Building the church - Taking the Limits off of God (10-02-91)

I.     Building the church - Taking the Limits off of God

Ephesians 4:11-13

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,  to a mature man,  to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

II.    Taking Inventory

A.    Anyone undertaking a building project, and the Word tells our purpose in building up the body of Christ; we must carefully examine our resources to see where we may have a need.

1.     On the positive side

a.     We have a long tradition in the Word of God.

b.     There is love for God and for His people.  One can easily see that the members of Eastgate love God and one another.

c.     I also believe that there is a genuine desire among you to reach out to others with God’s love.  Some of you have held steadfastly to your visions of areas of ministry, whether it be for the college or for youth or for your families or neighbors.

d.     We have the preschool ministry, Through Gina and her staff we have a ministry to many children and families.

e.     There is faithfulness among you.  The majority of you have remained committed to this church even as many others left.

2.     Even with these positive attributes many of us feel feel as though more can be accomplished and we can be a greater influence for Christ in this community.  Today we will examine ways that we may be limiting God.

III.   How we limit God.

A.    Sin

1.     From the beginning, sin interfered in man’s relationship to God.  First Adam and Eve, then Cain right down to the present day, sin has altered God’s desires for our lives.

B.    Unbelief

1.     Although in a broader context,  we could recognize unbelief as sin,  for our purposes, we will make the following distinctions: sin we will define as following our lusts and passions,  submitting to the carnal nature that reside in every one of us.  Unbelief we will define as not accepting everything that God desires for us.  An example of unbelief as we define it this morning would be attempting to fulfill God’s purposes in our own strength rather than relying upon Him.

a.     Example:

An employer hires a young man named Bill to make deliveries for the company.   Early on the first morning the boss gives Bill the keys to company truck along with a package to be delivered to a customer 5 miles away.  After an hour had passed the boss begins to wonder what could be taking so long for Bill to return.  He mutters something about “how hard it is to find good help these days”.  After 11:00am he calls the customer to see if Bill had delivered the package, and was told that Bill had delivered the package 10 minutes ago and then he left.  He then notices the truck parked outside.  The boss is now both puzzled and aggravated.  At 2:00pm Bill enters the front door proclaiming that the package had been delivered.  The boss barely able to control his outrage demands to know why it took so long and why Bill did not drive the truck.  Bill, responding with a look of innocence said, “I thought that I would save you money by walking the package over to the customer,  after all gas is not cheap and your truck probably only gets a few miles to the gallon; I thought you would be impressed with my effort.” 

2.     For our message, unbelief is not disagreeing with God’s objectives, but rather not giving ourselves over to His methods and plans of implementation.  We somehow believe that we can do it a better way.

C.    We must not allow our experience to limit God

1.     There are gifts for ministry spoken of in the New Testament that are not common in operation in this church.  Many of us have not directly experienced the demonstration or use of spiritual gifts.  This does not invalidate their use or importance.

2.     I Cor  12:4-11

3.     A great hinderance or limitation to God working among His people is the attitude or position that “We’ve never done it that way before.”

4.     Everything that God does or that He provide for us has a purpose.  If spiritual gifts were not of importance, they would not have been given to the church.

D.    Do not allow others to deprive us of God’s tools for ministry.

1.     We may be hesistant to seek after spiritual gifts because we have observed or heard of examples of their misuse or abuse.

2.     I believe that one of Satan’s greatest devices is bring to the surface for public display or ridicule examples of “Spirit Filled Christians” who have gone off the deep end to cause shame and embarrassment to the cause of the Gospel.

IV.   The job is bigger than we can handle.

A.    We know that it takes more than open doors to draw people into the church.  Many people today are desparate for answers.  They are confronted by confusing and contradictory claims of spiritual answers.

1.     Just as the disciples were unable to deal with the demon possesed boy,  there are people in bondage today who can only be delivered by the power of God.

2.     People are held in bondage to harmful drugs,  many have given themselves over to demonic spirits by dabling in the occult.  It will take more than a reading of the Four Spiritual Laws to deliver these people from their captivity.

3.     Spiritual authority and power are a confirmation from God.

a.     Mark 16:20

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

b.     Hebrews 2:3b-4

“...After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.  God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

B.    God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.  If we had to rely on our own abilities and strength we would find the task overwhelming,  but God delights in demonstrating His power through weak vessels.

1.     II Corinthians 12:9-10

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly, therefore I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.   Therefore I am well content with weaknesses,  with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2.     II Corinthians 4:7

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.”

V.    Difficult times are inevitable

A.    Some of you may be saying to yourselves, we are doing fine, thank you very much.  Communism is collapsing around the world.  Politicians tell us there is greater opportunity for peace.  Don’t bother me with your talk of needing God’s power in my life.

B.    II Timothy 3:1-9   “In the last days...”

C.    I want everything that God has to offer for my life now and in the days to come.  I will as John urges us “to test every spirit to see if they are indeed from God.”

VI.   Conclusion

A.    God’s power revealed through the lives of believers is one of the primary characteristics that sets Christianity apart from other religions.  Other religions offer codes for moral lifestyles, ethics and relationships.  But only God through Christ Jesus provides us power to overcome sin and death; to bring deliverance to the captives,  recovery of sight to the blind and freedom to those who are downtrodden.

1.     We need God’s power in our live’s for daily living and to fulfill the calling and commission that we have received from Christ.

2.     We cannot afford to shortchange ourselves, or others by limiting our reliance upon all that God’s offers to us.

3.     I Corinthians 12:31

“But earnestly desire the greater gifts.”