"IT’S TIME TO BUILD.....PT 5"
INTRODUCTION
LET ME TELL YOU -- THE LAST 2 SUNDAYS BEGINNING ON THE PM SERVICE JUNE 25; HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY AWESOME CHURCH SERVICES (PEOPLE TESTIFYING TO GOD’S GREATNESS, SHARING THEIR SORROWS, OPENING AND BEING REAL), GOD’S SPIRIT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND MOVING IN THIS PLACE. AND DURING THE LAST 2 SUNDAYS I FELT LED TO LEAVE OUR SERIES ON BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE...
AND I AM GLAD THAT I DID (GOD USED THOSE MESSAGES) -- BUT NOW IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO OUR MAIN TOPIC -- BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE... BECAUSE AS GREAT CHURCH HAS BEEN RECENTLY WE ARE NOT THERE YET... WE STILL HAVE FAR TO GO; WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO TOUCH THE HEM OF THE GARMENT OF THE CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY...
AND SINCE WE’VE BEEN AWAY FROM THIS FOR A FEW WEEKS I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND YOU OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS POINT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO NEW TERRITORY. AS PETER THE GREAT FISHERMAN SAID IN 2 PETER 1:13, "I THINK IT IS RIGHT TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY..."
WE ARE STUDYING THE BOOK OF EZRA, A BOOK THAT RECORDS THE EVENTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE BUILDING HIS HOUSE AFTER THEY RETURNED FROM A 70 YEAR EXILE. AND WE ARE PULLING FROM THIS GREAT BOOK PRINCIPLES THAT THEY APPLIED TO SUCCESSFULLY BUILD GOD’S HOUSE THEN -- SO WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY BUILD GOD’S HOUSE AT ETCC, NEARLY 3,000 YEARS LATER. THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE READING ABOUT IN EZRA -- THE 50,000 MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE TRIP BACK HOME TO JERUSALEM WERE MOVED BY GOD;
THEY MOVED BY THOUGHTS OF THE TEMPLE; THEY WERE MOVED BY THE POWER AND PROMISES OF GOD; THEY WERE MOVED BY GOD’S GRACE AND BY THEIR 2ND CHANCE AS A PEOPLE... DESPITE ALL THEY DID, GOD STILL LOVED THEM (HE HATED THEIR ACTIONS/PUNISHED THEIR SIN -- BUT EVEN WHILE SUFFERING IN THAT PUNISHMENT THEY ALWAYS COULD SEE HIS HAND OF LOVE REACHING OUT TO THEM...) AND NOW, HE HAS CALLED THEM/ HE HAS ALLOWED THEM TO BUILD HIS HOUSE.... THEREFORE, IN 536BC THOSE WHOSE HEARTS GOD HAD MOVED LEFT AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM PREPARED TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD....
BUT JUST LIKE TODAY NOT EVERYONE WENT -- BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE WAS MOVED TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE.... NOTICED IT DOES NOT SAY "AND ALL THE PEOPLE PREPARED TO GO..." NO, IT SAYS THAT ONLY THOSE WHOSE HEARTS WERE MOVED BY GOD WENT...
YOU SEE THE REST WERE UNMOVED BY GOD -- BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT GIVEN GOD THEIR HEARTS, AND THEY WERE COMFORTABLE RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE.... NOW WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STILL IN CAPTIVITY -- THAT CAPTIVITY CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AFTER THE FALL OF BABYLON AT THE AND OF THE MEEDS AND PERSIANS... THE JEWS HAD HONES, LIVES AND JOBS IN THE LAND...AND SOME DID NOT WANT TO RISK THESE COMFORT TO GO BACK TO A DESTROYED CITY TO LIVE... WHERE WOULD THEY LIVE -- WHERE WOULD THEY WORK.... SO WHEN THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY CAME FOR THE MOVE TO BE MADE FOR THE TRIP TO BE TAKEN THEY STAYED...
AND JUST LIKE TODAY I AM SURE THAT BEFORE THAT MOMENT OF TRUTH CAME; SOME WHO WOULD LATER STAY IN PERSIA TALKED A REAL GOOD SPIRITUAL TALK... THEY GAVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEING A PEOPLE WHO WERE MOVED BY GOD...
AND SOME NO DOUBT LOOKED AT AND MARVELED AT THE FAITH THESE "TALKERS" SAID THEY HAD.... YES, THEY ENJOYED THEIR REPUTATION OF BEING VERY STRONG IN THE FAITH.... BUT WHEN THE MOMENT OF TRUTH CAME -- WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR THEM TO PUT FEET/EFFORT INTO THAT TALK... TO LEAVE THE COMFORTABLE AND FAMILIAR AND VENTURE OUT FOR GOD -- WELL MANY JUST STAYED IN PERSIA -- YOU SEE GOD NEVER REALLY HAD MOVED THEIR HEARTS -- THEY HAD JUST MERELY BEEN MOVING THEIR LIPS...
BUT THOSE WHOSE HEART GOD HAD MOVED -- NEARLY 50,000 STRONG -- DID LEFT THE FAMILIAR TO VENTURE OUT INTO THE UNKNOWN FOR GOD... TO JOURNEY TO A LAND THAT MOST HAD ONLY HEARD ABOUT BUT HAD NEVER SEEN WITH THEIR OWN EYES..
THAT’S WHAT GOD IS CALLING US (HIS PEOPLE) TO DO TODAY; MOST OF US HAVE NEVER SEEN GOD’S CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY...(NOW WE HAVE SEEM GOOD GLIMPSES OCCASIONALLY) BUT WE HAVE NEVER TRULY EXPERIENCED THE CHURCH AS GOD HAS CALLED HER TO BE, BUT WE HAVE READ ABOUT IT.... WE SEE A NEWBORN CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS; A CHURCH WHO HAD EVERYTHING IN COMMON; NO ONE WAS IN NEED BECAUSE EVERYONE SOLD WHAT THEY HAD WHEN A BROTHER WAS IN NEED... WE SEE A CHURCH UNDER HEAVY PERSECUTION BOLDLY PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST; REJOICING WHEN DIFFICULTIES CAME CONSIDERING IT AN HONOR THAT THEY WERE COUNTED AS WORTHY TO SUFFER FOR THE NAME; AND WE SEE A CHURCH WHERE GOD WAS ADDING TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.... A CHURCH WHOSE ENEMIES HAD TO EVEN ADMIT WAS TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN...
AND THIS DREAM OF GOD’S CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY -- OF CHRIST BRIDE IN ALL OF HER BEAUTY -- DANCES IN THE DISTANCE AND IN THE HEART OF THOSE WHOSE HEART HAS BEEN MOVED BY GOD; THOSE WHO ARE MOVED BY HIS LOVE; MOVED BY THE CROSS, MOVED BY HIS MERCY; HIS PROMISES; HIS PRESENCE AND BY HIS GRACE/THE SECOND CHANCES HE GIVES US EACH AND EVERY DAY... AND THOSE WHO ARE MOVED HEAR GOD’S CALL TO BUILD HIS HOUSE... AND THEY FEEL HONORED TO BE EVEN CONSIDERED WORTHY TO DO SO....(IT IS A GET TO/A PRIVILEGE TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE CHURCH) -- DO YOU FEEL HONORED TO BE A PART OF GOD’S BUILDING TEAM... THOSE WHO DO LEAVE WILL WILLINGLY LEAVE THE FAMILIAR/THE COMFORTABLE..... AND GLADLY VENTURE OUT INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH AND FOR GOD...
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IT WILL TAKE/TIME; IT WILL TAKE EFFORT; IT WILL TAKE WORK; AND WE WILL AT TIMES HAVE TO SACRIFICE OUR PRIDE AND ALWAYS HAVING TO DO THINGS OUR WAY IN ORDER TO REALLY BUILD GOD’S HOUSE...
IT’S NOT EASY TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE; BECAUSE IT IS NOT A
PRE-FAB BUILDING THAT WE JUST THROW TOGETHER. GOD SUPPLIES THE BASIC DESIGN AND BUILDING STANDARDS, BUT EACH HOUSE OF GOD MUST BE FINED TUNED BASED ON WHERE SHE IS LOCATED AND WHO IS DOING THE BUILDING... THE HOUSE OF GOD THAT WORKS IN SOUTHERN INDIANA WILL NOT NECESSARILY WORK IN EAST TAMPA. YES THE ESSENTIALS MUST BE THERE, BUT THE PARTICULARS MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT... AND IT TAKES WORK AND A GREAT AMOUNT OF THINKING AND CONSTANT PLANNING TO BUILD A CUSTOM MADE HOUSE LIKE THAT.
THAT IS WHY WE SEE AS THEY SAW IN EZRA’S DAY THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL ANSWER THE CALL... YOU SEE, THOSE WHOSE FAITH IS MORE TALK THEN WALK (WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE/MAKE THE NECESSARY SACRIFICES-- TIME/EFFORT/PRIDE) WILL NOT GO WITH US...
AND THEY WILL BE SHOWN FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE -- SHALLOW WATER DISCIPLES WHO ARE JUST SPLASHING WATER AS THEY FLOAT AROUND WITH THEIR SWIMMIES ON....
GOD IS CALLING US TO BUILD HIS HOUSE; HE IS CALLING US/YOU TO A NEW LEVEL OF CHRISTIANITY AS INDIVIDUAL AND AS A CHURCH... IT IS TIME TO BUILD TO SADDLE UP OUR HORSES AND LEAVE LONG FACED, COLD, RUSTY, DRY, DEAD, MEDIOCRE RELIGION IN A CLOUD OF DUST BEHIND....
GOD IS CALLING US TO PUT FEET ON OUR FAITH... TO HAVE A VISION FOR HIS CHURCH ... TO HAVE A VISION THAT THE LORD STILL CAN ADD TO THE CHURCH DAILY IF WE ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM AND TO OUR CALL...
IS YOUR HEART STIRRED BY THE POSSIBILITIES.... DOES YOUR BLOOD PUMP FASTER AS YOU CONSIDER THE IMPACT THIS BODY COULD HAVE FOR THE LORD... CAN YOU SEE THE CHANGED LIVES; THE SAVED SOULS -- THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ANEW IN THE LORD....
CAN YOU SEE CHRIST BECOMING MORE AND MORE REAL TO HIS PEOPLE HERE -- CAN YOU SEE RELATIONSHIPS RECONCILED, MARRIAGES RESTORED ; FAMILIES GROWING CLOSER TO CHRIST... CAN YOU SEE MEN BECOMING REAL MEN -- "TENDER WARRIORS" STANDING TOGETHER, BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE...
CAN YOU SEE A BODY THAT TRULY LOVES AND SUPPORTS EACH OTHER (WE HAVE SEEN THIS A LOT LATELY, PRAISE GOD), CAN YOU SEE A BODY WHERE THE FLOCK IS TRULY TAKEN CARE OF SHE IS FEED, LOVED AND PROTECTED... A BODY WHERE THEY PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, CONFESS THEIR SINS TO EACH OTHER AND ARE HEALED...
CAN YOU SEE A BODY THAT GATHERS EACH SUNDAY NOT IN A SPIRIT OF TRUDGING DUTY BUT IN A SPIRIT OF JOY AND EXCITEMENT, AT WHO THEY ARE -- AND WHAT THEY HAVE -- AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING.
A BODY COMING TOGETHER READY TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP GOD FROM THE HEART... CAN’T YOU JUST HEAR GODS’ PRAISES RESOUNDING FROM THE WALLS OF THESE ROOM AS PEOPLE PUMPED FOR GOD BLESS AND PRAISE THEIR KING, CREATOR, SAVIOR AND FRIEND...
ARE YOU STIRRED AT THE THOUGHTS OF A PLACE LIKE THAT?
AND LIKE THOSE WHO WERE MOVED BY GOD IN EZRA’S DAY, NOT ONLY MUST OUR HEARTS BE MOVED BY GOD BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PERSONAL PURITY; WE MUST BE A HOLY PEOPLE... -- WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR INDIVIDUAL SIN EFFECTS THIS BODY AND WE ARE TO STRIVE TO BE HOLY BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY AND HE CALLS US TO BE HOLY. AND WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT GOD WORKS ONLY THROUGH A HOLY PEOPLE.. BROS LET’S LOVE GOD AND HATE SIN!!
AND WE IF WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE, ALSO LIKE THOSE IN EZRA’S DAY WE MUST GIVE OUR BEST.... WE MUST GIVE AS THEY GAVE "ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY.." AND BROTHERS THIS IS A SURE SIGN WHETHER OR NOT GOD HAS MOVED YOU... YOU SEE, IF YOU ARE NOT GIVING THE BEST OF YOUR TIME/TALENTS/TREASURES TO GOD -- GOD HAS NOT MOVED YOU HEART. YOU HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN THE JOURNEY TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE...YOU HAVEN’T EVEN SADDLED UP YOUR HORSE YET.... AND THE ONLY TRIAL YOU HAVE RIDDEN IS THE TRIAL IN YOUR OWN MIND.....
AND TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE OF UNITY; WE MUST GATHER AS ONE MAN -- THIS UNITY IS FOUND ONLY IN CHRIST AND ONLY WHEN WE HAVE AND ACCEPT A COMMON PURPOSE... (BRING -- BUILD -- SEND)...
AND TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST ALSO BE A PEOPLE OF COURAGE.....BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MANY FEARS AND CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME IF WE ARE TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE... AND REMEMBER COURAGE DOES NOT RESULT FROM OUR LACK OF FEAR -- BUT RATHER FROM OUR
SOURCE OF TRUST AND STRENGTH -- THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
AND AS IN EZRA’S DAY WE MUST BE A PEOPLE OF WORSHIP
IF WE ARE TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE... AND OUR WORSHIP MUST BE THE KIND THAT THE FATHER IS SEEKING -- "IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH"
AND FINALLY THE LAST STOP OF JOURNEY UP TO THIS POINT WAS WHEN WE SAID THAT TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE THERE MUST BE TENDER WARRIORS.... MEN WHO ARE REAL MEN/GOD’S MEN -- MEN WHO STAND TOGETHER/MEN WHO IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE HOME EMBRACE GOD’S 4 PILLARS OF TUE MANHOOD --
KING -- WARRIOR -- MENTOR -- FRIEND
PROVIDER -- PROTECTOR -- TEACHER -- AND LOVER (AGAPE STYLE)
OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO 50,000 TIRED, TRAVEL WEARY DREAMERS WHO HAD BEGUN THE JOURNEY HOME ASSEMBLED IN JERUSALEM "AS ONE MAN.." READY TO BUILD/READY TO WORK....
BUT EVEN WITH ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT OF THE HOUR THEY KNEW THEY WERE JUST BEGINNING -- BECAUSE AS ALL THAT STOOD IN FRONT OF THEM WAS THE DRY PALESTINIAN SAND... AND A DREAM OF WHAT GOD COULD BUILD IN THIS PLACE IF THEY ALLOWED GOD TO WORK IN AND THROUGH THEM....
TOADY AS WE LOOK AT A FEW MORE PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE -- GOD IS STILL LOOKING FOR DREAMERS.... MEN & WOMEN WHO HAVE BEGUN A JOURNEY WITH GOD.... M & W WHO THOUGHT HEY FEEL A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT REALIZE THAT WE ARE JUST BEGINNING HERE AT EAST TAMPA; M & W WHO CAN SEE MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE.... WHO CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN BECOME AS A CHURCH IF WE REALLY LET GOD AND HIS SPIRIT MOVE IN THIS PLACE... MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE not THEIR HOUSE -- AND WHO ARE HERE FIRST OF ALL TO SEE THAT GOD AND HIS CHURCHES NEEDS ARE MET AND NOT GOVERNED AND MOVED FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH BASED ON WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THEIR NEEDS BEST MET. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO, WHO ARE NOT CONTENT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DOORS ARE OPENED, THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BILLS ARE PAID... BUT WHO REALIZE THAT GOD HAS CALLED HIS CHURCH TO BE SOMETHING MORE -- MUCH MORE.... I WONDER JUST HOW MANY DREAMERS GOD REALLY HAS HERE TODAY.... I THINK I SEE QUITE A FEW BUT TIME WILL TELL.... TIME WILL TELL....
TURN IN YOUR BIBLE TO EZRA CHAPTER 3, THE PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY ARE LOCATED IN THESE VERSES.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER 8; TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE WHO WILL RAISE THE STANDARD (EZRA 3:4)
A. WHY IS A STANDARD IMPORTANT?
BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO STANDARD OR A LOW STANDARD....
THERE WAS A PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE; A DARK PERIOD; AN EVIL PERIOD... A PERIOD WHERE THERE WAS NO STANDARD.... IT WAS CALLED THE PERIOD OF JUDGES -- AND THESE EVENTS ARE RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES. THE WRITER SUMMARIZES THIS PERIOD AND CONCLUDES THIS BOOK WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS
"IN THOSE DAYS ISRAEL HAD NO KING AND EVERYONE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES...."
AND ISN’T THAT EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY... OUR FOUNDING FATHERS BELIEVED GOD AND HIS WORD WAS TO BE THE STANDARD.... BUT TODAY EVERYONE CARES MORE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS THEN CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY... EVERYONE ONE DOES WHAT IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES. RIGHT AND WRONG HAS BECOME A MATTER OF PERSONAL CHOICE...
AND HAS THIS LOWERING OR REMOVAL OF STANDARDS HAD POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RESULTS... (UNLESS YOUR AN OSTRICH AND HAVE HAD YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE).
AND IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS SAME MIND-SET HAS INVADED THE CHURCH.... FOR, MANY IN THE CHURCH DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES.. THEY HAVE SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG FOR A CHRISTIAN... OF WHAT IS PROPER AND WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE. AND THIS NO STANDARD OR LOWERING OF STANDARDS HAS HURT THE CHURCH....
B. SO, WHAT IS THE STANDARD FOR THE CHURCH....?
WE READ THE FOLLOWING IN EZRA 3:4; THEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WAS WRITTEN, THEY CELEBRATED THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES..."
THE ISRAELITES WHO HAD RETURNED TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE DIDN’T FORM A COMMITTEE TO DECIDE HOW TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, TAKE A POLL OR PASS OUT BALLOTS....
THEY FOLLOWED THE STANDARD -- THEY DID IT ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WAS WRITTEN.... WHAT IS THE STANDARD FOR THE CHURCH....?
THE LIVING AND ACTIVE, GOD BREATHED WORD OF GOD....
SO YOU SEE, IN THE CHURCH THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE DO NOT HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT.... THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE US TO FORM A COMMITTEE DO DECIDE WHAT IT RIGHT OR WRONG -- OR HOW TO DO SOMETHING....
WE DO NOT NEED TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DECIDE:
. HOW OFTEN A CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO ATTEND CHURCH;
SEE HEBREWS 10:25
. IF A CHRISTIAN IS TO GIVE; THE BEST OF HIS TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURE TO THE CHURCH
SEE MATTHEW 25/2 CORINTHIANS 8 & 9.
. WHAT AN ELDER OF THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE AND DO
SEE I TIM 3; TITUS 1; AND I PETER 5.
. WHETHER OR NOT A CHRISTIAN SHOULD KEEP HIS WORD AND FULFILL HIS OR HER’S PROMISES & COMMITMENTS; TO DECIDE WHETHER HE SHOULD DO THE THING HE SAID HE WOULD DO; FOR EXAMPLE; SHOW UP AND BE ON TIME FOR THE CLASS HE SAID WE’D TEACH... FOR WE READ IN MATTHEW 5:37 "LET YOUR YES BE YES AND YOUR NO BE NO.." /LUKE CHAPTER 9 ABOUT COST AND COMMITMENT (HAND/PLOW)
AND WE DON’T NEED TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DECIDE
WHAT LOVE IS;
SEE I CORINTHIANS 13
. IF THE FOLLOWING ARE OKAY FOR A CHRISTIAN... SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY; IDOLATRY (WORSHIPPING SOMETHING BESIDE GOD/PUTTING OTHER THINGS FIRST); OR JEALOUSY, FITS OF RAGE, SELFISH AMBITION, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS, ENVY.. AND THINGS LIKE THESE... SEE GALATIANS 5
AND WE DON’T NEED TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DECIDE:
. THE ROLE OF MAN AND WOMAN AND HUSBAND AND WIFE
SEE EPHESIANS 5
. AND WE CERTAINLY DON’T NEED A COMMITTEE TO DEICED IF WE SHOULD BE PRAYING, AND STUDYING AND SHARING THE GOSPEL REGULARLY
SEE 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 & MATTHEW 28:18-20
IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IN THE CHURCH TODAY, MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE STANDARD IS.... THEY HAVE SET THEIR OWN GUIDELINES FOR WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE... AND THEY ARE WRONG. AND THEY ARE IN DANGER. FOR YOU SEE, IT IS A SERIOUS THING TO IGNORE GOD’S STANDARDS...
LISTEN TO THESE WORDS FROM THE PROPHET AMOS;
AMOS 7:7-16
(IF PUT A PLUMBLINE AGAINST HIS PEOPLE THEN -- HE WILL DO THE SAME TODAY)
C. AND WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THE STANDARD?
WE ARE TO RAISE IT!! WE ARE TO RAISE IT!!
THIS IS OUR STANDARD (IT’S NOT MINE/NOT ELDERS); THIS IS WHERE WE FIND OUT WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG -- WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE OR NOT ACCEPTABLE... YOUR STANDARD IS THE WORD OF GOD -- AND YOUR EXAMPLE IS JESUS CHRIST....OBEY IT AND FOLLOW HIM!!!
IF WE ARE GOING TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE WHO WILL RAISE THE STANDARD.... AND IN SOME AREAS OF THE CHURCH AND IN SOME AREAS OF OUR PERSONAL LIVES WE NEED TO RAISE THE STANDARD ONCE AGAIN.. BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO LOWER...
WE HAVE ADOPTED (THOUGH USUALLY UNSPOKEN) THE ADAGE "WELL IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHURCH WORK" -- MANY WOULD NEVER CONSIDER TREATING THEIR EMPLOYER THE WAY THEY TREAT THE CHURCH AND GOD...
AND WE CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE OUR GOD DOES NOT ACCEPT THIS.... YES THIS IS THE STANDARD -- AND MANY OF US KNOW WHAT IS IN HERE (EVEN IN AREAS WE HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THEREBY LOWERING STANDARD) -- THEREFORE; LET ME CLOSE THIS PRINCIPLE OFF WITH THE WORD’S OF JESUS’ HALF BROTHER JAMES WHO SAID IN JAMES 1:22
"DO NOT MERELY LISTEN TO THE WORD AND SO DECEIVE YOURSELVES... DO WHAT IT SAYS..."
"DO NOT MERELY LISTEN TO THE WORD AND SO DECEIVE YOURSELF (DO DECEIVE YOURSELF INTO THINKING GOD IS PLEASED) DO WHAT IT SAYS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE WHO WILL RAISE THE STANDARD IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND IN THE CHURCH.
THE NEXT 3 PRINCIPLES FROM EZRA WE ARE GOING TO COVER RATHER QUICKLY BUT THIS IN NO WAY MEANS THEY ARE LESS IMPORTANT IN BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE...
PRINCIPLE #9; TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE CAN NOT BE A PROCRASTINATING PEOPLE (EZ 3:6)
WHILE CLEANING HIS DESK, A MAN FOUND A SHOE REPAIR TICKET THAT WAS 10 YEARS OLD. FIGURING THAT HE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE, HE WENT TO THE SHOE SHOP AND GAVE THE TICKET TO THE REPAIRMEN, WHO BEGAN TO SEARCH THE BACK ROOM FOR THE UNCLAIMED SHOES. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, HE REAPPEARED WITHOUT THE SHOES AND GAVE THE TICKET TO THE MAN.
"WHAT’S WRONG" ASKED THE MAN, "COULDN’T YOU FIND MY SHOES?" "OH I FOUND THEM ALRIGHT" THE REPAIRMAN SAID, "AND THEY WILL BE READY NEXT FRIDAY."
PROCRASTINATION IS NOT THE RESULT OF THE LACK OF TIME TO COMPLETE A TASK.. IT IS AN ATTITUDE AND AS SUCH MUST BE DEALT WITH.."
IN EZRA 6:6 GOD’S PEOPLE DIDN’T USE THE FACT THAT THE TEMPLE FOUNDATION WAS NOT LAID AS AN EXCUSE TO PUT OFF WORSHIPPING GOD TO A MORE DISTANT TIME.
AND THOSE IN THE CHURCH TODAY; WHO ARE ALWAYS PUTTING OFF DOING GOD’S WORK, WHO ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING GIVING THE BEST OF THEIR TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURE TO THE LORD’S CHURCH TO SOME TIME IN THE DISTANT FUTURE... WHEN THEY RETIRE, HIT THE LOTTERY, THE KIDS GET OLDER, WHEN THEY FEEL THEY HAVE THEIR LIFE IN CONTROL GET THEIR EDUCATION -- THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ONLY FOOLING THEMSELVES, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT DOING IT NOW -- THEY WILL NOT DO IT THEN.... AND PROCRASTINATING PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL IN BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE...
THE TIME TO BUILD IS NOW! -- THEREFORE WE CAN NOT BE A PROCRASTINATING PEOPLE.... AREN’T YOU GRATEFUL JESUS DIDN’T PROCRASTINATE WHEN ASKED TO GO TO THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS?
PRINCIPLE #10; TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE OF PRAISE (EZ 3:10-11)
I HAVE BECOME CONVINCED IN RECENT MONTHS THAT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST MUST BE A CHURCH OF PRAISE. WHAT’S THE STANDARD IN THE CHURCH THE WORD OF GOD...
WELL WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PRAISE?
DT 32:3,4 I CHRON 16:25
PS 33:1-3 PS 63: 1-4
PS 68:20 PS 92:1-3
AND BEGINNING AT PS 146 THE REST OF THE PSALMS ALL START WITH THESE WORDS... PRAISE THE LORD!!
PS 150 HEB 13:15
WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE WENT TO BATTLE AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES -- OFTEN IT WAS THE SINGERS AND MUSICIANS ARMED ONLY WITH PRAISES TO GOD -- WHO MARCHED UP FRONT LEADING THE WAY TO VICTORY...
I AM CONVINCED THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF PRAISE AT ETCC; AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A CHURCH..
BECAUSE I AM EQUALLY CONVINCED THAT TO REALLY BUILD "GOD’S HOUSE " WE MUST BE A PEOPLE OF PRAISE.
PRINCIPLE #11 TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE WE MUST BE A PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE THE PAST BUT WHO REALIZE THAT THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH IS IN THE FUTURE (EZ 3:12,13)
IN EFFECT THOSE WEEPING -- AS THEY LOOKED AT THE EXCITED YOUNG FOLKS PRAISING GOD WERE SAYING "YEAH BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE OLD TEMPLE..."
NO, IT WAS NOT GOING TO EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OLD TEMPLE -- BUT IT WAS STILL GOING TO BE GOD’S HOUSE...
TO ENJOY AND SAVOR PAST VICTORIES AND GLORY IS FINE
BUT THE FUTURE FOR GOD’S CHURCH IS NOT TO BE FOUND IN THOSE DAYS...
AND AS ETCC MOVES FORWARD INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM FOR JESUS CHRIST... AS NEW FOUNDATIONS ARE LAID AND BUILD UPON.
SOME MAY WEEP AS THEY REMEMBER THE PAST...
AND OTHERS WILL BE PUMPED AND EXCITED AT A NEW BEGINNING -- THEIR BEGINNING FOR THE LORD....
BUT MAY BOTH THE WEEPING AND THE REJOICING REALIZE THAT THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE -- IT IS INDEED GOD’S HOUSE THAT WE ARE BUILDING...
TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE HERE AT ETCC, WE MUST BE A PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR PAST BUT WHO ALSO REALIZE THAT THE FUTURE OF THIS CHURCH IS "IN THE FUTURE...."
WE ARE NOT YET WHAT WE WILL BECOME FOR GOD....
