GOD IS BUILDING CHURCH
Eph 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
A glorious church,
A having Church (having all the attributes of Christ), A giving Church, A splendid Church, A magnificent Church, and a very delightful and an enjoyable church.
Who makes up this glorious church?
„h People who understand that money and jobs are a resource and not a god.
Money - Some Christians don’t tithe. Their hard-earned money is more important than obedience to God. Their money has a choke hold on them and they can’t let go. It hurts them to give. They can’t give with a cheerful heart because they have no joy. If that’s you, then you need to surrender your money to God. Don’t lose your soul over money!
Jobs - Some Christians allow greed to creep into their lives because they love money. They work more and more hours, including when they should be in church, just so they can have more money to buy more things. They’re often too tired to even attend church, much less help out.
„h People careful about the how they entertain themselves.
Unwholesome Entertainment ¡V It¡¦s a shame the kind of filth that is brought into the home today. Do you bring filth into your home in the form of music, video games, movie rentals, romance novels, and soap operas? What kind of filth do we allow our children to see, read, or play? I think that too often that by the time the damage has been accessed, its already too late. Let God¡¦s Holy Spirit control what type of entertainment comes into your home.
Wholesome Entertainment - Entertainment can be good for the soul, but it can become destructive when it takes center stage in your lives. We must be careful that we don’t make an idol out of our entertainment interests. Too much time spent on even wholesome entertainment displaces God.
„h People who build their relationships within the family of God.
Relationships - Some Christians allow their relationships with other people, including family members and sinners, to interfere with their walk with God.
Heb 7:26
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
He was separate from sinners, and by his office he was separated from all men and worldly occupations, and entirely devoted to the service of God. And as to sinners, or pagans, he was never to be found in their society. (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary
2 Cor 6:17
17 Wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
„h People who build their lives around the church. Heb 10:25
Laziness - Some Christians choose to be "Sunday only" Christians. They come to Church and are "spiritual consumers." They don’t spend time in the Word or in prayer during the week. They only attend on Sunday morning and only more if there’s something in it for them... like food.
Do you ever wonder why it is that so many more people show up to fifth Sunday potluck than a regular Sunday service?
I recently read a sermon where-in was stated that,
¡§Lazy Christians don’t help out at the church. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it your age? My 87 year old grandmother helps with Missionettes and Marilyn’s 91 year old grandfather helps with rest home ministries twice a month and is a greeter at his church. They both have lost their spouses, both are hard of hearing, and one no longer drives, yet they continue working for the Lord. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you work and don’t have time to spare? We have Sunday School teachers, youth workers and others who work full time, yet have made time in their busy schedules to serve the Lord here at this Church. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you help with your kid’s basketball team, you attend PTA and go on all your child’s field trips and are just too busy with school activities to help out at church? Being involved with your children is important but it’s also important that they see you involved in working for the Lord. If you’re too busy to work for the Lord, you’re just plain too busy.¡¨
„h People whose worship is driven by a passion for Christ
Some Christians can’t worship God with exuberant praise and worship. Many of us would never show an outward expression or emotion in worship before the Lord because we’re hung up on dignity. Some of us can’t raise our hands to the Lord or kneel before the Lord because of what others might think. Does it really matter what anybody else thinks? They aren’t the audience ... God is! If your pride is standing between you and God, you need to surrender it.
„h People who have learned the ¡§forgiveness principle¡¨
We use the Scripture in;
Matt 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses,
to mean that God¡¦s making a bargain with us.
Make no mistake: He isn¡¦t saying, ¡§Because you¡¦ve forgiven others, I will forgive you.¡¨ We can never earn God¡¦s forgiveness.
Only the shed blood of Christ merits forgiveness of sin.
What Christ is saying in essence, is that ¡§Full confession of your sins requires that you forgive others. If you hold onto any unforgiveness, then you haven¡¦t confessed all your sins to receive full remission.
True repentance means confessing and forsaking every grudge, crucifying every trace of bitterness toward others. Anything less isn¡¦t repentance.
If you are angry with another person, you need to surrender it. If bitterness keeps you up at night, then you need to surrender it.
Eph 4:31
31 Let all bitterness , and wrath, and anger, and clamour (complaining), and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
„h People who do not let personal emotions interfere with their need and the needs of others. Many times we do not witness because we are more concerned about our own emotions than we are the one to whom we are witnessing.
Fear - You can’t share Jesus with your neighbor because you’re afraid of rejection and ridicule.
Jude 22-23
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Some snatch with a swift and strong hand out of the fire of sin and temptation. On others show compassion, in a milder and gentler way; though still with a jealous fear, lest you yourselves be infected with the disease you endeavor to cure. See therefore that, while ye love the sinners, ye retain the utmost abhorrence of their sins,
If you can’t go to the altar because you’re afraid people might think you’re less than perfect, you need to surrender your fear and need for perfection! God will then do the work in your life.
„h People who have turned their hurts into motivation to pray and serve the one who hurt you.
Hurt and Pain ¡V If past hurts and emotional scars keep you from getting close to God, if you’re afraid of being hurt or have feelings of abandonment and panic haunt your soul. Surrender it!
Matt 5:44
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
The name Moses means "drew him out of the water." God has a purpose in everything He does, and your life is no different. God drew Moses out because He had a purpose for his life. God is wanting to draw you out of the world because He has a purpose for your life and He wants to make up His glorious church.
Acts 2:46-47
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house , did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
One of these days Christ will burst from the clouds and the Church, the Blood bought Church, the Glorious Church will be caught away.
Listen Church, WHATEVER stands between you and God -Surrender it!
Many of us don’t even realize we have these needs. We don’t know what it is that separates us from a closer walk with God. It’s time we find out and take care of business.
I want each of us to get on our knees before God and ask, "God, what is it that separates me from a closer walk with You?" That’s an honest prayer. That’s a prayer that God will answer.
Phil 1:6
he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
