Ephesians 5:16 (NIV)
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The culture of the church has been engrained in the past. We are called to Rethink the church for the twenty-first century.

We are not called to change the message but the method by which we reach the lost and keep the saved in the Kingdom of God.

In order to have a successful church today

An atmosphere of trust must prevail.

A spirit of forgiveness must be present.

A spirit of unconditional love must exist.

A spirit of obedience must live in each of us.

A spirit of working together  for the Kingdom.

There is a greater need to understand the times we live in:

1 Chronicles 12:32 (NLT2)
³²  From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.

•Leadership in the past only needed to know bible verses. “Information”

•Leadership today need to understand human behavior, finance, and rule of law

•The culture of the church has been engrained in the past. We are called to Rethink the church for the twenty-first century.

We are not called to change the message but the method by which we reach the lost and keep the saved in the Kingdom of God.

If we fail to be in the right position we run a great risk of missing the move of God. Proper placement of the gifts that God has placed in the body is very important.

1 Peter 4:10
¹⁰  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The gifts are for the body:

Ephesians 4:12 (KJV)
¹²  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:1-7 (KJV)
¹  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
²  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
³  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
⁴  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
⁶  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
⁷  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

God promises us an abundant life, but we can’t have abundance unless we position ourself in the greatness of God.

The failure to live an abundant life comes from being out of position with God?

He wants the church to conqueror the world. He wants to give you a new belief and expression of the power of prayer in your own life. He wants to give you a new freedom in your walk with Him. God is preparing you. He wants to impart to you new life. His training is supernatural training. You and I are in the process of becoming. We are changed from glory to glory as we grow into a Christ-like person.

I need you to get this. It is not natural abilities but spiritual giftedness that will touch the heart of God. It will be what God placed in you. It will be your obedience to him.

We need to be able to attract people to the organization that’s going somewhere, that’s doing something. And that want to changing the world. Some of those people will be like:

Peter

Paul

James and John

Even a few Judas

Are you ready for abundance?