Church Explosion

#1 – Jesus said that HE would build His church…that is a promise and it is true of OUR CHURCH! Matthew 16:18 (New International Version)
18And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.[c]

#2 – Jesus said that HIS Word would not fail to produce a harvest…so if you are faithful in declaring HIS Word then something GREAT is taking place, even if you can’t see it yet!
Isaiah 55:8-13 (New International Version)
 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

#3 – You are meeting resistance…which means the enemy is pissed!  Stay focused on Christ…you KNEW this would happen
(Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.)…
entrust yourself to Jesus
1 Peter 2:21-25 (New International Version)21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."[a] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
and believe that
Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
 17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

#4 – God is raising up leaders, who want to OWN the ministry and be participators rather than spectators. Ones that comprehend the meaning of
Ephesians 4:11-16 (New International Version)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

#5 – God started our church…and He will bring it to completion…HE’S NOT FINISHED WITH US YET!
Philippians 1:6 (New International Version)
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

#6 – The church is STILL His plan, He has NOT changed His mind…and He loves our church just as much as He loves any church!

#7 – He is leading you towards greater steps of faith…which means you are becoming more desperate for Him…and when THIS happens He shows up in amazing ways and does the unexplainable and the undeniable!
Hebrews 11:6 (New International Version)
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

#8 – Though we may feel discouraged and disheartened…we STILL believe in WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO!  We may have suffered some setbacks lately…but there is something inside of us telling us to not give up on the God who has never given up on us! That we've done what Josua and Caleb have done. We have seen the promised land and are not afraid of the obstacles before us.  We’ve STILL got a fire and a hope!
Numbers 13:30 (New International Version)
Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Numbers 32:11-12 (New International Version)
11 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'


#9 – God has given our Pastor a vision…God has given you a vision that is going to be birthed from here, one that is HUGE…one that keeps you up at night.  And the fear of NOT doing what HE has told you to do is beginning to trump the fear of man!

#10 – His church is coming together like never before to begin completing each other instead of competing against each other!!!  When we all cheer each other on and work together…it speaks VOLUMES to a world that is desperate for Jesus!