X Factor 2

Behavior 2 – Trust God to Provide

Acts 1:8-8:1 – The earliest days of the church.

1. Trust God by exercising prayer (1:14; 4:24).

2. Trust God by hearing from God while together (2:1, 46).

3. Trust God by learning through the apostles’ teaching (2:42).

4. Trust God by allowing Him to reveal Himself (5:29).

Acts 16:6 and 19:10 – God’s very specific hand of direction.

1. The Holy Spirit keeps Paul and companions from Asia.

2. Now the people of Asia hear the good news.

Acts 5:1-11 – The antithesis…the couple that did not trust God to provide.

1. In succession Ananias and Sapphira keep something back for personal security.

2. They lied to Peter; perhaps they lied to themselves (and they lied to the Holy Spirit).

Bottom Line:

The Early Church leaders always had their antennas high. The listened to God, and they trusted Him for specific direction. Today more than ever we need to hear from God and receive His direction. This concept of trust is not easy. The sooner we acknowledge that whatever is from God cannot be stopped, the sooner we will trust Him to multiply the Church. One more note – holding back is not a good option.

X Factor 1

Behavior 1 – Wait for the Holy Spirit’s Power

Acts 1:4 – Initial instruction from Jesus himself to WAIT.

1. Significance of His final words on earth.

2. Significance of power to the previously powerless.

3. Significance of active waiting (see 1:14, 15, 16-26, 2:1)

4. Significance lessons from some who tried it without THE power (19:13-16)

Bottom Line:

God’s power is not token. It is not a power occasionally available. It is not a power to be fooled with. Spiritual warfare, especially in church multiplication, is real. Therefore, it is critical to wait to be empowered by the Holy Spirit! Satan will aggressively work to thwart your progress. He knows it will lead to the taking of his territory.

Don’t miss the activity surrounding the word WAIT. WAIT did not, and does not, mean to be idle!

X Factors from the book of Acts

We are on a Journey to the End of the Earth as we plant Pointway Church in Brainerd/Baxter, MN. This Saturday I will begin Leadership Training with our Launch Team. One of the things that we will be doing as a part of this is studying the book of Acts.

In August I attended the Christian and Missionary Alliances sXt (strategic multiplication training). While there we looked at the key biblical multiplication factors that lead to the explosion of the Christian Church.

As we work through them as a Launch Team I will share them with you for your edification. One conviction that I hold very deeply is that the contemporary Christian church needs to rediscover its identity. The book of Acts is the best church planting manual I know of and understanding what the Christian church was in the very beginning is the first step in rediscovering who we truly are as followers of the risen and exalted LORD Jesus Christ.

Key Biblical X Factors

(X equals Multiplication)

“And the LORD added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

1. Wait for the Holy Spirit’s Power

2. Trust God to Provide

3. Anticipate Victories Emerging from God’s Control

4. Expect and Discern Divine Appointments

5. Observe and Join what God is Doing

6. Stand Strong Even in the Face of Opposition

7. Praise First In and Out of Adversity

8. Build Bridges to the People

9. Empower and Release Your Best People

10. Relentlessly Focus on Bringing People to Christ and His Kingdom

The first four behaviors (wait, trust, anticipate, discern) are consistently found in multipliers. These four behaviors are all about becoming aligned for God to do His work.

Behaviors five through seven (observe and join, stand strong, praise first) begin the transition into horizontal activity while maintaining a clear eye on God.

The final three behaviors (build bridges, empower and release, relentlessly focus) are deliberate, focused activities resulting in fulfilling God’s purpose and Commission to be His multipliers all over the world.

The Acts of the Apostles

Today was a great day for mail. I received that familiar box with the Amazon logo on the side. I was especially excited about this arrival because the box contained the much anticipated new commentary on The Acts of the Apostles by Darrell L. Bock from the Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament Series.

When I finally got a chance to open it up and take it for a test drive I was extremely tired and ready for bed, but it was only 7:00. My goal for the night is to make it to 8:30 before I turn in so I decided to start reading through the Introduction. It is filled with the usual commentary stuff and much of it I am familiar with from my research in Acts for my Th.M at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

It got really interesting as I read Bock's overview and theology of Acts sections. In the overview he talks about four issues that dominate Luke-Acts. The forth issue caused me to stop and ponder its meaning for a while.

(4) Finally, there is the story of various faithful witnesses who respond to Jesus in the face of opposition. Whether this theme concerns Peter and John, Stephen, Philip, Paul, or Barnabas, the book is filled with those sharing in the calling to take the message of fulfillment to the end of the earth. They serve as examples for those who carry out the mission of God. (Bock p.7)

I realized that as a church planter I am one of the many who are carrying out the mission of God. Thinking about this has caused me to rejoice in my calling as a church planter and it has encouraged me with the knowledge that I am a part of something truly magnificent! I am part of a legacy of church planting that goes all the way back to the time in which Jesus Christ walked the earth; a time when Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Apollos gave their lives to the preaching of the gospel and the planting of churches.

I knew that I was doing a work here that is beyond me and bigger than me and tonight I am praising God for opening my eyes a little wider to this reality.

I am on a Journey to the End of the Earth! I am also on a Journey to my bed because it is now 8:37 ~ Goodnight!

Soli Deo Gloria