God’s Purpose For His Church
ACTS 11:23
Not our purpose but God’s purpose – We need to know that it is
not about you or me. It matters not whether you’re the Pastor, Chairman of the Deacons, President of the Missionary Society, Ushers, Choir, or Secretary, or Trustee! We need to learn right now, today that it’s not about you or me. The church will survive and go on with or without you or me. The Old Ship of Zion has already landed a many of thousand. The Purpose Driven Life is a very popular book amongst the church community; written by Rick Warren. Many churches are incorporating the use of this book in bible study and spiritual workshops. The very first point taught is we need to know and accept the fact that it’s not about me (you). Somebody ought to be shouting right now, that’s a Rhema Word – word of Revelation. I don’t know about you, but when I realized that it wasn’t about me, a heavy load was lifted off my back – I was set free – I received my deliverance. We need to be delivered and set free. Some of us are too nervous to pray because we think we can’t find the words to say – we’re afraid to sing because we think our voice might crack – we’re ashamed to give our testimony before men. It’s not about you! It’s all about Jesus. Jesus healed the sick, Jesus raised the dead – Jesus unstopped deaf ears – Jesus open blinded eyes – Jesus died on the cross – and Jesus was resurrected. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, not you (me).
God’s purpose for His Church.
Secondly, we need to realize and know that it’s God’s Church.
We do not own a church or the Church. On the other hand there are pastors and groups that declare this is my church or this is our church, and they have their purpose.
The Church we speak of today is God’s Church. The Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Church of the Living God. The Church that Jesus built on the solid rock foundation of truth. When Jesus asked his disciples who do ye say that I am â Peter answered “thou art the Christ the son on the living God”. Jesus said “upon this rock I will build by church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (Matt. 16: 15 â 18). Jesus called Simon, Peter (which means Rock) because he spoke the solid, rock foundation of truth. The truth was and is that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. The Church was not built on Peter (though some churches have been built on Peter alone). The Church was built on the truth, which further means that the Church was built on Jesus â He is the foundation â He is the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) no man cometh unto the father, but by me. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. An even greater dimension of the truth comes to focus. Not only did Jesus build His (the) Church, Jesus is the Church.
In our sermon text the historical setting is found in the 10th and 11th chapters of Acts. The gospel of Luke presents Jesus the Christ as the Savior of the world, all – mankind. To the Jew first, then Greek and Gentiles. This theme is carried over into Acts, and is reiterated, and reemphasized, and is paramount to our sermon text. God has purposed for His Church to have no respect of person. The are no dignitaries, presidents, and captains or superstars when it comes to the Church of Christ, the Church of the Living God. There are no big I’s and little you’s, we all come in on equal footing, and that’s ankle high at the feet of Jesus . The highest position attainable is to be a servant. The gospel of Luke and Acts are addressed to Theophilus, some say he was a personal friend or acquaintance or he was a high ranking officer in the military, on the other hand theologians would have us to know that Theophilus translated means – one who believes in God. In the 10th chapter Cornelius is described as a God-fearing man – he was of the Italian band, and an officer in the military (a Centurion). He gave alms to the people and prayed always – God received his alms and prayers as a memorial – He answered his prayers and sent an angel to instruct him to send for Peter who resided in Joppa with Simon the tanner. Cornelius obeyed and sent 3 men to Joppa for Peter. About noon that day Peter went up on the house top to pray, He became very hungry and fell into a trance. God sent a vision, a vessel descended unto him -as a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth. Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air and there came a voice unto him, “Rise Peter kill and eat, – not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean and the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10: 8 -13). Peter was confused about what the vision meant. Being a Jew, Peter knew it was against the Mosaic Laws of Jewish culture to eat certain animals that were deemed unclean. (Lev. 11th chapter and Deut. 14th chapter).
You see sometimes God has to disturb our comfort zone – He has to shake us up where we are the most confident. God had Peter to know that which he has cleansed is not common or unclean, in other words what God has blessed no man can curse. The Jews were comfortable worshipping, and teaching, and fellowshipping with other Jews. They were confident that salvation was for the Jew only! God’s chosen.
Church folk are comfortable worshipping, and teaching, and fellowshipping with other church folk, until the unchurched comes to church: the homeless, the prostitute, the drug dealer, the thief, the liar, the whoremonger, we act as if they have no right to seek God, hunger and thirst after righteousness, and desire salvation. God has no respect of person. God taught Peter that no man should be called common or unclean. Cornelius was the first Gentile convert, he and all his house received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is sometimes referred to as the Gentile Pentecost. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is to those who believe in the name of Jesus. There is no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved other than the name of Jesus. John baptized with water, but Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water makes you a member of the local church – Baptism by the Holy Ghost makes you a member of the body of Christ (Universal Church).
Jesus is the Church (Col. 1:24) The church is the body of Christ.
(Eph. 5:23) Christ is the head of the Church. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5). God’s purpose for His Church – is the same as His purpose for His Son. God purposed in His Son salvation for all mankind. Jesus is God’s plan of salvation. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. The early Church was referred to as the Way. The purpose of the Church is to point the way to God – to point the way to salvation – to point the way to eternal life. The purpose of the church is to be a light set on a hill for all men to see along the dark road of life â a lighthouse on a dark ocean of life in the mist of the sea of time. The church is the way out of sin and death. The purpose of the church is to teach truth, preach truth, and uphold truth. The truth is that Jesus is the Son of God (Emanuel- God with us). God in the flesh. Jesus is God. By Him was everything made that was made. He is the shepherd and bishop of our souls, the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He is the only righteous judge, at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
God has purposed in His Church life and life everlasting. Ye search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life -life is in Jesus.
The Apostle Paul said it is no more I that live but Christ that lives inside. You have to have a relationship with Jesus. When you have a relationship with Jesus he is able to live through you. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of Jesus Christ.
God’s purpose for His Church is to be the way, the truth, and the life. We need to purpose in our hearts that we are going to cleave unto the Lord – Our Savior – Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Amen, Amen, Amen