MorningStar Fellowship Wilmington Church Vision
Write the vision; make it plain on tablets so that he may run who reads it.
PILLAR 1: PURSUING HIS PRESENCE
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Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ f you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” |
Pillar one is the pursuit of God’s manifest presence. Moses entreated God that He would not send them up to where He was leading them if His presence didn’t accompany them (Exe. 33:12-17). This implies you can be led somewhere by God and be in His will and yet not have His presence with you. The Lord’s will (in other words, our calling) is not our ultimate goal, though it is a part of our pursuit. Our ultimate pursuit is Him, Himself.
It is possible to be so consumed working for God that you miss the greater part, which is being with
God (Luke 10:38-22). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are our greatest treasure, and as such,
we must prioritize His presence in our individual and corporate lives. Seeking
His presence is prioritizing intimacy over accomplishments.
Having said that, more will be accomplished in His manifest presence than could ever happen without it (Psalms 97:5; Zech. 4:6; 2 Cor. 3:17&18). We don’t want to find ourselves having gathered together, but the Lord not be in our midst. He must be invited in (see Rev. 3:20). In pursuing to be a church where His presence has priority, we consequently can be a church that the Lord Himself is building (Matt. 16:18). We build on His presence. When God’s presence comes, we should never hurry out of it. To do so can reveal what our true pursuit is and is not. Allowing for God’s presence to take center stage in our churches will conflict with man’s carnal desires. It will cause us to decide if we value God’s desire for that service or man’s. It will run folks away, but that is the test. If we are seeking to please men, we, at times, will not be pleasing God (Gal. 1:10). We believe that if we make room for Him, we will be in want of nothing else (Matt. 6:33).
It is possible to be so consumed working for God that you miss the greater part, which is being with
God (Luke 10:38-22). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are our greatest treasure, and as such,
we must prioritize His presence in our individual and corporate lives. Seeking
His presence is prioritizing intimacy over accomplishments.
Having said that, more will be accomplished in His manifest presence than could ever happen without it (Psalms 97:5; Zech. 4:6; 2 Cor. 3:17&18). We don’t want to find ourselves having gathered together, but the Lord not be in our midst. He must be invited in (see Rev. 3:20). In pursuing to be a church where His presence has priority, we consequently can be a church that the Lord Himself is building (Matt. 16:18). We build on His presence. When God’s presence comes, we should never hurry out of it. To do so can reveal what our true pursuit is and is not. Allowing for God’s presence to take center stage in our churches will conflict with man’s carnal desires. It will cause us to decide if we value God’s desire for that service or man’s. It will run folks away, but that is the test. If we are seeking to please men, we, at times, will not be pleasing God (Gal. 1:10). We believe that if we make room for Him, we will be in want of nothing else (Matt. 6:33).
PILLAR 2: EQUIPPING THE SAINTS
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. |
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One of the mandates from the Lord is spelled out in Ephesians 4:11-16. This passage shows that the 5-fold ministry offices are given to equip the body for the work of service. It’s the body that is supposed to be doing the ministry of the Lord Jesus in the earth, not just a select few leaders.
This can be seen in Jesus’ example to send out not only the 12 but also the 70. We believe that if we as leaders in the church are doing our job correctly, then all that God gives us should be growing up into “all aspects into Him” (Eph 4:14). This equipping is so complete that it says that it is to function until all of the body of Christ has been brought to full maturity, until a complete “measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ”. In other words, if Jesus did it, so should His body.
As Jesus said, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Paul states in Galatians 4:19 that he was in labor until Christ was formed in His people. This should be the goal of every church and every leader. Our “labor” is to see His people growing in Him and Him growing in His people. Just as Mary had the messiah growing in her womb, so should all of His people have Him growing in them. This is our mandate by the grace of God and through the work of His Spirit to labor to see all His people equipped in all the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, to be a bride without spot or wrinkle, doing the works that Jesus did.
This can be seen in Jesus’ example to send out not only the 12 but also the 70. We believe that if we as leaders in the church are doing our job correctly, then all that God gives us should be growing up into “all aspects into Him” (Eph 4:14). This equipping is so complete that it says that it is to function until all of the body of Christ has been brought to full maturity, until a complete “measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ”. In other words, if Jesus did it, so should His body.
As Jesus said, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Paul states in Galatians 4:19 that he was in labor until Christ was formed in His people. This should be the goal of every church and every leader. Our “labor” is to see His people growing in Him and Him growing in His people. Just as Mary had the messiah growing in her womb, so should all of His people have Him growing in them. This is our mandate by the grace of God and through the work of His Spirit to labor to see all His people equipped in all the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, to be a bride without spot or wrinkle, doing the works that Jesus did.
PILLAR 3: BEING A FAMILY FIRST
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In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. |
Our third pillar is being a family. God’s ultimate intention is family (John 1:12, Gen 2:24, & Eph 2:19). We see in Romans 8:29 that Jesus was to be “the firstborn of many brothers”. God is a family guy.
To be a healthy church and ministry, we believe that it is imperative to be a family before anything else. We are all brothers and sisters. Our bond must go beyond just meeting together. We must become
joined together (Ephesians 2:21 &22). We have found that the secret to healthy ministry is to do
life together, being friends and brothers outside of just the Sunday morning meetings.
God started with the family in Genesis, and His plan hasn’t changed. Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that we would all be one. This is the fellowship, the koinonia (Greek), that the New Testament teaches us to have
(Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 13:14 & 1 John 1:3). This is not just a nice thing to do, it is
actually something we are told to be devoted to (Acts 2:42), and are called to (1 Corinthians 1:9).
To be a healthy church and ministry, we believe that it is imperative to be a family before anything else. We are all brothers and sisters. Our bond must go beyond just meeting together. We must become
joined together (Ephesians 2:21 &22). We have found that the secret to healthy ministry is to do
life together, being friends and brothers outside of just the Sunday morning meetings.
God started with the family in Genesis, and His plan hasn’t changed. Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that we would all be one. This is the fellowship, the koinonia (Greek), that the New Testament teaches us to have
(Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 13:14 & 1 John 1:3). This is not just a nice thing to do, it is
actually something we are told to be devoted to (Acts 2:42), and are called to (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Statement of Faith
The following is a statement of our position of basic Christian doctrines. As once stated by a great missionary, "There are certain basic Christian truths about which there must be agreement. On all other doctrines there should be liberty. In all things there must be charity." It is our resolution to take an uncompromising stand on the essential doctrines of the faith, and extend "the right hand of fellowship" to all who hold to them. It is also our resolution to protect the liberty of Christians to hold different perspectives on the "non-essential" doctrines.
There are doctrines we may consider non-essential, but which are important. We therefore make known our belief on these, while presenting them with tolerance toward those who may hold a different position. We are committed to truth and accuracy in doctrine, but also understand that one can hold right doctrines and still do damage to the body of Christ by causing divisions over the non-essentials. We are therefore just as committed to the essential Christian character, believing that "In all things there must be charity." As the apostle stated, "The goal of our instruction is love, from a pure heart and a sincere faith" (I Timothy 1:5). That, too, is our goal and commitment as we promote the following teachings that we hold as truth:
There are doctrines we may consider non-essential, but which are important. We therefore make known our belief on these, while presenting them with tolerance toward those who may hold a different position. We are committed to truth and accuracy in doctrine, but also understand that one can hold right doctrines and still do damage to the body of Christ by causing divisions over the non-essentials. We are therefore just as committed to the essential Christian character, believing that "In all things there must be charity." As the apostle stated, "The goal of our instruction is love, from a pure heart and a sincere faith" (I Timothy 1:5). That, too, is our goal and commitment as we promote the following teachings that we hold as truth:
on The Person of jesus
There is only one true God, Who is revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Word (Logos) of God. The Word was with God in the beginning, which states His pre-existence as one with God. "By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth" (Colossians 1:16), therefore making Jesus the Creator. Jesus Christ is the Purpose of God found in all of creation. He is the Father's delight and desire, and the Father is looking for the reflection of His Son in all created things. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. In the beginning, it was the ultimate purpose of God for all things to be summed up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
Jesus Christ, Who pre-existed with God in the form of God, emptied Himself to become fully a man that He might be the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Through His propitiatory sacrifice made on the cross, all who believe in Him and His sacrifice have their sins remitted and are restored to the fellowship with God lost by man's transgression.
Jesus was born of a virgin, by the seed of the Holy Spirit. His virgin birth is a testimony that only the Spirit can beget that which is Spirit. Those of the new creation are not solely of human origin, but are born from above by the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of Jesus' physical body after His crucifixion was literal, as will be the resurrection of both the just and the unjust on the Day of Judgment.
"There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5). All who seek restoration and fellowship with God must go through Jesus and cannot approach God through any person, spirit or doctrine. It is also a supreme presumption for any person or institution to seek to be mediator for others in place of Christ Jesus Himself.
The apostolic commission was for His followers to labor until Christ was formed in His church, to present every person complete in Christ, and to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. When Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself. We consider it the primary purpose of the church to esteem and exalt Jesus in every way. It is the focus and devotion of MorningStar Fellowship Wilmington to know and preach Him, and not ourselves. We pray for the grace to continually respond to His call to return to our first Love, that we might passionately devote ourselves to pleasing Him in all things while preparing for His return.
Jesus Christ, Who pre-existed with God in the form of God, emptied Himself to become fully a man that He might be the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Through His propitiatory sacrifice made on the cross, all who believe in Him and His sacrifice have their sins remitted and are restored to the fellowship with God lost by man's transgression.
Jesus was born of a virgin, by the seed of the Holy Spirit. His virgin birth is a testimony that only the Spirit can beget that which is Spirit. Those of the new creation are not solely of human origin, but are born from above by the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of Jesus' physical body after His crucifixion was literal, as will be the resurrection of both the just and the unjust on the Day of Judgment.
"There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5). All who seek restoration and fellowship with God must go through Jesus and cannot approach God through any person, spirit or doctrine. It is also a supreme presumption for any person or institution to seek to be mediator for others in place of Christ Jesus Himself.
The apostolic commission was for His followers to labor until Christ was formed in His church, to present every person complete in Christ, and to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. When Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself. We consider it the primary purpose of the church to esteem and exalt Jesus in every way. It is the focus and devotion of MorningStar Fellowship Wilmington to know and preach Him, and not ourselves. We pray for the grace to continually respond to His call to return to our first Love, that we might passionately devote ourselves to pleasing Him in all things while preparing for His return.
ON mankind
We believe that man was created by God from the dust of the earth, without sin or the knowledge of good and evil. The first man, Adam, transgressed the command of God, and as God had warned, the process of death entered him and all of his descendants because of that transgression. Therefore, all have sinned and are worthy of the sentence of death. Because of our unrighteousness, we are unable to approach a holy God, except through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Through Jesus, we not only can come before the Throne of Grace, but we may approach it boldly since our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the Lord Jesus.
on the atonement
Because all have sinned and are therefore under the sentence of death, all must trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the remission of sins. There is no other way to reconcile with God or escape from eternal judgment, except through the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus.
Those who trust in Jesus Christ have access to the Throne of Grace by His sacrifice and by His sacrifice alone. Good works are acceptable to God only as a love offering given to Him because of His worthiness, and have no bearing on our acceptance, standing or approval, all of which were accomplished by the cross. Good works offered for the purpose of acceptance, standing or approval are therefore an affront to the cross by which all of these things were gained for us by Jesus. Good works are not offered for His approval, but for His joy and glory, and must be offered through the Son (I Peter 2:5) in obedience to Him. Therefore, the goal of our service is obedience and not sacrifice.
Those who trust in Jesus Christ have access to the Throne of Grace by His sacrifice and by His sacrifice alone. Good works are acceptable to God only as a love offering given to Him because of His worthiness, and have no bearing on our acceptance, standing or approval, all of which were accomplished by the cross. Good works offered for the purpose of acceptance, standing or approval are therefore an affront to the cross by which all of these things were gained for us by Jesus. Good works are not offered for His approval, but for His joy and glory, and must be offered through the Son (I Peter 2:5) in obedience to Him. Therefore, the goal of our service is obedience and not sacrifice.
ON THE NEW BIRTH
Believing in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and in His propitiation made for our salvation results in a regeneration and renewal that constitutes our new birth into new creations. Although this does not imply immediate perfection in our temporal life or lifestyle, it does mean that true faith will result in a radical change in us. Being "born again" implies a new beginning, not an ending. Christian maturity in faith, truth and life is a process. Even so, this process must begin with spiritual regeneration or new birth. While it is possible to change our behavior without regeneration, changing our hearts requires the new birth, and it is our hearts upon which God looks.
ON THE PURPOSE OF FAITH
True faith is of the heart and not just the mind (Romans 10:10). God's purpose in requiring faith for salvation is to raise our focus and concentration above the temporal to the One who is eternal. Therefore, the gospel that is able to save souls must be preached in the power of the Spirit of God. The gospel is not dependent upon human eloquence or persuasion that may change minds, but cannot change hearts. Only the Spirit of God can reveal the Son of God, and only the Son of God can reveal the Father.
the authority of scripture
We believe in the Divine inspiration and authority of the 66 books of the Holy Bible as the complete canon of God's testimony to mankind. We are committed to esteeming Scripture as the very Word of God, inerrant in its original form. We do not accept any doctrine which contradicts Scripture.
We understand that there are many practices and doctrines that are considered orthodox, which do not contradict the Scripture, but which are not directly addressed in His Word. We are committed to giving liberty in the belief and practice of these teachings, but we will endeavor to maintain the simplicity of the biblical testimony and its stated practices as we are given grace to perceive them. We do not accept any spiritual experience as having its source in the Holy Spirit that does not have a precedent in Scripture. We do not accept any revelation, vision, dream, prophecy or discernment as truth which contradicts Scripture, or cannot be verified by it. We do not believe that any other writings have the same authority as the canon of Scripture.
We understand that there are many practices and doctrines that are considered orthodox, which do not contradict the Scripture, but which are not directly addressed in His Word. We are committed to giving liberty in the belief and practice of these teachings, but we will endeavor to maintain the simplicity of the biblical testimony and its stated practices as we are given grace to perceive them. We do not accept any spiritual experience as having its source in the Holy Spirit that does not have a precedent in Scripture. We do not accept any revelation, vision, dream, prophecy or discernment as truth which contradicts Scripture, or cannot be verified by it. We do not believe that any other writings have the same authority as the canon of Scripture.
ON the lord's supper
We acknowledge the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus and as a testimony of our communion (common-union) with Him in His body, the church. We consider it a holy ordinance, but we do not accept the teaching that communion is for the purpose of remitting sins, which Scripture testifies is based solely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 9:25-28).
wATER baptism
We believe that water baptism should be by immersion and accomplished immediately after commitment to the Lordship of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sin. This ordinance is a personal and public statement of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and is a commitment to lay down our lives to be one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection.
on The baptism of the holy spirit
We believe that the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is an additional impartation which may be subsequent to regeneration (see Acts 8:15-17 and 19:1-6). This baptism is usually accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, etc.
We believe that this gift is presently available to all who believe (Acts 2:38-39), but is not essential for salvation or regeneration. While these are accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7), there were disciples who did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Just as Paul made it a priority to instruct those believers and pray for them to receive this gift, we are committed to doing the same.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to impart spiritual power to the believer to be a witness (Acts 1:8, 5:32). This baptism is to be distinguished from being filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31, 7:55, 13:9,52), which can be a special and repeated empowering for specific purposes.
We believe that when Christians truly have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, they should begin to take on His nature and fruit, becoming "helpers" and "comforters", leading others into truth, and testifying of Jesus.
We believe that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the church to accomplish her full purpose today.
We believe that this gift is presently available to all who believe (Acts 2:38-39), but is not essential for salvation or regeneration. While these are accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7), there were disciples who did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Just as Paul made it a priority to instruct those believers and pray for them to receive this gift, we are committed to doing the same.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to impart spiritual power to the believer to be a witness (Acts 1:8, 5:32). This baptism is to be distinguished from being filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31, 7:55, 13:9,52), which can be a special and repeated empowering for specific purposes.
We believe that when Christians truly have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, they should begin to take on His nature and fruit, becoming "helpers" and "comforters", leading others into truth, and testifying of Jesus.
We believe that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the church to accomplish her full purpose today.
ON THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the church to accomplish her full purpose today.
ON THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the literal, physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take authority and rule on earth. We believe that those who are alive and remain at the return of our Lord will be changed and caught up to be with Him in the air. Those who have died in the faith will be resurrected and precede those who are alive in being changed and caught up to be with Him.
We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of both the just and the unjust for the Day of Judgment. For those of us who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf, this resurrection is for eternal life in fellowship with God. Those who are not justified by faith in Jesus are resurrected for an eternal judgment.
We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of both the just and the unjust for the Day of Judgment. For those of us who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf, this resurrection is for eternal life in fellowship with God. Those who are not justified by faith in Jesus are resurrected for an eternal judgment.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”