Malaria in the Kruger National Park

FULFILLING THE EXCELLENCE OF THE LORD’S CALLING IN YOUR CHURCH

Compiled by : Pastor Bettie Steenkamp (M.Th.)

Introduction

The Church of Christ hold the keys to true prosperity. It holds the power of salvation and the solution to our corrupted world, if only we could awaken to the great principles and opportunities that Christ has given us. I am talking about love, sharing, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with each other to reach he world for Christ.

I. The church are the called out ones

God is calling His Church to rededicate herself to the foundation on which the earlier church was founded. The church has to realize its power and envision greater things for the kingdom of God. The Church needs spiritual authority to face the god of earthly habits and desires. We have to stand together as a Kingdom of believers, and realize who we are as a Body.

a.

The Body of Christ

The Church is the Body of Jesus Christ. Each believer needs to know his place in the Body of Christ. He must recognize that he is related functionally to every other Christian. Jesus Christ is the head of the church; He is the head of the body in absolute control. He is the One who builds His church. The body is a unit.

The function of the body is primarily and fundamentally a body designed and expressed through each member - (every one of us) - the life of the indwelling Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Function, therefore, is vital for the benefit of the whole Body. No single Christian has all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, our gifts compliment and supplement the gifts of others. These gifts are directly related to our ministry within the local Church.

b.

The primary function of the local Church

The primary function of the local Church is to provide a place where believers can collectively worship and praise the Lord. The Body as a whole, worships together. This is why we have worship services in our Churches.

c.

The local Church

The local Church is where Christians are encouraged to grow spiritually. God provides pastors, teachers and evangelists to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the full measure of perfection found in Christ. Churches should provide training opportunities for their members.

II. Ministering Body

The Church is the place for ministry, where committed Christians can have an outreach into the world through evangelism and to disciple new believers. Discipeling the believer in the context of the Local Church was at the heart of the ministry of the Early Church. Likewise , the church today must be the place where that ministry is conducted.

The Church is a place from which to launch evangelism, and have a healthy program for those coming to Christ, and to disciple them as they grow into spiritual maturity.

The Church should be preaching and teaching the Word of God - the true Gospel of the Kingdom. The pastors and leaders must be totally committed to the Lord and help other believers grow.

The Body must expose Satan’s work and deal with it without compromise. We should bind the demonic powers of lust and perversion, exposing sin.

The Body of Christ should unite together. It is through unity that we will overcome this world. Unity in the Body of Christ will enable the Church to experience the power of revival. We have to learn to deal with our differences.

The Church is equipped with the full armour of God; therefore the Church is responsible for equipping it’s members.

Conclusion

God is calling the Church to excel into a higher spiritual realm, to shake of the dust and rise up too victory. He is calling us to spiritual enlargement, to His fullness, His power and dominion, explaining the knowledge of the Word, and to live in purity and excellence. It is time to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. Excellence is not a choice, but a command from the King Eternal.

2009/12/20