The Cause of the Church is Christ. The Cause of Christ is The Church.
I remember a story I read from the newspaper several years ago. It was about a Japanese straggler found in the Philippines. Let me read the article for you:
“2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda is a Japanese straggler who lived in the Jungle of Lubang Island, Philippines for 29 years, from 1945 to 1972, after the Japanese forces was defeated by the Allied Forces in World War II.
Found by a Japanese student, Norio Suzuki, Onoda still refused to accept that the war was over unless he received orders to lay down his arms from his superior officer. Suzuki offered his help, and returned to Japan with photographs of himself and Onoda as proof of their encounter. In 1974 the Japanese government located Onoda’s commanding officer, Major Taniguchi, who had since become a bookseller. He flew to Lubang and informed Onoda of the defeat of Japan in WWII and ordered him to lay down his arms. Lieutenant Onoda emerged from the jungle 29 years after the end of World War II, and accepted the commanding officer’s order of surrender in his dress uniform and sword, with his Arisaka Type 99 rifle still in operating condition, 500 rounds of ammunition and several hand grenades.”
Imagine, he was living in an isolated island for 29 years. Long after the war was over. 29 years of his life in needless sacrifice.
That is how it is in the world. They don’t know that they don’t know. There are so many people in the world living in so much suffering because of ignorance. They don’t know that the war is over. They don’t know that the enemy has been defeated. That it is finished.
Jesus’ operating system while He was on earth was this:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
And
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
For most of us, once upon a time in our lives too we were like the Japanese straggler in our spiritual lives. We were in the dark. Until somebody told us the good news about Jesus. How He carried our sins and paid the price for our salvation and wholeness.
Do you remember Pastor’s teaching- Saved and Called?
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
We have been saved because God loves us. And we are called to share the good news of Christ.
Because we know how it’s like to live a life not knowing God, we want others to have what we have now- a life In Christ. We are called to know Him. As we know Him more and more, we get to see His heart. As we get more revelation of Jesus, we get to understand who we really are In Him. Like Jesus, we get His heart. We develop a compassion for the lost and hurting. We were once like them, remember? We then become His arms and hands and feet on this earth. Rightly so, because we are His body.
The Church is the Body of Christ. We are the Church. We are His arms. We are the Jesus-men on this earth. We are His representatives. His ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
The Cause of Christ is to build His Church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The Cause of the Church, our Cause, is not to build the Church. That is not our job. That is Christ’s job. Our Cause is Christ. To exalt Him. To preach Christ and to live Christ.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (The Message)
1-2You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
The Apostle Paul could’ve shared a lot of messages to the people. But He only preached Christ. Why? Because when Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all men to Him.
Why does God want you saved? Because He loves you and so that you could lift Jesus up. Because you know that your righteousness are like filthy rags and there is no other Way, there’s no other Truth, there’s no other Life but Jesus. Why does God want you to prosper His way? Because He loves you and so that you could lift Jesus up. Because you know that without Him blessing you, you would still be working for 12 hours a day 7 days a week and yet still be broke and be drowning in debt. Why does God want you healed and whole? Because He loves you and so that you could lift Jesus up. Because you know that without Him healing you, you’d be dead by now. Why does God want you serving in Church? Because He loves you and so that you could lift Jesus up. Because you know that apart from Him, you can do nothing.
You weren’t just saved for yourself. You were saved to be a demonstration of the love of God.It is like you saying,” Look at me! I was like this before but look at what God has done and it is marvelous in my eyes!” You were in the pit, but God rescued you and set your feet upon the Rock. That Rock is Christ. You were in the kingdom of darkness before but God brought you out into His marvelous light! Christ is the Light of the World. You are like a huge billboard. A showcase.
That’s why God will make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So you can point the world to Christ.
Church, we need to realize that it is not just a message that we carry. It is Christ in us, the hope of Glory. The whole world is already saved. They just don’t know it yet. And it is up to us, the Church, to tell them.
But how do we tell them? Not everyone is a pastor. Not everyone is a preacher. That’s ok. What is your identity? Remember Pastor’s teaching? Even if you are a Pastor, that is not your identity. Your identity is In Christ. You are In Christ doing pastoral work. If you’re a businessman, your identity is In Christ doing business. And since you realize that you’re In Christ, sharing Christ would just come naturally.
I remember a minister of God who once said, Preach Christ in season and out of season! And if necessary, use Words!
Church, it is not just the words that we speak. But the things that we do and the life that we live that matters.
Pastora talked about the transition from learned truths to living truths. The truth that you learn from the pulpit, you allow to become truths that you live.
Christ died for the World. When someone from the world gets this revelation, he accepts the salvation that Christ purchased for him, there is no other recourse for him but to thank God. And the response to that thankfulness is hooking up to a church. His cause has become bigger than himself. He begins to see the heart of God. Which is people.
Let’s take a look at the example of the Right Heart on Serving:
Read 1 Chronicles 17
1 Chronicles 17 (New Living Translation)
v. 1-2
1 When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,[a] but the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”
2 Nathan replied to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
David was just chilling in his house relaxing, being thankful of all the blessings that God gave him that he realized he wanted to do something for God. And this is God’s response:
v. 3-4
3 But that same night God said to Nathan,
4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.
Although God didn’t allow David to build Him a house, still God appreciated desire to do so. Let’s continue what God said (this is my favorite part):
V 5-6
5 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle. 6 Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders,[b] the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
In religion, there are laws and don’t and don’ts. In a relationship, there are things that don’t even have to be said. It is better off that the person already knows what the other person wants without saying it. I believe women can relate more than us men here. God is not about to tell them, I want this and I want that. Sometimes, it’s better off unsaid. You just gotta take a hint, you know.
Have you ever surprised your mother flowers just because? Or someone you love, just because? I guarantee you, it’ll make her cry.
This is exactly what David did. He didn’t need to. He just wanted to. He was meditating how good God has been to him.
v. 7-8
7 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!
Some of you might be thinking, “Ok, so what’s in it for me?” Nothing. Save for the fact that God rescued you and saved you from hell. Saved you from your own destructive habit. Saved you from ignorance and all that debt and blessed you and set your feet upon the rock and put a new song in your mouth.
God has already blessed you. And if you’re going to serve Him in order to get something from then that is the wrong heart. You want to serve Him because He has been good to you. Period. We are His bond servants. A bond servant is a servant by choice. We are His sons who choose to serve Him.
But God wouldn’t allow anyone to outgive Him. Look at
v. 9-15
9 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 10 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 11 For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. 12 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. 14 I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”
15 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.
Look at that. God just overwhelmed David with sooo much. I just imagine David maybe bowing down in tears out of overwhelming gratitude. . And you know, whatever so sow for God, He multiplies a hundred fold. So workers, expect!
David’s Prayer of Thanks
16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed,
“Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great,[c] O LORD God!
18 “What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. 19 For the sake of your servant, O LORD, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.
20 “O LORD, there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 21 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way. 22 You chose Israel to be your very own people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
23 “And now, O LORD, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever. 24 And may your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.
25 “O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings! 26 For you are God, O LORD. And you have promised these good things to your servant. 27 And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O LORD, it is an eternal blessing!”
Ever wondered now why God called David, “A man after His own heart?”
David was after God’s heart. Which is His house. The Church. The Body of Christ. The people. His people.
1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
The Church is the avenue where the lost can hear the message of Christ.
In this season of Grace, God is not forcing us anything. God has already blessed us with everything that pertains to life and godliness. God has not with held anything from us. We are merely responding to Him. It is a relationship. We don’t have to, but we want to.
We don’t have to serve in the local church. But because we realize how much He has blessed us, we want to. As get more and more revelation of God’s love for us, we cannot help but respond by loving Him back. And what better way to love Him back by loving whom He loves: the people. God’s heart is people. God wants the people to know He loves them. That they’re forgiven. That God is not angry with them.
We are pleading on God’s behalf, for them to be reconciled to God.
And the Church is the avenue that God uses to send that message. We are the Church. We carry God’s message.
God loves The Church. It His most precious bride. That’s why we are to love the church as well. And it starts by loving our local church.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The bible didn’t say that people are gonna know us by our speaking in tongues or the cars that we drive. Or how good you preach or how many verses you memorized.
It says all men will know that you are Christ’s disciples, if you love one another.
I thank God that we love this church. Say, “I love this church.” Say, “I love the people in this church.”
We are to be like David where He desired to build God a temple out of gratitude for Him. David was responding to what God has done for him. The same way with us. Do you remember how your life was like before you came to know the Lord?
And now we respond by loving the universal church as a whole and serving God by serving in our local church.
God’s eyes and heart are upon this church perpetually.
Do you know finally know why? Because His people, the people that He bought with a heavy price, the people that He loves, are here. God’s eyes and heart are upon the church perpetually
because YOU are the Church.
