Sunday, April 10, 2016 - God’s Purpose for His Church!
Pastor Roger C. Marcos
April 10, 2016
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Today, I will speak about God’s purpose for His church and the existence of the NYCC, in the City of Toronto.
Jesus planned to build a church with the purpose...
I. The Church Bring Glory to Himself.
Isaiah. 43:7 - Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made
God's great goal in creating and governing the world was to be glorified. That is, he created us for his glory. Not to increase the beauty of his perfections or fill up some emptiness in God, but rather to display his glory in the way we live and to win praise for himself. Isaiah 48:9-11 drove the shaft of God's glory deep into our minds:
"For my own sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you that I may not cut you off. Behold I have refined you, but not like silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. " To maintain the honor of his name and display his glory-these are the driving motives in all that God does in history, in the church, and in individual lives.”
A. God’s Dwelling Place.- The Church functions as a dwelling place where everyone revolves around the King of the house, God our Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is divinely conceived and divinely built, where God is Master and Lord, and all things reflect His holy presence.
[As the house of God, the church is the dwelling place of God. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.’’ The word “you’’ here refers to the local saints. Paul is saying that the local saints, the saints in Ephesus, were being built together in Christ into a dwelling place of God.
The church, the dwelling place of God on earth, is the place in which God can have His rest and put His trust. In this dwelling place God lives and moves to accomplish His will and satisfy the desire of His heart.
II Cor. 8: 19 He has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself.
B. The church is for the glory of God.
Eph. 4: 20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
II. The Church Proclaim Salvation to the World.
A. God’s body (EVERY MEMBER) is commanded to do God’s work. Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of saving mankind from sin.
As A Member of Christ Body We Are Called To:
- Connect people to God.
- Connect people to one another.
- Connect ourselves in ministry to a broken and hurting people.
Connect with others- Grow with God- Serve one Another!
Matt. 1: 21Before Jesus was born the angel said He would save sinners.
Luke 19: 10 While on the earth Jesus said He came to save sinners.
I Tim. 1: 15 After Jesus had ascended it was taught that He came to save.
In our days there are so many people living a life without Christ in their lives. They wanted to know how but no one tell them the love of Christ.
The specific reason that WE were called by God is to proclaim God to all.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet. 2:9
The Church Exists that All People May:
- KNOW: the love of God in Jesus Christ.
- GROW: as disciples of Jesus Christ
- GO: share the love of God in Jesus Christ
Where there is love, there will also be Service, and in our relationship to God, obedience.
Jesus built His church to fulfill His purpose on the earth Is to:
- Bring Glory to Himself and to
- Proclaim Salvation to the World.
Conclusion: God purpose is for you to know Him Lord and Savior.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3:36