God is building His church.

1 Peter 4:12–19 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The problem facing the church is not that God is not building His church, rather the issue lies in the fact that to often in the 21st century the kingdom seldom reflects the king. We are called to be ambassadors of our heavenly home. Yet, to often believers are content to represent their own kingdom. A few weeks ago I said that Christians should not be America first but Heaven first. I want to clarify that this statement is not a political one but a spiritual one. I still stand by this comment, as children of God, we should be seeking the kingdom of God first. This is a biblical principle taught in Matthew.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

So, if the king has not lost His influence or ability to build His church, and He is actively at work on this project then we must ask, what is our role and how does He equip us for the task?

2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

I. Through persecution

v. 12-16

Proverbs 11:31 NKJV

If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

A. United in Suffering

The word you in verse 14 is a 2nd person plural form and speaks to the group rather than the individual. The suffering they would endure was universal.

B. United in Passion

They would be united for Gods’ glory. The result is that they were filled with exceeding joy, according to verse 13.

II. Through purging

v. 17

Verse 17 says that judgement must begin at the house of God. There is an Old Testament passage that may help bring insight in to this principle.

A. Judgement

The word judgment means to pass sentence for a crime or sin.

God allows time for repentance and is long suffering. However, God is as just as He is longsuffering.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

B. The house of God.

Greek word is oikos and refers to a building or gathering place, in this case it is the body (the tabernacle.)

Luke 23:31 NKJV

31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

III. Through persuasion

v.18-19

Genesis 19:15–26 NKJV

15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” 18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

A. Compassionate pleading.

God sent a messenger to plead with Lot to leave Sodom. He was only saved when he left where He was to follow God. Yet, because of his act of obedience, God sparred him.

B. Urgent demands.

God demanded that Lot move with urgency. Complacency was not an option. Lets put it this way, There was death in delay. God was patient with Lot, and Lot was remained steadfast in the face of sin and sorrow. Yet, when God said it is time to move, the demand was immediate and required an immediate response.

C. Removing that which hindered obedience.

In this case God removed Lots wife. I cant imagine the pain he felt, the sorrow that was shared by Lot and his daughters. However, God knew what was needed and He did what Lot could not. God made a way for Lot to follow in full surrender.

We never need to be Lots wife and follow God half heartedly. With our actions and heart going two different directions. God desires and deserves are obedience but also our hearts.

Mark 7:6 NKJV

6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

God can and will remove those things from our life that are hindering our maturity and progress for His kingdom.

However, this always comes at a great price. This morning, I want to ask you a question,

What are you willing to sacrifice so that God may have honor and glory in your life?

If God chooses to purge things from your life are you prepared to willingly surrender, or are you set to revolt against Him?

THROUGH ALL THINGS GOD IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH

It seems like we here of the dangers of China on a daily basis. Either the influx of immigrants crossing the southern border, the conflict with Taiwan, the mystery ballon that is crossing the U.S., and even AT&T outage this week has brought up fears of China to many. Yet, what we often do not hear is the growth of the church.

Yu Jie, a writer and dissident from China, tells the story powerfully in the August issue of First Things magazine. Yu reports that since 1949, when the communists took over and Christian missionaries were expelled, the number of Christians in China has multiplied from half a million to more than 60 million today. If current growth rates continue, “by 2030, Christians in China will exceed 200 million . . . making China the country with the largest Christian population in the world.”

The Operation World prayer guide counts not 60 million but 105 million Christians of all kinds in the country, far outstripping the 70 million or so members of the Communist Party! With some estimates being closer to 150 million. The Church in China has been unbroken by years of the communist parties persecution. “Groups of young, well-educated, active professionals have gathered in urban churches,” Yu says, “smashing the stereotype in many Chinese people’s minds of Christians as elderly, infirm, sick, or disabled. These churches … are a first step toward Christians assuming leadership in the development of a Chinese civil society independent of government control.”

What excuse do we have?

What are willing to endure that Christ may be magnified?

Are we truly trusting in God and leaning upon Him, or are we satisfied with Western influence and religious culture?

God is building His church, the question is, Will we allow Him to build in and through us?

Romans 8:37 NKJV

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.