Anand Asir worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Sandra Francis worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Virjil Selvan worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Stiven worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
When I say the word ‘Endurance’ what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Suffering
Race
Stamina
In the world of fitness, it means more endurance more stamina. The more you bear the intensity of the move, the more stronger you get. Many times we look at the physical side of the Endurance but what builds my spiritual stamina? Let’s dig more into it.
What is Endurance?
It means getting through the trial without compromising or wavering.
The power to withstand hardship or stress, the inward fortitude necessary.
So now today we look at the spiritual fortitude that we need to build. It is a reminder for those who have always known that we need to endure in Christ and it is a lesson for those who wonder why I need to go through this pain/ suffering/test/trials.
James 1:12 – 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Let’s read Psalm 42
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
What is the psalmist expressing about himself?
I am in agony, my suffering is so much. He is so sad, that he doesn’t want to go on like this any more, when can I meet my God states that he is done with this trial. So overwhelmed with the pain.
He is tired of answering people who are taunting him. He is recalling that I used to be so glad and how during those days he used to be full of vigour to go to the house of the Lord. Now it has kind of become such a drudgery. It is so much of troubles around him that he is not experiencing that same joy. He is asking himself, what is wrong with me? Why my soul are you downcast?
Look how he addresses God – I say to God my Rock – WHY? So many of his questions are WHY?
But he doesn’t let that WHY overrule the power, confidence and love of God, for He knows , God is the only rock that can hold him in this trial.
He makes a choice, – I WILL YET PRAISE HIM, my Saviour and my God.
Sounds similar right?
Today we all might be in a juncture where we are out of a suffering point, in a suffering state, or eventually would be in a suffering state. It also depends on the intensity of the trials. If we are an amateur we will feel a lot more pressure, stress, and pain, however, if you are a seasoned Christian you would be able to endure it. Do you think the psalmist is not a seasoned Christian. He is. However, shares that the condition of his heart and as he shares, he realises that I got to put my hope in God. He makes a choice. Endurance is a choice.
Why do I say it is a choice, because if I give up, I won’t enjoy the fruit of it. If I hold on, I grow. I become stronger. Eventually, I become what God intended me to be like Jesus. Jesus endured all of his life.
Why do we endure? Here’s God’s heart in my Endurance.
Hebrews 12: 1 – 14
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
What do I become or what is the end result?
Endurance is like a test after every teaching. Jesus taught then he tested. Test only enables us to understand my level of faith. It grades me on my knowledge of God and it also shows me what kind of a person I am. It also gives me a realistic perspective of a person I am. People may see me as the worst or I may showcase I am the best but circumstances and my endurance will tell me who I really am.
Endurance keeps my heart in check.
Teaches to Pray
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.. Colossians 1: 9- 11
Produces Character
Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Taught in Scriptures
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4
God teaches us Endurance
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5
Jesus Christ our Teacher
3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Lesson Learnt: Attitude of the heart
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15: 13
It is my attitude that enables me to endure. Being grateful and thankful. Looking at my past blessings, counting on my prophecies, worshiping like how the psalmist worshipped. Taking it as a discipline.
How to endure
Accept the unchangeable
Adjust to the obstacles
Abide with patience
Result of Endurance:
Crown of Life
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Renew their Strength
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Perfecter of our Faith
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2
Jesus endured the cross. He took the shame, the guilt, the criticism, the accusations, the abuse, pressure and all that trauma. He is an ultimate example of endurance.
-It’s been said that the value of your Christian faith are like a tea bag. You only see how strong it is when it’s placed in hot water. It’s easy to love God when all is well, but the proof of your love is when all is not well.
-I Peter 4:12-13. If you want to see and enjoy His glory, you must first share in His sufferings. Those sufferings will help us recognize our weakness and our insufficiency so we can learn to endure them with His strength instead of our own.
Sandra worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Virjil is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Sanjeev Sam Worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Sandra Francis Worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
You’ve been given a free ticket to a football / Cricket game. A heavy flooded rain the night before makes the drive to the stadium risky. Would you go? Okay: same game, same heavy flooded rain; except this time, you paid Rs 3000 for the ticket. Now would you go?
You decide to go to church or not but there are deeper decisions that are involved to make it happen for you to come and be a part of it. Decision making as a congregation involves everyone to participate because the price is heavy that was paid on the cross.
Before we get into decision making in the church, Let’s look at the metaphors and structure of the church (refer FC book)
Church is known with lot of Metaphors –
Body of Christ
Bride of Christ
Army of the Lord
Family and Christ is the head of the family
Structure looks like:
Elders (not literally but they help us to set some ground rules. They are like the architects)
Deacons (Administrators, Accounts, and so forth)
Pastors (Heads all the offices along with shepherding the congregation.)
Leaders in different ministries.
Congregation – different functions, gifts, and operation. They grow and contribute to the congregation.
Church has a lot of decisions that goes on at the background.
General Decisions
Some are General decisions like what sermons to preach
When to have the Sunday school annuals
what diet to implement for the street children and so on
Critical Decision making
Some are crucial decisions, which can impact positively if taken wisely and can impact negatively
Budget
Threat to the church by external / internal factors
Who takes certain decisions?
We’ve recognised that certain people have been set aside for the task and that with the role of elder comes a certain Biblical authority. Church members are to submit to elders (1 Peter 5:5), obeying them and ensuring that their labour for the Lord is joyful. (17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17).
Daily there will be some situation that doesn’t fit neatly into the binary “yes or no” boxes. In these types of situations, we need to pray and seek wisdom. But this begs the question, “What if I don’t have time to pray?” What if we need an answer now, and I don’t have time to get on my knees and ask God?
Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.” Psalms 32:8-10
Decisions taken as a community makes a great impact and enables the church to grow, flourish and thrive.
Church members are not meant to be passive.
We are the ones who should be using our gifts to encourage and build one another up towards unity (Ephesians 4:10-13).
Just because I am not a pastor or leader doesn’t mean I have no role to play. I just follow the decision and can’t take a decision is deception. We all work and function as the body of Christ.
What is my role in this? I am only a church member.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1: 9 – 13
live a life worthy of the Lord
Please Him in every way
Bearing fruit
Grow in the knowledge of God
become strengthened for future endurance
God has qualified you for an inheritance in the Kingdom of Light.
The above verse gives me sufficient reasons to participate, be responsible and involve in decision making in the church.
Acts Early Church
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 42 – 47
God calls each one of us irrespective of who we are or where we have come from.
Look at the way the early church started distributing responsibilities and made Biblically based decisions as a community –
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6: 1- 5
Tithing, regularly attending church, involving in church activities, offering.
Taking a decision to Tithe, to bless the church with your generosity helps the church to move ahead and function. To buy latest equipment, to repair certain instruments, to think of buying our own place all involves finances. Your decision to contribute for the church purpose enables the leaders to plan and take further decisions.
Your regular attendance enables the church to decide on activities and gives the confidence to divide tasks accordingly. If you behave like a visitor then we’ll miss out on contributing to the church.
Church Prays for miracles & right decisions
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Acts 12:5 – 12
Church decides to stand for the needy, the imprisoned, and the lonely. Decisions to intercede and help the community to release them from shackles.
Hospitality: Decide to open up homes (church also decides and gives these responsibilities) – FRIENDSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9 – 13
Gifts – Use your gifts and talents – Decide to get involved and contribute your gifts.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3 – 8
Let’s see how we RHC take decisions on many things:
How Church Leadership takes decision
By the Word of God
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
1 Samuel 5: 17 – 19
Choosing Leaders
He looks into the Heart and not the outward appearance.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 7
Strategic Decisions
There are decisions that the whole church makes together. I’ve given a couple of examples already above but these decisions include staffing, church discipline and major projects. Renting or Buying the place.
Finances – benefit community and missions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4: 32 – 35
To resolve conflicts (leave the church, disturbing the peace of the church)
In 1 Corinthians 12, not only is it the whole church that are addressed concerning the gifts that they all have but it is also the whole church that are addressed concerning the need for discerning of spirits (12:1-3) and when it comes to the decision to excommunicate a member in serious and unrepentant sin, then the decision is made by the whole church body together (1 Corinthians 5 and Matthew 18:15 – 17 – 15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Future (aligned with God’s heart and the community). God’s heart on decision making, even when it is tough.
To Lean on the prophecies and promises that the church has received all through the years.
God speaks and we need to make certain decisions in faith. Some of our current moves are because God has revealed His heart for the future. It feels impossible, foolish, out of place but we need to spearhead what God has revealed. Such decisions are very crucial.
As a church member you have the responsibility to pray for your leaders to cover them.
Christ died for the church. Church is the bride of Christ. Jesus is going to comeback to take the bride.
Ephesians 5: 25b- 27 & 29,30
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.
Sandra Francis Worships at the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
