One Body, One Spirit, One Hope (Part 2)
Recap
Big dreams require big teams. Last week we looked at the beauty of what God wants to build through His Body, the church. We studied Ephesians 4 and I challenged us to believe for what God says is possible through a healthy Kingdom family… the FULLNESS of Jesus through His people. We looked at gifting, serving and the unity of the Spirit. Tonight we get to continue our exploration of ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, ONE HOPE.
Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
The unity of the Spirit speaks to our relational unity AND to our unity in VISION. It should be no surprise that the devil works overtime to mess with our relationships and get us pulling in 100 different directions. Hell fears a unified church.
One of the ways we pull together is by having a clarified set of values as a family. You may have asked the question, “Why does Antioch SLC exist? Who are we called to BE and what specifically are we called to DO in this valley?” These are IDENTITY words over our church that do not change with the passing of seasons.
WORSHIP // To carry a “new song” of worship throughout the land that unlocks territory
UNITY // To build unity with other local churches and contend for the KINGDOM win
DISCIPLESHIP // To disciple people and plant churches
How do we do this? By living out the 5 Circles of Healthy Church. These are the BIBLICAL VALUES that we are firmly committed to because we believe that they are critical to producing the fruit of the Kingdom of God.
One Hope // Our FUTURE must be bright or we will lose heart! “WITHOUT VISION (PROPHETIC REVELATION) THE PEOPLE PERISH (CAST OF RESTRAINT).”
I am extremely hopeful that we are stepping into a NEW SEASON as a church. In this new season, fresh winds will blow and we will see the fruit of what we have worked for together. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Psalm 27:13 // I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
We are anchored by an eternal hope. But we sail with the winds of present hope.
Three Words for This Season
1. PREPARE for Harvest (SLIDE)
Isaiah 54:1-3 // “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
It’s a season to get ready for what is coming. The Hebrew word for WAITING has nothing to do with being passive and inactive. It means to cling with hope to what God has said and focus with laser-like attention until it comes to pass.
2. PARTNER together in “rebuilding the walls”
GOD IS BUILDING SOMETHING HERE! It hasn’t been easy and it’s certainly been costly. Most beautiful building projects are. But I believe that we are stepping into a NEW SEASON as a church. In this new season, fresh winds will blow and we will see the fruit of what we have worked for together.
I also believe that God is bringing us NEW STONES for this new season of building. I want to say this very intentionally… we need more builders!
We must remember Nehemiah’s strategy for rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem. Each family was instructed to work on the section of the wall directly across from their house. Translation: grab some tools and just start building what’s right in front of you! This is the POWER of a body. No one can do it all. No one is asked to do it all. If everyone simply builds their section, the cumulative effect is staggering.
Under Nehemiah’s leadership, a small band of families rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days! There was opposition, distraction, attack, violence and accusation… but they stood together and they finished the task.
Will you build with us?
Give (Ways to Give SLIDE)
Serve (Ministry Fair)
Gather (Lifegroup, Sundays, etc.)
1 Peter 2:4-5 // As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
3. PLANT what we have Established
Trees are often established in pots; but they are planted in the ground.
This is why I bought a Cherry Tree last week. I want it to stand before us as a prophetic picture and reminder of where we are as a church.
We must tend to this tree and help it thrive until we can plant it in the land. Inside this tree already exists thousands of cherries that will one day grow… unless the tree dies before we can get it in the ground.
Why is it important that we PLANT?
Families need a home. Home is important because it creates a refuge for the family. A safe place to gather, grow and go out into the world from.
The same pot that provided space for the tree to be established can begin to restrict its further growth. “If a fruit tree stays in a 5-gallon pot too long, it becomes root-bound, leading to slow growth, the inability to absorb water and nutrients effectively, and increased stress from temperature fluctuations. Eventually, the roots can become so cramped that they cannot function properly, leading to a decline in the tree's health and potentially its death. To prevent this, repot the tree into a larger container before it becomes root-bound to ensure continued growth and productivity.”
PREPARE - PARTNER - PLANT
Will you “prepare for harvest” with us?
Will you partner with us as living stones?
Will you contend for this church to be planted in the land?
We are anchored by an eternal hope. But we sail with the winds of present hope.