Responsibility Of The Church
To Glorify God
Lesson #2
Part B
Text: Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
II Th 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second responsibility of the church is to Glorify God
We looked last week at how we bring Glory to God by our
Example
- it is more than what you say
- it is who you are
- it is what you are when no one sees
- It is not just saying you are a Christian
- It is being a Christian
Being a man or woman of God and living a life that brings glory to Him
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Speech
We must speak words of
- righteousness
- truthfulness
- we must live a open an honest life
What you speak reveals your
- character
- who you are
- your moral fiber
It reveals the condition of your spirit
1 Pet 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
I want to add tonight that we bring glory to God not only by what we speak and who we are but we also bring glory to God by standing together as a church
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. Likeminded
For a church to be strong there must be a singleness of mind
- we must be thinking and heading in the same direction
What is it to be likeminded?
- it means that we are of one mind
- it means that we are in agreement
- it means we are in accord
That we are all thinking on the same wave length
God is not glorified in chaos
Christ came to bring order to the world
The devil came to bring disorder
His aim is to steal the glory of God and he does this by bringing
- confusion
- pandemonium
- disarray
- turmoil
- division
God has brought us together as a people for a common purpose
- this church has a purpose
- this church has a plan
- this church is heading in a definite direction
And for us to get where God wants us to be we must be likeminded
Ex. Can you imagine driving a car with four drivers?
They each want to go somewhere else
- one wants to go to the mall
- one wants to go to visit a friend
- one wants to drive along the beach
- and another one doesn’t want to do anything
This car would get nowhere
- it would go in circles
- one would pull it right
- another would pull it left
- another would trough it in reverse
- and still another would put the brake on
As a result no one would end up getting were they wanted to go except the one who wanted to go nowhere and that turned out to be the devil
If we are not likeminded then not only do we not bring glory to God but we also don’t accomplish anything and the devil wins
Each one of us must be working together for the harmony of the church
This means we are not
- gossiping about one another
- ignoring or shutting out one another
- sowing discord and trying to bring friction between brothers and sisters
- prejudice and discriminate against each other
It means we
- are kind to each other
- help lift each other up
- look out for one another
- receive new converts into our hearts and homes
Think about this for a moment Jesus Christ is our greatest example and he received us to Himself
Why did He do that?
That God might be glorified
Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
II. Headship
The only way we are going to be able to get were we are going is by being submitted unto headship
- somebody has to be driving the car
- somebody has to know were we are going if we are going to get there
- somebody has to be in charge
- somebody has to be responsible and accountable for the destination of the body
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
This scripture speaks of Christ being the head of the church
The idea here that the bible gives us is one of a body
- over and over throughout scripture
- the church is referred to as the body of Christ
- and as Christ being the head of that body
This gives us a very good picture of how the church should work
The head
- plans for the body
- directs the body
- guides the body
It inspires and drives it
The body does nothing without the head
- everything the body does begins in the head
- to be likeminded is to be Christ minded
- we must be totally and completely surrendered to the will and purpose of God
The body must be controlled and ruled by the head the only time a body begins to function outside the rule of the head is when it becomes diseased or handicapped
The same is true in the church when the people of God are not surrendered to headship the body becomes diseased and begins to malfunction
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God said, concerning Christ in Eph 1:22 “I have put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”
In Jer. 6:17 God said, “I have set watchmen over you”
Not only is the Christ the head of the church but He has also set watchmen over the church
He has placed into position men to give us direction
- placed them into positions of headship and leadership
- just as I have a responsibility to be surrendered to God and the headship he has placed over me
- you as a church have a responsibility to submit unto God and the headship he has placed over you
God does this so that we can be of one mind
A body with two heads goes nowhere
Every major company in the world is run by a CEO they are not run by committee
Why? Because they understand if that company is going to get anywhere and accomplish anything there must be a singleness of vision
This is why God has placed pastors over the church
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Why do we need to “obey them that have rule over you”?
Because God has placed them there to watch over your soul
- they are there to help you grow
- to guide you through trials and temptations
- to help you in times of sickness and grief
- to give you spiritual direction
- to bring you to a place of maturity and accountability
We also need to “obey them that have the rule over you”
Because God has made them accountable for your soul
- there is a covering provided
- when you are surrendered to headship there is a hedge that is placed around your life
We also need to “obey them that have the rule over you”
Because you can ether be a source of joy or sorrow to your pastor
One of the greatest burdens to any pastor is when the sheep that God has placed in his care don’t listen
As the pastor and the headship of the church I see things you don’t see
- the eyes are not in the body they are in the head
- if the body refuses to listen to the head it is going to run into all kinds of trouble
There is no problem that is going to arise in this church that I have not dealt with dozens and in some cases probably hundreds of times
- I know what the outcome will be if certain decisions are made
- I know where that road leads because I have seen countless others take it
- If we as a church would simply learn to trust our headship and the counsel and direction it brings we can avoid countless problems, battles, and trials
When we submit to headship
- the work of God goes forth
- there is peace, joy and unity in the church
- the world is reached and lives are ministered to
But when we fail to submit to and follow our leaders
- they are hurt and grieved
- the work of Christ is hindered
- we no longer grow in Christ like we should
When we oppose our leaders
- we not only stop growth
- we cause hurt, pain, and division in the body Christ
- we become tools of destruction
We then become directly opposed to what Christ wants to do in the earth
- we are no longer likeminded
- we are no longer in accord
- we no longer bring glory to God
1 Cor 16:13-16 Keep your eyes open for spiritual danger; stand true to the Lord; act like men; be strong;
14 and whatever you do, do it with kindness and love.
15 Do you remember Stephanas and his family? They were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives helping and serving Christians everywhere.
Note: Another translation says “they are giving their lives as ministers to the saints”
16 Please follow their instructions and do everything you can to help them as well as all others like them who work hard at your side (or for your benefit) with such real devotion.
(TLB) ( ) added by me
III. Fruitfulness
The result of unity and being likeminded is fruitfulness
And fruitfulness always brings glory to the master
It was the unfruitful tree that the owner of the vineyard asked the vinedresser to remove
Why because it brought shame and there was no glory in it
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
When we live Godly lives and set a Godly example by letting our light shine before men
When we speak words of truth and integrity and live open and honest lives
When we work together in a singleness of mind, purpose, and vision
When we surrender our lives to Christ and the headship he has placed over us
We will be fruitful and when we are filled with fruit
We will bring Glory to God
Phil 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Col 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
(NIV)
