Equipping the Saints

·         Welcome to 2010! Didn’t we have a great New Years Eve Service? I think there were a lot of surprised people at the turn out. We had folks from Brandon Florida, Fort Pierce, Titusville and many of you brought friends and family. It was awesome. Thank you for helping make it a success.

·         I want to welcome the children in with us today on this generational Sunday.

·         For the first three weeks of the January I want to cast vision and connect us to the call that is upon the House of Freedom. For many years we have been refining what God has called us to in a simpler expression that is easy to remember and easy to understand. Over the next three weeks I want to present to you who we are what we are called to. It is our mission at FCC. It is easy to remember: We exist to: Equip the Saints, Express our Worship and Expand the Kingdom.

·         When Joshua turned 13, we decide to hike for one week on the Appalachian trail. Neither of us had ever done that before. In all my reading, the message was be prepared. Part of the preparation process was to make sure we had the right equipment for the journey. What do you think we would need for such a journey?

o   Food and water. To get the water we had to have special equipment to filter our dirt and bacteria that would make us sick.

o   Clothes—we had to be ready for rain, mosquitoes, sleeping

o   A way to carry everything.

o   A map/compass so we would not get lost.

o   We had to equip ourselves for the journey we were about to take.

·         God is taking this church on a journey. One of the things that God has called us to do is to equip people to walk with God and each other. Pastor Jima, our children’s pastor is working to equip you to follow God, to walk with good character and to love others using the gifts He has given us.

1.  God’s Word Urges Us to be Equipped

A. Jesus commands us to make disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NKJV To make a disciple: I introduce a person to Jesus so they have their own personal relationship. I teach them how to live their life like Jesus did. And I teach them how to that with other people. 

B.  The Apostle Paul told Timothy, his disciple: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV So Paul let us know that through the Word of God we can be thoroughly equipped to all good things.

C.  The Apostle Paul also told the church: Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, NKJV

2.  The Call to Equip

A. What does it mean to be equipped?

i.     Equip comes from the Gr. Word katartizor which means: to equip, to end as prescribed; what is proper or becoming. In Eph. 4:12 it is having the equipment to do the work of the ministry. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Kittle abridged.)

ii.  Webster defines equip as, to furnish or provide for whatever is needed for use or for any undertaking; to furnish with intellectual or emotional resources; to prepare.

iii. God has called Freedom Christian Center to be a church that furnishes or provides believers the tools and understanding of the Word of God that would prepare them to meet Jesus and also enable them to introduce others to Jesus. The Word of God is rich with the things He has for us.

B.  Our Vision at Freedom is this:

i.     We desire to see a strong local church established here in east-central Florida that will train people in the knowledge of the word and of Christ, activate them by allowing them to practice what they have learned, and release them as mature, zealous Christians to reproduce themselves in others, both on a local and global scale. We desire to become a spiritual hub of activity with purpose where people come in and go out. It will be a place for those broken and defeated in life to get healed and restored. It will be a place where people of all races and walks of life will come to be encouraged, trained, and released into ministry. Our vision includes preparing the young, from the nursery to adult, not just teaching them to discern right and wrong, but also equipping them to do what is right; activating them to be a righteous standard in an unholy world, and releasing them to confront what is wrong in society and restore those who have been its victims. Our vision is to see the life changing power of God heal the sick, give new life, free those mentally oppressed, and empower Christians to take the Gospel into all the earth. We desire to plant at least three local churches and send equipped saints all over the world to make disciples of all people.

ii.  Equipping is a major part of who we are and why we exist. It has been from our foundation and has increased as we have went.

C.  What are we to be equipped for:

i.     To do the work of the ministry-The church/you and I, are the ones who do ministry. We are the church, we are ministers, and we are on a mission. We are to equip you to move in the gifts of the spirit. Provide practical ways and paths for you to minister or release your gifts. To exhort you to touch others with the love of God. Eph 4:12  We have so many people that do ministry.

ii.  To stand in adversity—This means we have to have our hearts right toward God so that we do not become offended at him or others when things do not necessarily go our way. We want to equip you to have a strong spirit that is able to overcome rejection, hurts of the heart, disappointments while counting it all joy. If you can stand in adversity you will stand when all is well. Full armor, Eph 6

iii. To meet Jesus when He returns. We want our hearts ready when He comes. Lk 1:17 “…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

3.  The Motivation to Equip/why do we want to equip people?

A. The motivation to equip must be inspired by love

i.     We equip because we love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. NKJV

ii.  God gives us spiritual gifts/equipment so that we can love others better. But the gifts He gives us must be motivated by love. I use the gifts to love others not so others can see how good I am.

iii. We want to equip people so they are prepared for Jesus, others and life.

B.  The motivation to equip must be moved by command

i.     We equip because we are commanded to do so.

a.  Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NKJV

b.  Ephesians 4:12 Paul said that the 5 fold ministry was given for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, NKJV

ii.  It is the law of reproduction. If we do not give to others and the next generation then we cause the Kingdom to loose ground.

C.  The motivation to equip must be driven by the burden to prepare

i.     To create a solid family in the Lord. 

a.  Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, 10 especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.' NKJV

b.  Deuteronomy 20:18 lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God. NKJV

c.    Il.  When the boys left for school, I asked myself, “Did you prepare them to be away from home?” With Caleb getting married this summer one of my questions I ask myself, “Have I prepared him enough?” 

ii.  A burden to establish. Create a strong people in the Lord. Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established — NKJV

a.  To many just go through life surviving hoping to get by long enough to get the kids out of the house.

b.  Our greatest ministry is to our children. Our first assignment is to our children. If you do not have a burden to prepare them get on your knees and get one. Because one way or the other you will get a burden—either to prepare them or to bail them out.

4.  The People to Equip

B.  Continues with your family

C.  Reaches your church

i.     What you have seen in your spirit is but a small thing of what I yet shall do. And I will give out of this place, says the Lord. And even a tithe shall come forth that shall go forth around the world. And I will enflame your youth…Glenn Miller 4/91

ii.  And this is the branch going out over the wall, this is the branch going out under the stranger, this is the ministry I’ve called you unto to be one that will set men on fire for Me and get them oriented in their call of what I’ve called them unto in light. And so it is that I send you across the seas, because there are men crying out for direction, crying out unto Me to hear a word from God and I’m going to give it to you My son…Huck 12/92

iii. I don’t know how much you’ve been to Africa, but I see extensive ministry to Africa in days to come. I see your heart just beating for that part of the world. I see a lot of teams here going, and I see hubs here in Africa primarily some places you will have a long-term training base in years to come. We’re speaking long-range vision. But I just see God really capturing your heart for that part of the world as well. Websters 97

B.  Strong Local Church

i.     You have strategic intercessors in your church. Some very keen people that God has divinely placed there. Many of those have joined themselves together in prayer, intercession and worship. There is real strong worship anointing on your church. And those things are going to increase even more…. He wants a horrendous life of prayer and fasting for those coming days when His revelation becomes so clear. He has a glorious plan for you and your church. IHOP 5/04

iii. Noel Woodroffe – There will eventually be churches coming out of this church. A place to be a production of leadership. I see three churches that God will cause to be produced out of this house. 4/93 Also in this same word—I feel that at some time God is going to give this house oversight of a number of churches. Not of acquisition but of fathering. God is going to make this a house of fathering where ministries will come to receive strong oversight.

iv. The Lord is going to have other ministries that will base out of here. Jill Austin 6/96

v.  CI – Apostles Conference 5/92—prophetic presbytery. “…I declare to you that you are going to build ones that are strong, you are going to bring in many young couples, many singles, many families and you are going to see them grow and develop and you are going to see many churches planted in your own local area and already there is a stirring in a number of areas and you have zeal to go out and plant churches and I am going to give you a grace to do that.

vi. I hear the Lord saying that your church is like a launching pad. God says that there is going to be other ministries coming out of your church. God is going to raise other churches up. You are going to be like a birthing station from your church. God says there will be other churches branch off from you. 3/95 CI

vii.           There are other ministries that the Lord will have you plant... Buddy Crumb 7/99

viii.         Just as you have visited every one of these countries, you will send teams and you will plant churches in every one of these countries that you have visited. This will be a training center, and God will raise up this training center and you will send young people (young couples) with an apostolic team to each one of these countries that you have stepped foot in. And you will raise up a church, I see 100’s of churches coming to you Tim, 100’s of churches. Reecie Saunder 09/05

i.     The Lord says I’m also going to give you the anointing for children and children’s ministry. It will be a place where people will send their children just to be taught of the Lord. Even those who are not saved and don’t know Christ, will hear of kid’s lives being changed here. They will send their children and then they will follow their children here. I will cause mom and dad to get saved after Junior comes to children’s church and Sunday school. I’m going to cause this place to be a place of family unity and restoration. Websters 97

ii.  I would really look this over because this is an invitation that is really awesome. I saw toddlers, running down your aisles, I saw young people, they were running down your aisles to greet one another, I saw teenagers running down the aisle to hug one another. I saw a young couple getting married, nursing babies and the vision repeated itself two more times. You are going to have a lot of extended families here—I saw them as awesome leaders of the last days church. Bob Jones 12/04

iii. The Lord is going to release a blessing of favor on your children and your children’s children. Three generations of blessing that are going to come out of this church and things that are going to take place: a school of the Spirit, the ministry, the healings all of these things are at the door. Paul Keith Davis 12/04

i.     …you are going to have a discipleship school. You are going to disciple people in the ways of Christ. It is going to be a program…that will get Christians to grow and mature and have certain tests and programs to fulfill and also those who want to go on to become more effective in ministry. It is going to be a training place for discipling people. 11/94 Ed Traut

ii.  One the property, the Lord says that you will have a Bible School there. There is a teaching anointing that is going to come forth. God is going to raise up teachers but also those that will come in and teach too. Jill Austin 06/96

iii. God has placed in you a mentoring and fathering ability, I am going to send many young men to you to be mentored and to be trained. I see you writing books and training syllabuses that people will be using to be trained and mentored. … I see television ministry even satellite. I don’t know if this is in Africa or Germany, but I see your face being beamed across there and these are going to be ministry training centers Buddy Crumb 7/99

iv. I feel like you are going to be a conference center. You are called to be a center of activity where people would come in and out and where the caravans of the Spirit would come in and out. And I saw a training school, … you have been in training yourself and God is about to release you and launch you into this. Where there is a door open to disciple and train leaders, … you are called to train leaders and also to send out missions from these leaders that you train. Shawn Bolz 4/04