can have a fresh start like the disciples of Jesus Christ. (Mark 1:16-20 ) ➢ Follow the Lord not by "NOT DOING, but by "DOING".

CONCLUSION:

➢    When God bless you, it would be a net-breaking, boat-sinking harvest!