What Is A Person of Peace

 

Hi there, my name is Dean Davis, and this is a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Jesus gave instructions to 72 of his followers whom he sent out two by two to go to all the towns and villages he was planning to visit. Those instructions, found in Luke 10, form one of the biblical teachings which is most helpful to a church planter as he or she begins ministry.  Jesus’ words recorded in Luke 10 prophetically tell church planters what to do and what to expect when they begin making disciples. The Bible says,

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.  He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” 

Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.  Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”

A lot of people ask, “What is a person of peace?”  A person of peace is a person who is receptive and open.  A person of peace is a person who recognizes their own need for God’s blessing.  Jesus taught that people would open their homes to his followers as they shared a message of peace and blessing. Our Lord taught us that men and women of peace would invite us, his followers, into their homes and into their lives as we shared the Good News about how to have peace with God.

Persons of peace are receptive.  Persons of peace are also hospitable.  They share what they have with those who come to their homes to share the Good News.  They recognize that the peace of God and the Good News of Jesus could be the very thing they have been wanting and waiting for.  Persons of Peace are hungry for God. In their spiritual hunger they share their physical food as they open their homes to the Gospel messenger and to the Good News.

Persons of peace are connected to others in their village.  They introduce the Gospel message and the Gospel messenger to friends, family and neighbors.  Persons of peace build trust between the Gospel messenger and the others in their town.  Because of this, the blessing of God can flow to other people who are healed and redeemed.

As a church planter, I strongly encourage you to read and re-read Luke 10:1-12.  Meditate on it.  Look at it verse by verse.  Learn what a person of peace is. Let the words of Jesus strengthen your faith and grow your boldness. Trust God to lead you to persons of peace.  When you find them, stick with them so that they and their friends and family can follow Jesus as his disciples.  

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.  

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters  #PersonOfPeace

E1-04_What_is_a_Person_of_Peace

Your Legacy

 

This is ’Multiply’ a podcast to encourage village church planters and Christian leaders. I am Daneille Snowden.

There is a song called; “May All Those Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful.” It speaks of the legacy we leave behind. Legacy simply means, something that's passed on to someone else from their predecessor.

It makes me think of Elijah and his mantle falling upon Elisha as he received the double anointing. It makes me think of Joshua as he followed in the example and teachings of Moses. A mantle is an indicator of a prophet's authority given to them from God.

I read this illustration recently about planting new trees. When one plants a new tree, it's best to do that amongst the old ones, in a Grove. The trees surrounding the new tree will graft themselves in their roots together with the young tree. This creates a foundation (underground) as the stronger and older trees share their resources with the young tree.

As it was clear to Elisha, and even the prophets all around him what the mantle meant, which was the legacy Elijah left behind. Proverbs 13:22 says; “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.”

Elisha walked in the double anointing of the Lord, what inheritance will we leave behind for those who walk with and follow us? What will be the legacy we leave?

In John 14:12 Jesus said, “He who believes in me, the works that I do, he shall do also, greater works because I go to the father.”

Today, as we live out God's word, and operate in the deeds of a Christian, plus win souls, we will pass on a rich legacy. Legacy is like the mantle, a spiritual covering representing God's anointing and authority. As we live this out before others, we can be assured that as they watch closely, they too will receive this covering and anointing called a legacy.

Thank you for being here today, will you share this podcast with others? You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube and on vcpencouragement.org.

Thank you!

#legacy #legacyofChrist #mantle #examplesweleave

Jesus Promises There Will Be Persons of Peace

 

Hi there, my name is Dean Davis, and this is a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Shortly after I became involved in church planting, I finished my seminary education and prepared to leave my home country for Ecuador, South America. Just a few months before leaving home, I was with my mother.  No one else was with us when she asked me a very personal question.  My mother asked me, her youngest son, “Dean, when you go to Ecuador, is there anything that you are afraid of?” I was so surprised. I was a little embarrassed. No one had ever asked me that question before. I thought for a moment. I knew I needed to tell her the truth, after all she was my mother. So I told her the biggest fear I had about going to Ecuador.

I said, “The only thing I’m afraid of is that I might go all the way to Ecuador to tell people about new life in Jesus, and they might not listen to me. What would happen if I go all that way and no one responds when I share the Good News?”  I was being honest. I didn’t want to fail as a preacher of the Gospel, but I thought I might. My mother kindly said, “Don’t be afraid, God will be with you Dean.” 

I felt a little better, but I was still a little fearful. Maybe you have had similar fears as you begin your ministry as a church planter.  If you have, I have some good news for you.

Jesus has promised us that the harvest is plentiful. The story recorded in Luke 10 about Jesus sending out 72 of his followers to the towns of Israel give us hope.  Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful.” Jesus said, “First say, ‘Peace to this house.’  If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.  Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages…  When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

Let these words of Jesus bring hope your heart church planter!  The harvest truly is plentiful.  There really are men and women of peace who are ready to be blessed. People who are hungry for Good News, people who long to know God.  Your job as a church planter is to find them. You may struggle. It will be difficult.  But there are persons of peace waiting for you.  By God’s grace you will find them and they will respond to the Good News you share. You can trust Jesus for that.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.  

E1-03

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters  #PersonsOfPeace #FacingFears

The Attitude of the Heart

 

Welcome! This is Multiply, a podcast to encourage village church planters, and

Christian leaders. We are Brad and Daneille Snowden. 

The eternal God from the beginning has desired one thing.

He gave His only Son to be our living sacrifice to die for us. Yet, there is still one

desire that remains.

He supplies all our needs, heals the sick, raises the dead, again God desires this one

thing!

He longs for our love towards Him.

 1John 4:8 "Whoever does not love does not know God because God is Love."

 The greatest amount of love in my day-to-day life, comes when my

children run up to me and say: "I love you!" This means so much to me! And it

bubbles up more love in me for them within my heart that I can't help but embellish

them with my love as well. 

Do we love Him, for simply what He can give us?

Do we love Him because of all His benefits which is eternal life, strength, peace, and

joy?

Or is our love towards God all because we feel obligated to love Him?

The purest of love has no desire for anything in return and

The purest of love has no strings attached.

When we love, it pours forth from the heart. The heart of God's Children when they

are 'in-love' with their Heavenly Father values Him deeply. And it will not matter if

God gives us things we want or not.

When we love in this way, our soul meshes with our creator God, when we long for

fellowship with Him as He does with us; we are becoming like Him.

The fruits that naturally grow from this heart are having a longing to please God, and

truly care for His Honor by bringing Him all the glory. Also, for our God (& for His

Son Jesus) to be known unto all the world.

Our love for God must dominate every part of our being in all we do and speak. May

all who see us and hear us speak; witness to the love we have for our Lord and King. 

From the beginning of creation and throughout eternity, God is looking or one thing:

OUR LOVE.

This has been Multiply, thank you for joining us today. Will you please share this

podcast and follow us at vcpencouragement.org, on Facebook and YouTube. Links

are posted in our bio. God bless!