Building My Relationship With Christ: Developing a Love for the Things of God

Seven Loves of a Healthy Spiritual Life!

Series 1- Love Doctrine

2-Love Fellowship

Love Fellowship

A. Vision 20/20

The Jews controlled the Temple and synagogues - where services were held on the Sabbath day.

The Christian’s adopted the first day of the week and called it the “Lord’s Day”, and held their private meetings in homes.

Some have called it the 20-20 Vision of the Book of Acts –

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Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

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Notice this does not say what was profitable for me. One of the first things about ministry is it is for the service of others. If all the decisions you make have to do with what is only good for you that is your first mistake. Ministry is about reaching and serving others.

An example of selfless ministry done through fellowship

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Acts 20:7King James Version (KJV)

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

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We cannot fear fellowship with new people in the church. Embracing new people is how we keep their Soul’s saved. Notice that Paul spoke till Midnight!

Joe Marshall while sitting as OD at FWC

ROTC

Bring up prayer for everyone slept

Soul winning req’s sacrifice

The reward is so much greater than the sacrifice!

In order to reach others effectively they had to be among them; thus, being house to house. In our society today everyone seems to want privacy but at the same time post their entire life on some form of public media. While we can have our own opinions as to how wise this is, it can also be evidence that the lack of involvement by the church has left a void. There is a God sized void in the lives of society as a whole.

How I kept nothing back from you…

When we keep something back from the people we are working with, we are keeping it back from God’s kingdom. His kingdom is the hearts of men and women. We are to be hands-on-teachers of all things Godly!

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Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, when Peter was delivered miraculously from prison, he knew where to find the church. They were in Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark.

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Lydia’s house was Paul’s base of operation while in Thyatira Jason’s house in Thessalonica – Jews persecuted him

Note Jason opened his home at a cost. If we read in Acts 17 we will see that Jason was actually persecuted due to what Paul had been preaching.

(Recal Ceaser was told he was preaching of another King, Jesus)

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Note : Jesus said this !

John 15 :18

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

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Matthew 5 :10

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake : for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven

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Aquila and Priscilla’s while in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3) Reaching the lost through the Gifts God has given you.

Note: Aquila and Priscilla where actually exiled from Rome

They met Paul because Paul shared an interest for the technical trade they also took part in.

Discuss the Military on your part

Discuss how we can use our occupations to not only minister unto the church with Tithes and offering but our jobs are a Soul Winning Tool!

Notice that Paul was welcomed into these homes. How much are we willing to serve others in order to win their soul to Jesus?

As I stated earlier with Joe Marshall, ministry requires sacrifice on our part.

Finances and assets in ministry

Do Good and Love One Another

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

This scripture removes our ability to choose who we minister to. We minister to even our enemies.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Notice that Romans 8:29 says “did foreknow.” God is not going around deciding on who the losers will be…He through his power and ability to look ahead sees by foreknowledge who will choose to be conformed to the image of his Son. Why you ask? Simply because Jesus Christ is the head of the great body of believers we know as the family of God. When you become part of God’s family there is fellowship with His family. We need overcoming power to keep us clean from the things we come from and a mind made up not to return. It should never be said that we are more welcome in the world than in the household of faith. Or we could say in any household of the faithful!

Ministry in the hard times: People who are coming out of the world

As a spiritual parent, with our pastor’s aid, it is our responsibility to help new borns grow.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Notice they would be marked by their love one for another. Not even by their knowledge or even by their preaching, not that it is not important, but by their love one for another.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Passed from the old life of sin and death into the new life of joy, peace, and eternal life.

Back to the Acts 20/20 vision!

Until the church becomes touchable the church will only function as a part time triage station instead of a hospital for the sick and broken.

The church has become so focussed on events that it has passed up the need for daily contact with people leaving a life of sin. We must be lead by the spirit daily to help people.

For two long our mindset is “lets have a revival.” It is an event, a good even a necessary spiritual boost. Or let us have an outreach for which the church should have and always will…a block party or any other celebration. Nothing wrong with all the above and the church will continue to have these. But where is the problem you might say? The problem is we are focused on the event and the event is expected to accomplish all the work that needs to be done that the church was called to do on a daily basis.

When we are more compelled to be the church daily instead of having church and leaving it at church then results will follow. What kind of results?

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18 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.

You can’t have a church that is willing to go out and preach the Gospel and a laodicean church at the same time.

It’s time to get on fire for the Lord!