Gtcotr/ws04/13/11
Without respect to what is going on in the world, in each century, in each season and every decade of the earth, the Church is the Family of God in heaven and earth, which is the House of God eternal.
When we talk about the vision of our Church it is necessary that we have a frame of reference from which to view heaven’s perspective of the local Church and its earthly purpose.
Let’s begin building our perspective by first examining a passage of scriptures concerning the Church. Every time we see the word Church mentioned in the New Testament, it means a people who are:
1. Called Out (Of this world and sin – separated both in theory and in practice)
2. Called In (To fellowship & purpose filled relationship with Christ and other Believers)
3. Called Up (To a higher place both in this world and the world to come)
By the way: The Church is not one person and Jesus. The Church is an assembly of people, gathered together to fulfill the multi-faceted purposes of Jesus. One person and Jesus can have fellowship, a wonderful personal worship experience, and do great works … but the Church is not relegated to any one person’s personal experience anymore than a person can say that their arm went to the fair. Church is a group phenomenon often spoken of in the scriptures as the “Body of Christ.”
Turn with me to the first time Jesus mentions the Church and its “Key Role” in fulfilling God’s plan.
Matthew 16 KJV
13 ¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
There are four important truths we learn about the Church from this passage:
1. A personal revelation of Christ is necessary to build the Church – and that only comes from God in heaven.
2. Jesus is building His Church - called out, called together and called up saints into a family which the gates of hell cannot prevail against.
3. The Church has Kingdom power and authority to govern and control things on earth.
4. The Church is for a set season of time.
While Jesus was walking in His earthly life and ministry He often told others, including His disciples, not to witness about Him , His works or His divinity. It was not the set time for the work of the Church, but rather it was the time for Jesus to fulfill His personal calling which was very specific.
However, after Jesus death, burial and resurrection, the time of the Church began. Instead of being told to “tell no one”, the Church was told to “go and tell everyone!” the good news about Jesus and His finished work.
In fact, “The Only Marching Orders” God ever gave the Church can be found in the Great Commission of the Church in:
Matthew 28
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
There is but one vision God has for every Church in the world – it is His original vision for His family which He revealed in the Garden of Eden when mankind was living in a relationship with Him unburdened by sin. We read God’s vision for His family in:
Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them:
1. Be fruitful (Productive)
2. Multiply (Increase the numbers)
3. Fill the earth (Expand the Kingdom)
4. Subdue (Conquer the enemies of God’s plan, purpose and people)
5. Have Dominion (Rule according to God’s continuing plan)
This has always been God’s vision and purpose for every generation. In the Old Testament analogy, God chose one nation, Israel, to be His Children. They were one nation yet 12 different tribes and in each tribe, many different families. No one individual was known without also knowing how they related to the family and the tribe. And, each tribe was given a particular duty and ministry as it related to the whole plan of God. Every family was responsible for a certain role. In this way, all things were done decently and in order – just like a functioning body – the Body of Christ.
From these analogies, we can easily see that the Church, which is both the family of God and the House of God in the earth, functions as a family with each individual designed and responsible to act like a particular member of one body. (Ref: Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12)
The Family Function:
1. Be Fruitful (Be Productive – Go and Tell)
2. Multiply (Make Disciples)
3. Fill the Earth (Expand the Kingdom throughout the earth)
4. Subdue (Bring into submission to the Lordship of Christ)
5. Have Dominion (The gates of hell cannot prevail …)
The Vision of Golden Triangle Church On The Rock
1. Reach People
1. Every Heart and Every Home
i. NT is a 40 year example of what one generation can do
ii. NT is the incumbent mandate upon every Church
iii. To reach the whole world in each generation
2. With a message that will cause them to miss an eternity in hell and miss the hell of this life too.
3. It’s all about souls
2. Teach People
1. How to make a better living
2. How to build a better life
3. How to make a greater difference
i. Includes the growing responsibilities of family
ii. Includes the greater perspectives of maturity
iii. Includes the discernment & development of:
1. Burdens
2. Callings
3. Visions
3. Keep People
In order to accomplish the vision of God every Church needs the same three things. It was this way with the first Church in Jerusalem and it has been this way in every generation and still holds true today. We can fulfill God’s will if we have:
1. A Purpose
2. A Plan
3. People
i. Goers
ii. Stayers
iii. Prayers
iv. Payers
God assigns provision for vision – sheep to tend, fold, milk and fleece
