I.        EPH 4:11-15

A.  V 12 says that we would grow so we can do the work of the ministry.

B.  V 13 tell us that it is God’s will and plan for us to come in unity of the Faith

C.  V 14 “That we be no more children”

D.  And V 15 he once again says that we may “Grow up.”

II.      God is calling us to grow up and walk in unity so that we may do what He has called us to do.

A.  In these verses we don’t see the word church found here, but in Verse 12 we see that he is talking to the saints and the body of Christ.

1.   The body of Christ is the church.

a)    The word “Church” if found 114 times in the KJV and the same amount of times in the NIV.

2.   The word “Church” originally meant “A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.”[1]

3.    In a Christian sense it meant “An assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting.”[2]

B.   You are the Church, you are the called out one.

1.   1 Pet 2:9 (Called out of darkness)

2.   But the “Called out ones” are also called out of their homes to gather together for corporate worship and service. (Here the Word)

3.   Heb 10:25

a)    God has called us together for a reason.

b)    Corporate anointing, covering, but there is also power when we come together as a body.

c)     There is a power that the Church has when we come together to do His will that can only be accomplished when we are gather together.

C.  God has given us a plan for this church, a vision, but it is going to take everyone of us and all those that come in the door to help us fulfill God’s plan for our lives and to fulfill our destiny.

III.      Hab 2:2-4

A.  If the Lord has placed you in this church it is for a reason.

1.   God wants you to hook up with the vision of this church and to run with it. (V 2)

B.  In Pro 29:18 it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish:”[3]

1.   The word “Vision” here means “Prophecy, a Word from God”, which would give us a hope, a call, and a plan to accomplish.

2.   Part of that Vision that we have is what the Lord gave me 12 years ago and that is ISA 35:1-6

IV.     Now we need to accomplish the Plan, the Goal, the Vision.

A.  But how are we going to accomplish it?

1.   The ways we accomplish it may change as we grow is size and grow in the Lord, and as the Lord brings in the funds.

B.  The 1st goal is to fulfill the Great Commission.

1.   Jesus said in Mark 16:15-18, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” [4]

a)    This is an area that I need help.

b)    We need more outreaches in this community.

(i)    So far the only main outreach that we have is the TV broad cast.

(ii) I also want to get a bus ministry started, but that is going to take money. But that takes a lot of commitment. It might mean 3 or 4 trips on Sunday and every Thursday.

c)     I need your help in coming up with different outreaches.

(i)    But I need more than just the idea. I need you to get involved and help put it together.

(ii)     We need to win the lost.

2.   God wants us to grow to a large church, but part of that is going to come as we reach out.

C.  Of course, the church always has the vision of the saints growing in the Lord and the equipping of the saints.

1.   Eph 4:12 from the AMP says, that God has given us the 5 fold ministry because “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),”[5]

D.   God has also given us the vision of training leaders.

1.   2 TIM 2:2 (able to teach others)

2.   Heb 5:12-14

E.  There are other things that we can do in the church & we need people to be involved.

1.   We need to start a collage and young adult groups.

2.   Singles, young married, over 40, under 40, senior group needs to get moving, Thursday night young teen group.

V.     When we’re obedient to God, and doing all that we can for the glory of God. We’re going to see miracle after miracle.

A.  You might be saying, “I can’t do much.”

B.       Can you be here?

1.   That right there is doing something for God. It helps church growth.

2.   The more people there are the more people are willing to come. That is evangelizing.  And you said you couldn’t do anything.

a)    Well, pastor, I work and I would get here late.

b)    Then get here late. It’s better late than never.

(i)    I think that saying, “I’m late, I better not go,” is just an excuse not to go.

(ii) It’s better to come late and show your support than not go at all.

(iii)           I would rather someone come the last 5 minutes of the service, than not come at all.

(a)   That is visibly says to me and the Lord, “Lord, you know I had to work, but I’m here to do whatever I can.”

(b)   Isn’t that better than saying, “It’s late, I’m going home.” What would the Lord want?   

3.   What about prayer? Can you pray?

a)    There is a lot we can do for the Lord.

VI.    If we want to see church growth, and people saved… And if we want victory in our life,

A.  We have to get our priorities in order. 

1.   God has to be # 1 in your life.

2.   2nd God’s will for your life.

a)    That means you are following the direction of the Lord in your life.

b)    Part of His direction for your life is the church where he has placed you.

3.   # 3 is your family.

a)   It is your responsibility to take care of your immediate family.

4.   # 4 Work

a)    Whatever work you have been given.

5.   After that comes everything else, fun, relaxation, extra meetings, entertainment, and so on.

B.   The only way that we are going to walk in the fullness of God AND the only way that we are going to overcome the enemy in our life is by doing what God has called us to do.

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[1]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G1577). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[2]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G1577). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[3]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Pr 29:18). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[4]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (Mk 16:15). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[5]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (Eph 4:12). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.