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Now, setting aside the whole controversial argument about the word “predestined” stated in the scripture—setting all of that aside—let’s take a look at Romans chapter 8, verse 29. I’m just reading the first half. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” You could say “predestined to make into the image of His Son.” Now, that excites me because, first off, that scripture means that by the end of all of this, we will be like Christ. We’ll have our deepest desire. We’ll be like Christ. Secondly, it means that we will minister to those around us. We will do the work of Christ. And thirdly, because the only type of work—the only type of ministry that Christ does—is lasting and effective, our ministry to those around us, through Him, is going to be lasting and effective. We will make a difference.
So, I was thinking about the church’s vision last week and, with this scripture in mind, I’m thinking, “This is huge!” The Lord is guaranteeing us results in His will as we continue to walk out our salvation and walk into the plans that He has for us here on the earth. It’s… it’s absolutely huge. I mean, think about it. When you have tons of men and women of God walking around on the earth, doing the ministry that God set before them—looking like Christ, talking like Christ, acting like Christ—you’re talking about the world changing, talking about God doing a humongous work through us. It’s going to be powerful.
So, I don’t know if you’ve ever checked out the church’s vision before, but you can find it on cccfellowship.com/about/our-vision-beliefs/. Again, cccfellowship.com/about/our-vision-beliefs/. Check it out sometime and know that the vision isn’t vague. The church’s vision is a beautiful, detailed picture of what the Lord is going to do with, and through, His body. Now, we do have to be willing to watch and listen and discern what He’s really saying, but if you watch and you pay attention to what the Lord is doing, then I guarantee you’ll start seeing this vision just start unfolding right before your eyes. He really wants you, and He really has you in a position to be a part of all this. You are a part of all of this. So, this thing is just absolutely amazing.
Also, take every opportunity that the Lord places before you. Whether it’s to serve or it’s to evangelize or teach. Whatever the Lord puts in front of you to do, do the Lord’s will with joy in your heart because it is a huge blessing. It’s going to be absolutely phenomenal what the Lord does, even in times whenever it takes a lot of work, it takes quite the price to be able to get the job done; it’s going to be amazing what the Lord does through it. So, check out the church’s vision and know that the Lord has guaranteed that His word doesn’t return void. He’s going to see to it that everything that He has placed before us, He brings about. Romans chapter 8, verse 29, guarantees that. It’s kind of like the scripture in Mark chapter 4 that talks about the parable of the mustard seed. In Mark chapter 4, verses 30-32, the scriptures state, “Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.’”
This vision and the opportunity that the Lord’s given us—it started off meaning what we thought it did—but as we’re walking, as we’re seeing the Lord unfold this plan around us, it’s like it’s becoming bigger and bigger than we ever imagined that it could be. So, again, watch and pay attention because the Lord is doing something powerful in our midst.