Family Business Series 2, Our Priorities

Family Business Series 2, Our Priorities
By: D. Karl Thomas

Quick Recap to our DNA!!!

Cosmological
Ephesians 1:9-10 God wants to restore all things to Himself.
“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration (oikonomia:– household management) suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him.”

His eternal purpose is to fill the earth with His _________________________.

Ecclesiological
Ephesians 3:9-10 He has before the foundation of the world had a FAMILY BUSINESS in view.
“…and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

His Glory will fill the earth and the vehicle He is using for that purpose is the ___________________.

Ephesians 3:21“to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Colossians 1:27“what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Greek “Humin” you:– plural of you, ye, yourselves.

At Impact Church we have some very clear priorities that shape our philosophy of ministry.

Proverbs 9:1“Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; … “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

What are the seven pillars of impact?

Romans 1:5“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,”

1 Timothy 1:14“And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

Romans 5:1-2“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 4:16 “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

1 Timothy 1:14 “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 5:6“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have lovefor one another.”

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

1. AUTHENTIC LOVE

“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’”

1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 Peter 1:22 “…love one another fervently with a pure heart,”

Dr. Dean Ornish “Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, what causes sadness and what brings happiness, what makes us suffer and what leads to healing ….”

Dr. Les Parrot “If you try to build intimacy with another person before you have done the work of getting whole on your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.”

Ephesians 3:14 – 4:3 (Message)“… you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love… run!—on the road God called you to travel … steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,…”

Three Essentials Of Authentic Love:

A. Embrace Your Value
“… extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love…”
You are wrapped in God’s unconditional, everlasting love!!!

Jeremiah 33:3“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Message“God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”

B. Be Yourself
“…road God called you to travel…”
You are unique. There is no one like you. Don’t be a copy
Psalm 139:14 “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;”

Jason Mraz “Transformation is my favorite game and in my experience, anger and frustration are the result of you not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life. Being fake about anything creates a block inside of you. Life can’t work for you if you don’t show up as you.”

C. Serve Others
“…steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,…”
You walk into a room and everyone else is of great value to you.
Philippians 2:3“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

2. AMAZING GRACE

Ephesians 1:6-7 “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones “When you preach grace,unless your conscience accuses you of license you haven’t preached grace.”

Romans 5:20“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,…”
Huperperisseuo:hyper — where we get the english word “hyper” and Perisseuo — where we get the english word “abound” Biblical grace is Hyper Abounding Grace! }

Acts 20:24 “The ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul uses the word “grace” more than any other writer in the Bible. (144 times)

Grace (charis):– good will, loving-kindness, favour.
The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles virtues.

Grace Is A Person — JESUS!!!

John 1:16-17“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 4:21-30
“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the[d] two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted (TO PURSUE IN A HOSTILE MANNER) him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.”

Where is that in Scripture? Genesis 21 “Weaning”

Genesis 21:1-12
And the Lord visited Sarah (Sarai was visited the 10th letter Got replaced by the 5th letter) as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

You can’t be raised by mixture … you will never mature under mixture.
Sarah will be the only influence … Promise … GRACE!!!

Titus 2:11-12 (AMP) “For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,”

Adding anything to Jesus in order to be accepted by God threatens the very freedom of the church.
Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Galatians 5:4 “…you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

3. Sincere Faith

Let me just do everything I need to fill up my faith bucket and then I can trade for what I desire!
NO!!! Our faith is not in faith. The object of our faith is a Loving God who is the source of every good thing.

Luke 17:5-6 Message “The apostles came up and said to the Master, ‘Give us more faith.’ But the Master said, ‘You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.”’”

Four Basics Of Faith:
1. Faith Is A LAW. Romans 3:27 “…but by the law of faith.”

2. Faith Is A Gift. Mark 11:22 “Have (the) faith in (of)God.”
Romans 12:3 “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

3. Faith Comes Hearing WordRomans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Don’t lack the ability to believe but the knowledge of what to believe.
Isaiah 5:13 “…captivity, because they have no knowledge.”

4. Faith Works By Believing And Confessing Mark 11:23-24 “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Romans 4:16NLT “So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it,”

(AMP) “Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants”

Romans 4:17{MSG} “We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody … because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do…”

Romans 4:17 {AMP} “…in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.”
Abraham got eye to eye with God!!

Romans 4:20KJV “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; “ STAY IN FAITH … DON’T QUIT ON YOUR BELIEF …

Abraham crossed over into a realm where no man had gone before.
A less than perfect man began to operate out of the same life force as God.
A man expressing the DNA of God. A man lifted up in the sight of God doing the God sort of stuff.
Declares things that are not as though they were.

Genesis 15:1-6“Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Abram:– Exalted Father Sarai:– Princess, Hostess Yet they had an empty tent.

Genesis 17:3-6; 15-16
Abraham:– Father of a multitude Sarah:– Joyful mother of princes
God came and breathed the 5th letter of the alphabet into their experience.5– the number of Grace.

Faith is the substance of things! Nothing exists without faith. Faith is nonsense
2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.”

4. Purposeful Mission

Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion” Colonize the earth!
Adam didn’t lose a religion, he lost his place as ruler.

John 17:18 “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”

“Transforming lives to IMPACT their world.”
HERE – THERE IN LONDON FOR LONDON

Not A Church In London We are not in just isolated and isolated … waiting for God to get us out of here.

Not A Church AgainstLondon We are not here to protest every thing. You people are wicked wretches!!! We hate you. So glad I’m not like you!!!

Not A Church Of London We just want to blend in … Its all good … Hyper identification and relevance

We Are A Church ForLondon! London We Are Here For You!

Alan Hirsch (The Forgotten Ways)
“Missional church is a community of God’s people that defines itself, and organizes its life around, its real purpose of being an agent of God’s mission to the world. In other words, the church’s true and authentic organizing principle is mission. When the church is in mission, it is the true church. The church itself is not only a product of that mission but is obligated and destined to extend it by whatever means possible. The mission of God flows directly through every believer and every community of faith that adheres to Jesus. To obstruct this is to block God’s purposes in and through his people.”

Rick Joyner – “There can be no revival without soul-winning. In saving lost souls the Welsh Revival must be considered one of the most intense and effective revivals of all time. This was not a program for a few preachers or a campaign to get church members testifying to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. There were no classes given on how to reach the lost. It just seemed that every Christian in Wales erupted simultaneously with a burning agony for the lost. The joy of salvation simply could not be contained by the believers as every coal mine, tramcar, office, school or ship became a pulpit for the gospel… There was no set pattern of strategy for the witnessing; it was simply born out of an overflowing joy and faith that could not be contained in those who knew the Savior.”

Paul had a passion for the lost.

Romans 9:1-3 (NLT) “With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.”

We should share that passion.
“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,…” 2 Cor 5:19
Woman At Well – Zacchaeus – Woman Issue Of Blood – Demoniac – Woman Caught Adultery

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) “We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you.
We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!”

Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

5. Equipping Ministries

Ephesians 4:7-16 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.… And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, … joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

1. God’s Part– Impartation GRACE deposit in you.

2. 5-Fold Part– Releasing Bringing out God’s shape. Person is anointed not position.

3. Our Part– Willing — Your are choosing your result.

2 Timothy 2:2“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful menwho will be able to teach others also.”

We need some fat people: Faithful A vailable Teachable

Jesus Divine strategy for equipping leaders:

Selection: He prayerfully chose people to disciple. Luke 6:12-13 “…and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:”

Association: He devoted His time to them. Mark 3:14 “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.”

Consecration: He called them to turn completely to Him. Mark 1:17-18 “Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

Demonstration: He taught them by showing them. Luke 11:1 “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Acts 1:3 “…to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Impartation: He gave Himself to them and for them. Luke 9:1 “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.”

Delegation: He put them to work. I do and you watch. We do together. You do I watch. You do. Luke 9:16 “Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.”Luke 9:2 “He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Accountability: He continues in a coaching capacity. Mark 6:30 “Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.”

Reproduction: He expects the process to continue. Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,…”

6. Vibrant Gathering

At Impact we love the corporate gathering. We love the tangible presence of God. We Like It LOUD!!!!

We expect to encounter God together. We believe that God will engage us in worship. We expect that He will sing over us.

Psalm 27:11-13 “[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!” God is personal and wants to be experienced.

Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT) “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
(Vs 19) AMP“…and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].”

God wants to be experienced not just understood.
1. We Need Power Not Words
2. We Need An Encounter Not An Explanation
3. We Need Presence And Not Just Practice
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Results Of A Divine Encounter
Acts 9:1-22 “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,[b] who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 22 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

1. Revelation Of His Lordship “Who are you Lord?” vs. 5
2. Revelation Of His Grace “Ananias went in and laid His hands on him.” vs 17
3. Revelation Of His Acceptance“… Brother Saul…” vs 17
4. Revelation Of His Power“…recover your sight…” vs 17
5. Revelation Of His Partnership“…Be filled with the Holy Spirit …” vs 17
6. Revelation Of His Union“Then he arose and was baptized…” vs 18
7. Revelation Of His Purpose“…straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues…” vs 20

Ephesians 5:18-19 (AMP)“…but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,”

Acts 16:25-26 “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”

When we SURROUND OURSELVESwith music that glorifies God we are actively putting ourselves into the very presence of God. And God literally lifts us up and changes both USand OURCIRCUMSTANCESand OTHERS!!!

Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

7. Intentional Excellence

Ephesians 6:7“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Steve Jobs

“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”Unknown

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” V. Lombardi

Daniel 6:3“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”

The Qualities Of An Excellent Spirit
1. They Refuse To Blend In.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” Dan 1:8
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,”He 11:24

2. They Possess Firm Convictions
Daniel6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. …he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

3. They Will Experience Promotion
Daniel 2:46-48 “Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, “Truly your God is the God of gods,” Then the king promoted Daniel…; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon”

4. They Realize Uncommon Results
Daniel 5:11“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him;…”

5. They Invoke Opposition.
Daniel 6:13 “That Daniel, … does not show due regard for you, O king,…”
2Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

6. They Possess Uncommon Boldness
Daniel 4:24-27 “…your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field …” Tells King Hard Word

7. They Forward God’s Kingdom
Daniel 9:2-3 “…I, Daniel, understood …by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer…” Agreed with heaven and brought about restoration!

Family Business, Our Priorities, Notes to print, PDF