WHY ARE WE HERE??
I. Introduction -
A. The Perfect Church
I think that I shall never see
a Church that’s all it ought to be
A Church whose members never stray
Beyond the Strait and Narrow Way:
A church that has no empty pews
Whose Pastor never has the blues
A church whose deacons always deak,
And none is proud and all are meek.
Where gossips never peddle lies,
Or make complaints or criticize;
Where all are always sweet and kind,
And all to other’s faults are blind.
Such perfect churches there may be,
But none of them are known to me.
But still we’ll work and pray and plan,
To make our own the best we can.
I think that poem makes a good point, while the perfect church is no where to be found on this earth. Let us continue to strive to make this church the perfect church.
B. I am going to do something which I have never done before. Preach on an issue which as come up. I was planning to preach on SOM until Wed. But I decided to preach on the issue at hand. I believe that God has laid this on my heart that I might share it with all of you.
II. “I am not getting anything out of church”. Do you have the feeling at times. “What can I get from going to church is the wrong questions!
A. Who said we are suppose to get “something” from church?
B. Where in Scripture does it say “go to church and get something.”
1. The Bible does tell us we must go to church.
2. Hebrew 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
3. But no where does it say that we are to go to get something!
C. If you believe you go to “get” something, ask the question, “who do you want that “something” from?”
1. Me? The pastor? I am sinful man just like the rest of you. I pray that God would use me through His Holy Spirit. But if you are looking for something from me you have the wrong place.
2. I echo the words of Paul in Romans 7:17-18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” I am just a vessel. Striving to be used by God. Please do not come to church looking to get something from me.
3. We are all in the same boat. everybody here.
a. Seeking to be used for God, by God.
b. We have nothing in ourselves to offer.
c. Harley can show you how to clean a floor, I can give you golf tips (maybe), but spiritual things must come from God.
4. Maybe you want something from God.
a. Sure we need to pray, but let us approach God humbly
b. Let use realize that we should not EXPECT God to give us anymore then He already has.
c. God gave us His Son!!! (Who hear would give up there child for me?”) John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
d. What more could we ask for?
e. What more do we need?
f. In Him we have all things
1) Forgiveness
2) Redemption
3) Justification
4) Eternal Life with Him!!!
III. Brethren, the question is not “what can I get out of the church, but what can I give to the church, the body of Christ?” The questions is what have I brought to give to God? That is why you should be here. To give to God! That is the attitude you need to have. And when you have that mind set, that approach to church, it is then you begin to receive.
A. If you are not ready to give to God then the worship will be nothing, the praise will mean nothing, the songs, the Scriptures, the sermons they will mean nothing! Those things will mean nothing to you if you do not first approach God with humility asking, “What can I give?”
VI. Some things we should want to give to God.
A. Worship and praise.
1. So many Christians go to church wanting to enjoy the worship & Praise.
But in our desire to enjoy it, we forget that it is not for us!!! It is for God!
2. Our benefit is secondary. We come to left God up. Not to make ourselves feel good.
3. The praise songs, the hymns, the doxology, those things are not for us to get “something” out of! They are for God!
4. I want to read some passages to you from 2 Samuel 22:
Ver 3-4 “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Vers 14-16 “The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice. He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered, At the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.”
Vers 32-35 , 47, 50 “For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation! Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.”
a) That is worship & Praise
b) God directed, meant to GIVE God glory & honor, not made to make
David feel good.
c) Read 2 Sam. 22
B. Finances
1. Not going to talk about giving to much
2. We all know our responsibility, all who are part of this fellowship share in the responsibility of paying the bills of the church.
3. 2 Cor. 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
4. Not a cheerful receiver, but a cheerful giver.
5. Again we are here to give.
C. Service, your spiritual gifts.
1. Romans 12:4-8 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
2. Good steward of our gifts. God give them for a purpose
3. We are to us them, to give them back as it were.
4. We have received those gift in order for us to return them, to give!! Not just receive the benefits of someone else’s gifts.
D. Your Life, your being!
1. You are to be a sacrifice to God. Rom 12:1 “Living Sacrifices to God
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
3. “Reasonable service” It is expected by God. Sacrifice is not something you receive, it is something you give.
4. God want everything, because it is His anyway.
V. Closing-
A. Why are you here this morning?
1. To get something?
2. A good message?
3. A clear conscience?
4. Feel good worship?
B. These are not Biblical reasons for being here.
C. You need to be here with the attitude that say I have come here this morning to give something. To give God my worship. To give back to God part of my material blessings, to give of my spiritual gifts, to give my very life to God.
D. When you begin to feel this way in your heart, then will you begin to receive what God wants to give you. Let us pray.
