.png)
As we look to the future, we can see a world full of opportunities for those who are totally committed to Christ and willing to serve. Jesus said, "lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). It is harvest time!
Charles Finney said, "Revival is no more miraculous than a crop of wheat". A great future doesn't just happen any more than a good garden just happens. If we are not thinking, planning, and preparing for the future, we end up living in the past. The future belongs to those who are willing to invest in it.
Jesus spent 3 years building a team of 120 committed believers, who went on to change the history of the world after the birthing of the first Church in Jerusalem.
We must have a mindset of foresight (Prov. 22:3). We must think at least 2 years ahead; otherwise, we will always be in a crisis survival maintenance mode instead of an aggressive, possessing the land mode.
Different types of growth that we focus on:
Vertical: This is growth in one local church. We grow for the purpose of growing the Kingdom of God. This is also helps us train up more people to send out. So we want all of our congregations to grow so we can always be sending. Whether they grow to 20 or 2,000, we will always be sending people to go and reach more people.
Horizontal or Width. We grow horizontally or in width to cover more ground. It’s called spread abroad or Church multiplication. We plant multiple churches in multiples cities to reach multiple people and make multiple disciples.
God is about numbers and growth
Acts 2:40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand with ere added to their number that day. 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 4:The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 16:4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.