Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000051
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00:19 Good evening and welcome to Give Me The Bible.
00:22 This series by Pastor Kenneth Cox has been 00:25 one of the most popular series 00:27 that we've had in recent years 00:29 on 3ABN. 00:30 And we're just privileged to bring Pastor Cox 00:33 back again this weekend for the series entitled 00:37 The Apple of God's Eye. 00:40 And I'm looking forward to every one of these five subjects 00:44 that he'll be presenting on this very important subject, 00:48 but tonight he is going to be speaking on Why The Church. 00:54 You know, a lot of people wonder about that. 00:56 We have all kinds of different denominations and so forth, 00:59 but why does God really want a church? 01:03 What's the effectiveness of a church? 01:05 I talked with a man just this week, and he said to me: 01:10 "I'm really not into denominations; 01:12 I'm really not into churches. " 01:14 And, but he says, "I love the Lord. " 01:16 What about that? 01:17 Is it right for people just to simply love the Lord? 01:22 Yes, of course. But is there a place for God's church? 01:26 We're going to look at that subject in a very detailed way 01:29 this weekend, and I'm looking forward to Pastor Kenneth Cox's 01:33 presentations... and I know that you are too. 01:37 We have had so many people calling and saying 01:39 "When are we going to have more of these great subjects? " 01:42 And tonight is one of those that we're going to enjoy. 01:46 But before Pastor Cox comes, 01:48 Dona Klein is going to play for us a song that I love: 01:52 Just Inside the Eastern Gate. 04:08 Thank you! Thank you, Dona Klein. 04:11 Well good evening. 04:13 Very happy to welcome all of you back again tonight 04:18 to a series entitled 04:20 The Apple of God's Eye. 04:22 Those of you that are joining us 04:24 by television or you're listening by radio 04:28 or maybe even tuning in on the Internet, 04:31 we're glad to welcome you. 04:33 Glad that each of you are tuning in. 04:36 We hope that as we go through this series 04:38 it will bless you in a very special way. 04:41 The Apple of God's Eye. 04:43 Going to deal with the church. 04:45 And our subject tonight is entitled 04:52 Why does God have a church? 04:53 What does the scripture have to say about that? 04:55 And then we're going to take a look at 04:58 two subjects that I find very misunderstood 05:03 concerning the church. 05:05 And our next presentation after this one tonight is entitled 05:08 The Front Door of the Church. 05:13 Very, very important... 05:16 the front door. 05:17 And the front door is not what most people think it is. 05:22 And so we'll take a look at that in our next presentation. 05:26 And then out next presentation after that one is entitled 05:30 The Back Door of the Church. 05:32 So we're going to take a look at the front door of the church. 05:34 We're going to take a look at the back door of the church. 05:37 And it, again, is not what most people think it is. 05:41 So we'll take a look at that. 05:43 And then our next presentation will be 05:46 The Church, God's Storehouse. 05:49 What the scripture has to say about supporting the church. 05:52 And then our final presentation in this series 05:55 entitled The Church Victorious. 05:58 So we want you to look at that. 06:00 What says the Bible, the blessed Bible? 06:03 This my only question be. 06:05 Will the church of God be victorious? 06:09 What says the Word of God to me? 06:12 That's what we're going to be looking at 06:14 as we go through this series. 06:16 And so we're glad that you're here 06:18 as we take a look at Why a Church? 06:22 And I hope it will help your understanding 06:25 of what God has to say about the church 06:27 and what it means to each one of us. 06:30 So we're glad that you're here. 06:32 Glad to welcome you back 06:33 as we go through each evening in these presentations. 06:37 You know, there's nothing quite as comforting 06:44 as to know that you're in the hands of the Lord. 06:49 I can remember when David 06:52 said: "Let's fall on the mercy of God. " 06:55 To know that Christ has us in His hands. 07:00 He says: "there's nothing that can pluck you 07:01 out of His hands. " 07:03 And so just to be in the hands of God... 07:05 how wonderful that is! 07:07 And Dona's going to sing for us tonight a beautiful song 07:10 entitled In His Hands. 07:28 There are times I'm overwhelmed 07:33 by the onset of trials. 07:41 And this burden that I carry... 07:45 it seems I've carried it for miles. 07:54 That's when I realize that in my own strength 07:59 I cannot stand. 08:06 Then I know the time has come 08:10 when I must put it in God's hands. 08:17 In His hands 08:21 the mountain looks 08:24 much smaller. 08:29 In His hands 08:33 the valley's not 08:36 so low. 08:43 When I've carried 08:45 my burden 08:49 as far as I can. 08:56 Help me remember, Lord, 09:02 to put it in Your hands. 09:10 I read where God's mighty hand 09:15 had parted the sea. 09:22 And when His children were safe across 09:27 He turned and drowned their enemies. 09:35 So when the waters are rising 09:39 and the river seems too wide to span, 09:47 then I fall down on my knees... 09:51 that's when I put it in His hands. 09:59 In His hands 10:03 the mountain looks 10:06 much smaller. 10:11 In His hands 10:15 the valley's not 10:18 so low. 10:25 When I've carried 10:27 my burden 10:32 as far as I can, 10:38 help me remember, Lord, 10:44 to put it in Your hands. 10:51 So when I've carried 10:55 this burden 10:59 as far as I can, 11:06 help me remember, Lord, 11:12 to put it in 11:14 Your hands. 11:40 Heavenly Father, 11:42 we would ask tonight that You would help us 11:46 that we would be sure to remember 11:49 to put it in Your hands. 11:52 To not to try to control 11:55 the circumstances, but to commit our lives to You. 12:00 We ask, Lord, that tonight You will bless. 12:04 Give us understanding. 12:07 May our hearts be open. 12:10 May we get a sense 12:15 of what You're doing in Your leading and guiding. 12:19 May we decide to walk with You by faith 12:24 in all that we do. 12:26 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 12:36 Many times 12:39 when we're holding evangelistic meetings 12:42 and we come down to the end 12:45 and there's people that... 12:47 planning on being baptized, 12:50 and it seems that you run onto some people who say: 12:56 "Oh, Brother Cox, I've accepted Christ as my Savior. 13:00 I want to be baptized, 13:03 but I don't want to belong to a church. 13:06 I... I just do not want to put my name 13:10 on a church book. 13:13 I don't want to belong to a church. " 13:16 Well, the question we need to ask ourselves tonight 13:21 is: Does God have a church? 13:25 We need to settle that question. 13:28 Does God have a church? 13:30 And then once we settle that question 13:32 then I think we can take a look 13:34 at what the scripture has to say. 13:36 So we read here in God's Word, and it says: 13:47 Now He didn't say build A church. 13:50 He said: "on this rock I will build My church. " 13:58 So God's very clear. 14:01 He says: "Yes, I have a church. 14:03 On this I will build My church. " 14:07 Now when Christ said this to the disciples 14:12 they were over in an area called, uh... 14:16 Caesarea. 14:18 And Christ did ask them a question. 14:21 And He had said this, and just a couple verses before this 14:25 when He said to them: 14:26 "Who do you say that I am? " 14:29 And they said: "Well some say that You are Elijah. 14:33 Some say that You're a prophet. " 14:36 He said: "But who do you say that I am? " 14:38 And Peter answered with these words: 14:46 Now he made that just as clear as could be. 14:50 He said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. " 14:52 And Jesus said to him: 14:55 "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you 14:57 but My Father which is in heaven. " 15:00 Now there was no doubt, folks, 15:03 in Peter's mind - none whatsoever - 15:08 as to who the rock was. 15:12 When Christ said: "Upon this rock I will build My church, " 15:17 no doubt in Peter's mind who the rock was. 15:21 I want you to listen to Peter's words. 15:23 I Peter the second chapter verse 6: 15:40 Now that cornerstone he understood clearly 15:44 to be Jesus Christ. 15:47 He understood that... Peter did. 15:49 Listen as he goes on: 15:55 He said: "Those of you who believe, 15:57 speaking of Christ, HE is precious. " 16:15 So he said: "To you who believe, then Christ is precious. 16:20 But to those who do not believe 16:22 He's a rock of stumbling, a rock of offense. " 16:27 And Paul went on and made it crystal clear 16:32 as to who the rock was because Paul said: 16:45 So no question in their minds 16:48 as to who the Rock was. 16:50 So when... we read here where it says: 17:04 what was Jesus saying? 17:08 Well He was saying to Peter 17:09 "On the confession that you have made 17:14 that 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God, ' 17:16 on that confession I am building My church. " 17:21 That's what's being said there, folks. 17:23 Not being said that "Peter, you're the church. " 17:27 He's saying: "Upon this confession, Peter, 17:29 that you have made that I am the Christ... 17:33 on that confession I will build My church. " 17:37 And dear friends, let me tell you something: 17:39 that confession has held the church 17:41 down through the centuries because it has been built 17:45 on Jesus Christ. 17:47 And that's what it must always be built on 17:50 is on Jesus Christ... no one else. 17:53 So, when Jesus said: "I will build My church, " 17:57 He said, "I'm going to build the church on the confession 18:01 that I am the Christ, the Son of the Living God. " 18:05 Now, He has a church. 18:08 He does not say... He does not say 18:13 that He has many churches. 18:17 Now folks, this idea that I hear some people 18:21 put out when they say: "Well, the churches are like roads... 18:25 all leading to the same place. " 18:27 That is not true. 18:29 If all of them were roads leading to the same place, 18:32 then you and I could believe anything we wanted to. 18:36 Well you listen to what it says here in John 10:14. 18:41 Jesus is speaking... He said: 18:49 So Christ said: "I am the Good Shepherd. 18:51 I know My" what? "Sheep. " 18:56 You see, some people need to take a good look at that 19:01 because Jesus has sheep, folks, of all shades. 19:09 You see, not all of God's sheep are white. 19:15 He has sheep of all shades. 19:18 Brown, black... How does the song go? 19:24 Red or yellow, black or white... 19:26 all are precious in His sight. 19:29 He has sheep of all shades. And by the way, 19:32 He even has some that are old butting rams 19:36 and some ornery ewes. 19:38 See? But they're all God's sheep. 19:42 We need to make that... need to be very clear on that: 19:45 that that makes up His sheep. 19:48 Now watch as He continues 19:49 because it becomes very, very clear: 20:04 I'm sorry, but sometimes people get it in mind 20:07 that the only ones that are saved are those 20:11 that are in their fold. 20:14 Uh, no. 20:17 God has sheep in all churches. 20:21 Has sheep in all churches. 20:25 What you and I must get clear in our mind 20:28 is there are not many folds. 20:32 There's only one fold. 20:34 That we need to understand. 20:37 Not many folds, one fold. 20:40 He said: "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: " 20:54 So God is making it clear that there's not many folds 20:57 or there's not many flocks. 20:59 There is one fold, one flock, one Shepherd. 21:03 But, He said: "I've got sheep in all these other places. " 21:08 But He makes a statement about them. 21:11 He says: "Them I must also bring. " 21:16 OK? My sheep what? 21:27 You see, I don't care where the person is. 21:31 I don't care what church they're attending. 21:34 If that person's heart is right 21:38 and if they are surrendered to Jesus Christ, 21:42 when they pick up God's Word and they read it 21:46 and they understand what God's Word says, 21:51 then dear friend, if that persons' heart was right... 21:54 is right with the Lord Jesus Christ, 21:55 they're going to follow him. 21:57 That has to be. 22:00 If I am His disciple, 22:03 if I am His child, 22:05 then I must follow Him 22:07 as He leads me. 22:11 Can't go the other way. 22:13 And that's why He's saying here 22:14 "These - my sheep - they will hear My voice 22:17 and they will follow Me. " That He promises. 22:21 Now, we need to understand certain things about church. 22:27 First thing about church, folks, 22:31 is you do not... put it down... 22:35 you do not find truth by a church. 22:42 Let me say that again. 22:45 You do not find truth by a church... 22:50 I don't care what church it is. 22:53 You don't find truth by the Baptists. 22:57 You don't find truth by the Methodists. 23:00 You don't find it by the Episcopalians. 23:02 You don't find it by the Pentecostals. 23:04 You don't find it by the Roman Catholics. 23:07 You don't find it by the Seventh-day Adventists. 23:09 You do not find truth by a church. 23:14 You find truth by the Word of God. 23:18 That's where you find truth is by the Word of God. 23:26 But the reverse of what I have just said is true. 23:32 You do not find truth by a church, 23:37 but you find the church by the truth. 23:41 See? I've got to get into the Word. 23:45 I have to study it. I have to see what it's talking about. 23:49 I have to understand it. And as I understand 23:52 what the scripture says, then I must follow. 23:56 I must walk with Him as He leads. 23:59 That's what has to take place in my life. 24:02 And if I'm willing to do that, He'll lead me step by step. 24:06 Listen to this verse: 24:29 In other words, I find the church by the truth. 24:33 So I pick up the Word of God and I begin to study it. 24:37 And as I learn what the Word of God says 24:41 I accept that. 24:43 Then I begin to find... look for a church 24:48 that is in harmony with what the scripture says. 24:51 That's how I find a church. 24:54 I was holding a meeting, 24:57 and this young man showed up for the meeting 25:01 named Max Murphy. 25:03 Max had felt a real desire 25:08 to follow the Lord, and he had talked to a Methodist minister. 25:15 And this Methodist minister had explained to Max 25:21 how to accept Christ as your Savior. 25:25 And Max had given his heart to the Lord... 25:28 accepted Him as his Savior. 25:30 And about a week after that had happened 25:35 Max received in the mail a brochure about our meetings. 25:40 Having just given his heart to the Lord 25:43 and wanting to know more about what the scripture taught, 25:47 he thought this would be a good chance for him to learn 25:50 and so he came to our meetings. 25:52 And came every night. 25:55 And after we had gone about a week or ten days, 25:58 I... I spoke on baptism. 26:01 And a few nights later he came back... 26:06 Max came back to the meeting 26:08 and he came up to me and he said: "Guess what? " 26:10 And I said: "What's that? " 26:12 He said: "I'm going to be baptized this next weekend. " 26:16 Well I guess I didn't turn cartwheels over that. 26:20 Anyhow... and he said: "That bothers you, doesn't it? " 26:23 I said: "Yeah, it does. " 26:24 He said: "You think I'm going to be sprinkled, don't you? " 26:28 And I said: "That's what's going through my mind. " 26:30 And he said: "No, no. " 26:32 He said: "I explained to my minister that I'm going to be 26:35 immersed like the Bible teaches. " 26:37 And I said: "Well that's good, Max. 26:39 I'm glad you're going to be baptized. " 26:41 I said: "Have you learned anything on these nights 26:46 you've been coming? "Oh, " he said, 26:47 "more than I've ever learned in my life. " 26:49 I said: "Well that's great. " 26:51 I said: "If you've learned that much in the few nights 26:54 you've come, you know you might learn some more 26:59 and you might ought to have your baptism at the end 27:02 rather than now. " 27:03 He said: "Yeah, I think you're right. " 27:06 He said: "I'll tell my pastor we'll have it at the end. " 27:09 I said: "That's fine. " 27:10 And Max kept coming each night 27:13 and, oh, I guess another week passed. 27:16 He came up to me and he said: "You know, " 27:18 he said, "I think I'm going to be baptized 27:21 in the baptism here when everybody else is baptized. " 27:25 And I said: "That's fine, Max. 27:27 We'll be happy to have you baptized here. " 27:29 And he said: "Am I going to have to be a 27:31 Seventh-day Adventist? " 27:35 And I said: "Max, all you've got to do 27:38 is follow the scripture. " 27:40 He said: "Fair enough. " 27:42 I... I'm sure it was every other night 27:46 he'd come up to me when the meeting was over 27:48 and said: "I'm really looking forward to being baptized. 27:52 Am I going to have to be a Seventh-day Adventist? " 27:55 And I'd say: "Max, all you've got to do is follow 27:57 the scripture. " "OK. " 27:59 I mean, it went like that all the way through the meetings. 28:02 We got down to the end of the meetings - 28:04 in fact, Friday night before the baptism was to take place 28:07 the next day. And he came up to me that Friday night 28:10 and he said: "I'm really looking forward to being 28:13 baptized tomorrow. " 28:14 I said: "That's great, Max. " 28:16 He said: "Am I going to have to be a Seventh-day Adventist? " 28:19 And I said: "Max, let me ask you something. " 28:22 I said: "Have you given your heart to the Lord? " 28:25 "Oh, " he said, "yes. " 28:26 Said: "I've given my heart to Christ. " 28:29 I said: "Well that's good. " 28:31 I said: "You want to be baptized by immersion? " 28:35 He said: "Yeah, that's what I believe. " 28:38 I said: "Max, how do you feel about the Sabbath? " 28:42 "Oh, " he said, "I'm clear on the Sabbath. " 28:45 He said: "I understand what it says. " 28:47 He said: "I don't have any trouble with that... 28:48 going to church on the Sabbath. " 28:50 I said: "You don't have any problem with this 28:52 working on the Sabbath? " 28:53 And he said: "No, " he said, "I don't have any problem 28:54 that way. " I said: "That's fine, Max. " 28:57 I said: "Do you understand, Max, that when a person 29:02 dies the scripture doesn't teach that he goes to heaven 29:06 or he goes to hell? Do you understand that when he 29:08 dies the Bible says that person is asleep 29:11 and will be that way until Jesus comes? " 29:14 "Oh, " he said, "yes, I understand that. " 29:15 I said: "Do you understand the Bible teaches 29:19 that your body is God's temple? 29:22 And that you and I are to care for it very carefully 29:26 and we aren't to put things in it that hurt it 29:28 or defile it? We aren't to use tobacco or alcohol 29:32 or even what the scripture classifies as unclean meat? " 29:35 He said: "Oh, yes, I understand that. " 29:37 He said: "In fact, my wife and I cleaned the refrigerator 29:40 last week. " He said: "Don't have anything there 29:43 that's contrary to scripture. " 29:45 And I said: "Well that's great, Max. " 29:46 I said: "Do you understand that Jesus is coming back? 29:52 That the Bible teaches that it will be a coming 29:55 that you and I will be able to see and to hear 29:57 the great event? " He said: "Oh, yes, 30:00 I understand that. " And I said: 30:02 "Do you understand that when the wicked die 30:05 they aren't going to burn in the fires of hell for eternity? 30:10 The Bible doesn't teach that. " 30:12 He said: "Best news I ever heard. " 30:14 He said: "I don't have any problem with that at all. " 30:17 I said: "Well Max, if you're clear on all those things, 30:20 you're clear enough to be baptized. " 30:22 And he said: "Yeah, and I'm a Seventh-day Adventist too, 30:25 aren't I? " Now you see, folks, 30:29 I'm a Seventh-day Adventist. 30:33 But I am not a Seventh-day Adventist because 30:37 there's a Seventh-day Adventist church. 30:39 I'm a Seventh-day Adventist 30:42 because that's what this book teaches. 30:45 And I will always be that 30:47 because that's what the book teaches. 30:50 And that's what God expects you and I to do 30:53 is to follow the book... what it says. 30:56 That's how I know what the church is. 31:00 That's why the scripture says here: 31:15 The church is the apple of God's eye. 31:19 She's precious to Him, 31:21 and He cares for her in a very, very definite way. 31:25 And you and I are to be part of His church. 31:29 "My church, " He says. 31:30 He talks about it even as His bride. 31:41 The church is very special. 31:43 In fact, it even uses this comparison: 31:53 So this is the church. Now, the truth, folks. 31:57 There have been people that followed the Lord 32:00 and walked with the Lord of every nation, every tribe, 32:05 every race all the way down through time. 32:10 And on that great and glorious day 32:14 when the resurrection takes place 32:16 and all of God's children are gathered together 32:19 that have followed the Lord down through time 32:22 it pictures them there in the New Jerusalem 32:25 and it pictures that city as the bride 32:29 because it's gathering all of God's children into that city. 32:34 Understand that. 32:36 But when you pick up the Bible and you read in Acts 32:41 and other places about the church, 32:43 it's talking about a local church in a particular town 32:47 and city. It is not talking about the great 32:52 ethereal body of Christ. 32:54 And I want you to look at some texts with me 32:57 that makes that very, very clear. 33:05 That doesn't say one church; that says the churches. 33:09 These were different churches in different towns and cities 33:13 across Asia Minor, and it says they increased in number. 33:16 This was the churches. 33:19 These were God's churches. 33:20 That's a church in a particular location. 33:31 She was a member in a particular local church. 33:35 What I'm trying to get across to you is that you and I 33:38 are to belong to a church in a particular location. 33:44 This does not teach us that we have the right to belong 33:48 to some great ethereal body of Christ 33:50 where we have no responsibility. 33:53 Doesn't teach that. 34:05 A church is not a building. 34:12 OK? 34:14 A church is not a building. 34:17 A church is a group of people 34:21 that believe what the book teaches. 34:24 That's a church. 34:25 And I don't care whether they're meeting in a barn 34:29 or whether they're meeting in a house. Wherever that 34:32 group is meeting, that is God's church. 34:36 Aquila and Priscilla had these people meeting in their home. 34:40 That was God's church in that particular place. 34:45 You and I as individuals are to be part of that church. 34:51 Paul and Silas, it says: 34:56 That's all the people. 35:12 They preached there; they made many disciples. 35:31 They went back to these cities where they had preached 35:35 the message - the gospel - and these people had 35:37 accepted Christ, they had become disciples, 35:40 and they became a church. 35:42 And they went back and strengthened them. 35:44 That's what it's talking about. 35:59 They went back to those cities. 36:01 They helped organize those churches. 36:04 They elected elders in the church. 36:06 Folks, this is organization. 36:09 I run onto people who want to say 36:11 "Oh, I don't want to belong to an organization. " 36:14 I'm sorry... the scripture doesn't teach that. 36:17 It teaches that there is to be organization. 36:21 And they ordained elders and they set up each church 36:24 and they ministered to the people there. 36:27 That's what God says we're to do. 36:43 Added to the church daily 36:47 those who were being saved. 36:50 Very, very important. 36:52 When I give my heart to Jesus Christ 36:55 and I accept Him as my Savior, 36:58 then dear friend my responsibility is to be part 37:03 of His church... 37:06 have responsibility in it. 37:17 This is a great, great text, folks. 37:20 the next few that I read. 37:22 And it tells you and I exactly what we are supposed to do. 37:27 I mean, clear as can be. 37:30 So here it says that they preached the Word of God 37:34 and it says that the Word of God which you heard from us, listen: 37:43 They preached to them the Word of God. 37:46 And as they read the Word of God, they accepted it 37:50 not as the word of men 37:53 but as it is truth. 37:57 See, they opened up the scripture. They read it. 38:00 They understood what it said, and they accepted the truth. 38:03 of God's Word. 38:11 Now let's see what happens. 38:22 You can change that word imitators to members 38:26 or disciples. 38:28 "You brethren became members of the churches of God 38:32 which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. " 38:34 That's what it's saying. 38:36 In other words, they got into the Word of God. 38:40 They studied it. They listened to the preaching of Paul 38:43 and Silas and they checked it with the Word of God. 38:47 They found it to be truth. 38:49 And when they found it to be truth, 38:50 they became members of the churches of God. 38:54 That's what it's saying. 38:56 And that's what you and I as individuals are to do. 39:00 That's what God calls us to do. 39:03 Now this idea that the church is to be - 39:07 how should I say this? - 39:09 I run onto this idea where they want to take and... 39:13 they want to just take the 39:15 church over here and just be 39:16 one little church over here 39:18 by itself. Have no connection 39:20 with anybody. No, the scripture 39:23 doesn't teach that. 39:25 Not what the scripture says. 39:38 Now here all the churches - not one church... 39:42 all the churches got together 39:45 and they're sending this brother 39:47 with Paul and with Silas. 39:50 They're sending... Watch as it goes on: 40:02 Now they said well Paul and Silas need help. 40:05 Let's send this brother with them. 40:09 OK? They were taking a gift. 40:12 They're taking a gift... and by the way, back then 40:15 a gift, folks, were not something you can carry 40:18 in your pocket. They send produce and stuff with them. 40:23 So this is... takes a lot of help. 40:26 All right. And it says: 40:38 And they said: "We're sending this brother with us 40:40 to help us. He was chosen by the churches. " 40:43 So what I'm trying to say 40:47 is this is organization... this is churches cooperating. 40:52 Church has no right to go over here just by itself 40:55 and say "I'm not going to associate with anybody else... 40:57 not have anything to do with anybody else. " 40:59 No! We're to work together. 41:02 That's what God chose the churches to do 41:05 is to work together. 41:06 So God has a church. 41:25 So God has given us commission, 41:27 and the churches' responsibility is to take the gospel 41:31 to the world. 41:33 We're to share it, and dear friends... 41:35 we're to cooperate in that. 41:37 It's not something that one person should do 41:39 but the church has the responsibility 41:42 of taking the gospel to the whole world. 41:45 That's what God called it to do. 41:50 There's was church - a very, very wealthy church. 41:56 Really it didn't do anything... didn't do anything for anybody. 42:02 It spent all of its money on itself. 42:04 And it was a very, very beautiful church. 42:08 A gorgeous church and all. 42:11 But they really had more money than they knew what to do with. 42:15 And so one of the committees got together and they decided 42:20 that they ought to have a picture painted 42:25 that they could hang up in the hall of the church. 42:28 And they wanted a picture painted of a dying church. 42:32 And they said: "We can hang it up there in the hall 42:35 and that way when the members look at it 42:37 they'll know that our church should never get that way. 42:41 It'll be a reminder to them to never let our church 42:44 get like that church. " 42:45 And so they hired an artist. 42:49 They told him what they wanted 42:51 and commissioned him to paint the painting. 42:55 He painted the painting and called them up 42:58 and told them on a certain day they could see the painting. 43:02 And so they had a great big service. 43:05 Going to have the unveiling of this painting 43:08 this artist had done of a dying church. 43:10 They all got together, and the time the artist 43:15 unveiled this picture of a dying church. 43:19 Beautiful church. Gorgeous. 43:23 They looked at it, and I mean everything was in place. 43:29 There wasn't any signs of windows being broken 43:34 and the doors hanging sideways on the hinges... 43:36 which is what they expected. That wasn't anywhere, 43:40 and they couldn't see where the church was dying. 43:44 And as they got close and they looked very, very carefully 43:49 over in the corner was an offering box. 43:54 And on the offering box it said missions. 44:00 A spider had come... woven its web 44:04 over where they dropped their offering. 44:07 That's all it takes for a church to die. 44:10 When the church no longer has a vision 44:14 of taking the gospel to the world, 44:16 then, dear friends, that church is dying. 44:21 I will never forget when I was at the seminary 44:27 professor told us to go downtown Washington, D.C. 44:31 and to visit five churches. 44:34 And then to pick one of those churches that we visited 44:38 and write him a paper on that church. 44:41 He said: "I want you to tell me when the church started. 44:44 I want you to tell me where... the different buildings 44:47 its been in over the years. 44:49 I want you to tell me about its mission work. 44:52 What influence it's had. " He said: "I want you to write me 44:54 a paper on this church. " 44:56 Well I went to these 5 churches. 44:59 And I picked one church, folks. A beautiful church. 45:03 I mean this is a church when you walked in 45:06 the stained-glass windows and the inside of the church 45:10 just gave you a feeling of - you know - really being 45:14 in a church. And when I went to the service 45:18 I mean the organist... music was just fabulous. 45:23 This was a church that when you went to the church 45:27 you were met at the door by a deacon. 45:30 And that deacon ushered you down the aisle and seated you. 45:36 Handed you a bulletin. I mean, it was just... 45:40 everything was just top-notch. 45:42 The choir was absolutely fantastic, 45:46 and the minister preached great sermons. 45:49 And I wrote my paper on this, 45:52 but when I got through with the paper 45:55 I just didn't feel quite happy with it. 45:58 And I went back down and went to the church. 46:01 And after it was over I stepped to the side and stood there 46:05 in the foyer. And one of the deacons came up to me and said: 46:08 "Can I help you? " And I said: "Yes. " 46:10 And I told him I was a seminary student... 46:12 what I was doing and all. 46:14 And I said: "I've just got one question. " 46:15 I said: "I've written this paper about your church. 46:19 But, " I said, "I don't have much information about the 46:22 last ten years. " 46:24 I said: "Tell me, how many people have been brought to 46:27 Christ by this church in the last ten years? " 46:31 And I'll never forget... He hung his head and he said: 46:34 "Not one. " 46:36 "Not one. " 46:39 See you can have the prettiest church in the world 46:42 and a fantastic choir, but if it's lost its mission 46:46 it doesn't have a reason to exist. 46:48 Listen: "And He... " that's referring to Jesus Christ 47:02 So it tells us clearly in God's Word 47:04 that Jesus is the head of the church. 47:07 Now it says the church is the body... 47:18 So Christ is the head, the church is the body. 47:21 And it has many members. 47:29 All right. 48:01 So it says that the church is the body. 48:04 It says we are members of the body. 48:07 Bothers me the way I see members treating one another. 48:11 You see, if I... I get a toothache 48:15 and my tooth is hurting me. 48:19 And I get up at 2 o'clock in the morning 48:22 and I go into the bathroom and see if I can find something to 48:24 deaden the pain, 48:26 and when I get in the bathroom 48:28 my hands won't move. 48:31 They just won't move. 48:32 And I'm standing there trying to 48:34 do something for my tooth 48:36 and my hands say: "Good enough for you. 48:40 Shouldn't have eaten so much sugar. 48:43 Next time you'll know better than to eat all those sweets. " 48:46 Is that the way my hands treat my tooth? 48:49 No, my hand sympathizes with my tooth. 48:52 You know, we have a song we sing 48:55 You may notice that we say brother and sister around here? 48:59 It's because we are a family 49:02 and these folks are so dear. 49:04 If one has a heartache, 49:06 we all shed the tear. 49:09 And rejoice in each victory 49:12 in this family so dear. 49:14 This is what the church is to be. 49:16 To be a place where we fellowship together. 49:32 You and I are to be members. 49:34 Some are the hands, some are the feet. 49:36 Some are the eyes, some are the ears. 49:38 But we all have a responsibility in God's church. 49:42 All of us do. 49:44 Now we're down to the end. 49:49 The woman being the church. 49:55 That's the last part... 50:02 So it says the devil is going to be angry at the church 50:06 right down at the end of time. 50:10 "Which keep the commandments of God and have the 50:13 testimony of Jesus Christ. " In other words, 50:14 what it's saying, folks, is His church 50:18 follows the Word of God. 50:22 They walk in accordance with God's Word, 50:25 and because of that the devil is angry at them. 50:31 Very much so. 50:33 That it says will be the condition at the end of time. 50:37 And I'll assure you, the devil will do everything to keep you 50:40 from following God's Word. 50:43 Just outside of London, England, 50:46 there is this church. 50:49 This church was built by a young man named Robert Shirley. 50:55 Robert Shirley built this church 51:00 and all the people in the community came 51:03 and worshiped there. 51:06 But the king of England decided there should be only one church. 51:11 And he sent out orders 51:14 that all the other churches 51:16 other than the state church 51:18 were to be shut up. 51:19 Closed. 51:21 And they came to Robert Shirley's church here 51:24 and they dismissed all the members. 51:27 They boarded up the doors 51:30 and they forbade them to worship there. 51:33 Robert Shirley took that for a number of years. 51:39 But in his heart, he just... it bothered him. 51:45 It just seemed to be something that was constantly there 51:48 nagging at him. And finally he could take it no longer 51:52 and he went out and he opened the church up. 51:57 Repaired it. Cleaned it up, 52:01 and went out into the community and invited people to come 52:05 and to worship. 52:07 And they came and they started worshiping in the church. 52:12 The king heard about it. 52:14 Sent soldiers. 52:17 They came down and dismissed the people. 52:20 Boarded up the church and forbade the people to worship, 52:24 and they arrested Robert Shirley. 52:27 They took him and put him in the tower in London. 52:33 I've been there. 52:35 I've looked at the record of those that were in the tower 52:39 of London, and there Robert Shirley's name is. 52:42 A young man, and he was there all of his life 52:46 until he died. 52:49 That little church still stands. 52:51 And when you go there, on the front door is a plaque. 52:56 And the plaque simply says this: 52:59 In the year of 1651 AD 53:02 when everything throughout the land was either demolished 53:07 or profaned, I - Sir Robert Shirley - 53:13 do dedicate this church to God 53:16 whose singular praise it is to have done the best thing 53:21 in the worst times. 53:23 May God grant to you and I 53:26 that we could stand and say "I did the best thing 53:32 even in the worst times. " 53:35 Let us pray. 53:37 Heavenly Father, 53:39 we thank you for Your Word. 53:43 That by it we can know truth 53:46 and we can stand on Your Word 53:50 and know that it will guide and lead us and direct us 53:55 and be a light unto our path. 53:58 May each one of us walk with You, Lord. 54:02 May we follow in Your Word as You direct us and lead us. 54:06 May our lives be surrendered 54:10 as we walk in Your church. 54:13 We pray in Christ's name, Amen. 54:17 Remember our next presentation: 54:20 The Front Door of the Church. 54:23 Hope it will be a blessing to you. 54:25 Good night. God bless each one of you. 54:30 There's a popular movie that depicts the complete 54:34 annihilation of the world through earthquakes, 54:37 fires, tsunamis, and floods 54:39 in the year 2012 AD. 54:42 Jesus warns us against setting dates in Matthew 24:36. 54:47 "But of that day and hour, no one knows... 54:50 not even the angels of heaven 54:52 but My Father only. " 54:54 While this film may be entertaining, 54:56 it has done nothing but heighten the fear 54:59 of the people of this world. 55:01 For many years now, we have seen the signs of a world 55:04 in a state of collapse. 55:06 And even unbelievers are increasingly uncomfortable 55:10 with the way things are going. 55:12 Truly we stand on the very edge 55:15 of earth's history. And believe me, 55:17 the $250,000,000 spent on special effects for this film 55:22 don't even come close 55:24 to what is about to be unleashed upon mankind. 55:28 The Bible warns of wars, 55:30 famines, pestilence, and earthquakes 55:33 culminating in the most spectacular upheaval 55:36 this world has ever seen. 55:38 Just listen to this description 55:40 found in Revelation the sixth chapter. 55:43 "And behold, there was a great earthquake 55:45 and the sun became black as the sackcloth of hair 55:49 and the moon became like blood. 55:52 And the stars of the heaven fell to the earth 55:54 as a fig tree drops its late figs 55:57 when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 56:00 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up 56:03 and every mountain and island were moved out of its place. " 56:07 Friends, this will not be a Hollywood movie. 56:12 These events will surely take place, 56:14 and we must warn the world as quickly as possible. 56:18 You see, there will be no secret rapture. 56:22 Every human being alive at the time will be affected 56:27 whether they are wicked or righteous. 56:29 But while the fear that has gripped the hearts of the wicked 56:32 will cause them to beg for rocks to fall on them, 56:35 those who are righteous will welcome these events 56:39 as signs of Christ's coming. 56:41 They will say: "Behold! This is our God. 56:44 We have waited for Him, and He will save us. " 56:48 Listen to these glorious words 56:50 from I Thessalonians 4: 56:52 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout 56:55 with the voice of the archangel 56:58 and with the trumpet of God, 57:00 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 57:03 Then we who are alive and remain 57:05 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 57:08 to meet the Lord in the air. 57:10 And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 57:13 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. " 57:16 Oh friends, our burden is to share this good news. 57:20 To bring comfort to those who are living in fear. 57:23 That's why we continue to preach the gospel of salvation 57:27 through Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen. 57:30 To see a soul come to Jesus and be saved is worth any cost 57:35 and all efforts. That's why this ministry exists. 57:39 Won't you help us? 57:40 Please consider what you can do 57:42 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:45 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:47 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 58:01 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 58:03 through television and radio. 58:05 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 58:07 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17