Grace World Outreach Church
Sunday Morning Service - Pastor Daniel K Norris
You’ve Been Robbed!
The Ekklesia: A Church In Revival
Text: Eph 3:14-21; 4:1-16
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the churchand in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
4:1 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. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Every soul needs a strong healthy church
"The reason many churches are weak and ineffective is because they do not understand what they have in Christ. And the cause of this is often spiritual leaders who are not good “stewards of the mystery.” Because they do not “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), they confuse their people concerning their spiritual position in Christ, and they rob their people of the spiritual wealth in Christ."
- Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 29–30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
Paul says, "For this reason" he prays... vs 19 "that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
This is a "Church in Revival"
Church in Revival vs Revival Church (There is a difference)
A Revival Church...
- A Moment (The event)
- Call to The Service
- Selling Out (Packing the House)
- Creates Christian Celebrities
- says, “Build It, they will come”
- Focused on the Center Stage
- Short Life Span
Church in Revival...
- A Movement
- Call to Service
- Sold Out
- Simply Celebrates Christ
- Says “Lift Him Up, He will draw”
- Focused on the City and Streets
- Generational Legacy
This “Church In Revival” is found in COMMUNITY
4:1 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.
2) This “Church In Revival” is found in UNITY
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.
Why membership, partnership, joining with the local church is so important.
We make joining with the community of Grace World easy, our Next Steps Class is where the journey begins.
https://www.graceworldag.org/nextsteps
Note: UNITY doesn’t Mean UNIFORMITY
Diversity walking in Christ-Centered HARMONY
Different Gifts… Different Functions…
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Yes, Different gifts, Different functions… But the same purpose
Vs 12
(1) to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
(2) for building up the body of Christ,
3) This “Church In Revival” is found in MATURITY
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Marks of a Church in IMMATURITY
- Disunity, No Honor, No Humility
- Fail to understand who they are in Christ
- Childish
- Chase every fad and latest trend
- Prideful, Self Serving, Self Promoting
- Unwilling to be joined
Stop Being Robbed of a FULL LIFE experience, take back what has stolen!
This Week:
Read Along with us in Ephesians 3-4
- Take note what a Mature, Church in Revival is supposed to look like
- Ask yourself who you contribute your gift to building that Church
- Pray Pauls prayer from Ephesians 1 & 3, make it personal
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