Take your Bibles and turn with me to Revelations chapter 3. This morning I want to speak to you about the vision of our church. The title of my message is "Openness". In Revelations 3:20 is a verse that God gave to his endtime church. It has been written for God's people, not for those who don't know Christ but for those who do know Christ.
Revelations 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me". This is a great end time promise.
Father, we thank you for your word this morning and we thank you that you are in this place. Lord, you are doing a good thing in our lives, you are healing and you are moving and you are speaking. Father, may we decrease and may you increase. Lord, we thank you for the plans you have for us and for what you're going to do with us this morning. In your name, Amen.
This morning I decided to call today "Vision Sunday". The greatest thing that you and I could ever do is serve the Lord. I want us to focus today on God's general direction for a church. When God gives a vision, many times you can see in part but as you begin to step out and receive it everything begins to unfold. How many have found that true in your own life? Today God has given me a word for this church that I believe is going to take us into the future. I could also tell you from past experience that I don't know all that God is going to do, I just know He's going to do a good thing. Someone say a good amen.
In our church we have a mission statement that will never change, it's pretty simple. How many know that if you don't have a mission and you don't know what you're about, you will never accomplish anything? As a church we have a purpose and God has a plan. Churches are meant to be change agents. Not only are we meant to come and receive from the Lord but we are also meant to go into all the world and change the world for His glory. Our mission statement is "To know God and to make Him known".
That's what we are created for. What I want you to know is that's what we're here for. There are things we will do in the course of fulfilling that mission that God has for our church. Five core principles that are important to it: Prayer, Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship and Worship.
If you ever come to church or you're ever going through your week and you say, "My life is meaningless. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it, I don't feel like I have a purpose, I don't feel like God has a plan". All you need to do is come here on Sunday morning, Wednesday or sometime through the week and remind yourself by looking around the sanctuary, "Relationship with Jesus".
On Friday we came to 1st Friday prayer. We had a marvelous time on Friday night. The presence of the Lord was in this place and you can tell because of his presence here this morning. Prayer makes the difference. Over the last year we've had a theme that's been out on the bulletin board and has been on the top of your bulletin, "Strengthening the things that remain". For about the last year and a half that has been what the Lord has put on my heart. Not the things that are leftover or the things that we've lost but the stuff that always stays, a foundation. You can remodel a building, you can do different things to your house, but if the foundation is solid it will never be moved. We have really been trying to strengthen that foundation over the last year and a half spiritually, financially, emotionally in our lives as a church.
Strengthening things that will stay in each person's life and I believe that will always be the purpose of the church. There are fads that come, there are fads that go, but the word of God never changes. That foundation must always be the very key of what we build on in this church and in our own lives. If we will do that we will never be moved. I know that people are preaching and teaching in churches and even the media that recession is coming to America and that finances will never be the same. The truth is this, that really doesn't matter because no matter what happens around us, God is still alive in us and his work leaves us solid and firm and we don't ever have to be moved. No matter what happens to you in sickness or in your marriage or in your finances, no matter what goes on, if our foundation is strong in the Lord we will not be moved. That's a key in this church. My prayer as a church, even as we're growing and as individuals as we're maturing that we will be very strong in the Lord. That's been our purpose, our theme over the past several years.
The thing that I believe the Lord is saying to us over the next few years is this, "Moving forward, building by faith". I actually got to be a part of building a house and I found out that it seemed to take forever to get the foundation done. We would work on that thing for months and all I saw for a little while was piles of dirt that I seemed to be moving and adding pipes to and filling in. Then as we did all that and things were laid out, pretty soon we got the foundation laid. As soon as that cement slab was laid, things began to go up pretty fast. The framework was in place and even when the framework was in place and everything got roughed in then things really came together. But it took a lot of faith to believe that anything could ever be built while we were still digging on the stuff. Moving forward, building by faith.
God has a purpose and a plan for this church. I hope you're excited about that. The church that I grew up in when I arrived there it probably had about 500 people and in the process of things right now it has close to 2000. The reason for it is because they realized they had a purpose and a plan not just to grow numerically but to change lives. How many know that if the Church of Jesus Christ is touching lives then churches grow because people are being saved, they're being changed. But we reach out and receive from the Lord and I believe it's time to move forward. In all of our lives, not just corporately but even individually, to dare to believe that God will accomplish in your life the things that he has laid on your heart and has prepared for you, for me and for us. How many believe that God not only has a plan for this church but he has a plan for your family?
Right now I have a daughter that's about to graduate High School and really part of our plan has been to raise children who are solid in the Lord Jesus Christ, to make sure that they graduate High School with decent grades and they're doing that. As a family, they always see the presence and power of the Lord and that they know that God will provide for them and will use them for greater things beyond their education or a job and that God has a plan for them. I believe so far as a family we're succeeding. How many know that God doesn't only have that plan for us as a church but he has that plan for your family, for your life, for my life and of course for us corporately.
To dare to believe God, to provide and to supply, and what we need to do is trust him and believe that he'll lead and guide us. Listen, I want to say that we do live in the last days. Some churches fall into one of three categories.
Some churches are declining. The truth is that throughout America most of the mainstream churches are not growing, they're losing attendance. They're losing attendance because they really have no plan or purpose to reach the world for Jesus and lives aren't being changed. They become irelevant, they've sacrificed purity, holiness, righteousness and passion for the love of the Lord and it has become an option in their life whether the people pray or read the word or not.
The second category that churches fall into are those that just maintain. We've got us four and no more, they just don't fit in the door. The people are glad to go to church and they're glad to get a word but they just kind of maintain. When I became a Christian there were things that I began to watch as a kid growing up. I saw those who said they were Christians and they really only came to church on Sunday but they didn't live anything. How many know kids really read people? Secondly I saw people who once were on fire for the Lord but things really began to get in the way in their life. Some of them really wanted more of the world, others just got too busy and the Lord took a back seat. Those who used to be on fire for the Lord began to really just lose interest and to have no purpose. Pretty soon, not only did they not come to church but in their own personal life they didn't pray, they didn't spend time in the word.
There were a third people that I began to see and they were people that loved Jesus and that's the third type of church, a church that moves forward, a church that wins the lost, a church that wants to disciple those that come to the Lord. These are people that really see the needs around them in their community and see people that are hurting and in need. How many know people are hurting all around us? The thing that I found in my life is that when I was hurting the most, if I would reach out to help someone else, the Lord always healed me. Those are churches that move forward, churches that reach and grab onto the Lord.
There are three ways that I believe as a church that we will grow and that the Lord wants to build inside all of us. One, I believe the Lord wants to build each of us personally. How many believe in this building that you've arrived with the Lord? How many believe you still have a long way to go in Jesus? How many are looking forward to what he's going to do in you? I'm so excited, I love that because there are days and you're probably like me, some days go really really well and some days go really really bad. Last night I was thankful I live for Jesus and not for my Steelers. How many know what I'm talking about? Made it to the playoffs and they lost.
I've got to tell you I was a little irritated and my wife had to look at me and tell me, "Listen, your children are more important than the Steelers". I said, "Yes they are". You know what, God said to me, "What I want to do inside of your life and through the life of your church is more important. That's only a game".
Listen, how many know the life that we're living is not a game? God wants to build each and every one of us, help us to become mature and strong, powerful Christians in the Lord. Secondly, I believe he's going to build as we build each other up. The more I live, the more I know that I need other people and I'm so thankful. There are some people who say they don't need anybody. How many have found that those very people that say that are some of the most lonely, miserable people you've ever met in the world? I believe that God's people will build each other up, strengthen each other and encourage one another in the things of the Lord.
Thirdly, I believe that we'll be building our church through evangelism. Over this next year I'm going to talk about it a little more but I believe that God really has called us to win people to Jesus. How many know at least 3 or 4 people even in your own neighborhood that don't know God? How many know a few people at work that need Jesus? In the call of our life, the purpose of our life as Christians is for God to do a work in us but he allows us to be that life and that light for the world. I believe that the Lord is having us do that. A key word that I believe will be significant in our life over the next couple of years and really I believe will be key to us at all times is the word "openness". Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door". Something you need to understand about God is that he's not the gestapo. He doesn't show up on your doorstep, in your heart, in your life, drawing you to himself and kick the door wide open. He doesn't put his foot to the door and say, "I'm coming in whether you want me or not".
Listen, this is key for the people of God. This is not a word for backsliders. This scripture verse is not a word for those who are away from God. This is a word to his church and he wrote it in the book of revelation for his endtimes church. He said, "Behold, I stand at the door and I'm knocking and if you will just open the door, I will come in to you and I will dine with you". His promise is that if we'll come in then we can eat. From this day forward I want us to rename this sanctuary. I don't want to be disrespectful and in no way do I want to take away from the Holy nature of this room but Jesus said that If we would open the door he would come in and dine with us. So I want to call this sanctuary the dining room. That's why we have the table in here.
Some of you have learned over the last couple of years that I love to eat. I've sat at this table a long time and I've spent some great times with my family eating some good food. I want you to pay attention and focus on me for just a minute and if you will, you will hear my heart. I have found that If I will clear my mind of all these things and say, "Lord, I am open to you". I want to speak to us as a church because I know that God is speaking to his people. You've got things you've been believing God for in your life, things that you've been expecting, just quiet yourself to listen.
Even as a church when we come to this place to hear and to receive, we also need to be open for healing, physical and emotional healing. Many of us have been wounded and hurt and I want to ask you this question, do you believe that God can heal you? Are you open to that very real possibility? So many of us have gotten used to the problems that we live in, the situations that we're in, the aches and the pains, even of just growing older. God says, "I want to heal you". Can I also ask you this? Not only will you be open to the fact that God wants to heal your life because some of you have gone through stuff, you've been hurt through divorce, you've had a husband or a wife that has really just put you through the ringer. God is faithful.
Some of you have had abuse that you went through from the youngest childhood days and you're still carrying that stuff now. Listen, God wants to heal you. Are you open to it? Then I want you to take it a step further. Would you be open to the possibility that not only will God touch your life but that God wants you to become his healing hand into the lives of others.
I want to speak about that for a minute. Can we as a church be open to that? I believe that over this next year some of the things that the Lord wants us to do is to reach the lost. We're going to begin to step out in evangelism, begin to have some events to go out and try to touch our city.
I don't even know what they are yet, I've got some ideas but we have a year to put it together. Do you realize that God can use you beyond the day to day stuff that sometimes you look back and say, "Does that really matter"?
God wants to use you to touch others and make them whole. Right now maybe all you can see is the trouble you've been in or that you're going through but I want to tell you, be open to the possibility and the reality that God will not only get you out of what you're going through and help you through what you're going through but he's going to use you because of that to help other people's lives.
Be open to dream, dare to dream big. Allow God to give you a ministry or a purpose. Open means being willing to see God do a new thing in your life and in our church. Churches that just maintain or decline never do anything different. They just do things the same way all the time. I've said this before and I want to say it again, how many know the message, not the method is sacred? Today I'm preaching the Word of God and we have a dining room table in here, instead of calling it a sanctuary we're going to call it the dining room. As a matter of fact we're going to get a nice big sign to put over the front, "Welcome to the Dining Room".
You know what I found out about dining rooms, you don't live there. You get fed in the dining room, you get fellowship in the dining room, you get close and encouraged in the dining room but then you go out to live. If all you did was sit in the dining room all the time, it would start to hurt a little bit especially on those chairs. Listen, what dream has God put on your heart? What ministry have you thought about to touch other people's lives? Some of you may say, "Well Pastor, I've never really thought about touching other people's lives. I don't even know that the idea of being a minister or winning people to Christ really even enters my mind more than once a week. Why not? Allow yourself to realize that there is so much more than just going out and working, coming home and watching a football game.
There are too many spiritual abortionists in the world and God wants to bring new life but closed people can kill what God is birthing, they can kill what God wants to do. There are too many dream killers. Some of you have had things that God wanted you to do in your life, not only in ministry but a plan or a business and because life has gone the way it has, the enemy has come in and you've decide you're not going to do that. But you know what? God can breathe new life into that today. I want you to be open to this idea.
Phillipians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". People ask me, "Marvin, can you do that?" Yes. I had to put together a basketball hoop on Christmas Day. Now I had to get saved all over again after I did it but I was able to do it. I had the hardest time, they not only wrote these directions in chinese but they wrote the english in chinese and they drew in chinese. They put pictures in there which is a man's dream and I need pictures. They even had pictures of how big the bolts should be. They said it's all drawn to actual size and they didn't draw some of them to actual size and it threw me off big time. I remember sitting there as I was so confused. I even called a neighbor over who wasn't saved and he messed it up even more. My sons are out there saying they want to play basketball. My wife is coming out saying, "Dear man, it's Christmas Day and you're making it not feel like Christmas anymore. You should probably go inside and sit down and watch a movie". It really is a wonderful life.
But I got mad and thought I spent all this money on a basketball hoop and I can do all things through Christ. I want to tell you we got the basketball hoop up. It was 12 feet tall when I first got it up but eventually I got it back down to 10 feet.
Those of us who are open have a "Can do" policy about life because God said I can do it, no matter what it is, no matter how small it is, no matter how big it is. People will say, "How can this little church reach Jupiter?" We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The Bible says in Matthew 19:26, "With God all things are possible". Some people always show you why you can't do something. I want to talk to you this year about being open to this. People say, "Well why not?" I say, "Why not me"? People say, "Everyone else is blessed but me". Well, "Why not me"? God's word is for me as well. Why not our church? Why not you being whole? Why not us being free? Why not us being a witness? Why not us the ones being blessed? Why not us receiving what God has and knowing that He will be faithful all the time? Why not us growing in the Lord? Why not us prospering in the blessings of the Lord? Remember, you and I serve a supernatural God, so why not?
Those who are open also build each other up and see the potentials in others. I want to ask you this question, Do you see the potential of the people around you? Are you open to it? I want you to examine yourself for just a minute and I want to challenge us. When you look at people, do you judge the book by the cover? Are you open? When you see people going through the stuff in their life and making mistakes and really messing it up, do you know Jesus looks at those people and he sees the potential in them? He doesn't just deal with the stuff that they're doing, he speaks to their hearts so that they can be changed. I want to challenge you and I, can we look at each other and build each other up? Sometimes you're going to come to the house of the Lord and people are going through stuff, big problems, financial things that are incredible and they're having a hard time with it. Listen, that doesn't define who they are, it means they're going through a hard time, they need someone to love them. Maybe they're
going through mental issues, mental illness is a big deal in the world today.
While you're with people like that, will you love them? Will you see that God can heal them and touch them?
I believe we can be open to each other and build each other up and part of the way that we do it is in our discipleship classes. We call them the way of life discipleship classes and there are 5 different tracks. I want to encourage you, are you on track with the Lord? I really would love to see every person in the church go through them. The first one is the member ship track, the 2nd is the maturity track, the 3rd is your ministry track and receiving the gifts, the 4th is the soul winning track and the 5th is the leadership track. Each of these classes are only 2 or 3 weeks, we come and study them and then we move on. Once you're through them you're through but they help you get a foundation so that we grow and we have the tools necessary. Then everyone in the church is on the same page, reaching out and knowing that God has equipped us and put a plan and purpose in our heart.
I want to say this again, the 3rd way to rebuild our church is through evangelism, being soul winners, bringing people to Jesus. We must have ministries in place and we do now so that we can reach the lost and they can come in and grow. One of the things we started last year is called "Focus Groups", keeping life and the word in focus where people can get together. They meet in homes and right now one of those 4 groups are doing well. In the next couple months we're going to be starting others. How many know as your Pastor I can't get to everybody all the time in every way and be everything to everybody all the time? The truth is if you've got a group of people together that meet together and love each other and have friendships together and care for each other then you've got people to call that you know will help and be there and encourage and equip and that is so very important.
Another way that we need to grow, if you look around the church, sometimes we're out in the foyer and there's very few seats left, we're growing. It's a good thing. Over the last year there's been some weeding in and out of the church, people who have come in, people who have left, people who have gone. How many know that's natural in the life of a church? It's always hard to see family go. I have family all over the world, a church family, brothers and sisters in the Lord, it's a privilege to know it and it's a marvelous thing.
Beacon Baptist is still the building we want to purchase and it will more than double the space that we have. They're still building because of the money restraints but we don't have all the money we need to actually get over there yet. How many know God has his timing? Right now they're still in the process of building their building so they can't even move so the fact that we haven't sold yet really doesn't matter. I want to tell you as your Pastor, I love to have all my ducks in a row all the time and they're pretty well in a row but we're still waiting for God to move. In a couple weeks you're going to see some signs put out here as we look to sell our property. However when we sell it we have to have somewhere to go.
I don't know all that God has in store for that yet but we'll figure it all as we go along and how many know God has the right plan? One of the things that we do need to do is begin to sow so that we can go into that building. My wife and I will give and I know many of you have committed to give to the building program.
Here's one of the things, as we've talked as a board, I know some churches have gone into building programs and they do things like faith promises where the focus of church life becomes money, moving and buildings. How many believe that if the focus is always put on Jesus that God will provide what he needs? But we also must be faithful in our giving so we can accomplish the vision God has. I know some people that have said, "Pastor, I wish we had bigger facilities and I wish we could do this with the kids, and I wish we could do this and that" and I do to but to do it you have to have the resources to be able to move forward. Some churches will call in these special people and actually pay them like $40,000 to have them come in and encourage the people to give. Listen, we're family. This isn't about squeezing people so they can give it all, it's about lets build it all together and grow as a family. Some churches will take faith promises then when they don't come through they get dissapointed and there's always this focus on giving. I want to tell you, part of that is good to a point but I didn't feel led in any of those ways.
In the Old Testament when they were going to build the temple and the tabernacle, both Moses and Joash did this. Joash took a chest and when they knew they needed to build or rebuild the temple he said, "Come and set a chest at the door of the church and let the people give as the Lord leads them and let them come and give what they've purposed in their heart and from that we will build the temple". I've known Pastors as they get to the end of these faith things that they call people up like telemarketing and encourage people to give. How many know I'd be on the other end just throwing up? God hasn't called us to be fundraisers, he's called us to be soul winners. Someone say a good amen. But it does take funds to do things. If you don't believe me, walk into Publix, go get your groceries and walk out the front door, they'll arrest you. What we're going to do here today is this, I've only placed it in the center today as an illustration. Money will not be the center of this church, Jesus is the center of this church. Every week we're going to place the Joash chest off to the side and each week we'll probably mention it during the offering just to encourage the building program as we go.
That building over there will cost about 3 million dollars. Our property is worth about 2 million but I'm still believeing we'll get 3 million for it. I want to believe we're going over there debt free but if for whatever reason that doesn't happen I believe we can raise the rest. I'd like us to go into that building debt free because I'd like us to be able to use what funds we have coming in to reach people for Jesus. I live my life debt free except for different mortgages and things you have to have but listen, I believe a church can do it without a mortgage. If we have to have one we'll do it but i'd rather not. How many of you believe that same way? You can come and place your building fund offering and I want to do that as faith, not as show. Here's how we can do it, before church or after church, we'll have this there. How many believe God has something good for our lives?
Purpose in your heart to give over and above your tithes. Some of you aren't even tithing, I know that because i know where we are financially as a church. But I pray that financially we'd be open to watch God do the miracles. During, before service or after service you can walk up and put your building fund offering in the chest, put it in an envelope and write building fund or Joash chest on it, we'll know what you mean. You can even get up in the middle of the offering if you want. People say, "That's just showy, we shouldn't do that stuff". I'm not asking you to do those weird faith preacher things and throw money up to the front. I believe the house of the Lord, the dining room, should be a proper place but during the offering when the ushers are coming, if you've got an offering to bring to the Lord, it will inspire people with faith in giving. If the Lord challenges you, you get up and walk up there and go back to your seat. If you want to high five people on the way that the Lord gave you enough above and beyond you go ahead and do it. Listen, how many know we are building by faith and I'm not ashamed of that. Someone say a good amen.
That's all I'm going to say on that, we're going to start that next week. If you want you can start this week, maybe the Lord will move you and you want to give. Here's one thing I'm believing in the midst of recession, I believe God blesses his people. I'm believing you'll get raises at work and i hope you win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. I hope you get 10 million dollars and you give 3 million to the church. The truth is if you get 10 million, your tithe is 1 million. If someone gets that and we get this church sold and we get 2 million for it and you give your 1 million dollar tithe, how many know we have a building? Now don't go out and play the lottery because that's gambling and its wrong but if someone gives you the ticket check to see if it's ok. You say, "I can't receive the devil's money". Listen, the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous and then you can go on your vacation to the Bahamas.
Anyway, listen, another thing that we need to do and I want to close on this, is that we also have to be open to change. I promise you I don't know that I have any real plans of change but things do change. Change is good. What do you want God to do in you? That may mean you have to change the way you do things, the way you approach things. We do have a place of change coming in this church. How many believe churches need to be sending churches? In my church where I grew up there are 40 of us that have gone into full time ministry. Do you remember Bobby Thomas that was here a couple weeks ago, a missionary? I love that, there's 40 of us out there. Some of us beat each other up in youth group but God got a hold of us and now we're out there winning people to Jesus. Isn't that cool? Raising up ministries and releasing people to go.
January 20th will be Pastor Troy's last Sunday with us. Pastor Troy is going to be a part of a church plant in Jacksonville for Mosaic Church reaching people who are 32 and younger. He is going to be on the cutting edge of that ministry leading worship. This was Troy's first full time place of service, it's been hard too and challenging but stretching. He's grown in the Lord and I want to tell you for 23 years old he's got a heart for Jesus and I'm impressed with it. He's a brother that I love very, very much. Throughout the week not only is he active here but he's gone and led worship at different conferences, churches and youth events. Someone heard him there and called him out of the blue, he wasn't even expecting it. They said, "We love what you're doing and we want to reach this type of a group of people". He came to me and said, "I believe the Lord is leading me this way, what do you think?" How many know you can get in the flesh and say, "I don't want you to go" because he's a friend. The truth is this, I know that through his ministry and through his life, lives will be changed powerfully.
Listen, how many know in this church, God is about ready to open some doors for a fresh work even in us? I want to tell you some things I'm excited about in the next year. How many know preachers have to get things figured out? How many appreciate Carlos? He's going to step in and be a minister and Mike Mccann has agreed to work with the youth. Right now those will be part time things that they'll be doing and we'll discuss things as a church and let you know what's going on. We're going to be combining the youth from the 7th -12th grade and making that one youth group. I'm excited about what God is doing with our youth. You can tell the temperature of a church by their children and by their youth. We know that this youth group has had a hard time in the last couple years but i want to tell you that I love the young people in this church. I love what Pastor Rick has done as he has raised up these children and they're coming. It's marvelous, we have such a cohesive group of kids right now. They love the Lord, they love to be here, they play together, they're best friends. My boys best friends are here at the church. I love that because that's the way it was for me growing up. You can have friends on the baseball team or the football team and at school but my boys love to be here with their friends. I want to tell you, my mother hates it that I live 1400 miles from home. How many know I'm a man and I'm moving away from my momma? But I want to speak this to you, are you open to God speaking to your sons and daughters and raising them up to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ? I'm believing for missionaries to come out of this church. I'm believing for Pastor's and Evangelists to come out of this church. I'm believing for young men and women to be raised up as lawyers but in that place they are a magnificent witness for Jesus. I'm praying they will raise up to be doctors and when people come into their office they will lay hands on them and pray for them first and give them medicine second. I'm praying we'll have politicians that are honest raised up out of our church that will be a witness for Jesus Christ. Could you imagine what God wants to do here? How many know that vision is bigger than us? We can do all things through Christ.
Over this next year I want to encourage you to be open to it. That may mean God asking you to give up a football game and spend some time with people. You know I love the Steelers but I want to tell you, playoffs or not, if people need the Lord I'm there. It doesn't matter. Are you open? Will you be open? Will you get excited with me? I'm really excited about what God is doing. How many sense his presence in this place today for the powerful work that he wants to do?
