The Vision of an Antioch Church

45 Pages·2016·0.49 MB·English

by  Kevin J. Conner

The Vision
of an
Antioch Church
By Kevin J. Conner
Copyright ©1998 Kevin J. Conner
Kindle Edition © 2017
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Table of Contents
About this Booklet
Prologue
Foreword
The Vision of the Church
The Church at Jerusalem
The Church at Antioch
Equippers of the Vision
Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author
Other Books by Kevin J. Conner
About this Booklet
This booklet arises out of both a testimony of a local Church (the writer's 'Home
Church' — Waverley Christian Fellowship), as well as some Scriptural
principles concerning a New Testament local Church (the Church of Antioch).
The Book of Acts shows the Lord building His Church as He promised He
would. In Acts, as the Church grew, four major geographical locations of Church
expansion are seen. These geographical locations were Jerusalem, then Antioch,
and then Ephesus and Thessalonica.
The Lord used Jerusalem as the original Church to spread the Gospel through
Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria and then to Antioch.
The Lord used Antioch to spread the Gospel among many Gentile cities,
especially seen in Paul's great missionary journeys out from Antioch.
Ephesus became a great centre for the spread of the Word throughout all Asia
and its regions. Then Thessalonica became a great Church spreading the Gospel
word to all Macedonia and Achaia and regions around.
Two Churches, however, are seen to be "key" Churches - Jerusalem and
Antioch, the Churches with special emphasis for Jews and Gentiles.
In 1989, the word of the lord came to the writer as the then Senior Minister of
Waverley Christian Fellowship saying:
"Waverley Christian Fellowship is to maintain the foundational principles
laid down in the church at Jerusalem, but not to allow the spirit and attitude that
crept into the church at Jerusalem to get into Waverley Christian Fellowship.
Waverley as a Christian Fellowship, is to be like the Church at Antioch".
This word caused the writer to seek the Lord and search the Scriptures as to
what the Lord meant by it. This booklet is the result of that searching of the
word. In 1994, the role of Senior Minister of W.C.F. was given to my son, Mark
Conner, along with his wife, Nicole. It is worthy of comment, that, although the
leadership has changed, and the style of leadership varies, the vision remains the
same, but continues to enlarge and expand itself into greater fulfilment as the
lord continues to direct.
Because truth is applicable to each generation, the writer believes that the
principles set out here can be of help to any minister and local church, especially
to those called to be "an Antioch church". It is sent forth with prayer and a sense
of destiny as well as being a testimony founded on scriptural principles of a
church that desires to be "like the Church at Antioch".

Prologue
In 1989, October 14th, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., the word of the Lord came
expressly by the Spirit, to the heart and mind of the writer, who was, at that time,
the Senior Minister of his home Church - Waverley Christian Fellowship. The
word of the Lord said:
"Waverley Christian Fellowship is to maintain the foundation principles laid
down in the Church at Jerusalem, but not to allow the spirit and attitude that
crept into the Church at Jerusalem to get into Waverley. Waverley Christian
Fellowship is called to be like the Church at Antioch".
Foreword
As seen in the Prologue, the writer was still, at that time, the Senior Minister of
Waverley Christian Fellowship. While in a series of meetings at Rick Godwin's
"Eagle's Nest Christian Fellowship", San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., during a time
of prayer, the word of the Lord came specifically and clearly to his heart and
mind concerning his home Church.
The Holy Spirit impressed very clearly the following word:
"Waverley Christian Fellowship is to maintain the foundation principles laid
down in the Church at Jerusalem, but not to allow the spirit and attitude that
crept into the Church at Jerusalem to get into Waverley. Waverley Christian
Fellowship to called to be like the Church at Antioch".
The word of the Lord to my heart caused me to do some serious study of the
whole matter of Jerusalem and Antioch, as found in the Book of Acts. This
booklet explains more fully this word as the Lord unfolded this vision. Through
various visiting ministries, over several following years, God clearly confirmed
the call on the Church to be "as the Church at Antioch".
Because truth is truth in every generation, what was truth then is truth now.
General truth applicable to the Church at Antioch is truth that may be applied to
any Church that is called to be "an Antioch Church".
Even though the things written here were quickened by the Spirit to the
writer, and then applied to his home Church, the writer believes that the
principles here will be helpful to any local Church.
It is for this purpose that the booklet is written, in order that there will be
many other "Antioch Churches", and they will be strengthened and encouraged
by the same principles set out here.
May the vision of "an Antioch Church" grip the hearts of all who read is the
writer's desire and prayer.

Kevin J. Conner
The Vision of the Church
It is important and absolutely necessary that leaders of the people of God have
vision. Vision gives direction. Vision gives motivation. Without vision there is
no direction, no motivation and no sense of destiny.

The Vision
1. The Need of Vision Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the

people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he". Other translations
provide further insights into this verse.
· "Where there is no vision, the people perish" - KJV.

· "Where there is no vision, the people are made naked" - KJV, Margin.

· "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelations of God), the people

perish" - Amp.Old Testament.
· "Where there is no vision (revelation), the people are unrestrained" -

NASB.
· "Without prophecy, the people become demoralized" - NAB.

· "Where there is no progressive vision, the people dwell carelessly" -

Swedish.
· "Where there are no guidelines, the people run riot". (?) · "Where there is

no word from God, the people are uncontrolled". (?)
· "Where there is ignorance of God, the people run wild" - LB.

· "Without revelation, a nation fades, but it prospers in knowing the law"

FF.
· "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint" JND.

· "Without prophecy, the people become demoralized" - NAB.

The days of Eli illustrate the condition in these truths of a people where there
was no vision. "The word of the Lord was precious (rare, scarce) in those days,
there was no open vision" (or, there was no frequent or widely spread vision, no
direct or clear vision) -1 Samuel 3:1.
The condition of Israel under Eli the priest, who was physically almost blind,
and certainly blind spiritually, was demoralized. People cast off restraint. They
dwelt carelessly. They perished. Eli's' own sons were immoral and evil, priestly
sons. This was because of lack of vision (Read 1 Samuel Chapters 1-2-3).
In our generation, people perish also. Churches perish for lack of vision in
leadership. No people can rise above the level of leadership vision. People do
not want to follow someone or something that is soon to perish. Hence there is
great need for vision!

2. The Need of Progressive Vision

The Swedish Translation of Proverbs 29:18 puts it this way. "Where there is no
progressive vision, the people dwell carelessly".
The Bible itself is a progressive revelation of that which God has in mind.
Even though each book of the Bible is complete in itself, no one book is the
complete Bible. Each is part of the whole. The consummation of God's vision is
seen in the Book of Revelation, the Book of Ultimates.
All visions given to Old Testament saints were progressive in that each God-
given vision was a part of a progressive whole. Old Testament saints received
distinctive vision, for their time and for their generation. All were, however,
progressive parts of the whole unto the completed vision seen in Christ and His
Church.
It is necessary to move with God and progress in the vision God gives.
Otherwise, staleness, indifference and carelessness sets in the leaders and
people. God ever moves in progressive vision towards the ultimate that He has in
mind. Israel died in the Wilderness for their failure to move on progressively
with God's vision for them (Hebrews Chapters 3-4 with Numbers 13-14).

3. The Need of a Clear Vision

The prophet Habakkuk writes, "And the Lord answered me and said, Write the
vision and made it plain, that he may run that reads it. For the vision is yet for an
appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for
it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Habakkuk 2:1-3).
The Lord gave the vision and told His people to write it down and make it
plain. There is something about writing things down. God inspired the saints to
write the Scriptures down for His people. Writing helps to clarify the vision God
gives. Vision need to be made clear in order for God's people to follow. Vision is
always fulfilled in God's appointed time. It is a sad thing in our generation that
many of God's people do not know what the vision of their leadership is, and
therefore, they continue to wander in the Wilderness, year after year and
generation after generation. Without a vision people perish. It is always helpful
to "write the vision down, and make it plain". This is necessary for a leader
seeking to lead the local Church to its God-given destiny.

4. The Need of Obedience to Vision

Paul could say, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision..." Paul had a
heavenly vision, a vision that originated with God. Vision demands obedience to