One of the realities about the church of today is that there are a large number of believers that are very confused. I am not speaking about the false doctrines and sects; I am speaking about the confusion that there is reference the purpose of the church. I say this because when we ask a believer: why does the church exist? Without a doubt we will receive a number of different answers.
Many will say that the church exists to supply their spiritual needs; many will say that the church exists so that they can learn more from the Word of God; many will say that the church exists to console their sufferings or pain; many will say that the church exists so that they can gather to praise and worship God. We will receive these types of answers due to the erroneous concept that many believers have of the church, as the answers that I have briefly presented to you are not the primary reason for the church; they are in fact reasons as to why we need to congregate, but definitively not the main purpose of the church. But, if none of these reasons are the primary purpose of the church, then what is? This is the topic that we will explore today.
Today we shall ask: why does the church exist? Let us now turn to the Word of God.
Acts 1:6-8 - So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
These verses are part of the description of our Lord’s ascension unto heaven. We are speaking about an event that was witnessed by not just one or two; it was witnessed by over five hundred people. This is something that we find clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:6 when we read: “After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” We are speaking about a monumental time. We are speaking about a moment where the Lord left no doubt in any of His follower’s mind regarding His majesty, power and dominion. However, regardless of such a spectacular moment, some of them continued doubting.
Look closely at this detail here so that will understand what I am saying. The first thing that we see in the verses that we are exploring today is that some of them doubted; they asked: “…Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Now we should ask ourselves, why did they ask this? I would say that the main reason they asked this was because they continued to concentrate on the earthly instead of in the heavenly. This is the reason why Jesus answered them by stating: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” In other words, with this answer Jesus helped them regain focus of their vision; with this here guided them to what was important. What is genuinely important? For a believer the most important thing must be the celestial and not the earthly. It is as the Word tells us in Colossians 3:1-2 when we read: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Tell the person sitting next to you: fix your sight on God.
This large group of believers could not completely appreciate what they were witnessing due to the material or physical needs that the people of that time were traversing. I say this because due to their disobedience and disloyalty, God had allowed them to be conquered in more than one occasion. As all of us know, the people of God were conquered and subjugated by Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome during the course of seven centuries[1]. Therefore, we can safely assume that their suffering was great, as they now found themselves subjugated by the Roman Empire. Although the Roman Empire allowed them to continue the religious practices, the people of God had lost the independence and sovereignty that God had given them.
This is the reason why they could not initially appreciate what they were witnessing, the suffering and pain that they felt through the years was blinding them so that they could only concentrate on the immediate, that is to say, the sovereignty and freedom that they longed.
This in fact continues to be the problem for many believers. I say this because there is a good number of believers that do not reach the freedom and sovereignty that God has given them due to the suffering and the pains of the past. This is why in Ephesians 4:22-24 we see that we are told: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Why is this so important to note? It is extremely important to note because the truth of it all is that those that chose to live stuck in the past will never be able to move forward.
Let us think about this for a moment; how many of you have ever had your car stuck in the mud? Everyone that has experienced this knows that the more you accelerate, the deeper you sink. Our life is the same way; the more we entertain the impurities of the past, the deeper we will sink into the mundane. Brethren, all whom live stuck in the past, will never truly receive the freedom and sovereignty that God has given them. In other words, they will lead a life full pain and sorrow, completely subjugated by the memories of the past. They will lead a life enslaved by the earthly, and they will never genuinely appreciate the power, sovereignty and freedom that Christ gave them by His death on the cross. Christ did not die in the cross at Calvary so that we would live stuck in sin, but rather to make us free. However, sadly enough not all people get to realize this truth, and many of us need help to climb out of that deep hole that we have dug for ourselves through the years. This is why in Romans 15:1 we find that we are told: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” Now, take the hand of the person sitting next to you, lift it up and tell him: let me help you climb out.
Why does the church exist? The only reason that the church exists is not so that it can supply our spiritual needs. The only reason that the church exists is not so that we can learn more from the Word of God. The only reason that the church exists is not so that it can alleviate our pains or suffering. The only reason that the church exists is not so that it can be a place where we can meet to praise and worship God. Why do I say this? I say this because the church is not a place or establishment; the church is not a building, the church is the body of Christ. And it is upon our Lord where we should be building at all times. This is something that is clearly stated in Ephesians 2:20 when we read: “…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
The reason that I cited are very good reasons as to why we need to congregate in a place where the sound doctrine is followed, but none of them are the primary reason as to why the church exists. Brethren the church exists to offer humanity the opportunity of being saved. God in His infinite love and mercy does not want for anyone to be lost. This is something that is clear for all to see in John 3:16 when we read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The main reason why the church exists is to offer humanity the love, compassion and hope that there is in God. These are the reasons why the church exists, but there is also a purpose. What is the purpose of the church?
Continuing with our study we read: “…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." All faithful believers have received God’s promise, and the Holy Spirit in each one of us. In other words, we have been given the responsibility and power so that we can share our faith with others. However, very few assume this responsibility; very few have recognized the power that God has given them. In many instances people do not reach the power that God has given them because they allow disillusionment, or fear of failure to stop them from reaching the goal that God has set for us.
So that you will better understand what I am trying to say, I want to make a brief pause now, and I want to share my heart with you. As only a very few of you know, in a month more or less, we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of this ministry. We are coming up on the tenth year of having opened the doors of this congregation. Now what I would like everyone to do is to look around you; I want everyone here to pay very close attention to all of the empty chairs that are in front of you, all of the empty chairs that are behind you, and all of the empty chairs that are next to you.
You cannot imagine the pain that I feel, (a feeling that is shared by all of the people that have a ministry in this congregation), when I get up to pulpit ready to preach, and I see that the temple is almost empty. You cannot imagine the internal battle that rages in me at that precise moment against the spirits of depression and disenchantment. It is a powerful battle because after all, I am human. At that time negative thoughts and emotions attempt to take control of me, and I feel like I am of no use. I feel that I am failing God; I feel that the time that I have taken to prepare our study was in vane; I feel that God does not hear and answer my prayers; I feel that people really do not care about what I am saying; I feel like throwing in the towel, turning off the lights and just walking away. I question myself and I ask: why do I try so hard? Why continue when no one really cares?
Those are the emotions that I have felt, and I am sure that they are the same emotions felt by many of the people that labor for God at one point of their ministry or another. However, during that internal and powerful struggle I also hear the voice of our Lord that tells me: “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." These are the words that motivate me to continue; these are the words that let me know that what I do is not in vain; these are the words that strengthen me to press on. Why? Because I know that I am accomplishing God’s purpose for the church. Tell the person sitting next to you: be a witness for Christ.
There are numerous reasons as to why we need to congregate, but there is one reason as to why the church exists, and that reason is to be witnesses of Christ. The purpose of the church is to exalt God’s greatness and mercy. Can you imagine where we would be today if the church did not exist? All of us would be lost without guidance or direction. All of us would be just like all of those that still live in the world, completely separated from God’s presence and without the slightest hope of salvation. If the people that heard Jesus on that day had not assumed the responsibility of being His witness, then none of us would be here today. Brethren, it is time to stop playing church. We have to be Christ’s witnesses.
Let us think about this for a brief moment, and let us ask ourselves: what is the role of a witness? When we speak about a witness we are talking about a person that testifies about what they have seen or heard. Whether in a civil or criminal case, witnesses are indispensable; it is because of them that the jury or the judge can reach a final verdict. In a congregation, the witnesses are also indispensable. We need to testify about what we know; we need to testify about what we have heard; we need to testify as to what we have seen; we have to testify as to what we have done, and most important of all, we need to testify as to what God has done in our life. Where should we testify? The Word tells us here: “…and to the ends of the earth”. We have to be witnesses for Christ to everyone and at all places. God has entrusted the responsibility of being a witness for Christ; God has given us the ability to testify; God has given us the power to testify. In other words, God has given us everything that we need to accomplish His purpose, but one thing that He will never do is force us to do it. Therefore, never forget what we find in Luke 19:10 when we read: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." God sent Hi son to save us, and we must testify about Him at all times.
In conclusion; the main purpose of the church is to testify of the love, mercy, and God’s greatness. The church is not a building, the church is not a temple, the church is not a locale, the church are all of us that have chosen to follow Christ, and persevere in God’s will day after day.
Let us remember that as the church, God has put us in charge of something extremely important. God has put us in charge of witnessing for Christ in all places and at all times. However, in order to be able to accomplish this, we must learn to separate ourselves from our emotions, and from our immediate needs. In order to accomplish God’s will with the church, we have to take steps of faith. This means that we have to be willing to speak to others about God. Erase from your mind all doubt; erase from your mind all disillusions; erase from your mind all the negative thoughts that attempts to influence you so that you will not open your mouth to testify about God. Assume the winning attitude that Christ has given you.
We must be willing to testify about what we have heard, learned, and done, because if we fail to do these things, we will always remain stuck in the same place. I was listening to a pastor preach the other day, and during his sermon he stated that a recent poll had established that 75-90% of the people that surrendered themselves to God was because someone had shared their story with them. In other words, someone had testified about what God had done in their life. Brethren, God has empowered all of us to testify. Through His Word, He has showed us the truth, and the Holy Spirit guides us at all times.
Let us never forget that we are here because of the fact that the over five hundred people that were there that day, testified about what they had learned, felt, and witnessed. We heard God’s message of salvation because of the fact that the over five hundred people that were there that day assumed their responsibility. Because of the fact that these over five hundred people accomplished the purpose of the church is the reason why today we can call ourselves sons of the almighty God. Now the question that remains is: will you assume your responsibility?
[1] Encyclopedia Britanica
