Sermon Central
-
The Walls Series
Contributed by Rev. Richard Norman on Jan 10, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Last week I talked a lot about how God works in us and as long as we have built on the right foundation, it will not matter what is built on that foundation, even if it is wood hay and stubble, we will be saved. The main point however was that we can have
The Walls
A Study of Rev. 4:9-11
Third in the series
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
Introduction:
Last week I talked a lot about how God works in us and as long as we have built on the right foundation, it will not matter what is built on that foundation, even if it is wood hay and stubble, we will be saved. The main point however was that we can have a life the passes through the fiery judgment with something precious, or faith, passing through. This concept I will file under the heading as one of the purposes of the Church as the “Edification of the Believer”.
I indicated through out the message that I did not want to just get to heaven with all that I have done in my life destroyed, yet I remained. Today I want us to look at a second purpose of the church,
The Exaltation of God.
Our first message was THE STAFF, talking about God calling people into the church. Then we talked about THE FOUNDATION, God preparing His people to pass through the Judgment. The logical progression would then would be to call today’s message,
“THE WALLS”.
Think if you will with me about what separates the wood hay and stubble Christians from the Gold, Silver and Precious Stones Christian. Is it how much they are able to do, or how beautiful they can sing? I can think of a person right now that has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever personally heard, but that person does not serve God with a Gold life. One of the things that move us to the gold life is our praise of God and the truthfulness of that love and praise. Let’s look at praise in a Biblical proportion.
Rev 4:9-11 (NIV) 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created
and have their being."
When we build on this foundation, we should build in a way that is without reserve. The exaltation of God is not something that we should be afraid of. Think about how the very people in the world that would reject your love and praise of God and how they act when a “Super Star” arrives. (Video, ) The Beatles arrive in the US in 1964 Play until they are on the stage.
I have always wondered how people can make fun of Christians who sing and praise God, yet they can stand in line for hours to get tickets to see and hear someone who is vulgar and quite often rude. They will pay all kinds of fees to be the first to buy a new DVD or CD. Yet the same person will walk past a church on a Sunday morning and hear some vibrant singing inside and think we are the crazy ones. I serve a risen savior, I am redeemed, He’s Everything to Me and I am not Ashamed of the Gospel.
1 Cor 9:24-25 puts it this way:
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Run in such a way that you may obtain it. Note here it is not saying only one gets the prize, but rather that we must give our all, just as we discussed in the past, God wants our all, not 49%, not 95% but 100%.
It is not that we must be come in first place, but that we run the race. We must give all that we are. I have often thought how those who compete in the Olympics yet do not win are forgotten, and even sometimes thought of as inferior, yet to get to the Olympics requires many wins on the home front, you are the best of your country to be there. Only one person can win the Gold, but all who run with Christ, win a crown will win at least the crown of life. Winning the crowns of course is not what is all about, you have to look at what the crown represents. God calls us to run the race to win the race, and He enables us to do that through His spirit.
