THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CALLED
A revival message
1 Peter 2:4-5; 9-12
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Pastor Brian Matherlee
CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL!!
Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.
Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.
Half-time - The period between Sunday school and worship when many choose to leave.
Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.
Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.
Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord’s work.
Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and you begin to gather up your children and belongings.
Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week’s illustrations.
Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."
Trap - You’re called on to pray and are asleep.
End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.
Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.
Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.
(From Webpage Fortune City)
1. You have to show up
“As you come to him”
a. A lot of people don’t show up for duty.
b. Three boys were boasting about their dads and one boy said, "My dad is so fast, he can shoot an arrow and get to the target before the arrow hits it." The second boy said, "My dad is so fast that he can shoot a rifle at a deer and get to the animal before it falls." The third boy said, "My Dad’s got both of yours beat, he’s faster than that. He gets off work everyday at 4:00 and he gets home by 3:30."
c. Here are a few things said about lazy people:
“He always does an honest day’s work—of course, it usually takes him a week to do it.”
“He’s so lazy they named a shoe after him—the loafer.”
“He’s so lazy, if he woke up with nothing to do today, he’d go to bed with it only half done.”
2. The building is God’s work
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.”
a. In the Book of Romans, Paul emphasizes that everything in the Christian life depends, “not on man’s desire or effort,” but upon the mercy of God.
b. God will build those who learn to live according to the truth God reveals on a daily basis in the valley and on the mountaintop.
c. God builds us primarily through the ordinary...Bible study, prayer, fasting, kindness, solitude, simplicity, repentance, service, patience and trust.
d. Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path." Today in the Word, June 29, 1992.
e. We are mistaken when we believe the only time we grow is in some glorious “aha” moment. Those are important but they don’t come without the foundation of the ordinary.
f. God’s going to build you if you show up and allow him to put you when and where He wants to put you.
3. You are a royal priesthood!
“To be a holy priesthood”/ “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
a. Priests are standard bearers of the holy character of God—we represent him before mankind.
b. Priests offer sacrifices
i. They express their adoration of God in meaningful worship.
ii. They offer their bodies (physical, mental, emotional, desires & passions) to Jesus Christ.
iii. They give of their time, talent and treasure.
c. Priests intercede
i. For people to God
ii. For God to people (teaching)
iii. With empathy, Hebrews 4:15-15:2 states: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”
iv. But it’s really easy to forget where we come from and lose our compassion for those who struggle. We say things like, “snap out of it” or “you’re going to hell if you keep doing that.” It is not that these things may not be true but rather that most people will not respond to such tactics.
v. In the Old Testament description of the Ephod (the sacred vestment worn by the priest) the names of the tribes of Israel were inscribed in two places: upon the shoulders of the ephod and on the attached breastplate over the heart of the priest. It reminded of God’s love and compassion. His strength and burden bearing.
vi. Pastor Karl Eastlack said at our Pastor’s Gathering a few weeks ago, “Love creates the environment where truth can lead to change.”
d. Priests serve
i. Of course Jesus is our supreme example. In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to show favor and give recognition to her two sons Jesus taught a truth about the kind of disciples He was looking for:
Matthew 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
ii. Can you imagine what could be accomplished for the Kingdom of God if people simply showed up for work?
Conclusion
Will you offer yourselves to God today? It’s easy to do it today. Will you offer yourself to Him tomorrow?
Here’s the challenge tonight.
1. Determine if you are willing to lay everything out there for Jesus.
2. Let God know that He can place you wherever He wants.
3. Do the work that comes along with becoming the living stone He is designing within you.
4. Commit to it by signing up, starting up, and showing up for the priestly ministry God has initiated for you.
