Seven Pillars of Impact Church (Part 1)

Seven Pillars of Impact Church (Part 1)
By: Bobby Sullivan

(Sermon notes & PowerPoint links at the bottom of the page)

INTRODUCTION:
Acts 4:33   ”And with strength, ability and great power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace (loving-kindness, favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.

We are members of an Apostolic network called The Apostolic Church In Canada. Our desire is to raise up:“ A vibrant and authentic Apostolic community across Canada.”

The Apostolic Church was first formed in 1916 as a result of the 1904 Welsh revival, we are a Trinitarian, Pentecostal network of churches with a strong commitment to mission. We have established Apostolic movements in over 90 countries, many of whom are self-governing.

Our Mission “Transforming lives to Impact their world.”
“To establish a global high-impact Church that will raise up team ministries which will declare and demonstrate all the Good News of Jesus Christ in a relevant way to this generation causing many people to realize freedom.”

A Church That Will:

RECOGNIZE – High Impact Ministries
Identify each individuals distinct life purpose.

RESOURCE High Impact Ministries
Impart to each individual to develop their life purpose.

RELEASE –High Impact Ministries
Ignite a passion in each individual to demonstrate their life purpose.

The Core of Impact Church is the pulse:

Discipleship
Jesus commanded us to go and disciple the nations. Instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:18-20) We value a holistic discipleship process that will result in followers of Jesus becoming Christ-like in their behaviour. His life impacting every area of our lives so that we are manifesting the greater works that He promised we would do. (John 14:12)

Worship
Worship is the purpose of creation and salvation. We are to give God pleasure as we make worship our lifestyle. True worship is glorifying God in all we think, say and do. Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done and it should be both personal and corporate. When we worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth we encounter His glory and we are transformed into His likeness.

Spirit-Driven
God is looking for an intimacy-driven church, a spirit-driven, glory-driven church. God is not looking for a moral people who do good works on His assembly line. He does not need workers; He wants lovers. We value the presence of Holy Spirit. We expect people to interact with the living God in our gatherings. We will be a New Testament church where gifts of the Spirit are in full expression: healing, miracles, prophecy etc. We believe the acts of the apostles did not die, that healing is provided for in the atonement. The only interaction you have ever had or will have with God is through the agency of Holy Spirit. The people in His church is the connection between heaven and earth.

Excellence
We value a standard of excellence in all we say or do. The Bible instructs us, “Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:17 (The Message) Mediocrity and half-hearted effort is not worthy of our high calling as Ambassadors of the Kingdom.

Equipping For Ministry
We value the role and function of 5-fold ministers to equip believers for ministry. “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT)

Team Ministry
We believe and value doing ministry as a team. Team ministry is the best approach to manifest the full nature of the New Testament church. We are committed to the success of one another and celebrate the gifting and callings of every individual. Our highest value is on what we can accomplish together as a community of faith. “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

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.

Wisdom is the personification of wisdom. Proverbs 8 gives us a clear understanding of the importance and value of wisdom.

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.”

Faith is the vehicle that we express and demonstration the goodness of God and the love of the Father to humanity that is on and endless journey of acceptance without HIM.

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.” What matters the most is faith working in 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 love for one another.” Because you are a child of God the manifestation of that is demonstrated in love. Love must be the cornerstone of Christianity.

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” It is very difficult to live a new covenant lifestyle in an old covenant mindset.

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, since 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;”
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”– Oscar Wilde
“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”– Judy Garland
Gods love doesn’t allow you to be someone else! Because he loves those who are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139

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.”

You have our permission to express yourself however works for you. You are not free to fake it and try to be someone else.

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.”

Always do your best to serve others greater than yourself. I want every Sunday to be a family reunion. Treat each other like you have not seen them in years. And If someone is visiting, you really have not seen them in year! If not EVER! Welcome everyone! Everyone who walks through those doors are our honored guest!

Invite people over for dinner! Go out for coffee! Make an effort!

2. AMAZING GRACE
Jesus came so low to lift me so high in fellowship with him

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 of Issac”

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. Get your head out of checking boxes!!

Sarah will be the only influence … Promise … GRACE!!!

What makes Impact so powerful is not only the presence of God and the realities of the kingdom, it is an atmosphere where grace abounds. Where forgiveness is found and the love of God leaps on you like a new puppy!!

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.”

It doesn’t mean you fell out of the kingdom, or you fell away from God. It means you fell from the understanding of the nature of God

How many of you have heard like me, “Don’t you want to get closer to God?” Who else said that? The devil! You will never get closer to God than you already are! He who abides in me…John 15:5 “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;”

A gift is no longer a gift when you have to perform for it!

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.
“When people say you got to do something to get something that the cross already won, that’s works” PK
God doesn’t do healing he is healing

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 by Hearing Word Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The only thing that brings faith is 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 4:16 NLT “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 4:20 KJV “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; “Literally it says, God persuaded him in faith. We must be a church that walks in faith! Not faith in faith! But faith in the supernatural to become natural! 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.”

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.”

We are HERE to do stuff! IN Bridgewater FOR Bridgewater

Not A Church In Bridgewater We are not in just isolated in a cubicle of comfort … waiting for God to get us out of here.

Not A Church Against Bridgewater We are not here to protest everything. You people are wicked wretches!!!We hate you. So glad I’m not like you!!!

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

We Are A Church For Bridgewater! Bridgewater We Are Here For You!

November will be a series called, “Bridging the Gap” We want to be culturally relevant, personally authentic, non-compromising yet understanding someones journey in life. Christianity is a process. When someone accepts Jesus in their life they are instantaneously engrafted in his love. They no longer have to work to be accepted.

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.” The passion I so pure!

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.”

SUPER CHRISTIAN: We are here to train, equip and mobilize you as full time ministers!

1. God’s Part – Impartation GRACE deposit in you. John 10:1 and 8

2. 5-Fold Part – Releasing Bringing out God’s shape. You are Heaven in Human Flesh. 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 men who will be able to teach others also.”

We need some fat people: F aithful A vailable T eachable

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 REAL!!!!
We expect to encounter God together. We believe that God will engage us in worship. We expect that He will sing over us. Praise is a throne that He can come and inhabit.

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
2. 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 OURSELVES with music that glorifies God we are actively putting ourselves into the very presence of God. And God literally lifts us up and changes both US and OUR CIRCUMSTANCES and 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 , because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”

Message Bible: “But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.”

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
Daniel 6:10 “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!

Seven Pillars of Impact Church (Parts 1), Sermon notes to print, PDF

Seven Pillars of Impact Church, PowerPoint Slides, PDF