The Vision Continues

God is Stirriing Up His Vision at Life Springs Church!

Summary

The true Church is like a ball team.  The coach gives that strategy for the game and encourages the team in the locker room, but the real game happens on the field.  In the same way, the church is meant to equip believers for the individual ministries God has given them to take the light of Christ’s love to a world bound up in darkness.  Dr. Buddy Hicks inspires believers to be infectious Christians who minister to regions rather than being confined to a building.

Outline

1. The Lord is doing something in our midst.
   1. Jacob’s ladder – Jacob had a dream and when he left the region he reflected on what happened…God was there and he did not even know it.
   2. God led Bishop Ron to go back to the original vision of the church.
   3. Dr. Buddy felt that the church did not follow through on some of the vision, especially with regard to Straight Talk Radio – it even influenced laws that were passed – they were told that while they were on the radio, the State was able to pass more moral laws than any time in history.
2. The idea of the true purpose of the church.
   1. A church is called to be like a ball team.
   2. The locker room is important, it is where the coach prepares them for the game. The church is like a locker room. If we stay in the locker room we will never win any games.
   3. The church needs to think regionally, rather than about a building. If we do not get out of the building we will never be obedient to the calling of Christ.
   4. The church is not just in the building, it is out where the people are.
   5. The church is not come and see, but go and tell.
   6. A recent evangelistic crusade in Houston saw thousands come to Christ, yet it did not change the crime rate or curb immorality in government – a real revival will change the moral climate of a territory.
   7. Most people get saved because someone got into their lives and built relationships with them.
   8. Dr. Buddy Hicks, realizing this, began training people to be witnesses in real life.
   9. One of the key points to Martin Luther during the Reformation was the priesthood of believers…the point is that believers are the priests to the world… all men and women are called into the ministry. The offices in the church is to equip people for their ministries.
   10. God is looking for a church that is special in that it is not encumbered by teaching and traditions, but is able to follow and obey the Lord.
3. A recent transformation of a traditionalist.
   1. A gentleman who was high up in his denomination and was a successful pastor got the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues.
   2. He is pastoring the region, and he began training people to go out…a natural response to the baptism of the Spirit…people in his church did not want that.
   3. He was kicked out of his church and planted a new one.
   4. What God wanted to do for the whole region could not be done in the church he was a part of.
   5. That was the vision of Life Springs from the beginning…the whole idea was regional – but at the time the revelation of releasing people to go as ministers into the culture was later to be revealed.
4. God is stirring up His vision at Life Springs Church.
   1. We love the Lord and want to be obedient to Him.
   2. Jesus loved sinners and died for us.
   3. If we get close enough to Jesus we can hear His heart beat for the lost.
5. The vision.
   1. God wants us to hear His voice.
   2. A vision is costly, and it calls us to get rid of a lot of junk from our lives.
   3. It is a strategic time for Life Springs Church.
6. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A CHURCH THAT WILL TAKE THE LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD.
   1. God puts His people in the midst of the darkness to touch people’s lives.
   2. People are hurting and they need Jesus.
   3. When we receive Jesus we become new creations, until we come to Jesus we have no purpose and nothing makes sense in life.
   4. We need to become viral Christians that infects the world with the love of Jesus Christ.
7. Prayer is the key.
   1. Every great move of God was holiness, humility, repentance and prayer.
   2. Fall in love with Jesus
   3. Don’t be a faker
8. Don’t live double lives; be pure
   1. God cleanse me
   2. Takes a few broken people
9. With Jesus we can do everything God calls us to do.