Every church has a chance to be a church of excellence. Every person can be a person of excellence. This is a subject that has been discussed quite a bit in the last few years….the question is do we want to be a church of excellence?  If we do, then it will require discipline.

‘if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ‘ 2 Chronicles 7:14

I’ve heard people from all over San Antonio, even those who don’t go to church tell me what a nice church we have at Destiny Church.

WE DO! But don’t we want more? Actually I don’t know how much of a compliment that is! I want to be part of more than just a nice church. I want to be part of the church I read about in the book of Acts where God was on the move.

People said a lot of things about the early church, but never did they say that it was nice church. We need to make a choice, do we want a “nice Church”? Or do we want a church that is making an impact on our community and on the world?

What do we want Destiny Church in San Antonio to look like and be? Can we just coast along? Probably not! Is change coming? You bet it is! Is it all good? Probably not! Can it be good? Absolutely! One thing I know for sure, as long as God is God, there will be change! God likes change!

He changed the life of a small shepherd boy and made him into a King! Furthermore, He changed the life of a teenager who was favored and loved by his father and hated by his brothers to becoming the second most powerful man on earth! Likewise, He changed the life of Jacob who was a deceiver and made him into a Price of God and changed his name to Israel! He changed the life of a blind man and gave him sight! And he changed my life and your life and gave us purpose!

In the book of Revelation Christ is speaking to seven churches in Asia Minor. He commands them, and then says if they don’t respond he would take the candlestick from their midst! How interesting that none of these churches exist today. WHY? THEY WERE DISOBEDIENT TO THE LORD AND WOULD NOT FOLLOW HIS LEAD.

I see God calling us, the Men of Destiny, to follow five things in this Discipline of Church! If we do, He will bless us and use us to the fullest! Are you ready for the adventure that is before us?

1. God is calling us to be a Church of Prayer

‘if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ‘ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Do we qualify for this promise? We are his people called by his name, but are we doing the rest?

Prayer is the foundation for all ministry and for the Christian life! HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE? Do you still just give God a shopping list and call it prayer? Do you really know all about prayer? I’ve been studying the subject for years and have just scratched the surface. Prayer is conversation with God! But it is so much more than that.

2. God is Calling us to be a Mission Minded Church

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ‘ Acts 1:8

IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE CHURCH TO BE IN MISSIONS

We are to support missions through our apportionments and our finances! But are we a church involved in mission? You bet we are! Destiny Church has always been a Missions Minded Church! Our purpose statement reads:

“To bring people to Jesus and membership in His family,
to nurture and equip them for victorious living,
community outreach, and world missions.”

But is this enough? What about local missions? Sure we have missionaries in Mexico and Europe! Even in China and Israel! But what about the people right here in San Antonio where we live?

How many have we lead to Christ? Jesus told us He was sending the Holy Spirit to empower us to be witnesses. If we are not we need to examine ourselves and ask:

1) Am I truly saved? Have I given my life to Christ?

2.) Do I really have the power of the Holy Spirit in my life so I will affect the lives of others?

3.) Am I just refusing to answer the call on my life that Christ has placed on us?

LET’S BE IN PRAYER AS TO HOW GOD WISHES TO LEAD US IN MISSIONS TO THE WORLD AROUND US.

3.) God is Calling us to be a Church with a Purpose

If I was to give a quiz today on what the purpose of the church is, how many of us would

pass? So much of what we think the church is for, is wrong. A poll was taken a couple of years ago and the standard answer was that the church was here to serve its members.

WRONG! The church is here to serve those who aren’t yet members! The church is not a club, it is a place where we are trained to do ministry. It’s not a question of what can the church do for me! It’s “What can I do for others?”

The purpose of the church is “to connect, to grow, to serve and to go”.

WHERE DO YOU FIT IN ALL THAT? IN ALL OF IT!

NO ONE IS EXEMPT. ALL ARE CALLED.

There are so many needs in our community that we can meet, but we aren’t because we are having trouble finding folks willing to take on the tasks in the church. What are you doing?

4.) God is Calling us to be a Church that grows.

Numerical and spiritually … I’ll share more on this later. But God has called us to grow. Are we?

5.) God is calling us to be a Church of Vision.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

I know this can be very dangerous. People with vision are always struggling! I know that I can see where we are, and where we can be. And let me tell you that people with vision are sometimes hard to live with, but they are necessary if we are to follow God’s leading.

A statesman once said, “Some people see things as they are and ask why, I dream thing

that never were and ask why not?”

We have a group of people in the church (every church has them) that are looking to see what kind of vision God has for us. There are some big ideas just waiting for the right people to come and bring them to life!

I have a vision of us Training Men to become the men that God created us to be and to bring fatherlessness to a stop! Furthermore, I see a day when men of all ages will disciple the young men around them and become the father-figures and mentors our youth needs! I have a vision for the family to grow in strength and in godliness. Because I love America and as we all know, as the family goes, so goes the nation!

Will you take on this discipline of church today? Will you be man enough to stand in the gap for Jesus?

A Word From Eduardo Quintana

A Call To Action

Men, our families need godly men. Our wives need godly men. Our world needs godly men. Will you be a man with me? Let’s show ourselves strong by living for the Lord. Today I ask you to decide, will you be a man or a mouse? Will you be a Godly man or will you turn your back on God? Will you be a man that lives to serve his wife and children or will you be the man that lives to please himself? Choose today what kind of a man you will be, as for me and my sons, we will serve the Lord and be the men that God created us to be. Will you join us?