"ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE,
5 FAILURES OF THE MODERN CHURCH.."
LUKE 24:44-49
THIS IS LUKE’S ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE KNOW AS THE GREAT COMMISSION, IT IS WHERE JESUS TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS TO GO OUT AND WIN THE LOST WORLD TO HIM. AND AS WE KNOW THEY TOOK THAT COMMISSION VERY SERIOUSLY, AND STARTING WITH THE EVENT SON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, THEY BEGAN HAVING A TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF THE WORLD. IN FACT, IN ACTS 17:6, EVEN THE EMMIES OF THE FAITH WERE FORCED TO ADMIT THAT THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST "HAD TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.."
UNFORTUNATELY THE MOMENTUM THAT CHARACTERIZED THOSE EARLY YEARS DIDN’T LAST, AND OVER THE LAST 2,000 YEARS THE CHURCH HAS GONE THROUGH SOME PRETTY LEAN TIMES. OH YES, THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODS OF STRENGTH AND PROSPERITY. THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT REVIVALS AND SURGES OF EVANGELISTIC ACTIVITY. BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CHURCH’S EFFORTS HAVE BEEN PRETTY FEEBLE AND INEFFECTIVE. THE TITLE FOR OUR LESSON TODAY IS "ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE -- SIX FAILURES OF THE MODERN CHURCH..."
THE CHURCH IS IN A BATTLE, WHETHER SHE WANTS TO ADMIT IT OR NOT.... THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS THAT WE ARE IN A BATTLE -- PAUL IN 2 CORINTHIANS TALKS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW WE ARE TO WAGE WAR... IN EPHESIANS HE TALKS ABOUT CHRISTIAN ARMOR AND ABOUT WHO WE ARE REALLY BATTLING AGAINST...(NOT FLESH AND BLOOD -- BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THIS DARK WORLD, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS..-- OUR CHIEF ENEMY IS NOT PEOPLE).
AND IN II TIMOTHY HE CALLS US SOLDIERS.... WE HAVE A MISSION - WE HAVE AN ENEMY AND WE ARE IN A BATTLE...
I AM SURE MOST OF US HAVE SEEN WAR MOVIES -- WHERE THE BATTLE IS RAGING AND THOSE IN CHARGE EITHER ROLL OUT A MAP ON A TABLE -- OR LOOK AT THE TROOP AND SHIP PLACEMENT ON A BOARD. AS THEY VERY INTENTLY TRY TO ACCESS WHAT IS HAPPENING, DETERMINE HOW THE WAR IS GOING..... WHAT THE CASUALTIES ARE AND IF ANY NEW ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN..
IF WE WERE TO DO THIS TODAY, ACCESS THE BATTLE OF THE MODERN CHURCH... I AM NOT SURE WE WOULD NOT LIKE WHAT WE SEE.... WE WOULD SEE A WORLD, A COUNTRY, STATE AND A COMMUNITY THAT IS GETTING EVER INCREASINGLY MORE EVIL -- ABORTION, CRIME, VIOLENT, IMMORALITY, DRUGS, BROKEN FAMILIES, PORNOGRAPHY, -- YOU NAME IT... ARE ON THE RISE.
AND IT WOULD ALSO BE QUICKLY APPARENT THAT THE MODERN CHURCH IS NOT ONLY NOT TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, BUT IS ITSELF BEING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY THE WORLD. CHURCH GOERS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE THE WORLD THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRYING TO CHANGE. CHURCH GOERS CAN LIE, STEAL, COMMIT ADULTERY, BREAK UP FAMILIES, DRINK, DO DRUGS, SWEAR GOSSIP, SLANDER AND TEAR DOWN -- WITH THE BEST OF THIS WORLD.
IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE CHRISTIANS THAN EVER BEFORE AND IN SPITE OF THE FACT WE HAVE ADVANCES THAT WERE NOT EVEN DREAMED OF YEARS AGO (RADIO, TV, COMPUTERS, FAX, COPIERS..) THE WORLD STILL SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWNHILL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THIS RELENTLESS MARCH OF EVIL.
MAYBE I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO FEELS THIS WAY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WITH ALL WE GOT GOING FOR US, INCLUDING THE UNLIMITED POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD, WE JUST SHOULD HAVE MADE MORE PROGRESS BY NOW. WELL, I DON’T CLAIM TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT I DO BELIEVE I SEE 6 FAILURES OF THE MODERN CHURCH THAT HAVE COMBINED TO WEAKEN OUR OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS. AND IN OUR TIME TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE FAILURES IN HOPES THAT WE CAN DO OUR PART IN TURNING THEM AROUND...
I. FIRST AND FOREMOST THE CHURCH HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTAND HER IDENTITY.
FAR TOO ,MANY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHURCH IS -- AN SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE TRUE IDENTITY THEY HAVE FORMED FALSE CONCEPTS THAT HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT THE CHURCHES EFFECTIVENESS -- LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE FALSE CONCEPTS OF THE CHURCH AS WE DISCUSS WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT.
1. The church is not a building -- I think most know this, but many times, churches don’t practice it, because many believe that everything that takes place must take place in their "sacred" building -- and if the doors to the church are closed, that means the church is not functioning...
2. The church is not a consumer based need gratification center -- the world is not to dictate what the church is to be and tell her what she is to say. "We don’t like you talking about service, about giving and commitment if you want us to come then you must give us what we want." No the church is rather to dictate to the world what God says. If people want it their way, they can go to Burger King - BUT in the church it is Gods way, or no way...
3. The church is not a glorified Community Christ Club -- a place to simply make friends, hang out, have party’s and show off your new hat...
4. The church is not simply a place to celebrate special occasions like: Easter, Christmas , Mother’s day or to have weddings.
5. The church is not a feel good factory; it is not a place where we are made to feel good about ourselves all the time as we are showered with the latest pop psychology and positive seminar techniques.... But rather the church is a place where we are brought into the presence of God, confronted with God’s truth and challenged to conform our life to His Son.
6. The church is not a child care service; a place to have your kids baby sat -- giving the church the responsibility of raising their kids in the ways of the Lord and also giving them the blame when it becomes apparent that Christ is not real to their our kids.
7. The church is not a religious altar, where we go and with pride give God the 1 hr a week sacrifice we think He requires. "Man it was tough getting out of bed... I tell you I am really a martyr coming all the way over here in my air condition car.. Sitting in an air conditioned building and enduring like a true soldier a worship service -- I know God must be pleased and very impressed with my spiritual efforts...."
8. The church is not boring; when many people in and out of the church think of church they think it is boring.... Let me ask you something is God the all present. all powerful, all knowing King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Is the one who created such an incredible world (mountains, beaches ..etc) is He boring... Is Jesus Christ -- God in the flesh, walking the earth, raising people from the dead, healing diseases restoring sight, battling the religious aristocracy of His day -- Is Jesus boring... If on the one hand someone is bored in church and on the other hand God is not boring -- what’s the problem -- the problem is that they are not connecting with God... and if that is the case, whose fault is it? -- it’s theirs!
9. The church is not a judges box; a place to set back with a score card and critically critique the service and the efforts of others. As we bellow, "They didn’t do this, and they didn’t do that..." God says we will be held to the same standard we use on others...
10. The church is not anyone’s personal play toy (many want things to always go their way or like a child they will take their ball and go home) -- many churches split, divide and have great controversy because some think the church belongs to them -- it doesn’t.
11. And finally the church is not a placed to be served, coddled, catered to and entertained....
THESE ARE SOME OF THE FALSE CONCEPTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONCEPTS ABOUT THE CHURCH...
NOW, Does the Bible have anything to say about the identity of the church -- does the word of God tell us what the church is......
FIRST OF ALL WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHURCH IS CHRIST’S
Jesus said, "ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH -- THE CHURCH BELONGS TO JESUS -- IT IS HIS AND BELONGS TO NO ONE ELSE.
AND HE, WILL BUILD IT WITH OUR HELP..
THE CHURCH IS WHAT WE ARE
The word rendered church in our Bibles, appears 112 times in the New Testament. It comes from the Greek word Ecclesia which means "called out." The term ecclesia as applied to the Church or Christians, means those who have responded to God’s call to come out from the world and have assembled together to have a relationship with God. So you see, The Church is who we are and not the building we go to. That’s why we can’t really go to church -- because we are the church! And you are the church at your job, and your home.
THE CHURCH IS GOD’S TEMPLE
"DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD..."
-- I COR 3:16
"...FOR WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. AS GOD HAS SAID:`I WILL LIVE WITH THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.."
-- II COR 6:16
Only in the hearts of those who Christ called out -- his church/ ecclesia does God dwell. Yes, Only "The Church" that Jesus built is God’s house. And God doesn’t remain behind in solitary confinement when the building is locked and the people go home... God’s people are the Church and He lives in them....
Think about that for moment Christians, God lives in us...
THE CHURCH IS GOD’S FAMILY
"CONSEQUENTLY, YOU ARE NO LONGER FOREIGNERS AND ALIENS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH GOD’S PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD..." -- EPH 2:19
"THEREFORE AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS."
-- GAL 6:10
THE CHURCH IS: CHRIST’S, IT IS WHAT WE ARE, IT IS GOD’S TEMPLE, IT IS GOD’S FAMILY AND
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
"AND GOD PLACED ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND APPOINTED HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER EVERYTHING FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS EVERYTHING IN EVERY WAY.." -- EPH 1:22,23
"AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH." -- COL 1:18
The Church is the body of Christ -- and Christ is the head of the body...
Christ is the Church..Christ is the Church!! That is why Jesus on the road to Damascus Jesus asked Paul; why He was persecuting Him.... You see, you can’t separate Jesus from the Church... You can separate Jesus from this church... This Church, ETCC is made up of Christians and is therefore the body of Christ... And you can not neglect, hurt or ignore this church without doing those exact same things to Jesus....
AND FINALLY THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
A BRIDE THAT WE ARE TO STRIVE TO KEEP SPOTLESS UNTIL THE BRIDEGROOM COMES.
THIS IS THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH -- CAN YOU SEE HOW A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE BATTLE.
II THE CHURCH HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS REALLY ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE.
WE SING THE SONG:"ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS MARCHING AS TO WAR WITH THE CROSS OF JESUS GOING ON BEFORE..."
THAT’S A POWERFUL AND MAJESTIC SONG, BUT I WONDER IF WE EVER STOP TO THINK ABOUT WHO THOSE SOLDIERS ARE. I SUSPECT IF THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN WERE ASKED TO NAME A CHRISTIAN WHO IS IN THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE FOR THE LORD, HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE NAME OF A PREACHER, A MISSIONARY, A BIBLE COLLEGE PROFESSOR OR SOME OTHER PERSON IN FULL TIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE.
LET’S THINK FOR A SECOND ABOUT WHAT THE FRONT LINE OF BATTLE REALLY IS. ISN’T IT THE PLACE WHERE YOU MEET THE ENEMY FACE TO FACE? ISN’T THE FRONT LINE THE PLACE WHERE SHOTS ARE FIRED AND BOMBS ARE DROPPED? ISN’T THE FRONT LINES WHERE SOLDIERS ARE IN THE MOST DANGER? ISN’T THE FRONT THE PLACE WHERE YOU’RE MOST LIKELY TO COME UNDER ATTACK?
IF ALL THAT IS TRUE, THEN I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I DON’T SPEND MUCH TIME ON THE FRONT LINES. WHEN I’M OVER IN MY OFFICE WORKING ON A SERMON OR LESSON -- MAKING THE BULLETIN OR NEWSLETTER, I’M NOT IN A WHOLE LOT OF DANGER OF BEING ATTACKED BY THE DEVIL...
AND WHEN I GO CALL ON A FAMILY -- A FAMILY THAT HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE CHURCH AND MAYBE EVEN HAS INVITED ME TO THEIR HOUSE, I’M NOT IN DANGER OF COMING UNDER ENEMY FIRE...
WHEN I CALL ON SOMEONE AT THE HOSPITAL -- PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE ME... I DON’T GO THERE WITH ANY FEAR.. I DON’T GO IN THERE WITH MY GUNS DRAWN, READY TO DEFEND MYSELF....
NOW DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I COME UNDER HEAVY FIRE FORM THE ENEMY... I’VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES MANY TIMES BEFORE.. AND ALWAYS HAS A FEW SNIPERS TAKING POT SHOTS AT ME. BUT THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT I DO NOT SPEND THE BULK OF MY TIME OUT THERE KNOCKING HEADS WITH THE DEVIL AND HIS SERVANTS..
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DO. MOST OF YOU GET UP EVERY MORNING, GET DRESSED, AND GO OUT INTO THE SECULAR WORK PLACE, WHICH MEANS YOU’RE MARCHING OUT TO DO BATTLE WITH THE ENEMY. MANY OF YOU WORK RIGHT ALONGSIDE HEATHEN, GODLESS PEOPLE WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU, NOR DO THEY EVEN RESPECT YOUR BELIEFS. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN RIDICULED. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND TREATED UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH. AND MANY OF YOU PUT UP WITH THIS SORT OF THING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
TO FURTHER DRIVE THIS POINT HOME THINK ABOUT THE GULF WAR. GENERAL SWARZKOFF BECAME A CELEBRITY OUT OF THE DEAL, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, HE WAS NEVER IN THE LINE OF FIRE. THE JOB HE HAD TO DO WAS VITAL, BUT IT WAS BEST PERFORMED BACK AT HEADQUARTERS.
AH, BUT THOSE FIGHTER PILOTS. THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WITH THEIR BOMBING MISSIONS OVER BAGHDAD AND KUWAIT CITY. NONE OF THEM BECAME CELEBRITIES. NONE OF THEM GOT TO MEET THE QUEEN -- BUT THEY WERE THE ONE ON THE FRONT LINES -- THE ONES WHO REALLY WON THE WAR.
THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE IS, WE PREACHERS DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING YOU GUYS SPEND A LOT MORE TIME OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES AND YOU SPEND A LOT MORE TIME INFILTRATING ENEMY TERRITORY. IN THE COURSE OF THE TYPICAL WEEK, YOU’RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DODGE A LOT MORE BULLETS THAN I AM.
AND MY CONVICTION IS THAT THE MODERN CHURCH HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. I DON’T BELIEVE THAT THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN SEES HIMSELF AS A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE FOR THE LORD..
III. 3RD THE MODERN CHURCH HAS FAILED TO REENLIST THE MANY SOLDIERS
WHO ARE A.W.O.L. FROM THE BATTLE..
IF YOUR CAR STARTED ONLY ONCE EVERY 4 TRIES WOULD YOU SAY IT WAS A FAITHFUL CAR?
IF YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND ONLY CAME HOME 1 NIGHT IN 3, WOULD YOU SAY THEY WERE FAITHFUL?
IF YOU ONLY SHOWED UP TO WORK 2 DAYS OUT OF 5, WOULD YOUR BOSS SAY YOU WERE A FAITHFUL EMPLOYEE.
IF YOU ONLY MAILED IN 6 OUT OF 12 MORTGAGE PAYMENTS WOULD YOUR BANK SAY THAT’S GOOD ENOUGH?
AND IF ONLY 1 OUT OF 10 PATIENTS SURVIVED THE OPERATING ROOM WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE HOSPITAL WAS RELIABLE.
AND FINALLY WOULD YOU GET ON AN AIRPLANE IF THE STEWARDESS SAID YOU HAVE ONLY A 40% CHANCE OF MAKING IT TO CHICAGO?
WHY IS OUR STANDARD FOR FAITHFULNESS IN SOME THINGS MEASURED BY ONE STANDARD. AND OUR FAITHFULNESS TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (HER MEETINGS, ACTIVITIES AND MISSION), MEASURED BY ANOTHER? A MUCH LOWER STANDARD -- MANY WHO THINK THEY ARE FAITHFUL ARE NOT.
LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHAT ONE WRITER HAS WRITTEN THAT REALLY CAPTURES THE REASON FOR THIS REVERSAL OF STANDARDS.
"MODERN CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY EVANGELICALS SEE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH PRIMARILY, IF NOT EXCLUSIVELY AS "JESUS AND ME." CHRISTIANITY TO THEM IS SIMPLY A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
ACCEPT JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE AND YOU WILL BE SAVED.
THIS IS TRUE AS FAR AS IT GOES, BUT IT FALLS WOEFULLY SHORT. ALTHOUGH WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH OUR FAITH, CHRISTIANITY IS MUCH MORE THAN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION WITH JESUS.
WHEN PETER MADE HIS CONFESSION, JESUS DID NOT SAY, "GOOD PETER. YOU ARE NOW SAVED AND WILL HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE. BE AT PEACE.."
INSTEAD, JESUS ANNOUNCED THE CHURCH AND ESTABLISHED A DIVINELY ORDAINED PATTERN. WHEN WE CONFESS CHRIST, GOD’S RESPONSE IS TO BRING US INTO THE CHURCH; WE BECOME PART OF HIS CALLED OUT PEOPLE. WHEN WE BECOME FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE BECOME MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH -- AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM OUR COMMITMENT TO HIM...
RADICAL WORDS -- BUT TRUE WORDS, ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE CHURCH IS CORPORATE THAT IS WHY IT DESCRIBES IT’S MEMBERS AS PART OF THE BODY.... (ALL PARTS ARE TO BE PRESENT -- DID YOU LEAVE ANY PARTS HOME..) THE CHURCH IS NO CIVIC CENTER, NO SOCIAL CLUB OR ENCOUNTER GROUP, NO SUNDAY MORNING MEETING PLACE. IT IS A NEW SOCIETY, CREATED FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LOST WORLD, AS SHE POINTS TO THE KINGDOM THAT IS TO COME.
AND THIS NEW SOCIETY IS SO DEAR TO JESUS, THAT HE GAVE HIS BLOOD FOR IT. AND THIS NONSENSE OF SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO BE FAITHFUL TO JESUS AND UNFAITHFUL TO THE MEETINGS, WORK AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CHURCH -- THIS NONSENSE OF BEING ABLE TO LOVE JESUS WHILE DISOBEYING HIS COMMANDS ABOUT THE CHURCH -- IS PURE LUDICROUS.
IF YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM -- YOU ARE A.W.O.L. WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO LEAVE THE BATTLE/ TO NOT HELP THE CHURCH WIN THE WAR... IT CERTAINLY WASN’T JESUS.
IV. 4TH THE MODERN CHURCH HAS ALSO FAILED TO TRAIN THE VAST MAJORITY OF HER SOLDIERS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS A BUNCH OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS GOING OUT TO FIGHT THE ENEMY BAREHANDED. WITHOUT ANY OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE WEAPONS? THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY INSANE WOULDN’T IT?
AND YET THAT VERY THING HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE LORD’S ARMY. AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, PERHAPS MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS GO OUT INTO ENEMY TERRITORY EVERY DAY AN DO YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY ARE NO THREAT AT ALL TO THE DEVIL BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EQUIP TO DEFEND THEMSELVES LET ALONE ARE THEY ABLE TO DEFEND THE FAITH.
SCRIPTURES SAYS IN I PETER CHAPTER 5, THAT THE DEVIL ROAMS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR... NOW WHO DO YOU THINK THAT HUNGRY LION IS GOING TO ATTACK -- A STRONG AND QUICK PREY -- OR ONE WHO IS WEAK AND SLOW... I’VE SEEN THAT ROARING LION JUMP MANY TIMES ON THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED...WHO DO NOT KNOW THE WORD OR HAVE A STRONG FAITH.
NOW WHO’S FAUT IS THAT? WELL, SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE SOLDIER. PAUL WRITING TO TIMOTHY SAID, "BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS A WORKMAN WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, ACCURATELY HANDLING THE WORD OF TRUTH..." 2 TIM 2:15
TIMOTHY WAS A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE AND PAUL SAID, "TIMOTHY BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED TO GOD.."
THE TRUTH IS, I CANNOT FORCE FEED YOU THE WORD OF GOD.... I CAN MAKE FRESH BREAD EVERY WEEK AND I CAN SET IT OUT ON THE TABLE, BUT I CAN’T MAKE YOU COME AND EAT. THAT HAS TO BE YOUR DECISION. ANY MANY CHOOSE NOT TO EAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME AND EAT. I THINK MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE DILIGENT TO EQUIP THEMSELVES IF MORE PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THEY ARE LIVING THEIR LIVES ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE...
IF OUR GOVERNMENT SEND YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING THAT WE WERE GOING TO WAR AND THAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDED EVERY AVAILABLE PERSON IN ORDER TO WIN THAT WAR.. AND IN THE LETTER THEY SAID THAT YOU WOULD BE LEAVING NEXT WEEK THURSDAY AND WOULD BE ON THE FRONT LINES BY FRIDAY EVENING. AND THEY ALSO SAID THAT "ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY THEY WE ARE HAVING OPTIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS ON THE WEAPONS YOU WILL BE USING.
WOULD YOU GO TO THE TRAINING SESSIONS... I FOR ONE COULDN’T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH. I MEAN, IF I AM GOING TO GO TO THE FRONT LINES AND FACE THE ENEMY, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN I GET THERE.
EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, DURING FAMILY TRAINING HOUR, DURING OUR MID WEEK BIBLE STUDIES -- WE HAVE TRAINING SESSIONS WHERE WE TRY TO EQUIP THE LORD’S SOLDIERS TO EFFECTIVELY FIGHT OUT ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF LIFE. AND FAR TOO MANY NEVER SHOW UP FOR THESE TRAINING SESSIONS. IT IS ALMOST SICKENING TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY SOLDIERS THE LORD HAS ON THE FRONT LINES WHO ARE WALKING AROUND HELPLESS AND DEFENSELESS, COMPLETELY UNARMED...
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT -- IS IT ANY WONDER THE MODERN CHURCH IS FAILING AND SEEMS SO TERRIBLY FEEBLE AND INEFFECTIVE... NO WONDER SO MANY "CHRISTIANS" FALL INTO SIN AND ARE DEFEATED BY SATAN.. IT IS LIKE THEY ARE THE DUCKS IN A SHOOTING GALLERY AND SATAN JUST PICKS THEM OFF AT WILL.
CHARLES COLSON IN HIS BOOK "THE BODY" WRITES THE FOLLOWING AFTER TELLING OF HIS INTENSE TRAINING IN THE MARINES PRIOR TO HIS GOING OVER TO THE FRONT LINES IN KOREA. AND IN SPEAKING OF THAT TRAINING HE WRITES.
"IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR THE SOLDERS OF THE CROSS. YET RATHER THAN BEING WELL TRAINED, WELL DISCIPLINED FUNCTIONING MEMBERS OF THE BODY, MANY OF US ACT MORE LIKE RESERVE UNITS: WEEKEND WARRIORS WHOSE REAL JOB OCCUPY THEM DURING THE WEEK AND WHO JUST TURN OUT FOR OCCASIONAL DRILLS OR TO HANG OUT IN THE OFFICERS CLUB ON SUNDAYS. IF WE TAKE OUR HANDBOOK SERIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BASIC SCHOOL OF DISCIPLINE AND TRAINING FOR ALL CHRISTIANS. AND SHOULD OUR TRAINING BE AT LEAST AS SERIOUS AS THE MILITARY? AFTER ALL, WE ARE IN WARFARE. NONE OF US CAN HAVE ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT THAT. AND THE BATTLE IS NOT JUST FOR FLESH AND BLOOD; IT IS FOR ETERNAL SOULS... (YOURS, FRIENDS)
V. 5TH THE CHURCH HAS FAILED TO EMPLOY THEIR MOST POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE WEAPON. LUKE 18:1
ACTS 1:14 COLOSSIANS 4:2, 12
2 THESS 1:11,12
JAMES 5:14-18
REVELATION 8:3,4
AND, WHAT IS THAT WEAPON? PRAYER...
IT IS NOT MY OUR MIGHT/POWER/ABILITY THAT WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE BUT BY GOD’S SPIRIT.
WE NEED TO PRAY MORE AT ETCC...
AND IF WE DO -- IF WE KEEP AT IT -- GOD’S SPIRIT WILL MOVE...
AND IF WE DON’T -- WELL, I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
VI. 6TH THE MODERN CHURCH HAS FAILED TO KEEP FOCUS ON THE MISSION
IN WRITING TO TIMOTHY PAUL WROTE,
"NO ONE SERVING AS A SOLDIER GETS INVOLVED IN CIVILIAN AFFAIRS -- HE WANTS TO PLEASE HIS COMMANDING OFFICER... - 2 TIM 2:4
SOLDIERS ARE GIVING A MISSION -- AND IF THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION THEY MUST NOT GET INVOLVED IN CIVILIAN AFFAIRS OR ELSE THEY WILL GET SIDE TRACKED.
CHRISTIANS ARE BY DEFINITION SOLDIERS... AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MISSION.... AND THIS MISSION IS TO BE FIRST IN OUR LIVE.
WHAT IS OUR MISSION.... WELL, THE MISSION OF THE CHRISTIAN IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH... OKAY SO WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH...
THE MISSION OF EAST TAMPA CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST; TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST AND TO BRING EVERY MEMBER TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN CHRIST SO THEY ARE COMPLETE NOT LACKING IN ANYTHING.."
AND ONCE WE UNDERSTAND OUR MISSION WE WILL NOT LET OURSELVES BE SIDETRACKED BY OTHER THINGS; $, JOB, PERSONALITY CONFLICTS ..ETC... BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE LORD’S ARMY AND WE WANT TO PLEASE OUR COMMANDER AND CHIEF...
DO YOU WANT TO PLEASE JESUS...
TO SUM UP THIS MESSAGE, I DON’T BELIEVE WE’RE EVER GOING TO SEE A REVERSAL OF THE CURRENT NEGATIVE TRENDS IN OUR WORLD UNTIL WE TURN AROUND THESE 6 GREAT FAILURES.
WE NEED MORE
PEOPLE REALIZING WHAT THE CHURCH IS...
UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES...
RETURNING FROM BEING AWOL
AND WE NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED. WE WILL NEVER WHEN THE WAR IF ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS ARE WALKING AROUND UNTRAINED AND UNARMED.
AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE SHOWING RESPECT FOR OUR LORD AND THE ORDER’S HE HAS GIVEN... WE MUST FULFILL OUR MISSION...
