3 indispensible attitudes for church growthVital Apparel for Future…
I
saw an add on TV the other night… It said, “We have the vital apparel
for future.”
This
morning when I was praying this add came to mind… Here’s how God laid it
out to me…
Put
on these three vital attitudes for the next season:
#1
Patience…
Its
one of the fruits of the Spirit of God (Gal.5:22). You’ve heard it time
and time again… “Patience is a virtue.” It seems we know it’s a virtue
we want exercised towards us- we just don’t want to exercise it toward
others. But going into the future it is one we need to learn. Kid’s
programs demand patience. Youth programs demand patience. Small groups
demand patience. Every relationship- if it is to be a Godly one-
requires patience. A man’s wisdom gives
him patience; it is to his glory to
overlook an offense. Prov.19:11
*Three things to remember about patience:
#1-
Patience doesn’t come naturally…
Patience is something we need but we do not naturally have it. Note that
patience comes from wisdom (which comes from God). If you want God’s
wisdom you have to ask and believe God for it.
#2-
Patience means over looking an offence…
The
very definition of patience is the ability to over look an offence.
Patience is not asking people not to offend you or to behave in
ways that don’t bother you… You will be offended- patience is the wisdom
to over look it. (no matter what size / age the offender is)
#3-
Patience is beneficial to the one who has it…
He
says it is to your glory to over look an offence. In the original
language the words there for “over look” are to look beyond. Though you
are bothered or “bugged” by what someone says or does- you know the
value of looking beyond it. Your life is about more then just being
bugged. I think we all have wants and wishes for our church and our
lives- I wonder just how often we ourselves stunt they growth we so
desperately want?
God’s word puts the burden of patience on you. Patience is important to
growth… both the growth of your church and your personal growth.
#2
Faithfulness…
Yes
that’s right, it is another fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). Neither an
individual nor a Church can grow with out faithfulness. Faithfulness
means being there and being committed. Faithfulness is not a chore or a
demand- it’s a desire that is placed in us to grow. Jesus
identified the “greatest commandment”: Love the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deut.6:5
You
are faithful and committed to what you love most. Have you ever thought
about the things that you are most faithful to? The things or people you
are most faithful to are the ones you love most.
I
have a strong desire to be faithful to God and that desire grows with my
love for Jesus. The more I know Him and experience His faithfulness to
me- the more faithful I am to Him and His Church… the higher He climbs
on my “love list” and the more consistently He stays at the top.
Neither an individual nor a Church can grow with out faithfulness.
#3
Optimism…
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