God's Building A Church

GOD IS BUILDING CHURCH

Eph 5:25-27

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

A glorious church,

A having Church (having all the attributes of Christ), A giving Church, A splendid Church, A magnificent Church, and a very delightful and an enjoyable church.

Who makes up this glorious church?

„h People who understand that money and jobs are a resource and not a god.

Money - Some Christians don’t tithe. Their hard-earned money is more important than obedience to God. Their money has a choke hold on them and they can’t let go. It hurts them to give. They can’t give with a cheerful heart because they have no joy. If that’s you, then you need to surrender your money to God. Don’t lose your soul over money!

Jobs - Some Christians allow greed to creep into their lives because they love money. They work more and more hours, including when they should be in church, just so they can have more money to buy more things. They’re often too tired to even attend church, much less help out.

„h People careful about the how they entertain themselves.

Unwholesome Entertainment ¡V It¡¦s a shame the kind of filth that is brought into the home today. Do you bring filth into your home in the form of music, video games, movie rentals, romance novels, and soap operas? What kind of filth do we allow our children to see, read, or play? I think that too often that by the time the damage has been accessed, its already too late. Let God¡¦s Holy Spirit control what type of entertainment comes into your home.

Wholesome Entertainment - Entertainment can be good for the soul, but it can become destructive when it takes center stage in your lives. We must be careful that we don’t make an idol out of our entertainment interests. Too much time spent on even wholesome entertainment displaces God.

„h People who build their relationships within the family of God.

Relationships - Some Christians allow their relationships with other people, including family members and sinners, to interfere with their walk with God.

Heb 7:26

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

He was separate from sinners, and by his office he was separated from all men and worldly occupations, and entirely devoted to the service of God. And as to sinners, or pagans, he was never to be found in their society. (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary

2 Cor 6:17

17 Wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

„h People who build their lives around the church. Heb 10:25

Laziness - Some Christians choose to be "Sunday only" Christians. They come to Church and are "spiritual consumers." They don’t spend time in the Word or in prayer during the week. They only attend on Sunday morning and only more if there’s something in it for them... like food.

Do you ever wonder why it is that so many more people show up to fifth Sunday potluck than a regular Sunday service?

I recently read a sermon where-in was stated that,

¡§Lazy Christians don’t help out at the church. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it your age? My 87 year old grandmother helps with Missionettes and Marilyn’s 91 year old grandfather helps with rest home ministries twice a month and is a greeter at his church. They both have lost their spouses, both are hard of hearing, and one no longer drives, yet they continue working for the Lord. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you work and don’t have time to spare? We have Sunday School teachers, youth workers and others who work full time, yet have made time in their busy schedules to serve the Lord here at this Church. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you help with your kid’s basketball team, you attend PTA and go on all your child’s field trips and are just too busy with school activities to help out at church? Being involved with your children is important but it’s also important that they see you involved in working for the Lord. If you’re too busy to work for the Lord, you’re just plain too busy.¡¨

„h People whose worship is driven by a passion for Christ

Some Christians can’t worship God with exuberant praise and worship. Many of us would never show an outward expression or emotion in worship before the Lord because we’re hung up on dignity. Some of us can’t raise our hands to the Lord or kneel before the Lord because of what others might think. Does it really matter what anybody else thinks? They aren’t the audience ... God is! If your pride is standing between you and God, you need to surrender it.