Sequential Ekklesia Growth Drivers for Hyper-Acceleration

Sequential Ekklesia Growth Drivers for Hyper-Acceleration

1.Vision for completion with measurable goals.

2. Prayer walking and annexing the strongman’s territories as your eternal inheritance (1Tim. 2:8; Matt. 12:29; Acts 26:18).

3. Going 2 by 2, catching big fish, planting interactive, replicating ekklesias in the house of peace (Luke 10:1-9; 1 Cor. 14:26).

4. Apostolic teaching, passionate prayer, miracles, sharing and caring and breaking bread from house to house (Acts 2:42-47). 

5. Plurality of leadership with obedience rather than knowledge based discipleship. Networking with others (Eph. 4:11-13). 

6. Priesthood of all believers including women till there be no more laymen left in the ekklesia (Acts 2:17,18;1Pet. 2:9).

7. Culture of research, innovation and finding breakthrough strategies. Reward those who mobilize for multiplication.

8. Adopt “Saturation Principle” with daily offering of Gentiles as a sacrifice.(Rom.15:16;1Cor. 14:24,25)

9. Ethno-linguistic cultural approach with accountability to multiple generations of disciples (Acts 16:3-5; 2Tim.2:2).

10. Evaluation: disciples made, ekklesias planted, territories annexed and communities restored (John 15:8; Acts 16:5).

Nothing changes until we change. The biggest change required are attitude issues on our part that change our paradigm, followed by actions that change the course of history.

Research essentially consists of identifying movers and shakers who are not plagued by a traditional mindset (harvest force), defining the domain and profiling the people (harvest field), locating strongholds (spiritual mapping) and prioritizing key result areas (goals). A strategy should be designed to systematically nibble away at the demonic kingdom. 

Research shows us the big picture and how many pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are still missing. Without this strategic information, no intelligent decisions about priorities, future direction and initiatives can be made. In fact, without information we cannot even pray intelligently. We need to know what Yahweh wants us to pray about—praying for the nations, for the labourers required and the status of the harvest field etc. (Matt. 28:19; 9: 37,38). Monitoring tells us whether we are achieving the objective of making disciples of “all nations.” 

In today’s digitized world it should not be difficult to have accurate information streaming in and then immediately outsourced to all the stakeholders. In that way we can monitor daily the progress made on the unfinished task. 

There is nothing that jogs a church from a frog in the well worldview faster than a dynamic database and city/area mapping of the regions where Christ has not yet been named. 

Paul says, “I am a wise master-builder.” An architect has detailed blueprints of an edifice even before groundbreaking. The ekklesia needs master-builders who see the big picture and understand the step-by-step action plan (1Cor. 3:10). We need effective leaders who do not hanker after influence and affluence, the pulpit or the limelight but are behind the scene, silent managers of the creative change process to finish the church’s task of discipling the nations. Collecting baseline data is not for the purpose of flaunting one’s achievements but for defining the task that remains.

The church should have spies everywhere to catch a whiff of what is brewing in the satanic cauldron, read the smoke signals and take appropriate preventive action (2 Cor. 2:11).

Moses sent spies to find out the communal demography, geographical landscape, agrarian practices, fruit production and other details of Canaan. Joshua sent spies to bring a “written survey” report of the unoccupied territories (Num. Chap. 13; Josh. 18:3-9). Simultaneously Yahweh was tracking, city by city and nation by nation, the land and the people yet to be possessed. He told Joshua that he was suffering from burnout and should hand over the baton to the younger generation “as there is much land and people yet to be possessed” (Josh. 13:1; Chaps 13-19).  

Every ekklesia should be a knowledge-bank providing the latest information on any turbulence, tragedies and triumphs in the city and reporting on the new people and the land possessed. 

The quality of information depends entirely on the quality of data reporting at the grassroots. This data is necessary for creating an informed strategy and for measuring performance (Acts 14:26,27). The ekklesia needs to go all out to possess new territories until no more land and nations are left to be possessed (Psalm 2:8). Yahweh will give us little by little until we are capable of inheriting all the land (Exo. 23:29,30). 

Paul commended the Thessalonians for their impact in sounding forth the gospel in Macedonia, Achaia and beyond. The gospel came not only in words but also in power. This proclamation of the good news is like the year of Jubilee when the trumpets were blown throughout Israel to proclaim liberty from slavery, release from debt and restoration of inheritance. Yeshua came to proclaim liberty to the captives and restore their eternal inheritance (1 Thess. 1:5-9; Lev. 25:8-10; Luke 4:18).

The “Great Commission (GC)” requires research to expose and depose any strongholds (Matt. 16:18,19; 12:29). 

The “Geographical GC” requires researching all the places where and why Christ is not yet named so we can send appropriate witnesses there (Acts 1:8; Rom. 15:19-23; 2Cor.10:16). 

The “People Groups GC” (Matt. 28:19) requires researching which nations, tongues and tribes need discipling. 

Finally the “Inheritance GC” (Acts 26:18).  We need to research, fight the good fight and occupy our inheritance, which the Chief Shepherd will give us with the crown of glory, which fadeth not (1Peter 5:4). The Father has chosen an inheritance for every child (Psalm 47: 3,4). He gave ten cities to the servant who multiplied his talents. We need to encourage all Christians to acquire Yahweh-assigned inheritance and multiply it (Luke 19:13,17).

Vision without mission is hallucination. Spreading her wings into every fabric of human society should be high on the Church’s radar. (Jun Vencer) 

There is a need for “doing the math” to quantify the magnitude of the status of lostness within the church’s geographical boundaries. With organized Christianity rapidly advancing towards extinction, such quantification will give a deeper perspective on the growing lostness and help in making effective strategies. (Jim Slack)  

The old denominations were not designed for growth and multiplication but for maintaining the status quo. The world has moved on since then and their structures have ossified. (John Robb) 

Spiritual History of the City: A young man asked Mother Teresa what he should do with his life to make a difference. She told him, “Find your own Calcutta.” From Calcutta to California, fathers who went looking for gold, leaving behind fatherless families, inhabit most cities. These fathers committed innumerable sins, bringing curses on the city. Every city must research its own tortured spiritual history based on generational iniquities, and agonize and take action like Nehemiah, Daniel and Paul (Luke11:50,51; Neh. 1:5; Dan. 9:16; Acts 17:16,17). 

We must break curses and rewrite redemptive history by changing from abandonment to a City of Refuge, oppression to justice, sickness to healing, occult/rebellion to the prophetic, apathy to creativity, prosperity/covetousness to resting in Yahweh’s provision, fatherlessness to the Father’s heart and finally from death to life.  (Steve Trujillo quoted by Rich Hagler)

The Firstfruits: The Bible begins with the word “Firstfruits”. The Hebrew word, Reshiyth means, “In the beginning but more specifically the Firstfruits”. Yahveh gave Adam a choice to eat the Fruit of life and forever submit to His will. Adam chose the alternative and ate the Fruit of knowledge to do his own thing. The spirit of Elohim left Adam and he spiritually died instantly. Everyone born since then is spiritually dead (Ps. 51:5). It is Yeshua the second Adam who came and submitted totally to the will of His Father, “I do as I see the Father do and speak what the Father speaks” (John 14:8-12). Through victory over death, Christ became the Firstfruits, a life giving Spirit. Unless you are born again in Him, you are a dead duck, even if you are kicking around (John 3:3,5). “The fear of the Lord is the firstfruits (beginning) of wisdom. Every new believer who fully submits, is the Firstfuits (plural) because he/she is only a sample of the harvest that must follow. (Lev. 23:10-14; Rom. 8:2,10,23; 1 Cor. 15:20,23; Prov. 1:7).(Paul Ma)

The Kingdom Indicators (Based on Isa. 32:9-18): Yeshua preached about the Kingdom more than any other topic. It begins with women (the Bride) shedding her fancy clothes and putting on sackcloth and repenting (vv. 9-14). The result is the outpouring of the Spirit (v. 15) with the restoration of the Paradise. The signs of the kingdom include ecological changes with the desolate wilderness changing into a fruitful Garden (v.16), justice being available to all (v. 16) and righteousness prevailing i.e. right relationship with Yahweh, with each other and with the nature (v. 17). Security will replace insecurity and finally peace will prevail instead of violence (v.18). The only time the true kingdom of Yahweh existed on earth was in the Garden of Eden before its fall. It will be finally restored again. Then the Tree of Life will grow on either side of the sparkling river of life issuing from the Throne of Yahweh, bearing fruit every month, and its leaves will be for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:1-3). Our perception of the Kingdom must include the relational dynamic that existed in the Garden of Eden (Delight).

The history of the earth begins and ends in a garden. Yahweh has commissioned us to multiply and fill the earth with gardens. 

Apostolic Gardens: Yahweh commanded Adam to “tend the garden and guard it.”  Adam failed to guard it and lost the land lease for just one piece of fruit. Yahweh is not looking forward to cities full of ugly concrete church buildings but beautiful garden cities fit for His visit. “Every place that the sole of your foot treads belongs to you.” Yahweh is not going to give it to you; He has already done so. Possessing, tending, guarding and restoring the land into paradise is your job. Despising your birthright like Esau for a bowl of mush will ruin you and your garden (Josh.1:3;1Tim.2:8; Rom.16:20; Gen. 2:15; 25:29-34).

The command, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” is not just for biological reproduction but is Yahweh’s Great Commission for filling the earth with the Garden of Eden as our model and mandate. It requires subduing the earth and having dominion over it by guarding your domain from the plunderer, binding the strongman, planting fruitful gardens in the houses of peace and offering the heathen as a sweet smelling sacrifice pleasing to Yahweh. This will translate into community restoration with generational and land curses being broken, and result in a life of abundance of everything we need. But the village only qualifies to be an apostolic garden when it starts sending emissaries to plant other gardens. When all these gardens merge, the whole earth will be transformed into the Garden of Eden, with restoration of relationships between creatures and their Creator. Yahweh will then visit us during the cool of the day (Luke 10:5-9; Matt. 12:29; Eph. 6:12; Isa. 11:6-10; 32: 15-18; Eze. 36:35; Amos 9:13-15; Gen. 1:28; 3:8).

The best way to love the Lord is to keep subduing the earth and keep filling it with multiplying fruitful apostolic gardens. And the best way to love your neighbours is to send them, home grown fresh fruits and vegetables packaged in the gospel.

The First Convention: In the first ever Jerusalem convention, all the megastars, Peter, Paul, James and the Elders, met to discuss the Gentile issue without any blitz or glitz. The ordinary people played a pivotal role in the dialogue. There was no inequality, stratification or social asymmetry. Judaizers, the circumcision party insisted on imposing traditions. Peter took an unequivocal stand that he was an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 15:7). Paul reported and declared, at least three times, on the great things Yahweh was doing among the Gentiles (15:3,4,12). Every single verse in the 15th chapter of Acts is about the Gentiles. After heated dissension and disputing, the Hebraic leaders made a suicidal decision to hand over the baton to the Gentiles. The underpinning of the ekklesia with a Gentile focus soon resulted in a huge harvest of souls. The Gentile aroma spread to the despised Samaritans, Ethiopian eunuch, merchants, jailers, sailors, powerful military officers, proconsuls, governors, kings, philosophers and just about into every fabric of humanity. 

The gathering clearly emphasized that our love for the lost must transcend all other agendas. Ordinary people must be top graded and elevated to pivotal positions. All men and women are equal in their value as believers. Free interaction and creative reasoning are the foundations of a healthy ekklesia. In our gatherings, we need to invite those who report on what great things Yahweh is doing among the Gentiles and not just motivational speakers. 

Transitioning: Firstly, get envisioned with Yahweh’s agenda and then He can do business with you.

Secondly, collect maps and basic demographic data of the harvest field.  This information includes People Groups, their culture and worldview, economics etc. 

Thirdly, find out what religious, cultural, social, economic, mental and spiritual strongholds are present. 

Fourthly, conduct an honest SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the available Harvest Force. Do not choose leaders on the basis of the letters and titles attached to their names. The best predictors of future success are not titles but past accomplishments. 

Finally, draw out a blueprint of the action plan and set up a monitoring system to track progress.

Pastor, programs, activities and schedule-centered churches produce shallow and immature Christians. Christ-centered, organic ekklesias produce inheritors of the earth. 

Start with whatever resources you have. Moses had only a stick, a stammer and a criminal record to take with him, but he got the vision at the burning bush, and went and rescued his people from bondage in Egypt. David had only a few pebbles and a sling. He used his best shot for the enemy, became a king and a man after Yahweh’s own heart. The Samaritan woman had only a bad reputation to flaunt but a few minutes with Yeshua changed everything and she became a fountain of living water that brought the whole village to His feet. The demon infested man from Gadara wanted to go with Yeshua for advanced theological training. Instead Yeshua sent him to disciple the ten cities of Decapolis. His testimony consisted of demonized pigs rushing into the lake. The cripple who was healed at the Beautiful gate ballet-danced all over the Temple courtyard to the applause of the devotees. 

“Does the house ekklesia work?” is the wrong question.  “Is it Biblical?” is the million dollar question. You can do what you wanna do in the “church as we know it” but don’t call it Biblical, ‘coz there ain’t no verses that support it. (Garry Goodel)

The NT mentions Oikos (household) fourteen times. Lydia, Cornelius and others had Oikos ekklesias. Oikos is more than a family. It is our personal sphere of influence, which includes family, friends, professional, and non-professional associates from the neighbourhood, work and recreational activities. This web of relationships is to be the primary target of a believer’s personal evangelistic outreach. (Jeff Reed)  

Family is at the heart of Yahweh. The ekklesia is His Oikos. He has given every husband and father, the highest accolade of being a priest to his household. Outsourcing it to the professional clergy is unbiblical and amounts to being an infidel. (Sean Steckbeck)

Every Christian should be piloting and navigating his own Oikos and not just be a passenger. Our Oikos is our eternal inheritance and we are accountable for the blood of every single soul (Eze. 3:18). Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer to Ruth. Oikos evangelism was at the heart of Yeshua’s strategy for reaching the ends of the earth. He defined his disciples as His brothers, sisters and mothers, who do the will of the Father. He visited and healed Peter’s sick mother-in-law. We need to be kinsmen-redeemers to our families and friends who are not in faith, not with silver and gold but with the precious blood of the Lamb (Matt. 12:48-50).