ARE YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU NEED THE CHURCH OR BECAUSE THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU?
So many times we hear Ministers on TV or in our Congregation preach nothing about the true word of God because they are so busy teaching on how to make tithes and offerings to the Church. It's true, "We all need the Tithes and Offerings to keep the Church up and running" but, when it is all we teach on each and everyday, then we will start to lose you as a congregation so I wanted to try and take a different look at this with you, 'the congregation' today.
Are you here because the Church needs you?
Let me pose this question to the congregation today, how many of you are here for the first time? (raise your hands), now, how many of you are not a regular here but, when you are able to attend a Church this is where you come? (raise your hands) and, finally, how many of you are regulars here at our Church? (raise your hands)
Now that I have done this, I wanted to compare the three categories not only to teach myself a lesson but, also a lesson to you the congregation just in case a few of you are called spiritually to Minister the Word of God one day.
How many of you, (by raising your hands) think that money is the root of all evil? (Come on don't be scared raise your hands if you believe this). How many of you don't care but, you sure do want more money then you have now? ---pause for laughter---OH, well then lets just read the passage about that.
1Ti_6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Now raise your hands again and let me know if money is the root of all evil....... Good, glad we got that cleared up.
Money is not a sin, just because the person next to you may be a Millionaire does not make him a sinner. He may give hundreds of thousands of dollars away to this church and their favorite charities every year.
I heard someone speaking of an unnamed subject one day and they said, and I quote, "He is so rich and he inherited it and spends it all drinking and gambling trying to win more money, money he don't even need!"
Well for that I would say that he has the love of money in his heart but, you have the gift of gab in your heart---pause and laugh....hmm-mm... Now which one is better? HMMMM, HMMMM, I didn’t think there would be a comment there, but I sure heard a lot of chatter!
It is now, and it always has been my philosophy, "If a Minister can do nothing but talk about GIVE GIVE GIVE and TITHE TITHE TITHE, well, he may need to study First Timothy 6:10, you think" But in the same sense of the matter, the person who was talking about the rich person who drinks and gambles his money away, should probably study a little more of these scriptures, open your Bibles and read with me:
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
And there are about 35 other verses in the Bible....HMMMMM,,,,HMMMM, some of you are sitting straight up in your seats and listening now......HMMMM
So while your out there talking about a Minister you seen on TV one night who was talking about the Word of God and what he says about Tithing, read the above passages also and see who is the sinner.
NOW, in saying this, I do not believe that a Minister should talk and teach on Tithing to the Church each and every week, he would fall under that, "Love of Money" category however, he has to teach the congregation about how important it is to sow their seeds and plant them on fertile ground.
Subject number two: ARE YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU NEED THE CHURCH?
Is the Church, further more THIS CHURCH important to you? Do you believe that you need to attend this Church every Sunday morning and Sunday Night? Are you a full time Christian and a person who spreads the Love of God to everyone you meet and invite them to this Church with you? Are you a part time Christian who attends at least once every three months whether you need it or not? ----laugh and pause---
It is so important that a person need their Church as much as the Church needs them. Read with me from the book of Hebrews: ----pause----
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
That is a powerful scripture about your role in the Church. Everyone here knows my role, now you are learning your role within the Church. Read with me once more this time from the book of Romans, Romans 12 Verse 5.
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
HMMMM....so now we understand a little more right?
We have learned many times in the past about how the Church needs you, we need you to grow the Church, to Spread His Love and Grace to all the Nations of the World. We need you to help us financially to be able to support missionaries overseas in spreading this Love but.....now you have also learned about how much YOU need the church. In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others, this is what we are learning in Romans 12:5! We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer, this is what we are learning in Hebrews 10:25.
So let me ask you once more....DO YOU NEED THE CHURCH OR, DOES THE CHURCH NEED YOU? It's a little of both,,,,,It's a little of both. We need each other. We need to refrain from our much speaking and HEAR the Word of God. We as Ministers need to quit begging for Tithes and Offerings and have FAITH that they will come in as long as we are teaching the TRUE WORD OF GOD!
(Musician plays, "Oh Lamb of God I come" softly...)
Do you know Jesus Christ today? Do you know him as you should know him? Do you accept His gift to you. It was not the gift of gab, it was the gift of love.....Come and accept Him now as your Lord and Savior...........(Wait and softly sing Lamb of God)
