"FOR THE SAKE
OF THE CALL"
October
12, 1997 pm
MF Blume
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow
my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family
in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the
riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner
man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of
God. 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, Unto him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner
of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye
are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 5:6-11 Let no man deceive you
with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon
the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For
ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children
of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness
and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
This morning we showed Jesus was driven to lay down His life for a HELP
as a man must leave His Father and mother and be joined to is wife to be
complete and one flesh.
- We saw the overall picture.
- One of the most important
messages you will ever hear preached.
- The following passage teaches
that our purpose is to be filled with all the fullness of God.
- This is what Jesus needed.
- This is what He laid His
life down for.
- We need to see His great
Plan for all the universe through the CHURCH.
- It is through the Church
this will occur.
- We must be filled with
all the fullness of God.
- We might not see how we
can arrive at such a place to give glory to God like this, but Paul said it
is GOD, who can do exceedingly beyond what we can even imagine, who is at
work.
- After saying we need to
be filled with the fullness of God, Paul says we should count it as done.
(vv. 20-21)
- He tells us of this need
for us to be filled with glory to manifest that glory and then says, "Unto
Him who can do all things by His Spirit, be that glory in the Church throughout
all ages. So be it (Amen)."
- Like saying, it is just
as good as done if JESUS is the one doing the work to get us there. IT WILL
BE DONE.
- If we are supposed to be
filled with all the fullness, and God's power will do it, then so be it!
So there is going to be a Church
for all ages that will manifest His glory.
- Ch. 4 says the gifts given
to the Church will see this brought about.
- It will cause us to grow
to the place we need to be.
- Don't worry about getting
there.
- God is able to do exceedingly
and abundantly above all we can ask for and think needs to be done.
God chose the foolishness of
preaching to save the lost
- It will do the job!
- Trust his ways.
- And if this is His will,
then put everything into making sure you hear the Word of God.
- Hearing the PREACHING is
what God will use to make you part of that great day to come!
BODY MINISTRY
God is working through a GROUP
- Church is a GROUP of people
called out of His side.
- They were IN HIM, as Eve
was in Adam in the form of His rib, and are "the called out ones."
- "Church" means "called
out ones".
- Called out of His side,
from which blood and water flowed while He was on the cross, to be filled
with His glory.
The preachers are here to minister
to bring us to the place of fullness.
- Each of us will grow up
into Him.
- We will not be tossed around
with every wind of doctrine.
- We will grow to the point
where we see each of us as a body and supply unity and strength to the body.
- Every joint supplies strength
to the body and supplies edification and comfort to the entire body.
- Each person does their
part.
Ephesians 4:17-18 This I say therefore,
and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,
in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated
from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart:
- So do not walk like the
unsaved who are self-centred.
- It is a BODY we are part
of now.
- We must be BODY-conscious.
- We cannot be VAIN and walk
in VANITY - self.
- UNDERSTAND the CALLING
of the Christian!
DO NOT BE DECEIVED
- Eve was deceived by the
serpent.
- We read in our text that
we must not be deceived by vain words.
- Eve was deceived by vain
words.
- Words of vanity.
- Words birthing and intended
to produce a self-centred thinking.
- Words intended to get her
mind off Adam's need of her.
- His need for her help and
cooperation.
A chapter stands in the Bible
that was never meant to be there.
- We read of Eve made from
Adam's rib and how they will be one flesh.
- We read Adam has his help.
- That ends chapter 2.
- Skipping to chapter 4 we
read Adam knew Eve and she conceived and bore children for him.
- That is all we should have
read.
- Adam had his mate.
- She was from him and for
him.
- And together they would
fill the earth with children who served God and enjoyed His blessings.
- But we have chapter 3.
Immediately after we read in
Ch. 2 where Adam and Eve were ONE FLESH, Satan took Adam's HELP and isolated
her thinking onto herself.
Genesis 3:4-5 And the serpent said
unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing
good and evil.
- Deceived by VAIN,
self-centred words.
- He repeated YOU YOU YOU.
- He took her mind off her
PART of the BODY of the GROUP.
- He sidetracked her attention
away from the BIGGER picture.
- It was a perfect chance.
- Adam was not there with
her.
We are part of the BODY.
- The CHURCH.
- The GROUP of the CHURCH,
the package, is what God is going to use.
Ephesians 4:16 -18 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. This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity
of their mind, Having the understanding darkened,
- Paul said we must grow
to the place where we are each doing our part to supply the body with love.
- The Body will only grow
if each part does its share.
- If you choose to come and
not help the Body you will miss the rapture.
- To keep the UNITY together.
- And then he said to not
walk as others in vanity of their mind.
- Do not think of SELF above
the BODY.
- Their understanding of
the plan is dark!
- WE NEED LOVE AND UNITY.
- Friction and fuss must
be cast out.
- Be born in this church
and seek to WORK TOGETHER.
- If it is a BODY and GROUP
that God chose to manifest His glory through, and it is, then those who cannot
UNITE and get along will simply be OUT.
Paul said the BODY is the PICTURE
now.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of
another.
If the Body is going to manifest
GLORY and each member is going to SUPPLY LOVE AND STRENGTH to that Body to
see it do it's purpose, then the people who fight and fuss and cannot get
along are not going to be in that "corporate" BRIDE.
- If it is a GROUP God is
going to use, then be more concerned with the GROUP then yourSELF!
- Those who choose to seek
the betterment of the WHOLE rather than the betterment of themselves alone
are the ones who will succeed in being in the BODY.
If you are not living for Jesus,
understand that His will is to save you and make you PART of the BODY and
for you to then do your part to HELP the whole and supply what your part can
supply.
- NOTHING else is going to
Heaven but THIS BODY.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- Notice that: YOUR BODIES
(plural) a LIVING SACRIFICE (singular).
- Many bodies (members) make
ONE SACRIFICE.
- THIS is our service!
- Heathens are ignorant of
this awesome plan.
- The gentiles are ignorant
of this mighty purpose.
- Paul said do not walk and
live like them.
- Sacrifice for the work
of the BODY.
- For the better of the whole.
Chapter 5 picks up this thought,
too
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers
of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,
and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.
WARNING:
The Bible warns us that people
will be used of the devil to hurt us.
- When we are more concerned
with the purpose of God through the GROUP of the Church than we are of ourselves
and our reputation and our single achievement alone, then the enemy cannot
deceive us with vain words.
VAIN-WORDED DECEPTION
- The enemy knows that most
people are ignorant of his devices.
- He can pull off the same
old trick he used 6,000 years ago.
- Most are unaware of the
PLAN and PURPOSE OF GOD.
- So he appeals to people's
self-centredness, which we all have, and has someone to genuinely hurt us.
- Like Eve, right after we
are involved in a UNITY of the CHURCH BODY of believers, our minds are sidetracked
and concentrated upon ourselves when we are hurt.
- Satan succeeds to get our
minds OFF the GROUP and fuss with one in the group and break the unity that
will defeat him!
- The Bible PREPARES us to
take suffering in order to help others.
- Let self suffer, so you
won't be distracted from supplying your help to the BODY.
- When offended we forget
about everything except proving ourselves right or sticking up for our individual
rights.
- We were told to not be
concerned over self more than the BODY.
- VENGEANCE IS MINE SAYETH
THE LORD.
- For good reason.
- Stay with the BODY thinking.
- Don't stop supplying your
part to the GROUP.
- Don't quit praising God
when you are hurt by another.
- Let God take care of that
and you keep doing your part.
- Keep carrying your cross
and deny yourself.
He said we must grow from infanthood
where we are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and moved from the
GREAT PURPOSE!
- People get upset when hurt
and totally forget about the PLAN and do not even realize they are running
away from their service and playing into the devil's hands.
- Like kids, it works on
them everytime.
- They are so full of self
and deny nothing of themselves.
- A "cross-less" walk is
a vain walk.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger,
nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
No sinful or self centred person
who cannot keep their minds off their little hurts and sidetracking influences
of the devil will inherit the Church's blessing in the kingdom.
- Our inheritance is a CALL
TO GLORY.
- We need a corporate-mindedness.
- A BODY mentality.
- Take up your individual
crosses to keep SELF CENTREDNESS out of the way.
- And get in the only thing
that will last in this world - THE CHURCH.
Ephesians 5:14-19 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (understanding).
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil (not missing the point). Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord;
- Keep on edifying the BODY.
- Sing to one another.
- Encourage one another.
- See the tricks of hell
and watch them fail as you don't allow SELF to be a tool of Satan.
- Keep on building up the
BODY.
- Stay in the CHURCH of people
who do these things, too.
- Many are in THAT Church,
but they only are the people who have taken up their crosses and already accepted
the fact that they will be hurt, so they are stalwart to ignore self interest
and let themselves suffer for the sake of the CALL.
God blesses only those who contribute
to the Body.
- He chose the GROUP to be
His ultimate Goal.
- It is His Body.
- He gave Himself for It.
- Ministers must beware lest
they damage God's Body.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- He bought the church with
HIS OWN BLOOD.
- Do not upset Him by hurting
one in that Church!
- He nourishes and cherishes
His BODY, the CHURCH.
- The Church is that which
is His fullness.
- He died for the CHURCH.
- He is coming for A CHURCH.
- FORSAKE THE DEVIL'S AVENUE
OF INDEPENDENTISM IN US!
- REALIZE HE ONLY TRIES TO
SEGREGATE AND SEPARATE AND DIVIDE TO STOP THE DOOM IN STORE FOR HIM.
- AND HE USES YOUR HURT FEELINGS
FRO YOURSELF TO GET YOUR MIND OFF THE BODY SERVICE.
There are no super-Christians
just a SUPER CHURCH in God's mind.
- We cannot do as much on
our own as we can with the GROUP.
- The ones who TRULY seek
for the good of the WHOLE and the BODY will be used greatly.
- Paul said to suffer for
the sake of others, because Jesus did it for us!
We are in a situation where
people know we are Christians
- Someone used by the devil
gets our soft spot and we hurt.
- Remember what you represent!!
- Remember the CHURCH.
- Remember your sacrifice
for the sake of the BODY.
- And allow yourself to
be hurt rather than blow up and smear the name of the Lord with your self-centredness.
- Remember the Devil is
behind this and do not let him off with it.
THE DOOR IS SHUT
- EACH TIME THE MENTION OF
A CLOSED DOOR IS MADE IN THE BIBLE, WE SEE A PICTURE OF GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE
MISSED BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
Luke 13:24-27 Strive to enter in at the strait gate:
for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When
once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye
begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open
unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you
not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.
- These people were aware
of Jesus and knew all about Him.
- They knew he was Lord.
- They heard His teachings.
- But the door was closed
to them.
- He did not KNOW THEM.
- Adam KNEW EVE, His BODY.
- These people were not BODY
CONSCIOUS but SELF-CONSCIOUS.
Matthew 25:8-12 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give
us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying,
[Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them
that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door
was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
While talking about the BODY
PLAN, Paul said:
Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
- Fools are those
who are unaware of the BODY service.
- They are self-centred and
independent.
- Self-oriented.
- "I KNOW YOU NOT"
- A man KNOWS His WIFE -
HIS BODY.
- Foolish virgins did not
look ahead far enough.
- The wise took more oil
because they looked beyond what most looked at.
- They felt they might be
required of MORE, so they took MORE.
- The foolish did not see
as far ahead as the WISE.
- So is it that some believers
see no further than themselves and what THEY need from God, rather than look
further and see the GREATER NEED THAN SELF.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- These people were only
thinking of doing miracles and casting out devils.
- They MISSED the greater
plan of the BODY.
- He never KNEW THEM.
- They could not see HIS
GREATER NEED.
- They thought of themselves
doing great things.
- They had no concept of
the BODY and their need to HELP IT succeed.
- There was more to it than
church attendance and miracles.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE CALL