The Purpose of the Church

welcome all of you to our Wednesday night Bible study Amen Josh if you need to bring that down to get that monitor on that'd be fine good to see all of you out tonight in a Wasi of course is coming up here in just a few short weeks actually be here before we know it young folk will have a good time there I'm sure just a lot of cool things going on and got a camp meeting coming up in Murfreesboro in a few weeks just a great day to serve the Lord how many are glad you're alive what are the alternatives that's what I thought all right if you remember last week we began our series for the month of June I do want to while you're digging your Bibles out or opening your app next month the month of July with the help of the Lord I'm going to spend the Wednesday evenings in the month of July talking about disciple making and how that you as an individual can make disciples okay that's why this month I'm talking purpose I want you to find your purpose and then hopefully in the next month you'll begin to develop a plan and a pattern to be able to help lead somebody and help someone get to know God how's that I think it's very important our church cornerstone we are we are at the brink of an incredible move of God and course with that comes a lot of other things a lot of things that happen when when God is deciding to move in in the church and I believe that if you if you're not expecting heaven soon you better get on that wagon because all indications are pointing to the return of the Lord everybody say heaven say that's a good thing so we're going to continue tonight last week we talked anybody remember what we talked about here in our Wednesday night purpose hey what about it I gave that one away all right what did we do wrote down what well we felt felt like our purpose was we also if you recall we wrote down five things that make us happy or or that we enjoy five things that we enjoy now I'm glad there's only two sides to that card because I could have asked you to flip it back over if they're side three and what you didn't like but that would have taken the rest of the evening probably with some but the fact of the matter is many times in life if I may say this and not be misunderstood there are many times in life that we are not guaranteed to be happy you may understand I'm saying if everybody's saying no as long as the kids are happy or as long as such-and-such happy sometimes happiness is it's just it's not not going to happen and that doesn't mean that you've been wronged or that you've gotten the short straw whatever that simply means life's happening to you huh there is a reason it's called a happy meal right but how many no kids that get a happy meal cry figure that one out call it a happy meal for crying out loud you know for crying out loud but anyway there are things though that can happen in our lives that make us feel complete that make us feel whole now everyone in here we have talents we have abilities and the fact is is that we spend as as humans we spend a lot of time in fact the bulk of our time is spent investing in what allows us to survive and even to thrive where's the majority of your budget spent every month don't answer that where's the majority of your budget spent most likely if I may most likely it's spent on food or things that revolve around food electricity to cook food you know water to wash your food and and and and water in the shower so you can bathe yourself because of the food Jade you know those your stuff and that's if you went out and slayed it or something you know you need have to wash yourself but the fact is is that we all have to survive right so we have a mentality in which we we we do things because it gets us from here to there and sometimes from here to there is not convenient nor comfortable and and my wife and I we've been married we're newlyweds still it's we're just about to embark on 32 years thank you 32 years so we're we're newlyweds but there were there were times in our early marriage and even in our late marriage that that we had to wonder about about the next meal you could tell I stressed over it blocked just think if I had to stressed over at her would I'd be like who knows I am but the truth is is that there are some things that change in your life and as you grow in mature the stresses of young life married life and the stresses of old mare like they're they're kind of different doesn't mean that you're getting better at it doesn't mean that you're settling down it simply means life is changing and I'm using that as an example because there are for some people in life and you may be you know folks are you maybe you're there as they go through what's called a midlife crisis anybody ever heard of that midlife crisis and basically in that moment there's a lot of questions and this is male and female this is this is both sides it's that you know 65 year old that's driving a a sports car didn't get one as a kid decided to get one later you know that's the kind of the idea that we have the fact is is when he was young he couldn't afford it now that he can he'd barely get out of it but anyway the truth is as one's when you get to that point in life you may begin to ask yourself some questions and one of those questions might be this what am I doing with my life where am I headed in my life isn't there more to what I'm going through or more to my life than just this right now today this day this Wednesday no doubt all of you got out of bed this morning thank you for doing or maybe this afternoon thank you for doing that what did you feel your day with don't answer that parents be nice what did you feel your day with you were probably like most of the rest of us in here you probably spent six hours or so in the word you probably prayed three of those hours in the rest you memorized psalm 119 most of you probably did that did anybody do that does anybody know where Psalm in okay I'm joking fact of the matter is is that as humans we develop patterns and we develop processes in our lives and then next thing you know as time moves on so quickly we wake up one day and we wonder what is my purpose so question is this I'm continuing in that vein there's a lot of folk in life that quite honestly never really find their purpose they'll live their entire life wondering what did I do get to the end of their life and they'll say am i leaving a legacy or no they'll wonder did did I did I make a difference in someone's life and then there are others if you will on the other side of that coin that make a difference in a hundred people's lives but they don't realize it because they simply were doing their lives investing in others there's a famous author one time wrote this phrase find a job you love doing and you'll never work a day in your life you might know that was Mark Twain that's right Mark Twain said if you'll find a job you love doing you'll never work a day in your life what does that translate to doesn't feel like you clocked in or out feels like your life has had a purpose in all of us there is a desire to find purpose it's also something that the Lord Jesus wants for us let's go to the word of the Lord that's a novel idea for this Wednesday night Matthew I'm just gonna look at Matthew tonight Jesus has some incredible teaching here Matthew chapter 5 verse number 13 somebody help me read Matthew 5 verse 13 somebody read for me please with a loud voice very good 14 someone write 15 someone sixteen someone thank you ye are salt and you're light you're like a candle if you will now who is Jesus talking to here anybody care to guess who's he talking to kids adults parents grandparent who's he talking to he's talking to those who are following him he said I got a purpose in you and your purpose is this your salt because your name would say you're a salty character your salt and even says if a salt doesn't have any flavor to it then what it's no good and there's even a thing that you should do with it and that is what throw it out so that men will walk over the top of it look at your neighbor and say you're salty say you need to be you're the salt now I realized that that doesn't sound too appealing because we we refer to salt or salty person as the way Hollywood's done it right here there's meaning mad and upset no but the fact is is you're the salt of the earth and Jesus has given this to the disciples to tell them you've got a purpose now what purpose does salt have what can you use salt for preservation what else flavor what else but blood-clot that was first in my list what else can you do with salt throwing somebody's I just somebody say you can't say that salts good for what it killing slugs you should have said somebody making homemade ice cream yeah all of a sudden life took a change didn't it killing slugs haven't done that in a while but anyway salt if the salt doesn't have flavor to it savor ability to work and function if it doesn't then it's no good now look to your neighbor say are you no good listen to me carefully he also continues this and he says you're the light of the world what would this world be like without light how would you get about how would you get around if the power goes off in your house goes off on your whole block and every light in the world's off how do you get around no no lights you can't get a flashlight you can't even turn on your phone to get the light there's no light to be found electricity hasn't been founded yet what do you do if you're like the old-timers did when they got dark what'd you do go to bed and one thing till the Sun comes up what you do done did you need an alarm clock you see the point is this your light and if you're the light and you're on a hill and you're on a high place you can't be here can't let's continue Matthew's a really good spot tonight we're gonna talk about purpose Matthew chapter 16 verse number 13 let's begin reading there Matthew chapter 16 verse 13 somebody read for me please verse 14 someone mmm-hmm 15 someone okay in 1617 anyone 18 and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Jesus comes and he asked his followers he says hey guys who do that people say that I am right that's a good question because I know he knows that there's a lot of this going on a lot of talk a lot of things back and forth and of course they just begin to give him an answer some say you're John the Baptist some say you're this old prophet you're this other prophet you're this other prophet and finally he says hey Peter who do you say and Peter says you're the Christ you're the son of the Living God and Jesus said you're blessed because nobody has told you that there's been a spiritual impartation of that wisdom and because of that you're blessed I'm going to give you keys to the kingdom notice what he says to the disciples what he said to people whatever you bind will be bound what your loosed will be loosed there's a purpose in the church and that is to bind and loose come on many times we forget there's a power and an authority in the church the purpose of the church is to be salt it's to be light oh it's to do the things that Jesus is calling us to do and then he continues in Matthew 16 and says you'reyou're to buying and to loose because you've got power here on this earth to do things you don't have to let everything just run over the top of you but you can stand firm and find some things how many know sometimes you got to bind up the devil sometimes you got to bind up a bad past or history or bind up an entire knot if you will around the things that's chasing you and then there's sometimes you got to loose things I don't want to tell you Matt our house there's time lord I loose peace into our home today we sure need it I'll lose joy into this place Lord are we sure needed and if something begins to happen when the children of God begin to understand their purpose you're salt you're like you can't be put on a candlestick and then set a bushel or a bucket or a basket over it you've got a shine so people will say you got to have how to have a value in the world you got to be able to preserve things going on in the world you got to be able to preserve your family in the future of your family not only that he goes on and continue who do you say I am alright I'm gonna help you with this what you see in the spirit is there's been a spiritual revelation that's come to you Peter and because of that you're gonna have ability to bind in the loose listen to me carefully the purpose in the church is not simply be a building but listen on your job you can buying things on your job you can lose things I challenge you going to your workplace tomorrow say Lord I lose joy and peace in this place today I loose angels to be in this house today I mean what do you think is gonna happen or are you thinking that somehow they're gonna come out of this box and and you're gonna have to rub the side of a bucket and food all these angels will be dispatched with all this big mighty warrior gear and then the last one comes out with a heart going you think that's gonna happen no you know what's gonna happen is is God's a spirit and his anointing is gonna be there in that place I don't mind telling you there's many jobs that I've had that have been so chaotic and hectic and such the world the people that I work with co-workers bring such issues and problems into the job and it's all this bickering and backbiting and I'd have to go to a back room somewhere sometimes and shut the doors at God you're gonna have to move in this place I can't work I can't do this I plead your blood over this place today god I want you to have your way and walk out of that stock room or walk out of the back or the bathroom or whatever and come out saying the Lord I will not be distracted and deterred but instead I'm gonna give you honor and glory and for some reason something on the job changes boss went out the door no I'm joking coworkers stop bickering somebody get a phone call I don't mind telling it's happened what am I saying I'm saying the church has purpose and if we understand we started this last week talking about what what gives us the joy what gives us fulfillment if we understand it then quit being selfish within bring it into the church house and say now god I want to know if I'm salt how can I be savers to those in this world if I'm like Lord how can I not let my light be snuffed out but let it shine so that the whole city can see it and if I have the ability to understand who you are you are the Christ then I have the ability to loose things and to buying things and Lord give me the wisdom to know how to do it there is a purpose in the church continued fast-forward Matthew 22 this is one that not many of us might not understand might not like Matthew 22 36 master which is the Great Commandment in the law jesus said unto him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy mind this is the first and the great commandment the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself verse 40 says this on these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets loving God and loving your neighbor church has a purpose now the whole world excuse me the whole world wants you to know that God is love and if God is truly a God of love then then there shouldn't be any bad going on and so forth you know we hear all of that in in all the passing language and length you know if there was truly a God then this wouldn't happen or kids wouldn't starve er or bad things wouldn't happen the truth of the matter is is that what God does does not dictate who God is God's God well we have to understand is simply this is that if we'll love him because the commandment says 2 then we will automatically have to comprehend and understand loving our neighbor is just as important in fact everything that the law represents and the prophets represented hang on those two things see there's a lot of folk that want to follow the commandments thou shalt not kill thou shalt not steal but they forget about thou shalt love love your neighbor love the Lord God and then there are others that say well thou shalt not kill unless it's convenient thou shalt not commit adultery unless it's convenient thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's car unless it's convenient whatever that is the fact of the matter is everything that was given all the law that was given to the people and the prophets how they stood for what the law and the Word of God was hang on these two Commandments love God love your neighbor look at your neighbor say I love you come on act like you mean it act like it anyway now in the writings of Matthew that's where I wanted to start tonight is simply there the writings of Matthew we we see here very explicitly that Jesus wanted the church the believers the disciples the followers to impact the world around it that's why he said you're salt that's why he said you're light that's why I said you are loosing and you are binding things that's why I said you need to love God and you need to love your neighbor why because they are all points to consider when you talk about the church I'm telling you tonight the church has a purpose it has got to be more than just figuring out a way to walk through the doors and show up and wave to everybody it's got to be something that says when I walk out of the doors I'm still in church I'm not in the walls but I'm still in church see there's a lot of folk that want to separate the two because they believe that God is a God of separation they stand on that okay fine separated how you gonna get God out of any where God is everywhere God knows all things God is above all things he's in all things he's through all things how you to separate God from that you realize in the midst of hell God knows exactly what's going on there so the fact of the matter is the greatest purpose of the church is to love God love your neighbor be the salt be the light so my question I'll ask you some questions as a church may if I may as a body of Christ if I may here in Chattanooga let me ask you a question why are we here for what purpose anyone really that much yes sir here for the community very good someone else okay that pretty much wraps it up huh anyone to be light thank you what else why are we here provide opportunities for folks certainly what else to be the body of Christ in this area because the body of Christ is big but you're right someone else why are we here to help you to lead others to him okay anyone else why are we here to be his hands and feet very good what else let me ask it this way what is the greatest purpose for the church here in Chattanooga what is the greatest purpose for the church here on iGo Gap Road if I may winning souls for what from where okay what else I heard some from hell very well someone else what is the greatest purpose for the church in Chattanooga I'm looking at you like you're looking at me come on what is the greatest purpose stay with me as we discussed last week we all have things that we like to do we have things that make us happy things that make us feel fulfilled we know that there's some things in life that don't make us too happy you know taxes price of gas distance between great places to eat you know those kind of things but the truth is if you we as individuals can discover our purpose and how God has put something within us and then we can translate that into the local assembly of why God attached us to the local assembly then while we are here on planet earth we can truly discover our individual purpose and God's purpose for the church now the fact of the matter is is that the church let's call it the body has been mentioned it's a lot bigger than just us there there are folk all around the world right now that are loving and worshipping and serving God aren't you thankful for that there are churches in countries around the globe CDs and little pueblos and little communities and big and big old cathedrals that are loving God serving him full of the Holy Ghost baptized in Jesus name just trusting God for all things moving forward aren't you thankful for that but the fact of the matter is as we here in Chattanooga we here on I go Gap Road we have a purpose and that purpose is to be attached to that body and so what you do as an individual in your purpose has an impact on the whole body of Christ and while we are here on planet Earth if we as individuals can discover our purpose and then we as a church can discover our purpose then we have to understand certain things will happen if if you love God and you love your neighbor what transpire in your church what will there be unity what else great what else growth certainly what else what will happen if you find a purpose and loving and serving God and that purpose comes into the church and you are serving and loving him and magnifying him community is going to happen growth what else we are going to hear him say what well done now the reason that I'm bringing this to this point right now is because there are things that God has planned for the church that only you can find out what it is only you can discover it I am 100% thoroughly convinced that is sitting in this room right now there is one of the greatest outpourings of revival and in spiritual growth that this city has ever seen and it's inside of somebody sitting in here it's your purpose but what has happened is as you've spent time in your life putting all these other things in the way you're trying all these things and working hard but not discovering what God put you here for and because of that you become frustrated but I am convinced that in one of these young folk probably we're gonna see one of the greatest outpourings because their faith is going to say my purpose my reason to be here God is to honor and love you to do the things of God to love my neighbor to love you God to be salt to be light to bind and to loose and to be effective in my world and because of that God's gonna do this that's what I'm looking for because many times if I may many times what happens is as we as individuals we get wrapped up within our own purpose in life and we forget our purpose and why we're here and we miss communicate sometimes by thinking just because we have this education we have these possessions that now we've arrived and if we can just take care of these things that we're going to make it through heaven and all the while God is saying do you realize how much bigger I am than that I don't think John the Baptist had any idea of what was happening to him when he was in a wilderness experience but man when it was time for his ministry and his purpose came to light he had no question how do I know that I'll tell you how because when he came out of the wilderness looking like camels hair eating the stuff that he ate and he began to yell and scream and preach tell him that the repentant kingdom of heaven is at hand they had never heard of such things but what happened people began to respond to it and by the multitudes folk came around and went oh my goodness never heard anything like this before I want to be baptized the way you saying John that therefore when Jesus came along what happened they already had a mode of repentance down they already understood what it was like to go down in water they hadn't done that before John the Baptist had a purpose we call him the forerunner of Jesus Christ that's right and when his ministry started how long did his ministry last about six months and what happened he was topless this part right here was gone cut his head off anybody here want that ministry no no you might if you really fulfill your purpose even when John said I want to know is this really Jesus Jesus sent the messenger back I said you tell John this that the blind eyes are opening that the deaf or hearing that those that are lame or walking that there is anointing there is power there is Authority I have no doubt that John could sit back and say then I have done my part many times I don't mind telling you as humans we we kind of try to figure things out on our own because this wasn't done that wasn't done then evidently this is not going to be done or because this was not done exactly the way I thought it should be done and that wasn't done the way that so therefore it means that everything is out of kilter we're never gonna have nothing nice you just ruined everything and the truth of the matter is do you realize that God couldn't work with camel here and locusts and wild honey and can change the world with it what are you saying pastor I'm telling you this this world needs people and a church with purpose now the question I'll ask you is this as an individual where do you fit in the plan that God has for the church what is your purpose in it do you know where do you fit and where God's plan is for the church what is your place in the plan the purpose of God could I ask it this way is church a priority of importance in your life or is it simply a place to feel like you've accomplished something is there room for growth in your life in the church is there room for growth in the church or have we arrived at the place where we're supposed to be look around you is there room for others go ahead look to your left and right if there's an empty chair you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt there's place for someone else now the truth of the matter is this we have to find our purpose in the church so question and I'm watching the clock here has the church giving you a purpose has it now think carefully about the question has the church given you purpose I'm not asking if the church has given you a job to do I'm asking if it's giving you purpose are you involved or you still looking and waiting for the perfect job that will give you purpose see I've come to tell somebody that if God has a purpose and a plan for your life and it is to leave thousands to him through your testimony and your witness you need to know something you have somehow someway got to arrive with a testimony so how do you get a testimony somebody you go through life see there's some incredible people out there and the challenges that they faced in their lives and they'll come to the place and say I'm not so sure that I would have gone through that but because I did I found my purpose the hiding place Corrie ten Boom anybody read that book incredible story what's my purpose I'm put in a concentration camp I am working I am starving my friends and family around me are dying I make it through I make a difference in people's lives and the last part in old age what does Corrie ten Boom do she meets her guard that the concentration camp she was in face to face and she has to say to him what I forgive you could it be the whole purpose was fulfilled because she stayed connected to what God was doing see none of us want the concentration camp exercise do we I don't but if you're going to find God's purpose could you trust God through all of that let me ask you this way is there a void in your life that needs to be filled are you simply just kind of feeling your time and occupying your space is there something inside of you that says I don't know what to put there could it be that its purpose could it be that its purpose that somehow someway you've decided that I I'm gonna make it on my own I'm gonna do this or that but all the while God's saying you know what what I'm doing in you is I'm giving your life a purpose it can only be filled with the purpose that God has for the church when you come to the place as an individual that you find your purpose in the kingdom and the kingdom decides that we're going to do what God has put us here to do we bind those two together there is a an anointing there is an unction there is a power that begins to be released imagine with me if you will the most vilest person you know where have can think of that you've invited to come to the house of the Lord and it was out of fear and trembling that that you invited them but but you just invited them to come and they actually walk through the door what would you do would you run scared would you be embarrassed you believe they came I wish they wouldn't have but now they're here oh I don't feel good I don't feel good sit outside out what would you do would you be thrilled that they came would you be the greatest worshiper that day or would you kind of hope that sister so-and-so don't yell out or hope brother so-and-so don't do that could it be your purpose was to get that one here so that God could change their life to fulfill their purpose there's and there's a an elder pastor in the organization that teaches home Bible studies brother morale Cornwell is incredible God been around him a couple of times and he's taught 500 plus home Bible studies that's an individual I don't know how many have come to the Lord 500 or so home Bible studies I mean he could teach a rock and rock get the Holy Ghost I don't know what they speak in but anyway in his testimony he says the person who wanted me to the Lord taught one Bible study that was to me that's all he taught was to me but I took it he found his purpose to win me and now my purpose is imagine what would it be like for God to have a purpose in your life and for you to feel the fulfillment of just loving and serving and being light being salt binding and loosing if we are to be salt and if we are to be light then we need to pursue that if we are to bind and then we are to loose things on earth and we need to learn how to do that if we are to love God and then love our neighbor as well then we must pursue that because it's the church's purpose for us to have purpose he's the one with the plan he's the one that spoke at all into existence there's a reason that he numbers the hairs of your heading he knows that intricate details of you and he loves you in spite of you it is the church's purpose to submit to his plan and as we submit to his plan his plan unfolds in the church every Sunday every Wednesday every prayer meeting every midweek or every special event whatever happens to be that's just a time to come together but you know what it's the times outside when you're just loving and serving God that purpose begins to grow so for tonight's lesson again last week we talked about our purpose and and the five things that we we that make us happy that we'd like to be around that brings us joy and fulfillment the church as well if we could figure that part out and we could figure out the part of the church guess what revival is going to happen and revival is not an influx of Souls from outside revival as what it is a rebirth inside and when we get to that point we'll begin to reach outside God is going to multiply the church as we find our purpose let me talk to you young folk for a second you kids for a minute listen to me do you think that it's just cool to come sit on the church pew and just kind of be here do you realize God's working to work in your life we talked to a young folk over here you realize God's doing something in your life you think you just wake up one day and you'll be 35 years old and the smartest person on earth there's a process called life and if you'll find your purpose in it find something to love to do then you'll never have to work a day in your life it'll just be what you do how do you do that pastor I'll tell you how to get a love for the word get a love for the things of God don't don't let coming to church be a chore once again I got to go don't let serving the Lord be a chore do you mean I got a dress a certain way don't let trust in God for the miraculous be oh you mean one more time I have to do this no instead what would it be like if you got out of bed in the morning and the first thought you thought God what do you have for me today I want to love you I want to serve you I I want to believe you for great things today what's my purpose for today what's my purpose today would you stand with me please all over this place stand with me we have to submit to God's plan he's the one with the plan amen he's the one that has the plan and if we will yield to that plan submit to that plan whatever level whatever it is and then we will take the time to invest in that plan then the purpose of God will begin to show itself in your life pray with me would you lord we love you lord I love you and I I serve you today with gladness I yield to you Lord daily I know Lord that many times we we fall short and there's times that as individuals we just we don't reach the goal we want to but that that I know we should do we we don't that that that I don't want to do I do and that that I want to do I have a hard time doing we understand where the Apostles coming from because we battle with our flesh we battle with our past and all the things but I believe tonight Lord that there is purpose in every life here I believe there's purpose in the church I believe there is a reason that we're here the blood you shed on Calvary was for a purpose the miracles Lord that follow the church sits there there for a for a purpose the smile that we put on our face daily because of your love and your plan that's working in our lives Lord that smile is there for a purpose help us today God let us be people of purpose let our church be a church of purpose I rebuke fear and doubt right now in the name of Jesus and I loose faith in the house of the Lord I loose faith right now that someone could dare to believe four great things i loose peace in this place right now lord you can calm the troubled seas of life and i bind up the evil one that's trying to distract us in the name of jesus in the name of jesus help us so god let us pursue your Lord hunger for you Lord and thirst for the things of God Lord let cornerstone be a church of purpose help us God to get on the road that leads to you and to follow it every day lead us Lord in the plain path we'll come running after you the name of Jesus go with each one of us tonight Lord let your hand be upon our lives let the word of God be a lamp to our feet light our pathway every day let our steps be ordered help us today God let us find purpose in you in Jesus name somebody say in Jesus name turn to your neighbor and say you've got a purpose now go find it I love you guys thank you for being here man I want to see on Saturday morning please eight o'clock be here young men as well come and pray with us our church needs prayer warriors that are many men I love you guys have a great rest of the week shake hands and be friendly you're dismissed in the love of the Lord