Community Heaven and Earth

Community Heaven and Earth | DRENCH SERIES

Heavens. Two Intersecting Realms. Earth
God is working to restore the — Union of Heaven and Earth.

Heavens. Two Intersecting Realms. Earth. JESUS

Heavens. Two Intersecting Realms. Earth. CHURCH

We are the means for the Union of Heaven and earth.
We are the means for the eternal purpose to be realised.
We are where people encounter GOD!

Acts 2:8 “… we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs.”

In the book of Acts we see the working strategy for fulfilling the mission of God.
Jesus left behind a loving community that would manifest His glory to the ends of the earth.

Acts 5:13-14 “Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”

Eugene Peterson (The Message) "There can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life, apart from an immersion in, and embrace of, community. I am not myself by myself."

God “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Genesis 2:18

Heaven on earth is most clearly manifest in community.
Ephesians 4:3 “Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.”

We are called to be a church so full of love, so united, and so generous that people can’t help but be drawn to us. A church where no one is alone, where prayer and praise flow naturally, and where lives are being transformed daily.

Transforming Lives To Impact Their World.

A working manifestation of the Godhead. Modelling the very nature and characteristics of the trinity. 

The church is the answer to Jesus prayer in John 17.

John 17:21 “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you… that the world may believe.”
He wasn’t asking for organizational unity. He was asking for a kind of shared life—a oneness that reflects His own relationship with the Father and the Spirit. A community of love, joy, truth, holiness, and mission.

John 17:22 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”

WOW!!! Jesus wants us to share in the same love, unity, and joy He has known forever in the Trinity.

“The Church is nothing less than the extension of the life of the Trinity into the human community.”
  Thomas F. Torrance

Acts 2:41-47 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”   Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,  and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”

Orthodoxy:-- (orthos) right (doxeia) belief.
Orthopraxy:-- (orthos) right (praxis) action or practice. 
We have been more concerned with right belief than right action.

Spiritual Needs
Apostles Doctrine — Study question.
Breaking Of Bread — Communion
Prayer — Engaging God together.
Fellowship — intimate vulnerable application and accountability

Physical Needs
Had things in common.
Peoples needs were met.
Can you help me with some stuff.
Example. Sharing of skills.

Emotional Needs
Gladness
Praising God
Favour
People in community are happier than those in isolation.

Missional Needs
Favour with all people.
Daily people were added.
Together serving locally and beyond.
Others impacted by your life.