The Work and Blessing of God

How can I grow? How can I help the church grow? How can I help the body of Christ mature? Most Christians understand that growth is one of the great callings of our faith. From the beginning of time Adam was told to "be fruitful and multiply" and in the New Testament Jesus instructed his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations". We know that we should grow but we wonder how we should do this and what we should really expect. Should we expect thousands to come to Christ like what happened after Peter preached in the beginning of Acts? Should we expect signs and miracles?

I'm not sure we can answer all of those questions in one day, but I do think that the Bible gives us beautiful battle plan to achieve all that God wants to accomplish through us.

First we have to really believe that God wants to accomplish something through through the church and our desire has to be just that. Whatever we do has to be done through individuals dedicated to the work and institution of the local church. If my work is not founded in what Christ founded, if I don't put my trust and faith not only in Christ but in his work and join the body of his belivers I cannot expect my work to grow. And I'm not just talking about membership, I'm talking about our hopes, dreams and prayers.

Nothing good can come from a people without a vision but for the Christian that vision has to come through the church. I think that means we have to really expand our mind to what a church should truly be. It should open the doors for all sorts of gifts and talents to be used in the church.

The Second thing we need is a real and earnest prayer. I wrote about this a few days ago, but I don't think we Christians can really stress it enough: I need to start praying big and earnest prayers that God would bless our church in a dynamic and measurable way. I need to put my faith into action and boldly approach the Lord for requests and truly believe He has the power to deliver. Of course He can say no, but when I pray my focus shouldn't be on His ability to say no, my focus should be like Paul's so that I can ask that God "fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."

And lastly I believe we have to have faith in the work and blessing of God. We have to truly believe that God WILL reward every good work. We have to truly believe what Jesus said "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

Let's trust in our gracious and powerful Heavenly Father, who grants us spiritual and physical blessings; a God who will let us reap what we did not sow, and will bless our earnest work with His power. Let's trust that He will fuffill our desires for good work. Let's accomplish great things through His church.