Traillblazer Ministries - Missionary to China - 42 Foundation of a good Church, Faithfulness.

Some churches have failed people in the church and in the world, because the people have not understood the need of faithfulness that means to put our new spiritual nature into the realm of practicality of faithfulness.

Acts 6:2 And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, look out among you seven men being witnessed to, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this duty.

Q1/ Serving on tables is duty unto God. (True or False)

Practicality of faith is taking steps (do it) that will build a strong Christian who is demonstrating self-discipline.

Q2/ When we serve in the house of God we free the Pastor to seek God. (True or False)

Let’s take authority now in the area of faithfulness, and do something about it. Tardiness in leadership is a stumbling block to new converts.

The church is a group of people meeting together, to remember Jesus and to worship God for all the great things He has done for us.

Q3/ Church is a group of people gathering together to worship God. (True or False)

Q4/ Tardiness is ok in the Church. (True or False)

There’re many things we can thank God for and we could make a list of them, but we will look at just one - our SALVATION.

Q5/ There’re many thing to be grateful for. (True or False)

Why is faithfulness so important?

An interesting question, because it is in this area that most churches (groups of people) stop going forward or living in the realm of revival. Faithfulness builds a strong Church.

Revival comes in two forms.

One there is a sovereign move of God, which causes a regional or national revival, when people are moved en mass to become Christians.

Two a personal experience.

Revival is not a dream or something you are waiting for. It is here already. But many Christians are not living in it. The revelation that salvation is the greatest miracle in the Kingdom of God should be foremost in our hearts and minds. This is revival.

Q6/ Salvation is a personal experience of revival. (True or False)

Q7/ The greatest miracle you will experience is more money. (True or False)

The impact of salvation on a person is EXPLOSIVE added to that the infilling of the Holy Spirit. When you have these you have spiritual dynamite.

The leaders of the Church today need to take a bold step to help young Christian find their way in the Lord, so that they can express the LOVE that has been deposited in their hearts. Leaders are not in the business of molding people, that’s GOD’S JOB. We are called to direct people to the Word of God and His calling.

Q8/ The word of God has all the answers to life. (True or False)

I have visited many Churches in the past and heard the same thing said and that is “…when revival comes etc”. To me it is very plain that they are missing the essence of the matter. It has come, or they wouldn't be saved, because to be saved is to be in revival. They are just looking at numbers. Stop looking at numbers live in a state of revival in spirit, mind and heart. We are a new creation and old things are left behind.

Q9/ If you are born-again you are a new creation. (True or False)

The Church needs people who are prepared to go all the way. Once you have been saved there should be three ‘W’s. They are. Win, Wet and Work.

Win - you already are won to Jesus; this is your Salvation.

Wet- you must be baptized into Christ. Become a disciple.

Work- to move into ministry of some type in the Church.

Some Churches are not moving quickly enough and seem to be afraid to move. It’s simple. You must take some steps. (Do it). Below are the vital sings of a living church without these the church is dying if not dead.

 1/Repent (Revelation 2:4 – ‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.’)

 2/Show the Love of Christ (John 13:35)

 3/ Hold structured Bible Classes, teaching with a view to releasing people into ministry.

 4/ Help people in need. Don't neglect practical things, such as providing food, money and love).

 5/ Have an active missions program. Supporting, sending and etc.

Q10/ The church needs to have vital sings to show life. (True or False)

FAITHFULNESS

God moves through faith and through the faithful steward. God welcomes the faithful servant into heaven with these words “enter in good and faithful servant”.

Matthew 25: 21"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!':22 "The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (NIV)

God responds, as I have stated, to faithfulness in his stewards, but what makes a faithful servant?

Q11/ God will welcome the faithful servant. (True or False)

The areas listed below may not look very spiritual, and you may say they are only practical steps, but let me re-assure you by saying this: “They are very spiritual” and are part of the Fruit of the Spirit.

If you are neglectful at any of the list below, your work for the Lord will suffer, and not reach it’s full potential. The first things you teach are the things people see in you and what you are doing.

Q12/ People learn what they see in the leader. (True or False)

As my teacher (Ps. Tony Smits) would say there are five areas of faithfulness and they are listed below.

1.Punctuality… keeping to arranged time: arriving or taking place at the arranged time

**She is punctual at starting the meeting

2.Reliability… dependability: able to be trusted to do what is expected or has been promised

**She is extremely reliable and a hard worker.

3.Perseverance (Stick-ability)… determined continuation with something: steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setbacks.

**He never gives up.

4.Responsibility… provide an answer: to reply to something or to something, in spoken or written words.

**He always gives a report to his boss and keeps his fellow worker informed therefore he is trustworthy. You know the job will get done.

5.Accountability… responsible: responsible to give an account to superiors or someone else, or responsible for something

**She does not act on her own but is answerable to her boss

I must say that I have worked with many people in teaching in the academic and Christian worlds, and I look for these qualities in a person, so that I can invest as much time and energy as possible into them. Then they can move into their full potential.

Q13/ Will try to improve in these areas. (True or False)

Personally, we could look at any one of the above points and see a weakness we have. Don't be discouraged. You have the Holy Spirit. You may ask Him to help you to become stronger in this area. “You can do all things in Christ who strengthens you.”

Out of an active love relationship with Jesus will come many good works through you, which God will use for His glory. We do things for God, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Q14/ We don’t have to do anything to please God, other than believe in His son. (True or False)

Because our ministry is a teaching ministry, we will use other teacher’s notes (Tony Smits & Vision College), and develop some of our own. We don’t have to re-invent the wheel and waste a lot of time. Let us not be program-orientated, but be lead by the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is stay close to Jesus and He will show us what to do.

Q15/ We need to develop our own teaching materials. (True or False)

Q16/ We don’t need to stay close to Jesus. (True or False)

Q17/ As we listen to the Holy Spirit he will guide us in His Kingdom. (True or False)

But it is crucial that we must try to discipline ourselves in the above five areas to have nothing standing in the way of the anointing. Once you have determined to take responsibility in these areas, you will see the power of God in your ministry.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (MKJV)

Q18/ Nothing can stand against a faithful servant. (True or False)

Q19/ Self-control is very powerful for the believer. (True or False)

Galatians 5:24 But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become glory-seeking, provoking one another, envying one another.

Finally we need to combine love with the above five areas and work from a love perspective. How are people to know that we are Jesus’ disciples?

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Q20/ When we walk in the Spirit we will overcome the tardiness of the Flesh and rule our live in victory. (True or False)

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