Rick Warren wrote "The Purpose Driven Life," a book which helped its readers answer the question, "Why am I here?" His point is that we have a purpose, a reason for being, and when we understand that purpose we can arrange our life in such a way as to fulfill it. Well, our church has a purpose, too. There is a reason why God has called us here as a covenant community here in Berlin, and we are going to explore that reason over the next three weeks. In doing so we should be better equipped to arrange our ministry in such a way as to fulfill it. Come and discover our church's purpose!
In Psalm 60:3 part of God's purpose for Israel is revealed when the psalmist writes, "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." The people of Israel were chosen by God to be His people. He established a covenant with them and promised to be their God. He also called them to be a beacon to the other nations who, seeing the glory and majesty of God, would be drawn to the Lord and serve Him. There were times in Israel's history when that purpose was fulfilled, but for the most part it was not. Until, that is, the appearance of God's Son, who came as the Light of the World to draw all of those who belong to God to Him. It was through Jesus that Israel's purpose has ultimately been fulfilled, and we are the benefactors of that. Having been drawn to His light, we are grafted onto the nation of Israel and have become God's chosen people as well. In that way the nations have come to the light.
"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare." (Psalm 25:14-15)
The Lord is the one who keeps us safe so it is a good idea to keep our eyes on Him. We also look to God because it is through Him that we know His plans, confiding in those who fear (honor, respect) Him. Those plans have been revealed to us as friends of His Son, Jesus (John 15:15). It is our calling to execute that plan--to fulfill God's purposes--here on earth, but in order to do so we have to understand it. That plan, to save God's people from their sins, has been unfolding since the fall and found its completion in Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection through the Father. As we share that plan with those around us, we play our part in helping others to know and understand God's covenant so that they, too, can take part in working out God's plan as we await His Son's return.
I think we have heard more sermons on the Great Commission in the past couple of years than on any other passage or topic. Craig has preached on it two or three times alone as he has reflected on his experience in the mission field and how that has impacted his view of the world and, presumably, our own. We are going to revisit that passage briefly this week as we consider God's purpose for the church. When reviewing that purpose the Great Commission has to be included because it contains Jesus' final command to His followers before His ascension. In this passage we are given our purpose, which is to "go and make" as we "baptize and preach." If we are doing that as individuals and as a church, we are fulfilling our purpose. If we are not, we are not. In any case the answer is to know our purpose and to focus on it whole-heartedly in order to be obedient to our Savior's command. Do you know our purpose? Is it your focus each day?
The Glory of the Lord, Completing and Perfecting the Church
Ephesians 4: for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. [Edifying]
Matthew 28 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Discipling]
Psalm 25: Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day [Sanctifying]
Isaiah 60: Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. [Glorifying]
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come." (Isaiah 60:1-5)
Here again we are reminded of Israel's true purpose, one which would be fulfilled only by the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, the Light of the World. That same Light is found in we who call Him Master. That Light draws others to the Savior, leading them to His glory. As we serve Jesus in obedience, His light shines from us, glorifying God and encouraging others to glorify Him as well. That is our purpose as we live fruitful lives of service to our Risen Savior.
Rick Warren wrote "The Purpose Driven Life," a book which helped its readers answer the question, "Why am I here?" His point is that we have a purpose, a reason for being, and when we understand that purpose we can arrange our life in such a way as to fulfill it. Well, our church has a purpose, too. There is a reason why God has called us here as a covenant community here in Berlin, and we are going to explore that reason over the next three weeks. In doing so we should be better equipped to arrange our ministry in such a way as to fulfill it. Come and discover our church's purpose!
ReplyDeleteIn Psalm 60:3 part of God's purpose for Israel is revealed when the psalmist writes, "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." The people of Israel were chosen by God to be His people. He established a covenant with them and promised to be their God. He also called them to be a beacon to the other nations who, seeing the glory and majesty of God, would be drawn to the Lord and serve Him. There were times in Israel's history when that purpose was fulfilled, but for the most part it was not. Until, that is, the appearance of God's Son, who came as the Light of the World to draw all of those who belong to God to Him. It was through Jesus that Israel's purpose has ultimately been fulfilled, and we are the benefactors of that. Having been drawn to His light, we are grafted onto the nation of Israel and have become God's chosen people as well. In that way the nations have come to the light.
ReplyDelete"The Lord confides in those who fear him;
ReplyDeletehe makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare."
(Psalm 25:14-15)
The Lord is the one who keeps us safe so it is a good idea to keep our eyes on Him. We also look to God because it is through Him that we know His plans, confiding in those who fear (honor, respect) Him. Those plans have been revealed to us as friends of His Son, Jesus (John 15:15). It is our calling to execute that plan--to fulfill God's purposes--here on earth, but in order to do so we have to understand it. That plan, to save God's people from their sins, has been unfolding since the fall and found its completion in Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection through the Father. As we share that plan with those around us, we play our part in helping others to know and understand God's covenant so that they, too, can take part in working out God's plan as we await His Son's return.
I think we have heard more sermons on the Great Commission in the past couple of years than on any other passage or topic. Craig has preached on it two or three times alone as he has reflected on his experience in the mission field and how that has impacted his view of the world and, presumably, our own. We are going to revisit that passage briefly this week as we consider God's purpose for the church. When reviewing that purpose the Great Commission has to be included because it contains Jesus' final command to His followers before His ascension. In this passage we are given our purpose, which is to "go and make" as we "baptize and preach." If we are doing that as individuals and as a church, we are fulfilling our purpose. If we are not, we are not. In any case the answer is to know our purpose and to focus on it whole-heartedly in order to be obedient to our Savior's command. Do you know our purpose? Is it your focus each day?
ReplyDeleteThe Glory of the Lord, Completing and Perfecting the Church
ReplyDeleteEphesians 4: for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. [Edifying]
Matthew 28 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Discipling]
Psalm 25: Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day [Sanctifying]
Isaiah 60: Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. [Glorifying]
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
ReplyDeleteand the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come."
(Isaiah 60:1-5)
Here again we are reminded of Israel's true purpose, one which would be fulfilled only by the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, the Light of the World. That same Light is found in we who call Him Master. That Light draws others to the Savior, leading them to His glory. As we serve Jesus in obedience, His light shines from us, glorifying God and encouraging others to glorify Him as well. That is our purpose as we live fruitful lives of service to our Risen Savior.