VRC 101

Ezekiel 34:16
....I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick.........

1.) The view of what we do at Vineyard Recovery is to recognize the whole scope of Scripture.
           A.) We are called to live in the day---in the moment
                 with an understanding that as events unfold around us
                The future promises of God are coming into play. The
                promises of God are being incorporated in our lives and do
                have an effect on us and those around us.
                

           B.) It is important for us to understand what God's promises
                 to us. This is why we need to not just read the Bible, but
                become students of it. Not to elevate the scriptures to an
                intellectual understanding as to make it practical and relevant
                to our daily life.

           C.) We are called to live a Kingdom life (Under the rule of God)
                 right here and now. When you hear the term "Kingdom of God",
                 it is referring to the dynamic rule and reign of God being carried
                 out in our life.

           D.) The Bible should be a practical book on how to live a

                 practical life in relationship to Jesus. Here again, we do not wish
                to elevate following Christ to a level where it is nothing more than
                a mental exercise.

2.) As we meet each week, we should begin to see the benefits
and promises that are tied to a life that is found through the
surrender of will and live over to Jesus and His care.
            
              A.) Step # 3 of the Twelve Steps show us that we accomplish this                      through confession, repentance and acceptance that Jesus is 
                   now the Higher Power we turn to. We look to carry out His will
                   as we daily seek direction from Him on how to live this new life.

3.) Each week at Vineyard Recovery, we want to look into different areas that are relevant to all of us, that will aid us in growing in Christ.

           

              A.) Salvation is not the end but merely the starting point

                   in which our recovery can begin to produce results.

          

              B.) Results that we can apply to our lives.

              C.) The desire of God is not simply remove temptation and                                stumbling blocks that might cause us to return to our old ways,

                   but to enact a change of character in us that will create new

                   desires and a new kind of love in us. 

Ephesians 4:11

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

5.) God has put in place a structure in which we can experience

the growth God wants to give us. That place is the church.

This is why Vineyard Recovery Church exists.

              

                  A.) This is not a place where you come to be a spectator

                       but rather where you can be encouraged to take chances in 

                       learning how to live this new life.

              

                  B.) Playing it safe and doing nothing never produces

                       growth.

              

                  C.) That is why we pray for the sick

              

                  D.) That is why we do deliverance and break demonic

                       oppression from people.

              

                  E.) We feed the poor and minister, or serve anyone

                       who needs it or asks for it. We do so to the best of our                                ability and call that God has placed on this fellowship.

                   F.) As John Wimber, one of the founders of the Vineyard                                     movement, use to say, "Everyone gets to play in the                                     Kingdom of God. We all have a call to "do the stuff" that                               Jesus did." 

   

                   G.) When you were out there running with the devil, didn't you

                         get to his stuff? How much more would Christ desire you to

                         participate in the Kingdom work here, now.

6.) You should be challenged by what happens here

         

                   A.) Challenged to take a look at what you say you believe

                        to see if it is true.

                    

                   B.) Challenged to ask yourself, have I truly been changed by

                        Jesus, or am I merely playing at this thing called                                         Christianity?

7.) This is His church/ This is His meeting

                       A.) This is why each week, as we gather together, will be                                   different. Some weeks may be an up-tempo celebration to 

                        the goodness God has brought forth in our lives. But then

                        we may have a service where the call is to quiet reflection

                        and adoration to God. 

                   B.) God directs the meetings. The one thing that was made very

                        clear to me when I started Vineyard Recovery was..."Stay out

                        of the way." By that, I mean I wasn't to inject my opinion or

                        try and manipulate anyone or anything. I believe that God 

                        wants us to allow His Holy Spirit to have free reign in our

                        meetings.

I know that today's posting may have seemed a bit strange and different, but felt that this was something that needed to be said. Thanks for stopping by.

God on you.....

mb