This Is Use WK-1

This Is Us is a series designed to inspire, to equip and empower each of us in the in the mission of Living Faith Church. And, before we get too far:  want to challenge something we say all the time. We say, “Invite someone to church.” And this is not a bad thing - we actually should be doing this. But when you read the New Testament carefully, you don’t see the early believers inviting people to church. You see them inviting people to Jesus.

Andrew didn’t say, “Come to synagogue with us.” He said, “We have found the Messiah.” John 1:41–42

The Samaritan woman didn’t say, “We’re launching a new gathering.” She said, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did.” John 4:28–29

THIS IS US is not a campaign to get more people into a building. It’s a call to become the kind of people who introduce the world to Jesus.

The Church Defined

Since our inception on July the fourth of 1944 until this very day - we have remained true to being a church. We are not a political force, a social club, or a philanthropic movement. We are true to the Biblical model of a local church. But can we be honest - the definition what a church is and what a successful church does varies greatly depending on who you talk to.

May people say: “I’m going to church…” and what they mean is that for 90 minutes they are going to fellowship with like minded people, sing some songs and hear a sermon.

Others would define church as a building.

“A local church is a community of believers who meet regularly for worship, teaching, fellowship, and the ordinances.”

Wayne Grudem Present Day — Systematic Theology

“The church is the Body of Christ, the community of those who share in His life.”

Augustine of Hippo AD 421 — Enchiridion

The local church exists because God has chosen it as His primary instrument of invasion, revelation, and continuation-in the world. The church is not the audience of God’s work, the church is the agent of God’s work.

Matthew 16:18 NASB95

18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

History On Church and Reform

Wherever the church is properly established, darkness is displaced, lies are exposed, and Christ’s reign is made visible. Look at how this has been true over the ages.

1. The Welsh Revival (1904–1905)

Key figure: Evan Roberts

Over 100,000 recorded conversions within months (widely reported in church records).

Police reported a dramatic drop in crime — so much so that officers formed choirs because they had little to do.

Courtrooms were often empty.

Taverns saw such loss of business that many closed.

Coal mines reported mules had to be retrained because miners stopped cursing.

2. The Hebrides Revival (1949–1952)

Key figure: Duncan Campbell

Bars reportedly closed during peak revival nights.

Entire communities gathered nightly for prayer without advertising.

Police in some villages had little to manage because public disorder nearly disappeared.

3. Training Centers Birthed

Because revival leaders wanted trained ministers grounded in doctrine colleges and universities were birthed.

Princeton University - Directly birthed out of the First Great Awakening

Yale - Became a strong center during the Second Great Awakening (especially early 1800s).

Harvard University - Founded by the Puritans

Dartmouth University - Founded by Eleazar Wheelock, a Congregational minister,  to train Native American missionaries.

1 John 3:8 NASB95

8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Acts 26:18 NASB95

18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Luke 10:19 NASB95

19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

The authority to preach, heal, deliver, restore, and proclaim the kingdom was entrusted to His church — not as a temporary assignment, but as an ongoing mandate. We are not just running programs, we are revealing Christ and His Gospel to mankind and we are destroying the works of darkness.

The Gospel In Every Home

At Living Faith we state our vision simply this way: We exist to get: “The Gospel In Every Home”. This means we exist so that the Kingdom of God with it’s manifested power would would be revealed seven days a week, in every home, in every work place, in the shopping centers and coffee shops and schools.

What We Do

So, how does Living Faith Church see all of this happen? In a practical and spiritual way:

We Create Irresistible Environments Where People Meet With God

This is the model of Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went He was expressing the power of the Kingdom of God through radically irresistible environments.

Casting out Demons Jesus drives an evil spirit from a man - Luke 4:31-36

Jesus casts demons into a pig herd - Matthew 8:28

Jesus Casts Demon out of a boy - Mark 9:14-29

Food Miracles Jesus turns water into wine - John 4:34-54

Miracle of catching fish - Luke 5:1-11

Feeding the 5000 - Mark 6:30-44

Feeding 4000 - Mark 8:1-10

Nature Calms the storm - Luke 8:22-25

Jesus walks on water - John 6:16-21

Taxes paid from a coin in a fish’s mouth Matthew 17:24-27

Raising the Dead

Jesus raises a boy from the dead - Luke 17:11-17

Raising Jairus daughter from the dead - Matthew 9

Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead John 11

But look - Jesus paired the irresistible environment with a hard hitting message:

“Repent…” — Matthew 4:17(“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”)

“Go and sin no more.” — John 8:11(Also similar wording in John 5:14.)

“O ye of little faith…” — Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8(Repeated phrase used in multiple moments of correction.)

“Blessed are those who mourn…” — Matthew 5:4

“Pray for those who persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44

I want to ask you Living Faith Church - are you crafting irresistible environments where people meet with God in your workplace, your home, the shopping centers and coffee shops? Or are you just inviting people to church? Hear me! Inviting people to church is great - we need to do this - But I wonder if we are raising a generation of people who think Jesus only exists in church where we showcase a few cool moments from a 2000 year old story. Might I remind you of some of the words Jesus used to mark those who would become His Church?

Mark 16:17–18 NASB95

17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

We need to stop sharing the Gospel likes it’s a 2000 year old story and start living it as a present day truth - your personal and relevant testimony. Listen - Creating irresistible environments is not about cool bands, buildings, and branding. It’s about bold faith, partnered with fearless expression.

Peter, in Acts 4 was commanded to stop preaching in the name of Jesus - just like many of you have been in your work places, and schools. What would our community be like if we responded with the words of Peter?

Acts 4:20 NASB95

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Too much of the body of Christ is intimidated and embarrassed to show their loyalty and commitment to the Gospel. This is actually no commitment at all. It’s literally a spirit of intimidation that is controlling you. But look at Pauls words:

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The early church didn’t rely on crowds. They relied on conviction.

They didn’t rely on aesthetics. They relied on obedience.

They didn’t rely on strategy alone. They relied on Spirit-filled courage.

Conviction, Obedience and courage - manifested in our Small Groups, In our Weekly Services, but most importantly in our every day lives - shopping centers, schools and workplaces.

Practical Activation Framework

1. What Is Your God-Given Grace?

Text to anchor it:

Romans 12:6 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

Grace here (charis) = divine enablement.

Practical Steps:

Identify what energizes you spiritually.

What fruit follows you?

What do others recognize as a grace on your life?

Ask:

Do people get healed around you?

Do people gain clarity around you?

Do people feel loved around you?

Do people grow disciplined around you?

Your grace is not what you admire. It’s what God consistently uses through you.

2. Are You Walking in That Grace?

Some people know their gift but never step into it.

Practical Questions:

Are you praying for people?

Are you mentoring someone?

Are you hosting?

Are you discipling?

Are you leading where you’ve been equipped?

If you’re not using your grace, you are increasing friction. Unused grace becomes stagnation.

3. Does Your Spirit Produce an Irresistible Environment?

You can be doctrinally sound and spiritually uninviting.

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Ask:

Do people feel safe around you?

Do they sense peace?

Do they feel judged or invited?

Do you carry joy or constant intensity?

Irresistible environments are carried in atmospheres — not platforms.

Bitterness repels - Joy attracts.

Control suffocates - Peace opens.

4. How Are You Being Equipped?

Ephesians 4:11–12 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Ask:

Are you in a small group?

Are you under accountability?

Are you reading Scripture consistently?

Are you being coached?

If you aren’t being equipped, you will eventually create friction. Untrained zeal causes damage.

Removing Friction

Irresistible environments are about removing unnecessary friction between people and Jesus.

Here’s what that friction looks like:

Offense culture

Gossip

Territorial leadership

Spiritual pride

Consumer Christianity

Intimidation

Fear of rejection

Passive spectatorship

Sometimes the reason people struggle to meet Jesus is not the darkness in the world — it’s the dysfunction in the church.

Practical Daily Shifts

1. Pray Before You Enter a Room

“Lord, let my presence remove fear and increase faith.”

Colossians 4:6 NASB95

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

You carry atmosphere.

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Light doesn’t argue with darkness — it displaces it.

Luke 10:5 NASB95

5 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’

Jesus literally instructed His disciples to enter rooms with intentional spiritual posture.

2. Practice Immediate Obedience

If the Spirit nudges you — act. Delay creates doubt.

James 1:22 NASB95

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Acts 8:29–30 NASB95

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

He didn’t walk. He ran.

John 14:15 NASB95

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Obedience is love in motion.

3. Refuse Intimidation

2 Timothy 1:7 NASB95

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Acts 4:29 NASB95

29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,

Proverbs 29:25 NASB95

25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

Intimidation is a trap. Refuse it.

5. Share Your Testimony Naturally

Stop preaching at people. Start telling what Jesus has done in you.

Acts 4:20 NASB95

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

That’s testimony.

Revelation 12:11 NASB95

11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Mark 5:19 NASB95

19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

Your story is evangelistic power.

Salvation Response

Maybe you do not have a personal relationship with God; maybe you are still carrying the anxiety, guilt, and pressure that sin induces in your life.

Many people have told me, I don’t want to become a Christian because I can’t keep up that goodie lifestyle. But this verse says nothing about your lifestyle. God is more interested with your heart. If He can get to your heart, He will deal with your actions later. 

Romans 6:23 NASB95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We know that sin leads to death – you’ve felt the sting, and pain of sin. The good news is this, Paul calls God’s gift of life a “free gift”. I want to pray with you right now to receive this gift. If you would say, I want God’s forgiveness, I want to accept this gift of life, I want Jesus to live in my heart, raise your hand so I know who I am praying for. 

* KEEP YOUR HANDS RAISED HIGH - I HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER COMING TO PRAY WITH YOU

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”