HOW TO PROSPER IN A NEW CHURCH PLANT
Habakkuk 3: 17 - 19
INTRODUCTION: I have the greatest respect for anyone
who can do anything from scratch. It is so easy to go
out and "buy the instant formula" or purchase the
product already made so that all that needs to happen
is a "re-heating process". But, I have the greatest
respect for anyone who can do anything from scratch.
This respect is not only is for those who can develop
things from scratch with a menu but also that respect
is held in esteem for those who can do it in ministry.
Anybody can buy a boat - but - very few people are
called upon to build an ark.
So, I believe God has assigned me to drop by Tree to tell you to BE ENCOURAGED -
because God is developing you from scratch.
And when God develops a ministry from scratch - there
will be times along the way when you will scratch your
head and wonder where is the God who told me to do
this.
When God develops a ministry from scratch - there will
be times along the way when you will have to "scratch
and scrape" in order to survive - but can I give you
some good news that when those times come - You have
to remember that God is developing this ministry from
scratch - and you have not begun to "scratch the
surface" of all the things that God can do and will do
if you would only have the faith to trust Him.
HISTORY OF THE BOOK: Habakkuk is a strange book
because it is one of the few books in the Bible that
starts off complaining
This book does not begin by dealing with the grace of
God
This book does not open by celebrating the sustenance
and strength of our Savior
This book does not open by celebrating the charismata
of our Christ
This book does not open by honing in on the happiness
and health that comes from the Holy Spirit
No! Habakkuk is a strange book because it is one of
the few books in Bible that starts off complaining -
Listen to the complaint of Habakkuk in chapter 1 verse
2 - HOW LONG?
You can sit there pious and sanctimonious if you won’t
to - but I don’t know one person alive that has not
ever expressed that sentiment - HOW LONG? In fact,
this passage was written in the Imperfect tense which
simply means that this kind of feeling is not an ONE
TIME CONDITION.
I don’t care who you are - when everything seems to
happen at the SAME TIME - it can easily become a ROUGH
TIME in your life.
Notice what was happening to Habakkuk:
The fig trees failed to produce AT THE SAME TIME
The olive trees brought forth no olives AT THE SAME
TIME
It was harvest time and seemingly no harvest would be
coming AT THE SAME TIME
Sheep did not begat little sheep, and cows did not
bring forth new calves
Oh, I don’t care who you are - when everything seems
to happen at the SAME TIME - it can easily become a
ROUGH TIME in your life.
How will you deal with it:
When your PROSEPRITY turns into POVERTY
When you GOOD TIMES turn into HARD TIMES
When your ASPIRATIONS turn into ADVERSITIES
When your BLESSINGS begin to feel like BURDENS
How will you deal with the struggles of
"church-a-nity" - when seemingly your hopes have been
dashed and your dreams seem to be deferred.
Tow things trouble Habakkuk and it will trouble any
house of worship:
1. Fig trees, grapes, olives, and fields are symbolic
of ANNUAL INCOME
2. Sheep and Cattle is symbolic of ADEQUATE RESOURCES
The hindrance of Habakkuk and the hindrance of most
houses of worship is poor annual income and inadequate
resources. So, how can this new church prosper --
Glad you asked.
Listen will you allow me to unload my little red wagon
because there are some helpful hints in the book of
Habakkuk that I believe with help us so we can know
how to help a new church plant prosper.
1. DEAL WITH YOUR DEFEATED DIALOGUE (Ch. 1)
All throughout the first chapter, Habakkuk is hindered
- because of his defeated dialogue.
(read verses 2 through 4)
The first thing we do when something goes wrong is we
begin to speak with a DEFEATED DIALOGUE - "I don’t
know why they decided to do it like that."
We begin to speak the 7 last words of a dying church -
WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE
In chapter 1, I find more CRITICISM than EVANGELISM
In chapter 1, I find more CRITICIZING than
EVANGELIZING
In chapter 1, I find More VERBAL CRUCIFIXION than
SPIRITUAL BENEDICTION
In chapter 1, I find more SOUR than POWER, more
BITTERNESS than SWEETNESS
If a new church is going to prosper, you must learn to
deal with your defeated dialogue!
The Bible is filled with OPTIMISTIC VOCABULARY -
No weapon formed against you shall prosper - THAT’S
OPTIMISTIC VOCABULARY
I am the head and not the tail - I am the lender and
not the borrower
Greater is he that is within me, than he that is in
the world -
You might have meant it for my evil, but God is
working it out for my good ---
I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens
me -
Warren Wiersbe says, that when God allows us to go through the fire -- He keeps his hands on the thermostat but He keeps his eyes on the clock!
2. DEVISE A DIRECTION OF YOUR DESTINY (Ch. 2)
It’s right there in the text in Chapter 2 verse 2 -
(read verse 2) - after you go through your complaining
- sit down - and do some writing
There is a lot of talk today about VISION. Seminars
and conferences across this country are dealing with
VISION. Don’t get me wrong VISION is important for
"where there is no vision the people will perish".
Oh my God, your vision will never come into fruition,
your best dreams will continue to be your worst
nightmare - until you sit down and devise direction of
your destiny.
VISION - ACTION = A DAYDREAM
ACTION - VISION = NIGHTMARE
You do know the definition of vision:
WITHOUT GOD SHOWING US -- WHAT TO DO -- HOW TO DO IT
WHEN TO DO IT - WE ARE BOUND TO PERISH (FAIL)
McDonald’s Philosophy:
NEVER SEEN MY KIDS FIGHT, GRUMBLE,OR COMPLAIN ABOUT
GOING TO MCDONALD’S (THEY GLADLY OBEY WHEN IT IS
SOMETHING THEY WANT)
In our church:
EXCELLENCE IS OUR CULTURE
EXCITING IS HOW OUR CHURCH IS CLASSIFIED
EXPECTATION IS THE CLIMATE OF OUR WORSHIP
EX-SOMETHING IS INDICATIVE OF THE CONGREGATION
I’m just about through with this message - how can a
church plant prosper:
1. DEAL WITH YOUR DEFEATED DIALOGUE (Ch. 1)
2. DEVISE A DIRECTION OF YOUR DESTINY (Ch. 2)
3. DEDICATED TO THIS DIVINE DOXOLOGY (Ch. 3)
(read verses 17 - 18)
Habakkuk decided that if I am going to prosper that I
am going to praise the Lord!
Now, Habakkuk does not praise God BECAUSE OF WHAT HAD
HAPPENED
Habakkuk does not praise God FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED
Habakkuk chooses to praise God IN SPITE OF WHAT HAD
HAPPENED
Can I tell you that a PROSPERING CHURCH IS A PRAISING
CHURCH?
Oh yea, when praises go up - blessings will indeed
come down
I’m through - but if the Church is going to reach her potential - she must learn how to praise the Lord!
YOU CAN PRAISE GOD - ANYWHERE, ANY HOW, for ANY THING, and ANY TIME!
When you Praise the Lord:
You can turn the bus stop into the place where Jesus
stops by.
You can turn the basketball court into the courts of
praise.
You can turn the doctor’s office into the healing
station.
You can turn a picket line into a prayer walk.
When you Praise the Lord:
You can turn your problems into praise.
Your complaints become confidence.
Your trembling turns into triumphs.
And I wonder is there any praise left in this house?
Your money might be funny and your change might be
strange - your blood pressure might be high - and your
self-esteem may be low - but I have made up in my mind
- that I will bless His name!
Can you praise Him in spite of your circumstances.
Can you praise Him in spite of your problems?
Can you praise Him in spite of your tribulations?
Can you praise Him in spite of your doctor’s
diagnosis?
Can you praise Him in spite of what people say?
I’m through - But - let me tell you my 7 reasons of
why I praise the Lord - every chance I get -
1 - 7 -- HE’S BEEN GOOD TO ME!
BE ENCOURAGED!
www.believeandbelong.org
