The "SWORD" Church

CFA – The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church March 27, 2022 FreeChristianIllustrations.com The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church We Are Called To Occupy Until He Comes His Coming Is Imminent There is Much Convergence Of The Signs Our Goal: To Do All That We Can To Glorify Him The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church  We Want To Carry His Banner  We Will Do His Bidding – Fulfill His Calling  We are Watchman On The Wall  We are Those Standing In The Gap The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church We Need To Be Praying, Interceding, Intervening There is Great Potential for A Church – That Knows Their Mission And Prays For God’s Move In Their Situation The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church  READ: Acts 12:1–5 What If They Had Prayed For James Like They Did For Peter? True Faith Must Consist Of Believing And Trusting, Actions, Plans, And Advancing The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church CFA: WHO ARE WHY? WHY ARE WE HERE? We Are Called And Chosen By God We Are Doing God's Will Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things Through The Holy Sprit We Are Concerned That The Unsaved Get To Know Jesus The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church  Looking All Over to Focus on Serving Looking Up to Focus on Worship Looking Out to Focus on Outreach Looking Around to Focus on Relationships Looking In God’s Word to Focus on Discipleship The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church SWORD: 1: a weapon that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority 2: an agency or instrument of combat 3: a constraining (coercive) power The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church Serving Worship Outreach Relationships Discipleship The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church A Sword Is An Offensive Weapon Designed To Win Battles & Slay The Enemy A Close-Order Weapon Most Frequently Mentioned Weapon In The Bible The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church The “Double-Edged Sword” Is Used To Penetrate – It Is The Word The Sword Church Is Built On The Word The Sword Of The Lord Is Not Used To Destroy People But To Set Them Free From The Enemy The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church Ephesians 6:17 (NIV) — 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) — 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Revelation 1:16 (NIV) In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church Jesus Demonstrated The Power Of The Sword He Overcame Satan In The Wilderness Three Times He Said: " It Is Written" By The Word He Was Able To Defeat Satan -With The Sword -- He Cut Him Down To Size The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church (Psa 3:6 NIV) I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. (Psa 20:7 NIV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God s Looking All Around to Focus on erving Everyone Can Do Something To Serve Others  1 Peter 4:10 (NIV84) — 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms  Mark 10:45 (NIV) (45) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Serving Is About "Doing Practical Things In Order To Be Of Service To Others." s Looking All Around to Focus on erving Galatians 5:13 (NIV) (13) You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Those Who Serve Others Find It Becomes A Great Joy In Their Lives s Looking All Around to Focus on erving WHY SERVE? Matt. 23:11-12 (NIV) The greatest among you will be your servant. (12) For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Serving Opens The Flow To Christ-Like Living Serving Allows The Church To Be All It Can Be Every Member Must Have A Ministry Every Saint Must Be A Servant Looking Up to Focus on Worship (Mark 12:28-30 NIV) …, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?“ (29) "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The First And Greatest Commandment Is To Love God Looking Up to Focus on Worship WORSHIP IS: Pentecost – Preaching -- Praise & Worship – Altar Practicing His Presence – Knowing He Is Here And Deserves To Be Worshipped & Adored Drawing Near To Him -- A Lifestyle Of Drawing Near Looking Out to Focus on Outreach OUTREACH INCLUDES: Evangelism -- Missions -- Passion For The Lost (Mark 16:15 NIV) “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Looking Out to Focus on Outreach  Outreach = We Care About The Spiritual Condition Of The People God Has Placed In Our Lives We Bring And Include Those We Know Who Do Not Have A Relationship With Jesus Christ. Looking Around to Focus on Relationships  The 2 nd Most Important Commandment: “To Love Others”  John 13:34-35 (NIV) ""A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.“ (35) "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.""  John 15:12-13 (NIV) "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.“ (13) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Looking Around to Focus on Relationships Fellowship -- Edification -- Spiritual Gifts At CFA We Are Building Relationships In Order To Develop Fellowship Of Like-Minded Believers To Meet The Needs Of One Another And Win The Lost In Our Community Look Into God’s Word to Focus on Discipleship Teaching & Learning -- Developing Character -- Finding Ministry And Growing In It In and Thru Ongoing Discipleship Ordinary People Are Equipped To Grow The Church Looking Ahead for CFA We Need To Be Looking Forward With Expectancy  God Has Some Awesome Things Ahead For CFA  Vision Is The Overall Picture Of Where We Are Heading. "It‘s The Big Picture" Looking Ahead for CFA God Has: Plans – Vision -- Goals -- For CFA Will Not Forget About Us He He Is Calling Us To New Levels Of Leadership, Sacrifice And Commitment In The Growing Of This Church Looking Ahead for CFA God Is Going To Make This Church A Spiritual Filling Station For The Spiritually Empty It’s Time To Be Excited About What God Is Doing and To Be Filled With A Renewed Sense Of His Vision For Us Looking Ahead for CFA “Those Who Are With Us Are Greater Than Those Who Are Against Us” Lord, Open Our Eyes! The “S.W.O.R.D.” Church  Look All Around In Serving  Look Up In Worship  Look Out In Outreach  Look Around In Relationships  Look Into God’s Word In Discipleship