The Gift of God

The Beginning of CBC

A young man is saved, healed and changed.

18 years of age, Father took him to a series of evangelist meeting with FF Bosworth.

On Friday evening he committed his life to the Lord and was saved and healed of his stammering tongue.

AFter a the meeting Len went home and said, “God, if I can find this in the Bible, I’m going to tell it all over the world.” He then read through the bible in only a couple of days, seeking God and trying to understand.

In January of 1939, Len was ordained into the ministry and opened the Gospel Tabernacle.

He not only held regular services, but also preached on street corners and in tent revivals.

He the Spring of 1940, He met Ven, the love of His life. They married July 2, 1940.

Called to go into the ministry.

In 1947 they felt the call to go and preaching the Gospel for Christ. Following the call, they sold their home and bought a trailer, getting ready.

As they though to move to Florida to plant a church, a call came in asking them to come North into the upper part of WI as there was a great need.

After praying, they changed their plans and headed to Conover WI, with services in St. Germain and Sayner as well.

1948 saw them in Stambaugh MI for a 1 year period of time.

1949, they moved back to Eagle River and committed to starting a church out of their home.

In early July this building became available for purchase if the funds could be raised that very week.

After praying, Len called some friends from IL.

God provided the funds.

According to the Paper, July 17s, 1949 the first official opening service of the Community Bible Church was held.

The name that was chosen reflects the vision of Len and his wife.

Community was who was welcome. Len had come to a light and to reach this community for Christ. All would be welcomed and sought to come and learn of the God who loved them.

The Bible was what he was determined to teach. It would be the foundation of all messages, and all belief. It was the inspirited, authoritative and sufficient word of God.

It was not only given to us to help us, by showing us the truth of ourselves, our hearts, and our needs.

But it taught that man is accountable to God for his actions, regardless of his thoughts or beliefs. So love constrains us to teach the whole truth of God’s Word.

So love and concern drives us to proclaim it, even if it is not accepted.

Church was who this community of believes would be.

This is a called out people of God.

1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Christ would be the Chief Cornerstone of the Church and of our belief.

We would be built through the power of God into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer Spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

So this date marks the Anniversary of the Planting of God of this body hear in Eagle River.

It marks the Call of God to an individual.

The directing of God to reach an area with His Gospel.

The provision of God to plant a people for longevity in this area.

The Start of any Church is by God, through our Love for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

We go to the lost because they are in need and our love for Christ compels us.

God gave His Son in Love for the lost, Jesus willing died in Love to save the Lost, so it makes sense that our love for God compels us to continue to reach the lost. This is where our church came from and where the heart of every Church should be.

It is also in obedience to the command of Jesus to all of us as believers.

Matthew 28:18–20 “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.” Amen.”

To the end of the Age:

This is for all time to all people, till the end of the age.

Christ’s Authority — Not just His authority over others, but over us as well.

Make Disciples. How do we do that?

Baptize them

They are to be publicly confessing their dead to self, their new life in Christ.

This can happen if needed in a very small group, but it is primarily the function of the Church. The body of Christ is to witness, to rejoice, and help these new believers as they confess Christ.

It isn’t a private hidden ceremony, but a public confession of our willing to be identified with Christ.

This might to hidden in the persecuted Church, but it isn’t hidden from the believers at the very least.

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

There is to be regular teaching, emphasizing the whole teaching of the bible. (Jesus only limits it to His teaching as at that time the Apostles hadn’t started teaching, and when they did, it would be from Him as well.)

This teaching is to be authoritative.

Observe to do all things that I have commanded…

We don’t listen to have our ears pleased, but to learn what we should be learning so that we can obey.

James 1:22 “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Only in a church do we find these things coming together.

WE have baptisms, long term teachings, with a view to obedience and a calling out in Love of those who fall into sin.

Acts 2:42 “42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Here is the new nature of a true believer showing through.

Here it isn’t commanded, but shows the heart and practice of the new believers under the Spirit of God.

Two parts:

They continued steadfastly —

There is a longevity to their actions.

This is not optional, but a part of the Christian life.

What is not optional?

Apostles Doctrine.

Here is the teaching of God’s Word in it’s fulness.

The Light and truth of God only come through the teaching of the Word. It holds first place in the reason the church meets together.

Fellowship —

Gathering together

in love and unity.

To learn of God through the Apostles doctrine, through the teaching of the bible.

Breaking of Bread — Sharing the Lord’s table...

The Past remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice

The present examining of our life in front of the Lord.

The celebration of a future with the Lord in Glory.

Prayers.

Notice that this is what the Church does. It teaches, fellowships, serves the Lord’s supper and prays together.

Believer gather to be made disciples, and to worship God.

Ephesians 4 might be one of the best explanations of the Church.

In Eph. 1-3. Paul teaches the Churches about our wonderful Salvation.

It comes from God. (past present and future.)

It is by the grace of God, through faith in Christ alone for the purpose good works and unity of the body.

God gave Paul this doctrine, that the gospel was open to the gentiles, calling him to preach...

Ephesians 3:9–10 “9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,”

Eph 4...

Ephesians 4:1 “1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,”

Ephesians 4:2–6 “2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

We are to walk together, with the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:7 “7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Ephesians 4:11–16 “11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 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.”

Notice the List of Gifts.

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.

Those that serve in the Church to declare the Word of God.

The Purpose of these Gifts is groweth.

Ephesians 4:13 “13 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;”

Ephesians 4:14 “14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,”

Ephesians 4:15–16 “15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 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.”

The Life of the Church

1 Timothy: If these previous verses showed us the beginning and pattern of the Church, 1 Timothy shows us the present life of the church.

1 Timothy 1 Paul speaks to Timothy about the present Life of the Church. This is where the church lives.

1 Timothy 1:3 “3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,”

It was to be concerned with the proclamation of truth.

Both positively teaching truth, and stopping the teaching of error.

The purpose wasn’t to be divisive, but it would divide truth from error, life from death, and the saved from the lost, but it notice what Paul says about this teaching and rebuking in truth.

1 Timothy 1:5 “5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”

It would result is love. Correct, pure, sincere love.

Paul tells Timothy to wage a good warfare. 1 Timothy 1:18 “18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,”

This shows the difficulty of standing for truth.

It is a war against the evil one, reaching out with truth to all who will hear.

Jude 23 “23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

1 Timothy 2: Paul lays out that we are to people who pray, with men know from their prayers, and women being women of good works who come to learn in the church.

1 Timothy 3.

1 Tim. 3:1-7 Paul lays out the qualifications for an elder / leader of the church.

This is God’s body, but it is the Elders job to lead them in Truth.

1 Timothy 3:5 “5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);”

1 Timothy 3:14–15 “14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

2 Timothy Paul again challenges Timothy to be faithful, “IN the Church”.

2 Timothy 2:14–15 “14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:24–26 “24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

2 Timothy 3:14–17 “14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 4:1–5 “1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

The Future of the Church

We are called here and now as the Bride of Christ.

Ephesians 5:30–32 “30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

We long for the day that the Lord returns to take us to our home that He has prepared for us where we will forever be with the Lord.

Applications:

Matthew 25:1-13 tells us of 10 Virgins. 5 are ready for the Lord’s return, 5 are not. They seek to enter in, but they are cast out.

Not everyone in the church truly knows the Lord.

Many are seeking something other than Jesus.

Fellowship, help with problem, wisdom for some part of Life, a good name, intellectual knowledge… something that is different from truly seeking God.

When the Lord returns, it will be too late to enter in. The opportunity will have passed. ASk yourself are you seeking after God.

Have you entered? Are you seeking the Lord in you Life? This church is there to help those who are truly seeking Him. Outside of this, there is very little true help that we can offer.

This Church stands as a testimony to the reality of God. He has called and enabled for 75 years.

Does the Love of Christ compel you to reach out?

God’s love for the lost and for the glory of His name lead Him to give His Son.

Jesus Love for the Father and for those who He would save lead Him to lay down His life for the sheep.

What is your love for God leading you to do? Is it a love that changes how you live? If it isn’t, it probably isn’t as deep a love as you think.

Do you rejoice in the faithfulness of God in the Church.

Ephesians 4:4–6 “4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Do you pray with Christ for oneness / unity between God and us? Does it cause you to seek God together with those who call on the Lord Jesus with a pure heart?

Ephesians 6:18 “18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

Paul would tell Timothy 2 Timothy 2:22 “22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Prayer Thank God for the Church, the fellowship and the time to rejoice together after this service. Bless the food and those who partake in Jesus name we ask Amen.