The ABCs of how to plant a New Testament Local Church The following are ABCs on New Testament principles of local Church planting… Accept God’s call and commission: Acts 13:1-3 (1) Now there were in the church that was at Antioch (This was an established local NT Church.) certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen (These were spiritual leaders at this Church.), which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost (Note these spiritual leaders spiritual and scriptural credentials.) said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them (The Holy Ghost selected these men [Barnabas and Saul] and separated them unto the Work of God that He or God had called them. However, God use the spiritual leaders at the Church Antioch to carry out His perfect sovereign will in this matter. Note the specific order of things, God put it in the spiritual leaders to call Barnabas and Saul, not Barnabas and Saul seeking and volunteering. If one is truly called to a specific ministry, I believe in most cases spiritual leadership will be proactive in initiating such, not the other way around. However, spiritual leadership must be surrendered, by faith, unconditionally themselves in determining God’s perfect sovereign will in such matters.). (3) And when they had fasted and prayed (Note these spiritual leaders spiritual and scriptural credentials.), and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Note they were called and commission by this local church. In most cases, I think it is best for someone called to evangelistic church planting ministry to be under the commissioning banner of a local Church.) Be part of an evangelistic team (This is two or more spiritually and scripturally qualified men [families] united in principle, practice, and purpose.) designated to plant a local Church: In Mark 11:1; Mark 14:13; Luke 19:29 we see example of the LORD Jesus Christ the sending two of His disciples on a ministry trip… In Matthew 11:2; Luke 7:19; John 1:35 we see John the Baptist doing the same. The following are three good reasons to be part of an evangelistic team of two or more in every evangelistic endeavor in church planting, door to door witnessing, street evangelism, etc. rather than being solo… • Safety (physically and spiritually)… • Spiritual and scriptural support of one another… • Supplication together, as well as being a silent prayer warrior, as one is directly witnessing… Commit to seeking and practicing the perfect sovereign will of God without any human conditions: Proverbs 3:5-6 Our lives are not determined by what we want, but by the choices we make… If you truly want the very best life you can live, you must make the right choices… If you truly want the LORD’S perfect sovereign will in your life, you must make the right choices… Proverbs 3:5-6 (5) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Choose to trust in the LORD with all your heart (The heart [the inner most being] is the intellect, emotions, and will, which must be yielded, by faith, unconditionally to the Scriptures and the Spirit.)… Choose to forsake all and unconditionally surrender to the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ (By not leaning upon your: self-will, self-effort. self-righteousness, self-glorification, self-absorbing, and self-religion, but by faith, LEAN UPON THE LORD.)… Choose to acknowledge the LORD in all your ways (The LORD Jesus Christ must be spiritually and scripturally manifested in all you say and do.)… Choose to claim, by faith, the promise of the LORD to give you divine direction, to direct your paths (The LORD does not want us to stumble in the darkness, but to walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, as we walk after, in, and by the perfect sovereign will of God.)… Daily divine doors of opportunity must be sought: Colossians 4:2-4 (2) Continue (to be constantly diligent) in prayer, and watch (to be spiritually and scriptural discerning and alert) in the same with thanksgiving (Regardless of one’s situation or circumstance they must be given to prayerful praise and thanksgiving unto the LORD; see 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.); (3) Withal praying also for us (We should pray for others, as well as ourselves that God would open divine doors of opportunity for whatever and specifically for ministry unto sinners with the Gospel and the saints with all of God’s good news found in the Bible.), that God would open unto us a door of utterance (God opens doors of such opportunity and He closes such; see Revelation 3:8 To the Church at Philadelphia as well unto us the LORD Jesus Christ says: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it…), to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: (4) That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. We should be daily praying for: divine doors of opportunity to ministry the Word, to speak the Word with Holy Ghost boldness, for God to give the increase… Everything you do must be foremost for God’s glory, His spiritual, scriptural, and supernatural manifestation: 1Corinthians 10:31… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (Spiritually, scripturally, and supernaturally manifest Sovereign God, by faith, through the Spirit, in the name of the Saviour the LORD Jesus Christ, according to the absolute authority of the Scripture, the Word of God.). To Glorify God… • Means to manifest spiritually, scripturally, and supernaturally God’s person, power, and purpose… • Mirrored by the believer reflecting the person, power, and purpose of the LORD Jesus Christ… • Manifested by the person, power, and purpose of the Holy Ghost… • Mastered according to the absolute authority of the Word of God… • Must be the believer’s main motive in all things… • Measured by spiritual and Scriptural fruit… • Maintained by grace through faith… Focus on effectively fulfilling God’s great commission through evangelism, engaging converts to be baptized, and education of believers in the Word of God: Matthews 28:19-20 The ABCs of the Great Commission Matthews 28:19-20 Announce that Jesus saves and gives life more abundantly to everyone the LORD opens a divine door of opportunity… (19a) Jesus is not giving all believers by way of application a suggestion, but the spiritual and scriptural command to… Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (Teaching them that they are sinners in need of repentance toward God and faith towards Jesus Christ, as one’s Saviour, God, and LORD, as they follow Him, by faith, through the Spirit, according to the absolute authority of the Bible. This is teaching sinners that Jesus Christ died on the cross for theirs sins and that He arose from the grave, according to the Scriptures, to give eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, and newness of life to all who will believe upon Him, as their Saviour, God, and LORD. This is evangelism proactively.)… Bring people-sinners into the local church through getting them saved and baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost… (19b) …baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (This is encouraging people to be baptized and to enter into faithful membership of the local Church, through identification and public confession and commitment to the LORD Jesus Christ through water baptism by immersion. When one is baptized they are a professing believer, who has been converted through repentance towards God and faith towards Jesus Christ, as their Saviour, God, and LORD (Acts 20:21). As a new convert they are making a public confession and identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that pictures such through the mode of complete water immersion; whereas, the believer stands in the water pictures the confession and identification of being crucified with Christ, completely immersed in the water pictures the burial of Christ, and coming out of being completely immersed in the water pictures the resurrection of Christ, who offers eternal life, the forgiveness of sin, and newness of life, by faith, in the LORD Jesus Christ, according to the absolute authority of the Bible. Baptism is to be regarded as step of obedience and confession publically of one’s salvation experience, by faith, in the LORD Jesus Christ. It is not to be considered as essential to experience true salvation, but is one of the first essentials to be obedient to the LORD Jesus Christ, by faith: Acts 2:38; 41; 8:12,13; 36-38; 10:47-48; Romans 6:3-4. Romans 6:3-4 contextually is referencing spiritual baptism that water baptism pictures. Depending upon one’s local Church polity this also is an avenue of Church membership into that local Church; whereas, with others local Churches such is just a public confession and identification with the LORD Jesus Christ and a separate confession and acknowledge commitment are necessary for local Church membership.) Consistently disciple others in the whole counsel of God through Bible teaching through the person, power, and purpose of the resurrected LORD Jesus Christ, by His indwelling Spirit… (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (This is spiritual and scriptural educating converts and other Christians in God’s discipleship program starting with the BASICS.): and, lo, I am (This is the resurrected Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Sovereign God, Supreme LORD, and soon coming King.) with you alway, even unto the end of the world (This the empowerment of the resurrected LORD Jesus Christ manifesting His person, power, purpose, passion for sinners, pursuit, pity-mercy, and plenty-His grace.) Amen. Grace and more grace must be sought by faith and one must be praiseful and thankful for God’s measure of grace at the moment: 1Corinthians 15:10 The Apostle Paul said, But by the grace (Grace is God’s unmerited and undeserved favor, goodness, and blessing.) of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. James 4:6 But he (God) giveth more grace (God desires to give us greater grace. However, we must be in the spiritual, scriptural, and supernatural position to receive such.). Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud (To be proud is to be in a spirit of independence from God that seeks to do, to be, or to have what one wants outside of God’s perfect sovereign will, way, and work.), but giveth grace unto the humble (Only as one humbles themselves before God by being contrite, committed, consistent, conforming to the image of the LORD Jesus Christ through the Scriptures by the Spirit, celebrating the LORD with praise and thanksgiving regardless of the situation or circumstance, choosing God’s perfect will, way, and work, and complete confidence in the person, power, purpose, plan, provisions, pursuits, and profundity of the LORD Jesus Christ will they receive greater measures of God’s grace.). 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 The Apostle Paul said, (7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he (The LORD) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect (mature) in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (Regardless of one’s situation or circumstance they must have faith with praise and thanksgiving that God’s grace is always sufficient no matter the measure at the moment.) Please pray for the H.O.P.E. Ministry: for God’s abundant grace to be upon the local Church plant (H.O.P.E. Baptist Christ Church Plant, Washington County, GA. Especially pray for the LORD of the harvest to send laborers.), the H.O.P.E. Men’s Outreach Ministry reaching men with issue (sins) of heart (especially for the needed funds to complete the building of the men’s dorm), and the daily devotional posting of the Word of God (H.O.P.E. Writings) to be received, read, responded too, and reposted throughout the world. To help with funding the H.O.P.E. Ministry efforts, make checks payable to: Evangelist Bruce Haller, 9242 S. Sparta Davisboro Rd., Warthen, GA 31094. Are you in need of prayer or spiritual, scriptural, and confidential counsel, contact me today… For a one day meeting to introduce the H.O.P.E. Ministry or an evangelistic or revival conference contact: EvangelistHaller@Gmail (478) 348-3421. In addition, if you know a man with issues of heart that needs help, hope, and a haven (housing) to experience intense spiritual and scriptural discipleship and watch care for a period of time have them contact us at the H.O.P.E. Men’s Outreach Ministry. To discontinue receiving the HOPE Postings, email your request at: EvangelistHaller@Gmail
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:41:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015