TITLE: I’M STAYING WITH THE CHURCH
SCRIPTURE: JOSHUA 2:18-19
I remember many years ago when our children were still small I was awakened in the middle of the night by flash lights and voices around the backyard and around the outside of the house. I jumped out of bed as I heard a loud knock on the front door. Michelle and the children were awakened by the noise and commotion taking place around the house. Everyone was up as I went cautiously to the front door where I saw about dozen police officers and squad cars up and down the street. I remember telling everyone to ‘STAY IN THE HOUSE” as I went outside to talk with the officers to determine what was going on around our home.
I can’t remember exactly what had taken place, it was so long ago, but I do remember why I told Michelle and the children to “stay in the house!”
• Because there is Safety in the house
• There is Security in the house
• There is Protection in the house
• Because there is danger outside
• It could cost them their lives
In the Bible there was a strict command given to “stay in the house!” It’s found in our text this morning. The Israelites—almost 3 million of them—are camped next to the Jordan River. Across the Jordan stands the city of Jericho, surrounded by its two protective walls. From the top of Jericho’s walls, you can see the Israelite Camp - Tents - Campfires, and more people than you’ve ever seen congregated in your life—and they’re about to attack.
Then, two of them, they were spies show up in the city; on the walls in a house! Imagined if it happened at your house - Scared for your life, you don’t dare turn them in—you don’t want to anger their God you have heard so much about. You quickly hide them on your roof, and when the soldiers come to your door, you send them on a wild-goose chase—because you don’t want to anger the powerful Jehovah of the Israelites.
• You send the spies out safely
• But beg them to spare you and your family when they finally attack
• The spies agree, but give you the stern warning
• When we attack - “Stay in the House!”
• Not any Old House – But Stay in This House
If you want to be safe, get in the house! For Rahab and her family to be safe, they have to get in the house. The spies said -- “WHEN WE COME INTO THE LAND, THOU SHALT BIND THIS LINE OF SCARLET THREAD IN THE WINDOW WHICH THOU DIDST LET US DOWN BY: AND THOU SHALT BRING THY FATHER, AND THY MOTHER, AND THY BRETHREN, AND ALL THY FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD HOME UNTO THEE.”
• Literally, they said, “into your house”
• The only way that anyone in the city of Jericho was going to be saved was if they gathered in the house
So, Rahab found her family, and brought them into the house with her —
• Because she wanted to be saved
• She wanted her family to be saved
• To refuse to come into the house was to refuse Salvation
• To refuse to come into the house was to bring death on themselves
You recall the Apostle Paul experienced something like this during that shipwreck as they sailed closed to Crete and a storm arouse and a TEMPESTUOUS WIND CALLED EUROCLYDON. All those in the ship grew fearful for their lives as the boat began to break apart because of the strong storm.
• UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN THE SHIP YOU CANNOT BE SAVED
• There was safety by staying with the Ship
• Don’t take your chances jumping overboard
• Don’t take your chances trying to survive on your own
• There was only safety provided by staying with the Ship
• We too today must stay in the Ship
• The Ole Ship of Zion
o Heard the Saints of Old say – It Has Landed Many A Thousands
o Get on Board – Get on Board
To be Saved today, we too must Stay in the House. The House is the Church according to ACTS 2:47 “PRAISING GOD, AND HAVING FAVOR WITH ALL THE PEOPLE. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED.” We are surrounded by enemies who are ready to destroy us —and the only way to be safe is to “get in the house!”
• Salvation is only found in the Church, because it is the house of God, the body of Christ
• To reject the Church is to reject salvation!
• To reject the Church is to bring destruction upon yourself!
If you’re not in the house yet, get in it! And if you are in the house, why aren’t you trying to get other people in it with you?
• Do you want them to be destroyed?
• Are you content to think, “Well, I’ll be saved, so it doesn’t really matter about anyone else?”
I know it is difficult to get people into the Church in this day and age because the Church is still so misunderstood. But with all of its problems, I have made up my mind – I’m Staying With The Church! I want to point out some of the false pictures that some people have of the church today. A Pastor by the name of Tom Nelson, who serves as a Pastor in the Free Church, has identified four distorted images that hinder people from staying with the Church.
--FIRST, some view the church as a GAS STATION. For some people today, the church is a place where you fill up your spiritual gas tank when you're running low. Get a good sermon, and it will keep you going for the week.
--SECOND, the church as a MOVIE THEATER. For many people, the church is a place that offers entertainment. Go for an hour of escape, hopefully in comfortable seats. Leave your problems at the door and come out smiling and feeling better than when you went in.
--THIRD, the church as a DRUG STORE. For other people, church is the place where you can fill the prescription that will deal with your pain. For many the church is Therapeutic.
--FOURTH, the church as a BIG BOX RETAILER. Other people see the church as the place that offers the best products in a clean and safe environment for you and your family. The church offers great service at a low price—all in one stop. For many people, the church is a producer of programs for children and young people.
Can I tell you my brothers and sisters the church must be more than any of those things, they just present a distorted view of what the Church was birthed to become. A high proportion of people who “go to church” have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routine, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible talks about the “THE BRIDE OF CHRIST” but the church today seems like a RAGGED CINDERELLA. It needs to reaffirm the nonnegotiable, essential elements God designed for it to be committed to Him - Not Committed to –
• Denomination
• District
• Pastor
• Church Leaders
• BuildingPrograms
• But Committed to Christ who died for the Church
That is why I’m Staying With The Church –
• The Church is not a Building - it is a body of true believers
• It’s not a Business - it’s the Bride of Christ, chosen by the Father
• It’s not a Corporation - it’s a Congregation of Christ-followers
• It’s not a Financial institution - it’s a Family, it’s a Flock
• It’s not led by CEOs - it’s led by Shepherds
• It’s not built by Corporate Executives - it’s built by Christ alone
THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON CHRIST - BUILT FROM CHRIST - AND BUILT BY CHRIST. That’s why the songwriter said – ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND. That is why we should we love the church. If we truly love Christ, shouldn’t we want to be committed to what He is committed to? If His major commitment until He comes again is to be building His Church, we should want to be used by Him in His work that will never fail.
• If we deeply love Christ, we cannot be indifferent to His body, which is inseparably joined to Him
• If we say we love Christ, how can we not love what He loves?
Ephesians 5 says it was the Church in particular that Christ loved and gave Himself up for her
• He even nourishes and cherishes the church
• His highest affection and attention is poured into the church
Some might be Skeptical -- Cynical -- Critical about the Church because of past experiences or because of how someone in some church treated them, but we know that is not the attitude of Christ.
• It was while we were enemies and yet sinners that He died for us - His Church
• He knows the Church is not perfect, and that doesn’t cause Him to abandon the Church, it causes Him to commit Himself to help the Church be all it is intended to be
The Church is not perfect and neither are we, but thankfully Christ doesn’t share the attitude many of us have toward the church. He loves the church, not because it’s beautiful, but to make it beautiful.
The problem most Churches face is not that they do not do anything; they do plenty. The problem is they are not doing the right things.
--A pilot announced to his passengers over his intercom system, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have a tail wind, and we are making excellent time. The bad news is that our compass is broken, and we have no idea where we are going.”
A similar situation is true of many churches. Billy Sunday said, “there wouldn’t be so many non-church goers if there were not so many non-going churches.”
In other words, many Churches are either not sure what they’re trying to do or where they’re going or aren’t going anywhere, they’re stuck or stalled.
• Are we in any ways stalled, to use the analogy of a car, do we need our battery to be recharged or replaced?
• Are we spinning our wheels?
• Is our engine sputtering?
• Have we settled into a rut?
• Are we in some areas stuck in neutral?
• Are we starting to go in reverse?
• Are we satisfied here?
• What is driving us?
In spite of the difficulties facing some of our Churches today – I’m Staying With The Church . The church is unlike any other institution, it’s profoundly deep. Oklahoma University is concerned with and focuses on knowledge - but the Church focuses on wisdom. Yes, we get knowledge from books and universities, but wisdom comes from God.
• Mercy Memorial is concerned about the Body - but the Church is concerned about the Soul
• Psychiatrists practice Depth Psychology - but the Church practices Deep Faith
o Because of our faith, we call those things that are not as though they were
o For we walk by faith and not by sight
• The Optometrist checks the Eyes - but the Church checks the Heart
• Science sticks with Facts - but the Church sticks with Faith
o Science will tell you, in order to move a mountain, it will take earth moving and blasting equipment, but I heard Jesus say, “IF YE HAVE FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, YE SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, REMOVE HENCE TO YONDER PLACE; AND IT SHALL REMOVE; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU”
In the formative years of our country, the Church was the only institution that gave our people a sense of dignity and pride. In the Rural South or as we call it, in the Country, it was the only institution that -
• Allowed a man to walk behind a mule all week - and serve as Pastor on Sunday morning
• It was the only place where you could work in the fields all week long -- and be Chairman of the Deacon Board on Sunday morning
• Where you can be a domestic worker or housekeeper during the week -- and serve as President of the Mission when you get to church
• Before we knew about a degree, other than the degree of the sun, the Church gave us Pride
• It’s never been concerned about your social status - but if you’ve got clean hands and a pure heart you can make it in the Lord
THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR.
• He won’t be back for Bank of America
• He won’t be back for BancFirst
• He’s not coming back for OU - OSU -- Langston University
• He’s not coming back for Alpha Kappa Alpha - Delta Sigma Theta - Zeta Phi Beta - Phi Beta Sigma
• But He’s coming for His bride
• The Church, adorned for her husband
• He’ll be looking for that Church without a spot or wrinkle
As I try to move to a close on this Second Sunday of this New Year can I tell you I have made up my mind and – I’m Staying With The Church . The Church is the only thing that the Lord had to ever pay for.
• Stepped out on nothing and spoke everything into existence – Did not pay for it
• Spoke a word and hung the Stars – Sun – Moon – Did not cost Him anything
• Spoke and divided the Firmament from the Waters – Did not pay for it
• Spoke the Fowls – Animals - Fish in the Sea into existence – Did not pay for it
• Took from the dust of the ground and created man – Did not pay for it
• Took from man’s side and created women – Did not cost Him anything
Oh, my brothers and sisters – when it came to the Church it Cost the Lord something. ACTS 20:28 “TAKE HEED THEREFORE UNTO YOURSELVES, AND TO ALL THE FLOCK, OVER THE WHICH THE HOLY GHOST HATH MADE YOU OVERSEERS , TO FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD, WHICH HE HATH PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”
• The Lord purchased the Church with the shedding of His blood
• The Bible reminds us that Jesus purchased a people for His own possession
• I CORINTHIANS 6:19, the church is reminded “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN, FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE”
We understand the nature of possessions. When we purchase something, we expect to take possession of it.
• We own it
• No longer does it belong to the seller
• Even when we buy things with credit, like houses and cars, even though we don’t really own them and are making payments on them, we treat them as if they are ours
• We think, “These are my possessions because I bought them”
The Bible says that Christ has paid the price for us.
• He bought us
• He owns us
• His purchase of His people was not on credit but was paid in full
• Ultimately we are the Church
• Not this Building -- We are the Church
• Not this Denomination – We are the Church
• Not this State Convention – We are the Church
THE CHURCH IS NEVER A PLACE BUT ALWAYS A PEOPLE.
• Never a Fold - but always a Flock
• Never a Sacred Building - but always a Believing Assembly
• The church is you who Pray - not where you Pray
A structure of brick or marble can no more be what a Church is than the clothing you wear would be who you are.
• In short, Jesus didn’t die for a building -- He died for YOU - And He died for ME
• He died for people
• And the people who accept His forgiveness on His terms make up the Church
--That’s Why – I’m Staying With the Church
--I know things look shaky in the Church but I have made up my mind - I’m Staying With the Church
--The enemy no longer fights the Church from without, but he’s gotten on the inside fighting from within the Church, but - I’m Staying With the Church
--He’s gotten in the saints, sowing seeds of envy, strife, and divisions, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--There is too much quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--Too many Factions or what we call Cliques in the Church, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--Too much gossip, arrogance, and disorder, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--I know there are Schizms and little groups, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--Some don’t like the Pastor – Ministers – Deacons, but -- I’m Staying With the Church
--We’ve been a part of churches that have split - I’m Staying With the Church
--We have been a part of congregations that have been judgmental and leadership that has been harsh -- I’m Staying With the Church
--The Church is Talked About - I’m Staying With the Church
--There is no other place I would rather be - I’m Staying With the Church
--Christ is coming back for the Church - So, I’m Staying With the Church
--If you are Staying with the Church, just stand up and wave your hand
--If you are Staying with the Church, just high five your neighbor
--I’m Staying With The Church
