“What The Church Needs Now”
Introduction:
Years ago, a song came out, that became popular with music lovers. It was titled, “What The World Needs Now”. According to this song, What The World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
Well, the world went out and tried to find a brand of love, and came up short. They tried to find love in partying, but love wasn’t there. They tried to find love in drugs, but love wasn’t there. They tried to find love in sex, but it wasn’t there, either.
Why couldn’t the world find love. Because they didn’t try to find it in God. For, true and lasting love can only be found in Christ. I John 4 verses 7 & 8 tells us, “… love is of God; …” and “… God is love.”
This morning I’d like to borrow a thought from that song, and change it to What The Church Needs Now!
The text for today’s message is found in Hebrews 4, verses 15 and 16. The Bible reads, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
[Prayer]
The idea that the church, the body of Christ, stands in need, may be offensive to some. After all, our Father has the cattle on a thousand hills. The Gospels tell us to ask whatsoever we ask, and it will be done for us. Scripture is clear when it says that our sufficiency is found in Christ, our ‘all in all’.
Yet, in the quiet recesses of your heart, you know that the church, the body of Christ, … this church, your church, our church, stands in need. This need cannot be met through drugs. This need cannot be met through alcohol. This need cannot be purchased at the local Wal-Mart or convenient store.
The need that I speak of today is too big for Wal-Mart. Today, the church, the body of Christ stands in need. And there is only One Source that can meet this need. And that Source is Jesus.
Point #1:
Today, the church stands in need of One Pilot, and NO Co-pilots.
For too long, the church has relegated our High Priest to being half in charge…two-thirds in charge… 75% in charge. Instead of being King of kings and Lord of lords, …the phrase ‘in Jesus name’ has become a rubber stamp for things that we want to do. ‘Prayerfully consider’ is just another way for us to tell others not to challenge our carnal decisions or actions.
Hebrews 4 tells me that that our High Priest is not a wooden idol that cannot feel. Our High Priest isn’t a piece of stone that cannot hear. Dear Christian, our High Priest is a Priest that can feel, and does feel. He knows what it’s like to be misunderstood. He knows what it’s like to have His good works called bad. He knows what it’s like to have friends and family forsake Him. He knows what it’s like to have co-laborers deny even knowing Him.
Our High Priest knows what it’s like to be tempted with sin in the wee morning hours. He has heard the devil tell Him, ‘Go ahead. No One will ever know.’ Our High Priest has been touched by every stinging, and piercing temptation known to man. Yet, He remains without sin.
Knowing this, we should be anxious to let Him be King of kings and Lord of lords!. We should be anxious to make Him our King and our Lord. We should be anxious to let He take the reins of our lives and guide our paths! We should be anxious to tell Him, “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah: pilgrim though this barren land. I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand!”
But instead of being anxious, the church has become offended because they have been commanded to wait on the Lord. Instead of being anxious, the church has become consumed with doing things according to the ways of man. Instead of being anxious, the church has become “I-centered”, instead of “Christ-centered”
Brothers and Sisters, What The Church Needs Now” is to let God be God! What the Church Needs Now, is to let God be true and every man a liar. What The Church Needs Now is to let God be the Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Attendant, Radio Tower Operator, Baggage Clerk, Air Traffic Controller, and every other position in our life; leaving us to be a simple passenger, who is going along for the ride.
The Psalmist said, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” (Psa.48:14). So, no matter what you have been called to endure, endure it with the Lord! No matter where you have been called to go, go there with the Lord! No matter what you’ve been chosen to do, do it with the Lord! Let Him be your guide, even unto death!
So that when life sends a time of turbulence your way, you will fear no evil, because Christ’s rod and staff they comfort you. So that when the world forms weapons against you, you can rest assure that those weapons cannot, will not prosper. So that when the road is rough and the going gets tough and hills are hard to climb. That you started out a long time ago, but there is no doubting in your mind. Why? Because you decided to make Jesus your choice. Your Pilot!
Stop trying to be God’s Co-Pilot. Stop allowing others to be your co-pilot. Stop thinking you somehow need a co-pilot. If God be for you, who can be against you?
Christian friend, it’s time that you claim the promises found in the closing verses of Romans 8. Here we read that Paul was persuaded ‘that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Paul was persuaded that no matter how much turbulence life would throw at him; no matter how many weapons were formed against him; no matter how many tears stained his cheeks in the midnight hours; no matter how many friends left him, loving this present world; no matter how long it took…Paul was persuaded that nothing could separate him from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, his Pilot!
Are you persuaded today? I’m here to tell you that What The Church Needs in ONE Pilot and NO co-pilots!
Point #2:
But there’s something else the church needs. The church needs Boldness.
The author of Hebrews, who many believe was the Apostle Paul, tells us in verse 16, ‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. That word ‘boldly’ means ‘with all out-spokenness’… ‘with bluntness’… ‘ with confidence’
The idea given is that, when (not it), when the time of need comes, the children of God should come boldly, bluntly, with all confidence before the throne of grace.
Now, if you still think that the church doesn’t need any thing, you’re fooling yourself. My Bible tells me that the time of need will come, even to the Christian. Your time of need may be different from mine. But mark it down… circle it… and never forget…your time of need will come.
It may not come today. It may not come tomorrow. It may not come next week. It may not come next month. It may not come next year. But mark it down…circle it…and never forget…your time of need will come.
What about the rich man in Luke 12? Remember how he went out to his fields and saw how much he had. Then he went out to his barns and saw that he didn’t have room to bring in any more. (Isn’t it just like the rich to have more than they need, and still try to keep it all for themselves?)
Well the Lord had a message for him. Verse 20 reads ‘But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’
Yes, the time of need comes to us all, even the rich. The time of need comes to us all, even the educated. The time of need comes to us all, even the young. The time of need, comes to us all, even the healthy.
And it is during this time of need that we should come boldly, confidently, bluntly, with all outspokenness to the throne of grace.
And don’t forget, that this throne has a name. It’s called grace. Many people think that God sits on a throne called judgment. But, I’m here to tell you that that is not the case. The throne that my God sits on is a throne of grace. I can’t tell you where it is, but I can tell you how to find it. I can’t tell you how much it cost, but I can tell you what it can do for you.
You see, in order to find the throne of grace, you have to approach the Father. And the only way to come to the Father is through the Son. And, guess what? The Son’s name isn’t Allah or Muhammad. The Son’s name isn’t Buddha or Confucius . His name is Jesus! And Jesus is a precious name, given by the Father. And, the Father has exalted this name to be above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And through this name, Jesus, we have access to the Father, whereas we can come boldly unto the throne of grace. And at this throne, we can get what we need, in Jesus’ name! We can ask what we will, in Jesus name. We can make our petitions known, in Jesus name!
What The Church Needs Now, is boldness to come unto this throne, the throne of grace! Why? Verse 16 tells us: so that we can obtain mercy and find grace in time of need.
Do you need Mercy? Could you stand an extra measure of Grace? Both can be found, when you exercise boldly, and come to the throne of Grace! So, when you come to the points that you realize you are having a ‘time of need’, let me tell you where to go: straight to the throne of grace! Let me tell you what to look for: joy unspeakable and full of glory! Let me tell you what to expect: to be flooded with mercy, not judgment; mercy, not ridicule; mercy not condescension; mercy, not excuses!
And not only mercy, but grace. God’s Riches At Christ Expense! And this grace, will give you what you need, not what you deserve. It will make you what God ordained you to be, the head and not the tail; an overcomer, not the overcome; more than a conqueror, not the defeated!
Yes, there are some things that the church needs. And there is only One Person great enough to give it to us. The Lord Jesus Christ.
So, if you stand in need today, don’t be ashamed. Be content. Paul told the young preacher Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain. Realize that every Christian, every church, every minister, will face a time of need. And it is in this time of need that we can go to our High Priest, our Pilot and sing those words of Thomas Dorsey, “Precious Lord take my hand. Lead me on me on. Let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light: Take my hand, precious Lord. Lead me home!”
Conclusion:
Is Jesus your Pilot today? Does He have full control of your life right now? You need to allow Him to being in complete control of every facet of who you are, and what you have, and what you want!.
Maybe some of the difficulties that you’re experiencing right now are self-inflicted, because you tried to make Him the Co-Pilot of your life, choosing to do things your way, “in Jesus name”.
Are you coming boldly unto the throne of grace? You might say, Pastor Noel, I can’t. God won’t hear me, because of my sin. Confess them. Forsake them. And come boldly to the throne. Because this throne is not a throne of judgment; it’s a throne of grace. A place where you and I can obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Do you need some help today? We all do, all the time. But, sometimes people think they can get out of this mess by themselves. I’m here to tell you that you need some help. And your help cometh from the Lord. Your help can be found in Jesus!
[Let us stand, as we extend this invitation…]
