The Church in The Last Days Part II

Exodus 19:4–6 ESV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Mentioned Israel and Church have parallels.

Israel chosen out of nations

Church people set apart

Israel holy nation and priest

Church holy nation; royal priesthood

Israel task was to the nations to tell; if one wanted to be a part of Israel they had to deny their old self to put on the new self

3. In an era where 20% of the church does the work and is in desperate need of rest and the other 80% sees themselves as a spectator it is important to define the functions of the church.

to be certain… Jesus proves His divinity as His functions; savior, messiah, healer, warrior… are on full display and tell of the Father.

The church all who are called and set apart to legally and regularly gather to worship Him are brought to do the same that is put on full display the things that tell of the Father

The church’s role is to reveal God’s purpose to the world as they reveal God to the world.

Bearing Witness Through Space and Time

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The great commission is written to all believers disciples of Christ… to go and make more disciples

not believers; saved ones; followers; congregants… DISCIPLES

Teach all that He commands

He speaks only what the Father says

Does only what the Fathers does

In every way puts on Display not just what God does but who God is…

Mark 16:16 goes on to state these who function in His power will

cast out demons; speak in new tongues; will not be hurt by serpents or poison; will lay their hands on the sick and the sick will recover

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

the birth of the church when the Holy Spirit is poured out on the church

Power and authority to do the things Jesus promised

In all places until finality of the earth… (this is going to impact theology…)

not just in the physical space but until the end of that physical space or its finality (more to follow)

To the Whole of Creation

Ephesians 3:10–12 ESV

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

multifacted God; multifcated approach;

Israel to the nations —> Church to the nations and the heavenly host

Done through Christ Jesus who gives the church a multi-facted gift

Given for the benefit of the church

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Not all will be one thing

We need one another

Whatever your gift and the degree of your gift it is not just for you to have but to give to others

some just want to be known as prophet for the fame

want more prophetic gifting apply it to the church

1 cor 12:11 Spirit apportions according to His will not yours

Christ’s Gifts to Accomplish His Will

Eph 4:7-11 tell of the multifacted gifts He gives to the church for the church not the selfish gain

Apostle

Prophet

Evangelist

Shepherd

Teacher

Ephesians 4:12–14 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Equip the saints (you)

not for selfishness

work of ministry

Building up the body of Christ

unity of faith (unity in essentials)

Knowledge of the Son (no fail mission)

mature humanity

Prevent the hemorrhaging of “believers” and making disciples

There is much more to say about the functions of the church but today it is important for all of us to understand the assignment is not for one person it is for all the disciples (those called the holy ones of the Lord)

The gifts we receive are not for selfish gain they belong to the Lord and are for the Lord

The body grows when we are functioning in the work set before us Eph 4:15-16 tells us just how essential we are to one another and how we are to advance