COMPELLED BY CHRIST

[FAITH]

 One of the first signs of true Christian maturity is having our identity more in citizenship in heaven than our citizenship on the earth.

 

If our first thought, when asked who we are, is what we do for a living, then we are still married to the world more than to Christ, or at best we are still babes in Christ, regardless of how much knowledge and experience we have.

 

This is presently the state of more than 90% of all Christians, which is the result of making converts instead of disciples.

 

Jesus who has taken up residence within our spirits comes to empower and enable us to be everything we have been DESTINED to be and do.

Every Christian is called to a ministry (our CALLING in Christ) and given gifts of the Spirit as tools for accomplishing that ministry. As we mature, we become more effective in our ministry just as we mature in a profession and become more proficient in it.

 

INDIVIDUAL DESTINIES 

Our unique inheritance in Christ includes many facets, such as our individual DESTINIES, or that which God is longing to accomplish through each life for His glory. God offers us supernatural ability and power to fulfill OUR CALLING IN CHRIST and His plans for us with limitless resources.

"Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work," says the Lord. - Jeremiah 1:5

We must constantly seek to understand what God wants us to become (HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE)  - (Matthew 7:7).

 

To have our identity in Christ more than in this world does not mean that we must leave our jobs or professions to fulfill our ministry. We should think of ourselves in full-time ministry even when we are serving in a job or profession.

 

That job or profession should be seen as a mission field where we are called to do the work of the ministry.  The most important thing is who we are in Christ, not what we do for a living. 

Church is not something we go to, but what we are. We are the church twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. What many think of as church today is about to radically change.

 

Church is not just attending meetings or services. We are compelled by Christ's love to DISCIPLE others as Jesus set about it -- calling disciples to Himself, one by one, and instructing each one with patient care.

 

True church life is everyday life, walking with Him and abiding in Him who does His work through us.

 

We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave His life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. 1John 3:16

 

DISCIPLESHIP OF THE SAINTS

 

One of the unique things about the Church of the New Covenant is that God has authorized and commanded every believer to do the work of the ministry! God wants an entire army of workers out doing the vital work of DISCIPLESHIP of the saints and building up His Body, the Church. The failure of ministries to equip the saints (train believers to DISCIPLE other believers) so that every individual part of the Body of Christ is functioning is a primary reason for the overall ineffectiveness of the church.

You should teach people who you can trust the things you and many others have heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others. - 2 Timothy 2:2

 

True Christianity is a life of sacrifice. Even so, slaves of Christ are the freest people on earth. Dying to ourselves so we can live for Him is the path to the most abundant, fulfilling life.

 

 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

http://afministry.ning.com/