Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART II: T HEOLOGICAL AND M ISSIOLOGICAL P RINCIPLES AND I NSIGHTS • 207

2. Deliverances, healings, and transformation: The Kingdom invades the demonic sphere in the presence and program of the Church. Matt. 16.18 (NASB) – And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. Mark 16.17-18 (NASB) – And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Heb. 2.3-4 (NASB) – how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his own will.

3. The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in all we say and do.

a. The power of the Spirit in the Body, 1 Cor. 12.3-11

b. The powers of the world to come in the presence of the Holy Spirit, Heb. 6.4

c. The filling and enriching of the Spirit in the community’s life and through the community’s ministry, Eph. 5.18ff.

D. Implications for Team Leaders

1. God in this age works within and through the Church; no Church, no word from the Lord, no Kingdom advance, no Gospel proclamation.

2. Planting healthy churches, therefore, is the most visible sign of Christ’s Kingdom authority and power.

3. The Great Commission is synonymous with planting congregations of disciples.