--PRE-SERVICE PRAYER--

Focus: Serve from your Heart

Foundation Scripture: Colossians 3:22-24 MEV

Prayer Points:
1. Keep our eyes focused on God while serving others.
2. Serve with a heart of gladness, gratitude, and generosity.
3. Increase our expectations and receive the reward of the inheritance.
4. Two Dynamic Sunday Morning Services

--MESSAGE--

" VISION4WARD"

Vision (châzôn):a sight (mentally), that is, a dream, revelation, or oracle.

Introduction:

The Book of Revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) (Revelation 2-3). Each letter, as proclaimed by Jesus and recorded by John the Apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent.

1. Ephesus
2. Smyrna
3. Pergamum
4. Thyatira
5. Sardis
6. Philadelphia
7. Laodicea

Angel - (ang'-el-os) a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: - angel, messenger.

B.H. Carroll, a well-known Bible scholar, in his commentary, estimates that there were probably 100,000 members in the Jerusalem church after 25 years. Peter Wagner and many have agreed. G. Campbell Morgan estimates a minimum of 60,000.

In the New Testament times, the city of Jerusalem was home to approximately 200,000 people as confirmed by Bible dictionaries. The Jerusalem church, with around 100,000 members, indicates that HALF of the city’s population had embraced Christianity. It is no surprise, then that it was said, “you’ve filled Jerusalem.

There are 17,554 residents in the city of Powder Springs according to 2023 data. We need to reach a minimum of 8,777 of them.

Jesus left the early church His vision and they ran with it.

When you look at the book of Acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from God.

Eight Characteristics of the Early Church

1. We must CONNECT people to GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT.

If you’re a Christian, you already have the Holy Spirit living inside you, but we must rely on His power on a moment-by-moment basis. The power of God is given for witnessing, for ministry, for mission.

2. We must CONNECT people to FAMILY. - (Connect Groups)

Ten times in the first five chapters of Acts, it says, “They were unified.” Luke, the writer, uses phrases like “they were of one accord," "one heart," "one purpose," "one spirit, "all united in thought.”

The result of people being close to each other and celebrating warmth and harmony was that other people wanted to get involved. They wanted to be a part of that and give their lives to Christ.

3. We must multiply CONNECT GROUPS.

Meeting house-to-house in Connect Groups offers four significant advantages:

1. Infinitely expandable.
2. Unlimited geographically.
3. Promotes good stewardship.
4. Fosters strong relationships.

• There’s benefit—wisdom—in God’s way of multiplying Connect groups.

• As a result, the Lord added to their number daily those that were being saved

4. We must ENLARGE our vision of God.

The Apostles were essentially saying “God, there are rulers, leaders and other people against You, but You’re in control. You’re the sovereign Lord. You made everything in heaven and on earth.”

As children of the King, we are on the winning side. We’ve read the last chapter and know how it will end. Jesus Christ has broken our chains, and Jesus says in the Bible, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)

Don’t be afraid to rock the boat if Jesus Christ is the captain. We need to magnify our vision of God.