The End-Time (Transformed) Church – The Characteristics
Spiritually present (vs absent)
People want to be in church.
They actually have a personal reason to be there – for God and not themselves!
They have been taught and discipled to understand their purpose and trained to be a spiritual warrior, who must be about their Father’s business.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mat 16:24
They have died to themselves and laid down their life for Christ
Jesus gave his life for ours – we are to give our life for Him
Die to world, self, and selfishness
Those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor 5:15
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Gal 2:20).
Disciples (vs just converts)
They have been transformed into the image of Christ
We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
Excited about having a purpose and calling that is bigger than their own lives, having died to themselves and living for God.
Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Mat 10:39
Just as Jesus did –
they are “being about their Father’s business” of actively leading and teaching others to find their purpose and calling and building the Kingdom of God.
Spiritually mature (vs immature)
Spiritual maturity is a function of obedience
Disciple = discipline = obedience
Obedient to Christ
They are highly trained in a formal discipleship program to:
- Understand the whole counsel (Word) of God (Act 20:27)
- Able to rightly divide the truth, and not easily deceived. (2 Tim 2:15)
Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Heb 6:1
Present yourself to God as one approved … correctly handling the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
By this time you ought to be teachers. Heb 5:12
- Teaching others the solid food of God’s Word, not just milk (Heb 5:12)
- Busy doing the works of Jesus by destroying the works of the devil. (1Jn 3:8; Jn 14:12)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, … and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ… we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Eph 4:11-15
Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’ John 8:31
The spiritually mature have become bondslaves of Christ giving their lives to serve Him. They are “in this” for Him – not for themselves.
They follow Him for Who He is, not for what He can give them.
Spiritually employed (vs unemployed)
They are actively involved in fulfilling the Great Commission by being about their Father’s business and making disciples.
Teaching, mentoring, and leading others (new and old believers) to understand the Bible, discover their purpose and calling, and becoming true disciples of Christ.
They have become a bondslave to Christ– “follow me” Mat 16:24
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27
Spiritually powerful (vs impotent)
True disciples of Christ are highly trained in the Word, spiritual warfare, and fully equipped with the armor of God (2 Cor 10:3-5, Eph 6:12-13, 2 Tim 3-16-17)
They have been given Jesus’ authority to do His works and have power over the devil. (Mat 10:1)
Not only just prepared for battle, they are actively engaged in destroying the works of the devil.
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Lk 10:19
It is the Holy Spirit within that does the work.
Spiritually healthy (vs wounded)
They are able to fight and win their own battles against their demons (Eph 6:10-18).
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:10-12
Spiritual unity (vs disunity)
Their love for God and one another supersedes any differences between people and denominations and they work together against the forces of darkness (not each other) (Eph 6:12, Jn 13:34-35)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith. Eph 4:11-13
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Rom 12:10
In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit Eph 2:22
Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4:15-16
Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:5-6
Jesus prayed:
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23
Spiritually hungry (vs malnourished and weak)
For more and more meat – not just milk to make them feel good!
They can’t get enough of God’s Word, so they can grow and change.
Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Heb 5:12-14
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship. Acts 2:42
Spiritually alive (vs dead)
The Holy Spirit is glorified and welcomed and is given control of the church services.
His gifts are active and mighty to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4)
The people have revived themselves.
CONCLUSION
The Transformed Church is as different in form and function from the Traditional Church, as a butterfly is from the larva – a complete metamorphosis.
Table of Contents
| The Current (Traditional) Church | The End-Time (Transformed) Church |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | Characteristics (this page) |
| The Result | Read Next: The Result |
| The Reason | The Reason |
| The Effect | The Effect |
| The Future | The Future |
| Curriculum Content (Introduction and Sample) |