The Church Is Active

The Church is…Active

Conflict over Water Rights
When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.” So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
From there, Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.

—Genesis 26:12-25 (NLT)

Creating a Space of Transformation

A Space of Salvation

A space of rest for the mind to think.
A space where obstacles to salvation are intentionally removed.
A space of peace free from opinions, judgments, and political rhetoric.
A space for people to find Jesus, allowing Him to grow them, correct them, and turn their weaknesses into strengths.

A Space of Growth

Being born again is an ongoing activity. It is about constantly changing the will’s preference from self-gratification to God’s gratification.

Your salvation is immediate, but your kingdom’s impact is exercised by growing and allowing others to find their space of growth.

A Space of Genuine Love of Others

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

—1 Peter 1:22-23 NLT

Here is how:

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

—1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT

As we grow in our awareness of God in our lives. we will grow in our awareness of others.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

—Ephesians 4:1-4 NLT

A Space of Gratitude

Gratitude is a posture of humility.

Gratitude pushes back:
Pride
Entitlement
Depression.
Critical Spirit

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

—Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT)

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.

—Acts 16:25-26 (NIV)

Gratitude is never invisible or silent.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

—Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Gratitude begins where our sense of entitlement ends.

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

—Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

Grateful people can find a blessing, enlarge a blessing, be a blessing, or create a blessing in almost any situation.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

—Psalm 103:1-5

Gratitude is not inactive.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

—Luke 6:45 NLT

A Space of Helping Others

We are spiritual contributors not spiritual consumers.

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.

—2 Corinthians 9:13 NLT

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

—2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

—Galatians 5:13 NLT

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

—Mark 10:45 NLT

Helping out is not a spiritual calling; it’s just what we all do!

The task alone is not your identity or your purpose.
We are actively creating moments of transformation.

To create opportunities or moments of transformation:
1. Sacrificial
2. Grace-filled
3. Deliberate and intentional
4. Follow through in our genuine love