Beloved this morning I want to express the burden I have had for the Christian community, I have been given enough evidence to believe that those that have come into what God has called them to within the Christian community have forgotten the whole respect and importance of Christianity. I pray that we do not become a people that will disregard the importance of helping one another, loving one another, praying for one another and laying down our lives for one another.
Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ, no Christian community is more or less than this, we belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. What does this mean, first; a Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ, second; a Christian comes to their fellow man only through Jesus Christ, third; in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, accepted in time, and united in eternity. This morning beloved a Christian is a man or woman who no longer seeks his salvation, his deliverance, his justification in himself, but in Jesus Christ alone.
We understand as Christians God’s word pronounces us guilty even when we don’t feel guilt, and God’s word in Jesus Christ pronounces us not guilty and righteous even when we don’t feel righteous at all. The Christian no longer lives on his or her own justification or claims but the claims and justifications of the word of God we have in Jesus Christ alone. This morning beloved God has placed His word into the mouth of man to communicate other men. This allows you and I to see that our righteousness are as filthy rags to God yet chooses to use us for His glory. The Christian lives solely by the word of truth in the holy Bible which is God’s word, we no longer look inward for answers but look outward toward heaven for the righteousness of God. Our salvation is not based on what we have done but what Christ has done for us.
Christian community, fellowship, and family of Christ a term used very loose like the word love. People say it but never perform it to its extent of what Christ has shown us. I’m afraid to ask when was the last time you spoke to your neighbor besides your Pastor. Christian community is based on the reliance of the bible and also the relationship you obtain with your fellow man in Christ. Relationships are importance in the house of God it would help us never to be persuaded to look elsewhere because we love who we have relationships with.
Ephesians 5:31-33
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
This relation is to be preferred to all others there being a nearer union between these two than any other, concerning Christ and the church. In other words beloved there should be a committed union between the church that you have set your place in and those you have decided to knit your hearts with and God. The Christian community did not consist of programs that entertained but relationships that sustained one another in the trivial times. This beloved is well disrespected today in the house of God you no longer have committed followers but you have church hoppers that don’t fear God or His word and play church like they play life. People that don’t have a committed life to Jesus Christ and a sincere heart for what Christ is about will not be committed to their local congregation, because they will be drawn by numbers, nickels and noise. They will not see the need in their local church and help build because to build means to work and labor like a marriage. Some today want to place themselves into another man’s labor and enjoy the fruits of another’s sweat because the word burden is no longer being preached in the church today. You have church on T.V. you have church on the internet; you have church on C.D. but don’t have the vision of God for His purpose within your local congregation. We are going to take this city for Jesus even if it kills me, too many men who are to be preachers and too many women who are to be preacher’s wives are being tossed into the pit of pity and condemnation, guilt and shame and unless they have a firm church where people are genuine and sincere and are burdened to see conversion they will never come into what God has for them in Jesus name.
“Building a Church”
Luke 14:28-29
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
All that take upon a profession of Christianity undertake to build the church of God. Begin low, and lay a foundation deep, in other words beloved deep root yourself in the word of God and build a solid unmovable rooted strength in the gospel of the one true God. Lay it on the rock, who is Jesus Christ as our bible calls and places Him as the Chief corner stone, upon Him will I build the Church of Christ. This beloved is sure work, this beloved is a task that will never fail to be produced lest we fail to continue, through Christ I can do all things, and in Christ nothing is impossible. Through this work of building God’s Church off the foundation of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ our target are lost souls to be gained to aim with us the highest aim of life and that beloved is heaven.
Let us consider that this will cost us a life of self-denial and watchfulness, in other words beloved not only does this place responsibility upon a Christian but also a purpose. This may perhaps cost us our reputation among men, and all that was dear to us in this world even life itself that was produced in our sinful life, but beloved what is it compared to the privilege of being called a child of God? And if it were to cost us all this, what is it in comparison with what it cost Christ? If building a work for God is worth anything to you what price tag would you place on it? Beloved nothing is more shameful than to see a Christian not finish the work of God that they have started.
“Trusting God and believing together”
Deuteronomy 31:5-7
5 The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them and you shall cause them to inherit it.
Beloved this morning as I am encouraged of what God is doing in souls helping those to take stands of righteousness that would lift up Christ I see us victorious. I see purpose and promise in all of you morning, not just because of faith but because of truth, Jesus is rising up a church that will send the enemy fleeing, a praying church, a warring church, a growing church.
In our scripture this morning God ensures the success of His people. The victories we have already obtained over sin from which we need to infer the power of God, that He can do what He had done, and the purpose of God, that He would finish what He had begun to do. We have a command by God to destroy the bondage of sin upon this people, and we need not be dismayed for it is not by our hands that we gain this power but by the hand of God almighty. As God has given them the assurance of victory I am assured that by the word of God we have the same promise to overcome and obtain this glorious success by the hand of God.
“Knitted together”
Remember putting your face above a headless frame painted to represent a muscle man, a clown, or even a bathing beauty? Many of us have had our pictures taken this way, and the photos are humorous because the head doesn't fit the body. If we could picture Christ as the head of our local body of believers, would the world laugh at the misfit? Or would they stand in awe of a human body so closely related to a divine head?
I pray that we are in the notion of building a divine body of believers, a remnant of the wonderful fellowship God in Jesus Christ has begun, I pray for a glorious church not of numbers but of true Christians that have been converted by the grace of God. We need to be on one accord for the growth of God’s kingdom. Our hearts should want to see people that are broken and lost in this place where God can restore and renew, where miracles happen, where truth is preached, where family is sought. Beloved knitting together for the purpose of Jesus obtaining all the glory, being prayer warriors and laying a hold of God together with a sincere heart and burden for transformation. Do you fit this criteria? If not we can help you because we want you to be a part of what God is doing.
Building a church beloved takes work, tears, heart and I believe that many here this morning have been waiting for the opportunity to be used by God, well here you have the invitation to do something for Jesus, will you take the invite or will you leave it for someone else? Let Jesus speak with you this morning that you take what has been given you. Amen!
