INCREASE: Preparation, Possession, Perpetuation

Excerpts from NKUPC Prayer Fest 2010

Trevor S. Ferguson

INTRODUCTION

Why Increase?

• Many individuals and churches have seen limited growth in last few years. This has be due to many challenges: limited confidence, limited faith, limited finances, limited commitment, limited competence
• The year 2010 starts upon the platform of the efforts and sacrifices of 2009. The church of God and its members must move FORWARD. Only one direction is acceptable and that is UP. This is the time for our INCREASE

The Strategy

It is pointless to just talk and shout about INCREASE. If talk is all we do then we will not get very far. We must approach this with PURPOSEFUL INTENT. Increase will not come by accident. Hence the sub-themes: preparation, possession, and perpetuation

Some aspects of preparation can be seen by reflecting on Isaiah 54:2

1. Enlarge the place of your tent -  Create extra space – mental and physical; remove the limits off your concept of God’s blessing
2. Stretch your curtains – make the new space habitable and comfortable
3. Lengthen thy cords – ensure your support systems can handle the increased capacity – train leaders, workers, ministers, counselors
4. Strengthen thy stakes – get deeper in God – shallow stakes can’t  support a big tent so we will need to get closer to God – more prayer, more fasting more study of the word

Below are some definitions to help us understand the concepts so that we all may see where God is leading.

DEFINITIONS

INCREASE (Webster’s Dictionary): To become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity); to multiply by the production of young; to make greater; to augment

PREPARATION: The action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty

POSSESSION: The act of having or taking into control; Control or occupancy of property without regard to ownership; ownership - something owned, occupied, or controlled

PERPETUATION: To make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely; cause to continue indefinitely (Oxford); to preserve from extinction or oblivion (Dictionary.com); to prolong the existence of; cause to be remembered (Dictionary.com)

SCRIPTURES FOR REFLECTION

In addition to Isaiah 54 the following scriptures will help us understand the concept of INCREASE

Luke 17:3-6 (focus vs 5-6)

·         And the apostles said unto the Lord, INCREASE our faith.  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Isaiah 9:6 - 7

·         ^{Isa 9:6} For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

·         ^{Isa 9:7} Of the INCREASE of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 30:20- 26 (focus vs. 23)

·         ^{Isa 30:23} Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the INCREASE of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. 

1^st Corinthians 3:6 -7

 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the INCREASE.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the INCREASE.

The following quotation from New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words article on  GROW / INCREASE is illustrative:

“But Christian growth is not automatic. The NT makes it clear that we need to feed on the Word of God (1 Pe 2:2; Heb 5:11-14). We need to root ourselves deeply in the shared life of the believing community (Eph 3:17-19; 4:13-16). We are also called on to make personal choices that will facilitate our growth (Heb 5:14; cf. 2 Co 9:6-11). God is deeply involved in the process of our growth, and he has ordained its direction. Moreover, he has given us the privilege of cooperating with him as he works within us.

Let us commit ourselves to prepare for, possess and perpetuate the INCREASE!!!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY – CELEBRATING GOD’S PRESENCE!

Trevor S. Ferguson
November 7, 2010

Hebrews 12:18-24 (KJV)
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

INTRODUCTION
Congregational worship has been a part of Jewish and Christian tradition for thousands of years. In the time of the patriarchs very little is said about congregational worship; however we see Jacob as the head of his household calling his family together in Genesis 49 and spoke prophetically regarding their lives. In the Exodus we see Israel being commissioned to celebrate the Passover in chapter 12 and saw Israel in spontaneous praise and worship after the crossing of the Red Sea in chapter 15. Firstly, they sang a psalm of praise unto God; then Miriam led the women who praised God with the timbrel and with dances.

In Exodus 19 we see another landmark congregation at Mt. Sinai. This preceded the giving of the Ten Commandments and was characterized by the awesome presence of God and great fear among the people. God appeared to the people on Mt. Sinai in a thick cloud. The people were instructed to sanctify themselves for three days before appearing before God and they were to keep at a specific distance from the mountain. Anyone who touched the mountain had to be put to death. When Moses gathered the people to the mountain to hear the words of God they were extremely afraid and requested that Moses should speak to them instead of God speaking directly to them.

In Exodus 23, we find that God commissioned that all males should appear before him in three feasts – the feast of the unleavened bread, the feast of harvest and the feast of ingathering. Additional feasts such as the Day of Atonement and Feast of the Tabernacles are mentioned in Leviticus. The book of Exodus also shows us the commissioning of the building of the tabernacle which added form and structure to Jewish worship.

The problem however was that in most of these services there was a lack of the spontaneity and joyous celebration and after a while these assemblies were characterized by much form and little substance. We however see glimpses of the spontaneous joyous celebration especially in the Psalms, e.g. Ps. 100. Today we want to look at what we should be experiencing when we are gathered together to worship and to highlight the benefits of joyous spontaneous worship.

EXPOSITION
The passage that was read presents a contrast between worship as seen in the giving of the old covenant at Sinai and the expectation of worship under the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ. Unlike the situation at the giving of the old covenant on Mt. Sinai, where the people were in fear and trembling, the writer of Hebrews describes a number of positive encounters when we gather for worship; as he declares that we are come unto the following experiences:
o Mt. Zion
o The city of the living God
o The heavenly Jerusalem
o An innumerable company of angels
o The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn
o God – Judge of all
o The spirits of just men made perfect
o Jesus – mediator of the new Covenant

This interesting passage suggests an intertwining of heavenly and earthly forces in a mighty service of praise and thanksgiving. It looks back to Mt. Zion and the tabernacle of David – David erected a tent to celebrate the return of the ark. As the ark was brought back to Jerusalem, David danced before the Lord in joyous celebration. Not only are we pointed back to Mt. Zion but we are pointed upwards to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem and an innumerable company of angels. The celebration is so marvelous that those who have gone on before also decide to take a look – I can picture Abraham, Isaac and Jacob looking on in wonder and amazement as we worship God and celebrate with all our hearts.

This fellowship/service is described as the General Assembly – the term is translated from the Greek word paneguris (pan-ay'-goo-ris) which is defined as “a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities”
What are the characteristics of this general assembly?
o It involves the whole congregation – all members are required to be present
o It is a festive occasion
o It is characterized by celebration
The vision of the corporate assembly of the saints presented here is a celebration of joy and thanksgiving that is saturated by the presence of God. Notice that present in this General Assembly is God – the Judge, and Jesus the mediator. This indicates that this service of celebration should in no way violate the principles of God - for he stands there ready to Judge. But He is also present in his office of mediator – willing to stand between and offer forgiveness to all who will confess their sins. Verse 25 provides a direct warning - See that ye refuse not him that speaketh…. We shall not escape if we turn away from him! Verses 28-29 provides solemn instruction – We should serve God acceptably, with reverence and Godly fear; …God is a consuming fire

CONCLUSION
So then, having presented to you a picture of God’s General Assembly – A service of thanksgiving and praise to God; what effect is such a service likely to have?
Gary Ericson in his book ‘Pentecostal Worship’ presents Five Effects of Worship:
1. God Is Gratified
2. The Worshipper Is Edified
3. Worship Aids In Evangelism
4. Spiritual Battles Are Won
5. Worship Opens The Door To The Supernatural

When we participate in joyous spontaneous worship it is bound to have a positive effect and will go a long way in helping us fulfill our divine purpose and fulfilling the cause of Christ. Let us adopt this pattern as the way we worship and praise God whenever we are gathered for worship. As we praise God, His blessings will flow and great victories will be won.