Join us TONIGHT @ 6:30PM for the night of prayer and worship!
We will spend time praising God for what He has done in and through the gospel, and we will also spend time praying for our own hearts and for various church planting efforts.

I spent a lot of my life competing. One of the things I noticed pretty quickly when I became a Christian is how difficult it can be to be competitive while being filled with the Spirit. For the record, as it relates to competition(s) I do believe it’s possible to be both competitive and honor God!

But what happens when a “competitive spirit” collides with Christian ministry?
The Kingdom of God isn’t like a game of Risk where we are making moves to take over territory and then spending the rest of our lives trying to protect the little kingdom we have created for ourselves. At the end of the day, the church isn’t ours. We plant, we water, God brings the increase! He gets the glory!

There is no place for being territorial in the Kingdom of God. It is possible, and in fact it is imperative, for us to do ministry with excellence while at the same time remaining humble and open-handed with the fruit and scope of our ministry.

The church in Antioch was a significant hub of ministry for the early church. In Acts 11 we see the genesis of the Antioch church and believe what Luke writes is really instructive for us:

“19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:19-20

Firstly, make note of the fact that one of the most significant moments in the early church, the birth of a Gentile Church in Antioch, was the result of average, every day believers faithfully preaching Jesus. God used them to change a city and change the world. The influence of these scattered believers isn’t found in their reputation or fame, but in their faithful proclamation of the word of God!

As a result of God's work in Antioch, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to confirm what was happening in Antioch. Remember the deep “chasm” between Jew and Gentile. Would the Jewish Christians be receptive to and accepting of the continued work of Jesus among the Gentiles?

"23 When [Barnabas] came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." Acts 11:23-24

Barnabas saw the grace of God and it made him glad!

He rejoiced to see God’s grace on display! When Barnabas came and saw the “delightful display of God’s favor” in Antioch, he was delighted! Often, when we see GRACE on display in other places, our sinful competitiveness can stir up envy, discontentment and insecurity.

We need to celebrate the work of God in other places, through other people and in other churches.

Wherever the grace of God is evident, it should be encouraging to us!

Where there is GRACE there should be GLADNESS!

PRAY today for God to give us humble hearts that are glad to see God's grace at work.
PRAY for God to guard us against being territorial, while stewarding well the ministry He has entrusted to us.
PRAY for a culture in our church that reflects what happened in Antioch...everyday believers, scattered throughout our region who are proclaiming the gospel to people...that many may come to believe!