“But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you...” 2 Corinthians 10:15-16
The church of Jesus Christ is meant to grow and bear fruit throughout the ages. It is designed to be built up and expanded upon throughout the generations. Until Jesus returns, he desires for us as His church to be a living, breathing and moving witness to His name and glory throughout the earth. As Christians, we should experience a constant increase in our knowledge of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:17). Yet, our personal growth is not confined to a building we call a church. Rather, our growth compels and propels us to live and speak out of our living relationship with Jesus. We are not advocates of something. We are witnesses of someone. If we have experienced Jesus, we will live differently than we would if we simply knew about him.
As a church grows in and lives out of its knowledge of Jesus Christ, its numbers will increase. By this I mean new people. Every number is a person, and this is important to remember. We care about people. Our city and our neighborhoods are filled with people who are lost and dead in their sins and in need of a Savior. As growth comes, the challenge is to sustain that growth through regularly meeting for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship and also to reach out to those closest to us through evangelism, prayer and friendship.
In 2 Corinthians 10:15-16 Paul gives us three key things that we need to help us understand and remember why we should come together as often as possible:
FAITH
Paul desires that the faith and understanding of the Corinthians increase. For Paul, his greatest personal desire and pursuit was to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2; Philippians 3:8). It follows, then, that for those whom Paul ministered to he would desire the same thing. The knowledge of Jesus Christ is not the pastor’s pursuit alone, but the entire church’s pursuit. Paul expects and encourages believers to grow in their faith, in their knowledge of God’s Word and in their understanding of God’s will. Jesus is at the center and heart of both of these! Therefore, we must continually be growing in our faith, not by leaps and bounds, but step by step. Regularly meeting together enables the church body to grow individually and together throughout the week. Meeting once on Sunday is not enough! We must continually be encouraging one another in the faith (Hebrews 10:25).
INFLUENCE
The result of personal, spiritual growth in a believer’s life is individual, spiritual influence in another’s life. Those who are most like Jesus will draw men to themselves, not because of anything they have done, but because of everything the Holy Spirit is working in them and doing through them. This influence comes through leadership, but also through mentoring and friendship. Consequently, as a church grows in its understanding of God’s Word and will, and walks obediently with Him, not only will transformation come internally, but influence will come externally. Let me clarify that this influence is not for our sake, nor is it intended to make room for us. It is for Jesus’ sake and for the opportunity to reach others with the gospel. A church that is increasing and growing in its faith is a church with influence. And a church with influence is a church with opportunity to preach the gospel. Regularly meeting together enables us to develop bonds and to serve those we meet with, as well as to cultivate an influence through our lives with those who need to be reached with the gospel.
GOSPEL
The gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what it’s all about! Paul says he wants to “preach the gospel in lands beyond you”. Beyond you. The gospel always takes us beyond ourselves, beyond our walls, beyond our homes, beyond our churches, beyond our comfort zones, beyond our ideas, beyond our preferences, beyond. Jesus went WAY BEYOND to reach us. It is in the heart of God to go beyond and, therefore, it is in our hearts which are filled with the life, power and love of God to go beyond and preach the gospel to those who have not heard. I am absolutely convinced that there are souls whom God has placed within every church's “area of influence” and that through regularly meeting together God will use the Gospel to do what the Gospel has always and only been able to do: bring salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). And once God reaches those who are lost, there will be a place to plug them in and help them to grow in their faith. In turn, they will be of influence for the Kingdom of God in the world and be empowered to preach Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior.
Jesus said that He would build His church (Matthew 16:18) and that all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Him (Matthew 28:18). He is our Lord and Savior and He is building us up, leading us on and sending us out in His authority, with His power and for His glory. Let us follow Him!
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