The New Testament Church(Grace Church)

A FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS.

Matthew 18:20
King James Version (KJV)
 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Here God’s word is read, spoken, and the word of God is preached.
Accept the Bible alone as their authority.
Believers are free to share their testimonies, and encourage one another.
God has ordained the leadership of the Church.
In the hands of Elders.
More than one elder.
Need not be full- time workers.
Acts 14:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Titus 1:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
Qualified Elders
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.




ALL BELIEVERS HAVE FREEDOM TO SHARE GOD’S WORD.
Main emphasis is to preach the Word of God.
If it is inspired by the Holy Spirit you will find that it comforts, challenges, and build up and exposes “ the secrets of men’s hearts. Compelling people to acknowledge that God is speaking.
1 Corinthians 14:3
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
READ 1 CORINTHIAN 14 24-31




MAIN THRUST OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. Matt 28 19-20
Matthew 28:19-20
King James Version (KJV)
 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
JOHN 15 34 & 35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also blove one another.
 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have alove one to another.
A church where the Word is spoken powerfully and where the love of God reigns.
That is where the presence of the Lord can be sensed.
The importance of fellowship.
No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
This is a quotation from John Donne (1572-1631)
If we try to live together in loving fellowship with others we will find how much we need to deny ourselves and take up the cross everyday, if we want to maintain fellowship.
SATAN’S STRATEGIES.
Always busy driving wedges between God’s children.
If we are mature we will always be alert to prevent those wedges from being driven in between us and others.
If Satan can get one person to divide the Church he has succeeded.
There is great loss when fellowship is broken in Christ’s Body. –both to God and to us.
THERE IS POWER IN UNITY.
There is a tremendous power in unity in the Church.
Satan can be overcome only by a united Church.
Matthew 18:18-20
New International Version (NIV)
   18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[a] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[b] loosed in heaven.
   19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

SATAN BRINGS DIVISION AMONG BELIEVERS.

Satan form cliques and groups in a Church.
Satan wants to preserve his own kingdom from being attacked by a united Church.
Christians must be alert to Satan’s schemes and not be ignorant of them.
Just think what limitations there would been in Christ’s physical body if His limbs had been unable to work together.
This is the limitations that Christ faces today as Head of His spiritual Body, the Church when believers are divided.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE LONE RANGER?

If you cut yourself off from even one of God’s children you deprive yourself of something of God’s riches that could have come to you only through the other child of God..
Ephesians 3:17-19
King James Version (KJV)
 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

GOD’S WORD AND PRAYER

}WHAT DOES A NEW BORN BABY NEED?

}A new born child needs to drink and breathe.

}The same way a new born Christian needs milk and food later on.

}The milk is called the “the elementary teaching about the Christ.”

}Hebrews 6:1

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}The Peril of Not Progressing

}6 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

}

}WHAT IS SOLID FOOD?

}What happens if the baby after 6 months still drinks milk?................Parents start worrying.

}Hebrews 5:13-14

}New International Version (NIV)

}13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

}

}

}HOW CAN WE GROW SPIRITUALLY?

}FAITH AND OBEDIENCE.

}God has given us promises in His word so that we can trust Him

}Meditating on God’s word is a must in order for us to grow spiritually.

}Psalm 1:2-3

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

}I am glad King David said the law of the Lord.

}The royal law. John 15:12

}The promises He has for us.

}GOD’S WORD –THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

}God’s Word is also the weapon that we use in our warfare against Satan.

}Ephesians 6:17

}New International Version (NIV)

}17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

}Satan is the accuser and each time he comes and accuses you of your past you use the word back on him.

}Jesus did that ( “it is written Matt 4:4,7,10)

}We can overcome the accuser only by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Rev 12:11)

}

}

}PRAYER –SPEAKING TO GOD.

}Prayer is communicating with God.

}We hear God speaking to us through His word first.

}And then we speak to Him.

}But prayer is not just making request to God. A primary part of prayer should be having fellowship with God.

}A primary part of prayer should be having fellowship with God, like a bride with a bridegroom.

}It is so simple.

}We talk to Him like a friend.

}We talk to Him like a lover.

}It is so interesting that  He answers and speaks to us.

}

}

}But as a disciple how to pray?

1.Praise to our Father for Who He is.

2.Confession of sin and failure.

3.Petitions concerning the Kingdom of God.

4.Petitions concerning our own needs.

5.Intercession for the needs of others.

6.Thanksgiving for what God has done.

7.Thanksgiving for what God will do.

●

}Jesus told us to pray at all times.

}Luke 18:1

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}The Parable of the Persistent Widow

}18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

}Prayer is like breathing.

}When our breathing becomes difficult for us, then we know something is wrong!

}Prayer was never meant by God to be dry or boring.

}

}THE SIMPLE PRAYER THAT CAN PRODUCE  RESULTS.

}The Jesus is me bring healing to me.

}Romans 8:11.

}Testimony of a sister who confesses this word when she was in the hospital. And was able to walk immediately.

}The Jesus in me brings hope to me .

}Colossians 1:27

}New International Version (NIV)

}27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

}

}THE SIMPLE PRAYER THAT BRING RESULT.

}The Jesus in me removes every fear.

}2 Timothy 1:7

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

}Testimony of a brother who was so fearful but said this word when he went through an operation saw an angel beside him. And had the peace of God. And was discharged and healed  in a short period.

}The simple prayer that bring results.

}With Jesus you can do anything:

}The Jesus in me bring prosperity.

}I am blessing because of Jesus.

}I am highly favored, greatly blessed.

}Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

}There are many testimonies when people start confessing and praying in this area.

}

}

}

}For wisdom.

}If you are a student and you are still struggling in your studies.

}Speak this word loudly and clearly.

}The Jesus in me bring wisdom to me.

}1 Corinthians 1:30

}New International Version (NIV)

}30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

}

}The sure way of victory in Christ Jesus.

}Confessing God’s  word to Satan is the way to overcome not only Satan’s accusations, but also discouragement and anxiety and a host of other temptations with which assails our mind.

}Jesus is your victor.

}But Jesus Himself find time to pray.

}He prayed the whole night. Luke 6:12

}He has a habit of slipping off frequently into the wilderness to pray. Luke 5:16

}

}Close:

}Jesus example shows us how important  prayer is.

}If He needed to pray so much, how much more you and I need to.

}Fight the battle against laziness then, and determine to be a man/ woman of prayer at any cost.

}Need  guidance of how to pray and use God’s word effectively contact Pastor or Elder. We will be able to assist you.

}God bless all of you.

}

THE KING’S WEDDING FEAST. Matthew 22 :1-14

WHY PARABLES?
A Marriage Feast
The beauty of the parables of Jesus, is that they are stories told as a means of teaching a lesson or which were prophetic of the future. The lessons were there to see plain and simple and did not need academic prowess or explanation, for wisdom and knowledge came from listening to the word of God, listening with an open mind and heart. It was what the listener brought to bear on what was heard that developed the understanding .
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.' [Proverbs 9.9 NIV]





NOT WILLING TO COME

Invitation Rejected.
invitation from the king was a command and to refuse was to be disloyal even to the point of rebellion. Jesus was here talking about the people of Israel. This invitation was spoken about by the prophet Zephaniah, where we read:
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD; for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.' [Zephaniah 1.7,8]

MADE LIGHT OF IT.
Went their way.
Own business.
And the rest seized the King’s servants treated them badly and killed them.
So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 king 19 vs 10
Not worthy to receive the invitation of the King.
Now go to the highway.
Gather all.
Come one come all
Jesus is calling.
The invitation is no more for the chosen people only but for all.
The wedding feast is on.
The fatted calf, the oxen. Every good food is ready.
Come.
God’s plan not defeated.
However, God’s plans are never defeated.  So a third invitation went out to all who were willing to come from the streets.  This refers to the preaching of the gospel to the despised Gentiles, the commoners and the outcasts of society in the parable.  Jesus warned Israel: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west [Gentiles from all over the world], and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [the founders of Israel] in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom [Jews by birth] will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:11-12).  This principle applies today.  For many in countries with a Christian heritage, Christ is not important.  Again, some privileged children raised in a Christian home reject Christ, while others with no Christian background receive Christ.
JUDGEMENT EVEN BEFORE THE WEDDING FEAST.
The prophet Isaiah pictured “salvation” and “righteousness” as clothes worn by God’s redeemed people that God had provided (61:10; 59:17 cf. Psalm 132:16; Zechariah 3:3–5; Revelation 3:4–5; 19:7-8.).  The man was “speechless” i.e. embarrassed, self-condemned, and without excuse when the king confronted him.  If we refuse what God offers to make us respectable in his sight, we are like the guest who chose to come to a royal wedding in “filthy rags”[1] (Isaiah 64:6), that represented his own “righteous acts”, and consequently we cannot expect the king’s favour.  It is an illustration of the person who presumptuously considers that he is good enough to enjoy God’s presence without the righteousness of God in Christ.
WHAT DID THE KING SAID TO THE MAN WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENTS?
The king said to his servants ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This man did not want to have a wedding garment.
He took salvation as cheap.
He wanted to have his own self righteousness.
This is danger in our Christian life.
We are saved but put on the new man.
CHURCH PUT ON THE WEDDING GARMENT.
Colossians 3:12-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
ARE YOUR READY FOR THE WEDDING INVITATION?
Say:
I am ready.
I am righteous because of Jesus.
I am Holy because of Jesus.
No self righteousness but Jesus righteousness.
I am victorious because of Jesus.
I am ready for this invitation.


MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.
Are you the chosen one?
He loves you first.
He lives in you.
He bring hope to you.
Just believe in His goodness and live and a righteous life.
He came to give His life for you that you might live.