7 Signs Identifying The True Church of God That Jesus Built
Years ago, I stood in a warming tent during Hurricane Sandy with an acoustic guitar, watching hundreds of New Yorkers weep as we sang "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus." A man approached me afterward with tears in his eyes and said something I'll never forget: "People have come from all over the world to help us rebuild physically, but no one has helped our minds." God gave me a vision. He said, "Serve the people of New York City with your life." That moment launched a journey that would eventually lead to V1 Church Manhattan and a deeper understanding of what the true church really looks like.
Tonight, I want to share with you seven mandates that identify the true church of God. These aren't suggestions or preferences. These are divine requirements for any community that calls itself the body of Christ. Whether you're part of V1 Church or seeking another faith community, these seven signs will help you recognize where God is truly moving.
#1 - The Church Must Be an Oasis in a Weary Land
The first mandate for the true church is simple yet profound: we must be an oasis in a weary land. Matthew 10:42 tells us that whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will certainly not lose his reward.
I came to New York City not to take from this city, but to give. So many people come here to use the city for Broadway dreams or Wall Street careers. There's nothing wrong with ambition, but I've noticed something: not many people come to serve this city. Most come to be served by it.
The true church offers refreshment to the weary. When you walk into a genuine faith community, it should feel like a cool drink of water for your soul. You should leave feeling refreshed, not drained. You should encounter people who are there to give, not just to receive.
#2 - A Source of Truth in Mass Deception
The second mandate demands that the true church be a source of truth in the midst of mass deception. Proverbs 23:23 instructs us to "buy truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."
We live in one of the most knowledgeable generations in human history. We can access information instantly, binge YouTube tutorials, and learn almost anything online. Yet we have the least wisdom that's observable. We struggle with relationships, swipe endlessly through dating apps, and create content about first dates that never lead to lasting connections.
The true church doesn't just dispense knowledge. It cultivates wisdom. It shows you what truth looks like lived out in real relationships, real marriages, and real community. When you see couples who've been married for decades still serving each other with joy, that's truth embodied. That's what the world desperately needs.
#3 - Courage in the Midst of Fear and Terror
The third mandate calls the true church to be a source of courage when fear grips our communities. I'll never forget Tim Keller's sermon the Sunday after 9/11. Before that day, he was simply a faithful Presbyterian pastor in Manhattan. But when terror struck this island, thousands flooded his church seeking answers.
During the pandemic, people turned to YouTube searching for truth. They didn't listen because we were eloquent. They listened because we carried truth, and Jesus is the truth. The true church doesn't run from crisis. It stands firm, offering hope when everything else shakes.
We must be ready to speak God's peace into chaos, whether that chaos is global or deeply personal. The true church becomes a lighthouse when the storms rage hardest.
#4 - A Reconciling and Unifying Force
The fourth mandate requires the true church to be a reconciling and unifying force. Colossians 1:20 speaks of Christ reconciling all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Years ago, a member named Jonathan confronted me with a hard truth. He said our Long Island campus looked diverse but felt racist. People only greeted and exchanged numbers with those of the same race. The diversity was visual but not experiential.
That confrontation led to difficult conversations and real change. What you see in our Manhattan location today is the inheritance of those hard conversations eight years ago. The true church doesn't just meet diversity quotas for photos. It creates genuine unity in the seats, in the small groups, in the friendships that form.
I challenge you to talk to the person who looks least like you. Jesus made the Samaritan, a man who was a part of a hated people group, the hero of his story. The true church follows that example, seeing heroes where others see villains.
#5 - True Empowerment Without Favoritism
The fifth mandate demands true empowerment in the true church. Acts 1:8 promises that after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you'll receive power to be witnesses. But here's what I've observed: many churches only empower those who are friends with the pastor or blood relatives of the leadership.
That's not God's way. In the true church, The Spirit is thicker than blood. We identify gifts in people's lives and bring them through a process of faithfulness to elevate them into the authority God has for them. You're not destined to be a benchwarmer. You're here to be equipped and released.
This church will be defined by our sending capacity, not our seating capacity. I don't have an ego about this. I hope you preach better than I do. I hope you prophesy better. There's no lid on you in God's house because I expect you to do greater works. The true church celebrates when its members surpass their leaders.
#6 - Delivering Hope in a World of False Promises
The sixth mandate calls the true church to deliver hope in a world drowning in false promises. Romans 15:13 introduces us to the God of hope who fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in him.
Just last week in Grand Rapids, I turned a book signing into a prayer line. A woman came with breast cancer. We prayed, and within days her doctor said the tumors were benign. This isn't wishful thinking or positive vibes. This is the God of all hope intervening in real lives with real power.
When you're around people of faith, you'll start having faith competitions about who has better stories of what Jesus has done. That's so much better than gossip competitions about who has the juiciest scandal. The true church trades in testimonies, not rumors.
#7 - Opening Heaven Over the Gates of Hell
The seventh and final mandate requires the true church to open heaven over the gates of hell. Matthew 16:18 declares that upon this rock, Christ will build his church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Manhattan is literally built on rock. The hard soil facilitated these towering buildings. And spiritually, we're here on the rock of Christ's promise to build his church. But opening heaven requires us to lay aside our agendas and live completely surrendered.
New Yorkers are planners and schemers by necessity. You need fifteen backup plans because you never know if there will be three hours of traffic or three minutes. But if you act like a New Yorker in the kingdom, planning your way around God's will, you won't inherit the fullness of freedom.
The Tale of Two Cities
When I first came into Manhattan, I saw the skyline upside down in the Spirit. The Lord showed me it's a tale of two cities. There's the Manhattan that everyone knows, but there's also one descending from heaven that God is bringing to earth.
There was York, then New York, and now God is establishing the "New New York." This is about heaven invading earth, the greater force taking over. When you're in that worship bubble with your AirPods in, tears streaming down your face while everyone else is stressed and angry, that's two worlds colliding.
The true church creates these collision points. We become places where heaven breaks through, where the supernatural becomes natural, where God's kingdom advances despite all opposition.
Your Response to the Mandates
These seven mandates aren't just ideals to admire. They demand a response. You cannot give what you've never received. Before you can be an oasis, you must drink deeply. Before you can reconcile others, you must be reconciled. Before you can empower, you must be empowered.
Some of you have been operating with selfish ambition, and God is calling you to surrender it. Others have been on a rollercoaster of success and failure, feast and famine. God says if you'll commit completely, without reservation, he'll bring supernatural consistency to your life.
The prophet Elijah rebuked a king for only striking the ground three times with an arrow. If he had struck it more, he would have received total victory instead of partial victory. I'm not here just for a grand opening or partial victory. I'm digging my heels in, striking the ground every Sunday until we see complete victory in this city.
The Decision Speed of No Turning Back
V1 isn't just a church name. It represents the decision speed in aviation, the point of no turning back when the plane must take off. This is your V1 moment. Will you give your complete yes to these seven mandates? Will you become the true church rather than just attending one?
Even a dull axe can cut down a tree if you keep swinging at the same spot. I may not be the sharpest tool, but I'm diligent. I'll keep showing up every Sunday until the fullness of what God has destined comes to pass.
The true church isn't perfect because we're all still human. But when we align ourselves with these seven biblical mandates, when we stop swiping through options and commit, when we surrender our plans for God's purpose, something powerful happens. Heaven invades Earth. Cities transform. Lives change forever.
This time is different. God is doing something new. The question is: will you be part of it?
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