ICS Daily Devotions
Arise and Build the Church

Proverbs 29:18 (NIV) Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
God is grieving for those who have died and entered into an eternity without Christ. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, there is urgency to arise and build His Church, and He is challenging us to rise up and build His church by aggressively reaching out to the lost even when the physical church is closed.
In the opening verse, “cast off all restraint” means that everyone busy doing what they want rather than participate in what the church has been called to do. The vision of the church not only unites the members of the church, but when everyone is running with the vision of the church, they are living for a purpose bigger than themselves.
All of us should participate and rally behind the vision of the local church, pulling in the same direction—the direction of that God has called the church to be in in that season of ministry, leaving no room for the devil to distract us through strife and division or pursuing personal agendas.
It is the responsibility of the pastor of the local church, who is the under-shepherd, to draw down the blueprint from heaven, cast the vision to the congregation, and lead the entire church towards it. The vision of the church is a picture of what point B looks like from point A, but there will be no traction unless the church is united and agrees with the vision, which is why everyone should buy into the vision of the church before they commit to be a member.
Genesis 12:3 (NKJV) and I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

The vision statement of ICS is “We are a family blessed to bless the community and the nations”. It is based on Genesis 12:3 where God told Abraham that through him and the covenant with him will come the Messiah, and it is the work of the Messiah to have all the families of the earth be blessed. The blessing referred to here is receiving the plan of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ for all mankind, every household, regardless of their nationality. The vision and mandate that God has given ICS is to reach out to all the different nations in Shanghai, China.
God wants His body to be united and working together in reaching out to the lost despite the absence of onsite services because that is the heart cry of God, and He will move our hearts to seek out the lost sheep.
Sermon Series: Arise and Build