Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Sacrificial Service

Theme: Influential Church Membership

Series: Essentials for Church Growth

“…And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:7)

Display of true love

It is imperative that you remember that today’s keys text precedes chapter 12, which records some of the endowments of the Holy Spirit given gifts.

(Thru the Bible) In chapter 12 the Holy Spirit moves the Apostle Paul to write about edification for the Body of Christ through Spiritual gifts.

He used the illustration of the human body to show the necessity of the gifts working with one another in a Biblically healthy way.

Today’s key text records the display of true love, especially on how to exercise Spiritual gifts in a way that is pleasing to God, through Christ as Head of the church, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

I would propose to you that the child of God may possess any one of the Holy Spirit endowed gifts, but if he or she is not surrendered to the Holy Spirit's influence of love, he becomes useless in edifying the Body of Christ, in reaching out to lost souls, and worse yet, unable to minister to Christ.

The foundation of ministering under the anointing of the Holy Spirit is understanding how to exercise our Spiritual gifts through sacrificial love.

Christians who are going to be led of the Holy Spirit of Christ for the edifying of the Body of Christ and receive direction in the governing affairs of the church are those who have a Biblical understanding of sacrificial service.

Just how do Christians prepare to exercise their Spiritual gifts?

Just who are the ones who are going to catch Biblical revelation for making key decisions for the church of Christ?

Who should be the influential members of the Body of Christ in a local church?

No such thing as the perfect church

In bringing truth to determining who the influential church members are, there must be a Biblical understanding that in this dispensation there is no such thing as the perfect church. 1 Corinthians 11:17-19 says, “In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.”

The Apostle Paul is not advocating factions and divisions, he is simply stating that in this sinful world and because of the sinful nature there will be conflict.

Just as there were factions in the Corinthian Church there are going to be factions today.

(Dr.

Paul Hamar)

It is inevitable even among Christians there are going to be problems.

The reason God allows it is so those who are living the Holy Spirit filled life will be made evident for all to see.

Those who are living according the flesh and under the influence of the world will be exposed for who they are and those who are submitted to the Lordship of Christ will be made manifested for all to see.

(The Expositors Bible Commentary)

Holy Spirit illuminated Christians will stand out because they will be loyal to the whole counsel of God’s Word.

They exhibit a trust not in their own strength but in the Lord’s strength, and they will be seen as a people who constantly seek counsel through examination of God’s Word, prayer, and Godly leadership.

Dr Jay Vernon McGee writes, “To tell you the truth, churches throughout America [have many members who just attend church] and they [do not know Christ].”

(Thru the Bible) Matthew Henry writes, “It is not until divisions arise that those who have God’s approval, [those] who are genuine, those who passed the test, can be made known.

Divisions separate those faithful to God’s Word from the rest [who do not seek the counsel of God’s Word].”

This key truth found in 1 Corinthians 11:17-19 takes us from second grade, immature Christianity, to mature Christian truth.

As long as there are public meetings and as the numbers grow there will always be that conflict between those who live according the influence of the flesh, the world and the lies of the devil and those who seek the counsel of God’s Word.

Seek the truth about real love

Mature Christianity understands that there is going to be conflict in the church on this earth.

Influential Church Members have accepted Christ as personal Savior and Lord and they seek the truth about real love.

Our key text says, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

(1 Corinthians 13:2-3)

“Love” (agape) here in its application is the love of God involving the Lord doing what is best for man and not necessarily what man desires.

The greatest example is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world He gave...” Without Christ mankind wants to please self and does not want to be made aware of the fact that in his fallen condition he is on the road to hell and unable to have fellowship with God.

This gift of God, His one and only Son, purchased a way of forgiveness and salvation for mankind so sinners may be aware of their need of Christ in their lives.

(The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Bible)

The application given by God is not only a love toward God but also toward others, a real concern for his neighbor which is commanded by Christ.

This particular love is given to Christians by the Holy Spirit and is prompted by walking in fellowship with the Lord.

(The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Bible; Concise Greek-English Dictionary; Vincent Word Studies in the New Testament) Agape love is a selfless love of the mind, of the reason, of the will that goes so far that it will love a person even if he does not deserve to be loved.

This love actually loves a person who is utterly unworthy of being loved.

This love enables Christians to take the gospel of Christ to adulterers, murders, and child molesters.

Christ showed this love to Saul, the persecutor of the church.

As matter of fact Jesus asked Saul on the road to Damascus “Why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4) Yet the Lord sends a man of prayer, Ananias, who prays for Saul so he can get his sight back and receive the Holy Spirit.

There is a movie made by the Billy Graham association titled “The Climb.”

In this powerful evangelistic film, there is a scene were a young man goes to the home of a woman he has gotten pregnant outside of marriage.

Through life changing circumstances Derrick Williams finds himself speaking to the young woman’s father.

Derrick struggles to ask for forgiveness and has convinced himself that God cannot forgive him.

The scene is awesome.

The father does not want to share the good news, yet he overcomes his anger and bitterness, and chooses to let Christ love through him.

The father tells Derrick of the forgiveness of Christ.

Instead of being rejected, Derrick finds forgiveness promised in Christ, forgiveness from the girl’s parents and both the young woman and Derrick begin a walk with the Lord.

There are several brief truths to grasp in “agape” love.

This selfless love only comes from God and was demonstrated when Christ died on the Cross for all the world’s sins, even before sinners came to repentance.

Romans 5:6-8 says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

…But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While sinners were powerless to overcome the flesh, the lures of the world, and snares of the devil, Jesus got victory over death so man can have fellowship with God and live victoriously in Christ.

This selfless love comes as Christians live in fellowship with Christ and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:5 says, “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

It is by the power of the Holy Spirit Christians can exercise their Spiritual gifts for the purpose of presenting the gospel to those they feel unworthy of hearing it.

Once the child of God grasps the truths of agape love he is able to obey the teachings of Christ who said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'

There is no commandment greater than these."

(Mark 12:30-31)

The Greek word for love here is “agapao” meaning “to esteem”, indicating a direction of the will and finding pleasure or joy in… someone achieving their potential.”

(The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the NT) The application of our text today is; there is great joy when we see the children of God grasp their Holy Spirit given gifts, see those gifts mature and exercised in a way that is edifying to the Body of Christ as they serve Jesus Christ.

We are so thankful to the Lord who has enabled and allowed us here at CrossRoads Church to help several men accomplish what the Lord wanted them to do in ministry.

It is so exciting to watch the Lord use the different gifts in this Body of Christ to achieve His will.

Be obedient to the Word of God

Christians who are influential members in the church grasp what agape love is and they die to self in order to be obedient to the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit moved the writer of Hebrews to write, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Why is it, Christians are drawn to avoid that which is good for them?

What is so hard about gathering together for instruction in God’s Word so Christians can know and enjoy a life of obedience to the Lord?

The Book of Hebrews has Scriptures that provide the means for preventing apostasy and promoting fidelity and perseverance in the work of the Lord.

Instead of Christians becoming overcritical of each other, they learn to use their Spiritual gifts and spoken words for mutual edification.

Hebrews 10:24-25 express a truth for a people of God who desire to die to the flesh, say no to this world’s system and avoid the lies of the devil.

The Book of Luke chapter 2 presents the value of the exhortation given by the writer of Hebrews.

Luke 2 records that time in history when Jesus was presented in the temple of God.

We read about God-fearing parents walking in obedience to the Law of God.

Luke 2:21-24 says, "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, 'Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord' and to offer sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord..."

The sacrifice Christians offer today is their mind, heart, and life so they can walk in a joyful obedience to God’s Word, thus enabling them to become influential church members.

Think of this.

Just as Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to the house of worship, born again Christians have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of Christ, thus when they congregate great things happen.

Those in the congregation can enjoy all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in public worship and in Christian living.