Peace: Open Doors & Innovation in Ministry
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
NEXT STEPS - Welcome Home Party
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
A time of diligently seeking God’s presence through a time of sacrifice, sincerity, and intentionality
A time of dethroning King Stomach - and not allowing the flesh to rule over your soul.
A time of devotion where we’re putting Jesus First in every aspect of our life, and asking Him to be Ruler and Champion of 2025 in our lives.
We’re fasting corporately - meaning we’re doing this together, and in togetherness bearing one another’s burdens. So pray over this ministry - include on your list of prayers those around you, and those you serve with in this family of faith.
We have Tuesday night prayer services every Tuesday night at 6:30. Come flex your faith with those who are here interceding for our community.
During this time of prayer and fasting, do keep a list of your prayers and when they are answered! Throughout this fast and the remainder of this year, I want to keep a running list of answered prayers - and what God has done for you and me personally. We’re going to come up with a long list of wins where Christ is glorified, and satan reminded he is defeated.
After these 21 days of prayer and fasting, we will have a break-the-fast feast together on February 2nd - the first Sunday in February.
First week of February starts our Home Groups - these are our small group bible studies. We need small group leaders and facilitators.
Clarification if necessary:
Misquote on a scripture. I said, “Where you heart is, there your treasury lies - so we have to be intentional with what we treasure, and where our treasure lies, as it is ruled by the peace of Christ.”
The scripture I was quoting was Matthew 6:21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The point I made was not lost, but in the pursuit of accuracy, I wanted to clarify.
New Year, New Portion
New Year, New Portion
The very first temptation you’ll face this year is to idolize the past - maybe even last year.
2025 is a new season. Its a new chapter in your life. Its a fresh path in your faith walk.
There may be some wonderful things you experienced in 2024, but we can’t revel in yesterday’s manna.
2025 has new blessings in store. 2025 is another season of purpose for you and me.
2025 has new intercessory requirements where your and my faith need to be employed.
GOD is showing up in 2025. And with Him we will see His glory, we will see His majesty, we will see the Splendor of His Great Name.
He’s not long on time either - He’s already answered prayer this week, and I’ve been given 10 testimonies
And God wants sing the banner of His Victorious Name over your life, as Jehovah-Nissi, THE LORD is my banner.
To put the label of His Name on every aspect of who you are - over your very soul -
in your faith walk with Him
in your prayer life
in all aspects of your confidence
in all areas of your relationships
in all areas of your finances
in all areas of your education
in all areas of your passions and desires
in all that you say, do, think, desire
God wants to the first in every aspect and show you His might, show you His power, show you His love, show you the great and mighty things that He wants you to be part of for His Name sake.
In 2025, God wants you and me to partner with Him in what He wants to do - and He wants to partner with you in what He’s asking you to do.
For some of us here, God has given us some big dreams for 2025. For some of us here, God has given us a dream of something to accomplish for His glory. When God gives us a dream to do something, its always too big for us to do alone, and the only way we can be successful is if we invite Him into the process.
For 2025, invite Him in your process while you also surrender to His.
The fact of the matter is, God wants to give you Peace in 2025.
What is Peace?
What is Peace?
What it is not:
Peace is NOT searching for calmer waters, greener pastures, or better feels.
Peace is found and experienced in following and doing sacrificially what God has called you to do.
Some of us here today have been in personal conflict for a long time. Because God has called you towards something and you’ve resisted. You either have resisted His leading, or you’ve resisted His presence. You insist on wanting to live your life your way - manage your life your way. You’ve not released certain aspects of your life - for some maybe all of your life.
And because of how God wants control of your life, you’re living in this contention with the Father. So you don’t have peace.
You resist Him in your prayer life. You resist Him in worshiping Him. You resist Him in your relationships with others. You resist Him by pushing away from the body of Christ. You resist Him in where your treasure lies.
And the only way you will have peace is when you surrender everything to Him. And He gives you His peace.
In the months leading up to this year and asking the Lord how we should be looking at the year 2025 and what He wants to do in this body as well as the Aviano community around us.
27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
And this is the centrality of what 2025 will look like in Refuge Aviano - and our ability to minister and pastor our city, Aviano & Aviano Air Base:
15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Last week, we talked about how we have access to peace - one with making peace with God. That is accepting His gift of saving grace, His forgiveness, and making Him Lord and Master of your life. The second is the peace that He gives freely to His children - those who have accepted His gift of salvation and live under His direction in Kingdom purpose.
Today, we’re going to talk about two actionable aspects of living in this peace of God - that He gives freely.
Peace thru Opened Doors
Peace thru Opened Doors
Release to do Ministry
Some here have been waiting for Kingdom Purpose.
It begins with living out a proper world view of faith in Christ.
Romans 12:9 “9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.”
Matthew 22:36–40 “36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.””
Ministry is not having a stage or a platform, or title. Ministry is serving others - ministry is relational. It is knowing the needs of others, and giving up from ourselves towards that need.
If you have an ability to serve God, then this year that you begin to use your gifts for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Come to Next Steps, come learn the vision and intentionality of this ministry, lock arms with the pastors and leaders here as we go bring Jesus to Aviano in 2025.
Freedom to engage people
Some here have been filled with hesitation to the point of debilitation.
I declare, “In the Name of Jesus, get up and go.” Go to your neighbor.
Surrender to the Holy Spirit and His leading.
You need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the Father’s Promise to you.
Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
The hesitation you have in engaging people for Christ is not from God. It is our flesh that is opposed to the things of God and must be taken captive by our spirit.
We’ve been given the keys to the city!
What if you knew you couldn’t fail? What if you knew you already had the victory in what you were about to do for the Lord??
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Peace thru Innovations in Ministry
Peace thru Innovations in Ministry
Connections
I believe this year, you and I will have some interesting conversations we’ve never had, and with people we’ve never known before.
I believe this year, you and I will make connections and bonds with people
Connections in leading people to Christ - you and me
Connections enabling opportunities to serve people
Resource Increase
I believe this year, you and I will be given access to resources, and maybe resources we’ve never had before, that enables us to do the work of ministry
Training & Materials - Bible studies, equipping you for the work God has called you to do - (I’m believing for stocked shelves of study Bibles)
Financial increase - outreach, renovations, missions, study resources
Technological Increase - innovative ways of doing creating connection, sharing the faith, increasing outreach and missions support,
Servant-leaders and laborers for the Kingdom here in Aviano - passionate for God’s presence, and passionate for God’s people
Ministry Opportunities
1 Corinthians 14:26 “26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.”
1 Corinthians 14:33 “33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”
Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
CLOSING
CLOSING
You and I must let God’s word reign in our hearts; and His Spirit to lead us.
These innovations will only come with a submission to God and what He wants to do in your life. He’ll open the doors for you to do what He wants you to do.
But you and I have to partner with Him in walking through open doors.
You and I have to yield our own desires in pursuit of God’s desires.
He is the financier, for the investment of purchasing souls. He paid it all.
So whatever He’s asking you and me to do this morning, it’s resourced and ready.
You and I just have to do it.
His promise is that there will be a peace that surpasses all understanding in doing that which He has called us to do.
Peace with God & Peace of God
Peace with God & Peace of God
You can only have the peace of God, though - if you have peace with God.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you’ve not received Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you’ve not received His forgiveness, if you’ve not accepted the work He did for you and me on the Cross, you simply can’t have peace with God.
You’re still at odds with God - still at war with God because of the sinful flesh we are born into. But you can have peace with Him. You can have peace with God, if you’ll receive Him…if you’ll decide to receive Him and surrender your soul to Him.
12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
And as God’s children, He gives generously to us at our time of need. So when we need more peace…He gives us peace. The Holy Spirit dwelling within us reminds us He is our Comforter, and that He is with us - enabling us to do what He has called us to do.
Let Him strengthen your hands - especially when you find yourself weak.
3 You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.
There is a farewell - Chris Cooper
There is a farewell - Chris Cooper
