What the World Really Needs
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- The other week I spoke about the Evangelical preacher that so-called rebuked the Black church for endorsing and voting for Kamala Harris and by now I am sure you know it was Donnie Swaggart that made the statement and people have called for him to apologize, repent, step down they have spoken out against him, the message, the evangelical church and a plethora of other things have been said, reported, preached on about this whole situation. I spoke on it and had my comments, rebuttals, remarks, and conversations about the whole matter. I had someone post a comment on one of my platforms stating that “the preacher that made that statement was absolutely right….” I replied saying I am sorry you feel that way since nowhere in the Bible is voting a spiritual obligation or a godly mandate. If it was even mentioned in scripture, we could chalk it up to misinterpretation and deal with that; however, when it is not even in scripture and scripture is manipulated and twisted to fit a certain agenda then it is nothing more than a lie regardless of if a preacher or an angel from heaven says it still it is a lie. When people learn to stop manipulating scripture and truly come together against sin and stop being divided over political hogwash then maybe then the church can finally see true Revival and stop foolishness like what has been going on in the church.
It is truly sad when we look at the condition of our world the political unrest, the racial divide, the religious bigotry, spiritual separation, prejudicial chaos, and regardless of the outcome of this coming Tuesday it will only get worse, the divide will be even greater, tensions will be on edge, attitudes are going to fly remarks are going to be said, feelings will be hurt, and it can become truly ugly and the only thing we can really agree on is come, Lord Jesus. Unless or rather until the church can finally come together, put aside their political differences, stop being racially divided, and spiritually separated understanding that God is coming for His Church not the Black Church, not the Evangelical church, not the Methodist, Baptist, Apostolic but His Glorious Church without spot or wrinkle! Then we understand we have work to do.
I know that we are closer to Jesus return more today than at any other time in history, but we still don’t know when that day of return will be. So often we will say things like I am sure it will be in our lifetime, but it might not be. It is possible it could be another century or more away because the Bible says as you see these things that it is the beginning of sorrows so as to the timing of the Lord’s return, we are not sure, but we are sure of the fact that He is coming again. The question becomes as we face literally an uncertain future until Jesus comes, how do we respond to all the that is going on in our world rather religiously, politically, socially etc.? Sure, the song says What the World Needs Now is Love – but let’s look and see what the Word of God tells us what the world needs from us – the church – the lights of the world. Because I believe the days ahead are going to be darker than we realize, and the Church needs to be true beacons and lights of the world.
The song said: - What the World needs now is Love – but what the world needs now is for the CHURCH to be what God made us to be.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURES: - Ephesians 5:15 – 6:18 & 2 Tim 4:18
Today I want to give five things God requires of the church and what the world really needs the church to do. Remember 5 represents the Grace of God.
Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is”.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.
2 Timothy 4:18 says, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”.
BACKGROUND: - The books of Ephesians and 1 & 2 Timothy are letters to a place and a church leader that is not much different than the world of today. Ephesus is one of the largest and most impressive ancient cities in the world. Ephesus has been a city since neolithic times (stone age), but it came to full prominence under the Roman Empire. The Governor of Rome lived in Ephesus thus giving it the title of the seat of the Roman government. Ephesus was a port city which contributed to its wealth and influence in the Roman Empire. Ephesus held the technical status of a “free” city, although it was ultimately subject to Roman control. However, it was allowed to coin its own money and operate its own city council. At the time was considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. Ephesus had a population of 250,000, was the chief commercial city of the province and the center of the mother goddess worship of Western Asia. As a religious center, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus was a massive temple run by female officials / prostitutes and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Artemis was a goddess of fertility and the worship of her was perverse. Ephesus literally was an asylum for criminals and cult prostitutes, a mixture of priests, cultic prostitution, corrupt tradesmen / bankers, criminals, musicians, dancers, and frenzied, hysterical worshipers. Ephesus was so corrupt that one of their own philosopher’s named Heraclitus, said that the inhabitants of the city were “fit only to be drowned and that the reason why he could never laugh, or smile was because he lived amidst such terrible uncleanness”. In many ways this is very much like what we live in today.
So, Paul writes the book of Ephesians to the Church in Ephesus and 1&2 Timothy to a young leader of the Church instructing them how they should live among such corruption, filth, and degradation by explaining the richness of their inheritance in God and encouraging them to live lives that reflect this unity through love and proper conduct in their daily lives and in their relationships with one another; essentially, to promote a deep understanding of their identity as part of the body of Christ and how to live accordingly in a world filled with spiritual opposition.
So, I want to show five things God requires of the church and what the world really needs the church to do. Remember 5 represents the Grace of God.
1. The Church needs to walk circumspectly - Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise”. To walk Circumspectly means to be careful, prudent, or discreet. To live wisely and morally always aware of the consequences of your actions. This means that we move under the unction and power of the Holy Ghost not out of the flesh, it is to walk in the spirit. Now that doesn’t mean we are always walking around speaking in tongues, but our Christian life should be one of simplicity, soberness, faith, and praise. The Church as members of the Christian community, it is utterly imperative that our obedience to God’s commandment be evident in our behaviors and relationships. We are in the world, but we are not of the world so our behavior, attitude, actions, life must be different from the world. We can’t act like the world and have all kinds of disunity, corruption, scandals, illicit activities in the church and expect to change the world. To walk circumspectly is to be spiritually aware and sensitive to the Spirit of God and to what is going on around us in the world. How do we accomplish walk circumspectly James 1:5-7 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord”. When we seek the wisdom of God to teach us how to walk circumspectly it will show the world how God is able to transform our lives and order our steps in what is literally a God rejecting society. Our natural desire is to go contrary to God’s will, to fulfill the lust of the flesh. When we ask God for wisdom on how to walk circumspectly, He orders our steps, the world notices we walk, talk, act differently. They will now begin to inquire which opens the next thing.
2. Ephesians 5:16 says “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil”. The Church to take the Opportunity / Advantage of. Redeeming the time is a phrase that calls us to live faithfully in light of the coming of Jesus. The Greek word “Kairos” is often translated time and means opportunity. Redeeming the time explains how someone can be careful and every circumstance of our life is a redemptive opportunity to accomplish a spiritual purpose. Because we have been blessed to be representatives of a living and powerful God, we must be awake, aware, cognizant to every opportunity to demonstrate through the way we live that God is alive and present. It’s good to be productive every minute. It’s better to see every circumstance as a spiritual opportunity to show Jesus to a dying world. These times are morally perverse, spiritually corrupt, ethically eroded, controlled by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, and the Church has an opportunity to influence this time and this circumstances with gospel of Jesus Christ. WATCH THIS: If we are truly honest different perspectives on ethnicity, politics, religious views, Biblical interpretations, worship styles, if rather the next president is a woman, being a Democrat or Republican, immigrant or not is not what makes these days evil; they are evil because of sin, hatred, murder, and a society that has totally rejected God. There is no political power, social program, or presidential candidate that can fix that, but the gospel of Jesus Christ does.
So, the world needs the Church to redeem the time understanding that the days are evil, and that time is running out, so we need to see sin as an opportunity to declare righteousness. The Church must be vigilant about how we use the time God has given us to do the work that God has called us to do. Think about this: - If each one of us had to give an instantaneous account to God about how we are using the time He has given, would the evidence be against us or for us and truthfully it would be against us because are we really redeeming the time or are we wasting it. Sadly, many churches are preoccupied with church politics, self-aggrandizing power plays, and a sugar-coated prosperity theology that they don’t have time for the true life-changing Word of God. God holds the church accountable for our witness, and our actions to fulfill the mission He has given to the church! Every moment, in which we do according to His will is redeeming the time, but so often struggle trying to mend and piece together what is left because we are not taking advantage of the opportunity, He has given us.
3. The World Needs the Church to UNDERSTAND Ephesians 5:17 says, “Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is”. This means do not be foolish, stop being foolish; stop being imprudent, stop becoming the kind of person that does not use good and godly judgment. We must avoid reckless or unwise lifestyle choices, as they contradict God's desire for their lives. We are to speak of the will of God to state that I, the church, will comply with God's plan and do what God wants, even if it may be difficult to understand others. There's God's declared will and his particular will.
God's declared will is bound up in his purpose of blessing mankind through Christ Ephesians 1:3-14 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”. So, it was God's will to adopt us as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ.
So, what is God's will for your life? For you to know God as your Father intimately and personally. God's will for your life is to save you. But it's also to sanctify you. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour”. So, to put it simply, God's will for your life is to make you more like Jesus so that you can make much of Jesus.
This is what the world really needs from the Church not all this stuff that we have been letting the world see.
4. The World Needs the Church to PRAY Always and Supplication in the Spirit Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. Paul uses two words here prayer and supplication. He adds with all indicating whenever you have a need, no matter the kind of need, go to God in prayer. The form of the prayer isn’t important. It is important to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing”. Don't quit praying. Stay committed to prayer it’s easy to become lazy or discouraged in prayer but we must continue to pray always. Supplication in the Spirit is to plead humbly it is a special request made known to God, Lord I am not asking for myself but look at the condition of this world that is what we are praying about. This is intercession and when we pray supplication in the spirit all selfishness is squashed our desire becomes not about me how can I be used effectively to do your will, to minister to the people. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”. Because we often don’t know what or how to pray when we approach God, the Spirit intercedes and prays for us, interpreting our supplications so that, when we are overwhelmed by trials and the cares of life, He comes alongside to lend assistance with our prayers of supplication as He sustains us before the throne of grace that’s what the spirit does for us when we don’t know what to pray and how we should be for the world that knows not God and how to pray.
5. The World Needs the Church to be HOPEFUL 2 Timothy 4:18 says, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”. This hopeful is not wishful thinking and aspirations, being hopeful especially a hopeful church is a life that lives and thinks with the priorities and power of God. The hopeful church can extend hope to others. We must remain Hopeful that God can, and God will deliver us regardless of how gloomy and dark the current situation appears to be.
How can the Church remain hopeful when it seems like there is no Hope. Colossians 1:27 says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”. WATCH THIS: - The church is the hope of the world! All of us know that Christ is the hope of the world. Understand when the church attitudes are like those of Jesus, when the church has its priorities and its purposes in line with the Will of God, having the mind of Christ, humble, self-emptying, sacrificing, without self-advancement. When the church dedicates itself to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the uttermost part of the world, when the church truly becomes what God intended for it to be, it will stand in the gap as the Hope in the World.
As long as Jesus remains a concept, an idea, a Democrat concept, a Republican dogma, a white god or a black god then there is little hope that can be presented to the world. Until the Church can learn to rise and live above the contemporary level of this world and live portraying the Love, Gentleness, Meekness, Temperance, Kindness, Joy, Faithfulness, Peace, and Patience of Christ then there is little hope, but if we can truly do this then we will be what God intended for the church to be and what the world really needs Christ in us the Hope of Glory the access point.
CLOSING: What the world needs now is for the Church to be what God intended for it to be. We need to walk circumspectly, carefully and discreetly making sure our steps are order by the Lord, that He is leading and guiding us and that we are not just wandering aimlessly through this world. We need to redeem the time and grab every opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and when necessary, use words. We must understand the will of God and operate in His will being effective in the ministry of reconciliation. We must pray always and supplication standing in the gap crying out for those that know not God and how to pray. Because we are the beacon of light in this dark world the hope of those that are lost battered tossed to and fro on the sea of life.
The Church is the only place sin sick souls can go and be healed. I am not talking about the building of brick and mortar, but we are the Church, we are the only Jesus this world will see, and we must be the church.
If we will develop the mind of Christ, the character of Christ, walk circumspectly, redeem the time and grab hold of every opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world. If we would show that the people of God have the Love of God emanating from deep down on the inside, pray always and be hopeful that deliverance will come we can see a change in this world.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
