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Ephesians 3:20-21 – God’s Essential Church – Bible study

Ephesians 3:20-21 – God’s Essential Church – Bible study

Ephesians 3:20-21 Gods Essential Church In the midst of Covid, quite a few secular powers have taken it upon themselves to seize authority which is not theirs, including that of the churchs. California is a prime example. California governor, Gavin Newsom, decided in the early days of July to ban singing and chanting in the worship services of that state. While he was getting sued for doing that, he decided to go a step further and ban all indoor worship services. Of course not everything will be closed. Just what the governor thinks should be. It seems obvious that churches are not essential to Governor Newsom. But that is not shocking. What is shocking is many Christians seem to agree with Governor Newsom. Not with their words, but with their actions. To Christians, church at best, is optional. If we have nothing else to do and nowhere else to be, well go to church. That is either extreme ignorance or open rebellion against God. Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. In our text, Paul made several important statements: 1. God is able to do above everything we can ask or think. 2. He is able to do this with the power that is already working in us. 3. Glory is due to that God. In making these statements, Paul stated one of the essential purposes of Gods church, not just the duty of the individual believer, but the purpose of the gathered believers. It is to give God the glory that is due Him because of the power that he has. I am of the persuasion that the church has lost its way. Too many in the church do not know what the church is for. The church has specific duties to perform and the Bible gives them to us. Let me share a few. They break down along three lines. 1. Our essential purposes in relationship to God. 2. Our essential purposes in relationship to the world. 3. Our essential purposes in relationship to the believers. I. In relationship to God? A. To love God Re 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 1. Revelation 2 was not addressed to individual believers. a. It was addressed to individuals but to a church. b. It was not addressed to the church at large but to a local assembly. 2. But by stating this purpose, Jesus was charging every church in every age with the same purpose. 3. The purpose of the church is to love God first and above all else. 4. Some might ask, "Can the individual believers not love God?" a. Yes. And well they should. b. However, there is something about a group of believers doing a work together in perfect harmony that: (1) Touches the heart of God. (2) Impresses the soul of mankind. 5. In \Revelation 1:12-20\, John saw the Lord standing in the midst of seven candlesticks. a. In verse 20, the meaning of the candlesticks is explained: Rev 1:20 and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. b. A Jewish candlestick is called a menorah. c. We might call it a candelabra, a single shaft with several candles attached to it. d. A menorah might have seven, eight, or nine candles on it. e. Why so many to represent a church. Could not one candle do the job? (1) Because 7, 8, or 9 candles can put out more light than one. (2) And because more candles would give the user of menorah more of a feeling of satisfaction. (3) The many in harmony can do the work that one can not do. (4) They reach more, and they can give God a greater feeling of satisfaction. B. To glorify God 1. It is right and necessary that we glorify God in our individual lives, in our homes, in our places of business, and elsewhere; but notice where Paul stated it should take place and for how long. Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory IN THE CHURCH by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 2. IN THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL AGES. 3. This is our purpose, and it is essential. a. The Green Pond Baptist Church, every member in perfect harmony, is to glorify the church. b. This is something I fear the devil is stealing from us even more during the Corona virus. c. Many Christians were at best hit and miss in their faithfulness to Gods house and to fulfill their part in the churchs purposes. d. I fear that many more will lose the understanding of their role and the desire and drive to fulfill that role in the church. e. I understand some are more susceptible to a virus than others so you may want to stay in your car; but whether it is inside or in the parking lot, every Christian should be in their place worshipping and glorifying God for Him to enjoy and for the world to see! 4. Please turn to: Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. a. This verse contains both a command and a condition. (1) The command is not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. (2) The condition is that this command is especially needful if we are seeing the day approaching. b. Questions: (1) Can you see the day approaching? The day of the falling away, the day of the return of Jesus Christ. (2) If so, where should you be? Assembling together. (3) Did God know there would be Coronavirus when He wrote this verse? Yes. (4) Did God say we should be at the Lords house except for when some deem it not safe? No. (5) So where should we be? c. Whether it is inside or in the parking lot, Gods people should be assembling together. d. This is the day for which that verse was written. e. Dont let the devil steal that truth. C. To display Gods grace 1. I am not a hunter but I know some of you have mounts of the best you have killed. 2. I am not a fishermen but I know some of you have mounts of the best you have caught. 3. I am not an athlete but I know some of you have trophies that you have collected over the years for your accomplishments. Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 4. The church is Gods trophy case. a. Here God gathers and puts on display some of the worst that were so that He can show the devil and the world how He can take the worst and make them into the best. b. Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night is Gods bragging day. (1) The devil doesnt like to walk into heaven on those days to accuse the brethren because God beams with glory as He points down the churches and tells the devil what a job grace did on that one and this one! (2) All the devil can do is crawl out of the throne room, knowing that Gods grace exceeds mans sins! c. Do you want to deprive God of His right to boast in His power and grace? d. Do you want to be the one who has removed a trophy from Gods Grace Display? e. This is essential purpose of the church! II. In relationship to the world? A. To evangelize the world Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1. The church is essential. 2. Without us, the world shall certainly perish. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 3. We have taken too much time off of the one of the main purposes of the church. a. I prayed about it and at the time, I felt I made the right choices, but things cannot go on. b. Death and hell have not taken time off due to the virus and neither can the church. c. But Gods grace, I will ask you to join with me in doing three things: (1) We will do a mailout. (2) We will tag doors. (3) We will meet to pray on Friday evening @ 7 and/or Saturday afternoon @ 4. 4. Telling people about Jesus is an essential purpose of the church. 5. I hope you will do your part. B. To provoke Israel to jealousy Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 1. God is not finished with Israel. 2. God has promised the people salvation. Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 3. That will happen in the future, but Pauls desire was to be used of God to move some to seek the relationship with God right now! a. Lets show them how good God is. b. Lets show them how sweet salvation is. c. Lets show them where they missed the Messiah. d. While we are provoking people, lets provoke a few Gentiles too! 4. Someone says, "But I am only one. They will not listen to me!" a. No. We are the church! b. Together we can do what one cannot do. c. We can show them the God they have missed. d. Not alone. No by ourselves, but as the church! e. Assembled together in perfect harmony. 5. It is the purpose of the church. C. To act as a restraining and enlightening force in this present world. 2Thess 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 1. The Holy Spirit is in us, and we, the church, are in the world. 2. Our purpose is to stop the raging tide of sin. Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 3. There are problems. a. First, too many are missing from inside the church. The church has too many gaps in its ranks in its ranks to be effective at slowing the tide of sin. b. Second, too many inside the church are missing the point. (1) Churches are more defending sin than defeating it. (2) Christ is all for loving the sinner, but we do not have to approve the sin to show we love the sinner. III. In relationship to the saved? A. To instruct believers 1. The Bible gives many Bible verses but one will do. 2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2. The Word of God is the manual, life is the class, the Holy Ghost is the Guide, but the believers are to serve as Teacher Aides to help others to understand the Bible. 3. This is the one duty of the church that in our modern day we can do without actually being together today. a. If we are educated and have books, DVDs, CDs, radio, internet, and television, we can learn the Bible while sitting at home. b. Most will not but it is possible. c. However, even that can only be done as long as the churches exists to make at-home learning possible. B. To edify believers Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 1. To edify is not the same as to teach or instruct. a. To edify is to build up. b. It is a construction workers term. 2. Paul went on to illustrate it. Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. a. To instruct is to give knowledge. b. To edify is to shape a person. c. Knowledge helps in shaping a person, but more is required is required to build a Christian. (1) Sometimes rebuke may be needed. (2) Sometimes encouragement may be needed. (3) Sometimes correction may be needed. (4) Always love, patience, and concern are needed. 3. It is hard to build men and women into Christians of character, but it is the purpose of the church to do so. a. This cannot be done from home. b. Neither can it be done when people get lost in the crowd. c. And it cannot be done by the pulpit alone. d. This is an in-church task done in unison by a church in harmony. e. It is a church Christian craftsmen working to shape the image of Christ into the lives of others. C. To provide fellowship for believers Ac 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ga 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 1. There is something about fellowship. 2. It is needed, helpful, and essential. 3. No one can go for long in isolation and not suffer. 4. It is the purpose of the church to provide such to one another. D. To care for its own in time of need Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Regardless of what anyone thinks, God did not create the church to be a spiritual ornament for a carnal world. He created us to do some things, to accomplish some purposes. These are not optional. They are essentialespecially at this juncture in this worlds demise. May God help the Green Pond Baptist Church fulfill its purposes.