2009, I believe, is going to be one of the most interesting years for the Church, and for the individual members of the Body of Christ.
I don’t get into these internet “prophets” as a general rule, but I have been particularly interested in what some have had to say regarding the current and upcoming state of affairs in regard to the national and global economy. What interests me the most is, at least on the surface, how contrary some of them seem to be with each other.
One will say that this is a season of purification and judgment.
Another will declare that God is revealing the weakness of mammon in order to magnify the strength of the Church.
This one will say we are just beginning to walk into the worst of things while that one is reporting prosperity is about to flow again.
One trumpets a fearful warning to “Check your Faith” while another gleefully shouts “Let faith arise”.
Some, who tend to try to discredit the Gift of Prophecy anyway, might say “See there, contradiction!! How can they all be hearing from God and declaring such different messages”?
Truth is, their messages aren’t that much different. On the surface, it may seem they’re miles apart, but I can see a consistent message.
Do you believe God is at the center of what is going on in the World today? If you have a secular world view, maybe not, but if you have a biblical world view, that answer is a solid “YES”!
To those with ears to hear and eyes to see, God uses the circumstances of life to reveal His sovereignty, His authority and His glory.
That is no less true in the current world circumstances, our national crisis, our local situation and right here on the corner of Grand and Louisiana.
In the Church at Ephesus, God used some conflicts around marriage to unveil a greater spiritual revelation about Christ’s relationship with the Church. Today, I believe God is using these hard economic times to reveal the significance of the Church in the world today.
What I believe, on a broad level, God is saying in this season is that He is removing the excess.
Excess can easily take our eyes off of God
Excess can weaken our reliance on God
See, God wants the Body of Christ to be healthy….
Vss. 26-27
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
I believe in the importance and significance of the local church.
Thank God for Christian Radio
Thank God for Tele-Evangelism
Thank God for the global impact of Cyber-Evangelism
Thank God for the networking of Para-church ministries
They all have their place in the purpose of the Kingdom, but their focus must be to point men and women to the local church.
If you and I are to be a part of a healthy church, we must never lose our individual focus on Its importance and significance – to us as members of it – and to relevance to world around us.
1. I believe that the local Church is divinely instituted and is the chosen instrument of God for the furtherance of His work upon the earth.
Consider with me Ephesians 4:11-16
• Who was Paul addressing? A Local Church
• To whom were these gifts given? To the Church
• For what purposes?
o Equipping – mending a broken part, to bring or return to a state of wholeness
o Ergonomitry (Ergon=work) “the creation of maximum comfort, efficiency, safety and “ease of use”.
o Ministry = Diakonia compassionate, loving service especially within the community of Faith.
Diakonos = Deacon - at a very granular level we are all called to be a deacon (servant)
2. I believe that a Healthy Church is a place where every believer can find a place to express their gifts and talents as a means of witness and edification.
Vs 16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
a. I believe that through what is going on around us God is bringing the Church back to its “core”.
i. We’ve traded Theology for the Theater
ii. We’ve traded the Sanctuary for the Sensational
iii. We’ve sold godliness for “good times”
b. I do not look at the spiritual horizon and see doom and gloom, but The Church must, this church must, I must return to the core.
If today you think at any time in this message that "He’s preaching to me..." Your Absolutely Right!
You know, health doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen!
Good diet, exercise, rest, good hygiene (some of you are coming up with some good sermon points right about now!!!)
How many of you want to be healthy? (totally healthy?)
Next week, the State of Our Unity address is going to look at our health as a Body and for the next several weeks we are going to be looking at what makes for good health as we look at C.O.R.E issues of Church life.
As citizens of the Greatest Nation on Earth we are walking in some of the most exciting days of our history and as Citizens of the Great Kingdom of God, we are entering the most explosive era the Church has ever known.
These may be some of the most difficult days my generation has ever seen, but challenges develop champions!
I don’t know about you but I do not want to close out 2009 saying “Whew, thank God we got through” I want to say “hey, look what we accomplished for Christ”.
We can sit on the sidelines and talk about the “good ol’ games” or we can get into the huddle – catch the vision and run toward the goal.
What makes a church healthy? You and I do…
Ephesians 4:16b
…according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
“I want to be in the CORE!!”
So what is it?
First it’s a directive
Connected and committed
Obedient
Relational
Equipped
Do you know why I’m so excited about this? Because it doesn’t matter if you’ve been part of Christ Fellowship for six years, six months or six days, today you can be part of the CORE! And this pastor wants you to be part of the CORE.
Building a Spiritual City and Setting Captives free is about being part of the CORE.
This isn’t the last time you’re going to be hearing about CORE, by no means the last, but I have to ask you….. what are you going to do with it?
Let me give you a little hint, God not only wants you to experience CORE, He wants you to impart it.
Let’s pray!
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
