HOFC Sermon Archive: Serving the Lord Part 9: In the Church

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction to Serving

2. Serving the Lord through our Faith

3. Serving the Lord through our Relationships

4. Serving the Lord through our Marriage

5. Serving the Lord through our Family

6. Serving the Lord in our Home

7. Serving the Lord with our Friends

8. Serving the Lord in our Job

9. Serving the Lord in the Church

INTRODUCTION

Today is Resurrection Sunday. April 14^th, 2024

Over the last two months, excluding the break for Holy Week, we have examined the various ways we, as followers of Christ Jesus, can faithfully serve Him.

Keeping the clear distinction between having “faith with good works” as opposed to having “works in hope of acceptance into heaven.” Though philanthropists have done much good for others over the centuries, unless founded in Christian love to share the hope in Christ Jesus and the forgiveness of their sins, their efforts are nothing more than a small comfort for our souls until Judgement Day.

It is like giving a dying man a glass of water, offering slight relief but in no way removing what is to come.

“…He {Christ} has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 9:26b-28

Jesus is returning. We can be sure of this.

Just fulfilling 13 of the hundreds of prophecies that are fulfilled from scripture has a probability of 1 in 10¹³⁸

To put this in perspective, just these 13 prophecies coming true is 1 in a quin-quadra-gintillion, which is a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillions.

Yet, not only were 13 fulfilled, but over a thousand!

You can bet that if numbers like these are happening, there is a God, and He is sovereign and will fulfill ALL the prophecies.

When Jesus returns, He will not be coming for the kind-hearted, though some may be, or those busy for the kingdom, though all should be.

Jesus won't be coming for those who believe in God (“…the demons believe, and shudder.” James 2:19)

Or those who prophesy in His name, or cast out demons in His name, or do miracles in His name.

NO. Jesus will appear a second time for those who eagerly await Him, those who have confessed their sin and called on the only name that saves Jesus Christ.

Washed, cleansed from sin by His atoning blood, and clothed in the white garment of the Holy Spirit, prepared and ready for death, to stand before the Lord on Judgement Day.

You will stand before Him regardless of whether you are ready, so be ready and eagerly await His return!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

I. WHAT IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

a. The salt and light of the earth

i. Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men.”

ii. We sing, “Light of the world, you came down into darkness, open my eyes, let me see.”

1. Forgetting that WE are now the light of the world!

2. Jesus said so!

3. Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

iii. If you are a follower of Christ, then you ARE part of the Body of Christ, THE church, and are to be the salt of the earth, the light of Christ, living in a way that makes others glorify the Father.

If you call yourself a Christian, but there has been no change in your character, you are either lying to yourself about your faith, or lying to others, or both.

Genuine faith in Christ Jesus causes transformation!

You can only play Christian for a short time before your real character is revealed.

Mark 1:14-15 “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and put your trust in the gospel.”

Jesus tells us to repent. Turn away from sin and the way of the world, and trust in the gospel.

What is the gospel? The Cross and Jesus dying as an atonement for our sins. Now, anyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved.

Romans 10:13 “for “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

It does not say some, it does not say may, it does not say ONLY the elect.

For it is by Salvation Alone, we BECOME the elect.

b. We are many parts, but one body

i. Do not measure yourself against others because you will be deceived!

ii. What do I mean by that?

iii. If they are seen as “better” than you, you will feel insignificant.

iv. If they are seen as “worse” than you, you will feel superior.

v. Measure yourself firstly against the Word of God.

vi. Test yourself!

vii. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

When you examine yourself, are you closer to God today than you were yesterday? Do you see the Lord at work in you? Are you moving in a forward direction, or are you standing still?

Or worse, moving backward?

c. Unity is commanded

i. Though we are many parts, there is only one Body of Christ, and you are either a member of the Body of Christ, or you are not.

ii. There is no division, no separation, no denomination. One Body!

iii. We may belong to various local assemblies, but only one Body exists.

Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

II. WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE

a. The great commission

i. Romans 10:13-15 “for “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent?”

ii. Matthew 28:19-20a “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to keep all that I commanded you”

iii. Our purpose as followers of Christ is not to be rich, have big houses, work hard to fill our banks, have perfect health and wealth, and be one of the beautiful people loved by all in the world.

iv. Instead, the Lord calls us to preach the gospel to all nations so all can hear, believe, and call on the only name that saves. Jesus.

b. Our preparation

i. God prepares us for service by giving us a “down payment,” which is the promise from heaven.

ii. Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge {LIT: Down payment} of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

c. Spiritual Maturity

i. As we mature in the Spirit of God, and He transforms us, making us a new creation, we receive fruits of the Spirit, the Full Armor of God, and Spiritual Gifts for fulfilling our purpose of sharing the gospel.

III. WE MUST DISCOVER OUR CALLING

a. What are my gifts?

i. Each is given various gifts determined by God (Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12)

ii. These gifts are for our unique calling to fulfill the purpose of God.

b. What are the needs?

i. The Spirit of God knows the needs of the Body and gives gifts accordingly for the building up and strengthening of the Body of Christ.

c. When can I start?

i. Where you are at!

Last week, I spoke about the phrase we often hear, “Serve the Lord where you are at.”

Regardless of how long you have been a Christian and how Spiritually mature you are, you can always do something to fulfill the purpose God places on those who belong to Him.

Start where you are!

CONCLUSION

All believers are part of the Body of Christ. This is “the church,” not a building or denomination. But by confession and submission to Jesus as your Lord, and you as His servant.

C. H. Spurgeon once said, “I do not ask you whether you are a Wesleyan, a Baptist, or a Presbyterian: My only question is, Are you Born Again?”

In John 3:3, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Born again {gennaō anōthen: begotten from, ’the nature or disposition of sons’, things which come from heaven or God, made anew}

In other words, you receive the Spirit of God from the Father in heaven through the atonement of Jesus, which CHANGES YOUR NATURE as His child when you are adopted. The Spirit is the promise from the Father above.

Your nature will change because of God’s Spirit, and you BECOME ANEW.

This change is evidence of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit and your “seal,” which gives you the promise of inclusion in the Kingdom of God.

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