The Church

The Church

March 29th, 2020

Good Morning and I am so glad that you were able to join us this morning for Home Church

It is our prayer that during these unique and challenging times that you are growing in Christ

As you have noticed I am sure but we are continuing to be creative during these times

I have told you by email but my Mentor through the North American Mission Board has called me to check in on me and asked how things were going

I have explained our current situation and shared with him how difficult it has been and how i can see this will be

He is such an encourager through, because right away he told me that the church is to still be the church and now we just have to be creative about how we go about being the church

So I again press into Jesus and allow the people He has placed into my life teach me

Some of you know but new things and change is not in my wheel house, also I am not the creative one, I married an artist for that

Also I want you to know church how awesome your leadership is

They have met and we have aired our frustrations and we have prayed and they have been very patient with me as I am learning what the church is in all of this

I also think like last Sunday that this message is for me as well

Understand that this is not a church to sit back and rest

This is not a time for the church to sit on excess resources and energy

This is a time for the church to rise up and shine and exhaust our resources if God is calling us to because to be honest, He is the one who gave them to us to begin with and this is the purpose He has given them to us

Please hear me that we are not going to go about things willy nilly and without seeking the Lord but church I believe that God has called the church to be the church for times such as these and even through your pastor is sometimes a hard wheel to turn we are going to be the church!

Matthew 5:14 NASB95

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

This is our purpsoe church

We are to be that light

I wrestled in High School and I loved, it is why I thought you went to High School so that you could wrestle

Our coach always talked about peaking at the right time, and the right time was Regionals and into the State Tournament

That is when you wanted to be the best because if you peaked to soon then you weren't ready for when it really matter and in wrestling it really matter at State

State is why you went to 2 days practice

State is why you ran the extra mile

State is why you ran when everyone else was eating Thanksgiving Dinner

State is why you stayed focus all year, and practiced all year even when you were sick

State was why you showed up ealry to practice and left later than others

Does that make sense to your church

Let me be very clear church

This is our state

This is why church we have preached the Word every Sunday so that you as a church would be ready for this

This is our state and we want to make sure we are peaking at the right time

We as a church are to be a light in this dark world, you know that but know you actually have tpo put it into practice and believe you me I know how difficult that can be

We are to be set apart and we are to shine bright for Jesus

John 13:35 NASB95

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Church people should see that you and I are different right now

Like we just shared now is our time to peak and now is our time to shine,

It is because what we are doing that people will know we are believers,

it wont be because of our T-shirts, or our sign outside, or even what you and I post on facebook that will show people Jesus

Do you understand what I am saying church

Talking about the church is over, now is our time to be the church

You know what will show people the love of Christ

Is showing up every Saturday as long as we can get food and handing out food to people

It will be checking in our your neighbors, or family, or friends and asking if they need anything and then going and doing it

That is being the church right now

People will know that we are different because our love for others

Esther 4:13–14 NASB95

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

Church this message comes from Esther

Some of the back story of Esther is that the King was in search for a new Queen

He had some women gathered up and they were put through different tests

Esther sought the guidance of the Kings helper and was chosen to be the new Queen

Now that she is Queen she is in a position of power and authority

Another one of the kings helpers doesn’t like the Hebrew people and gets the kings approval to kill them all

Now the Queen is put in a difficult situation

If she goes to the King uninvited she could die

But if she doesn’t then her people could die

So she talks with her cousin who explains to her

That she was put into this position for this appointed time

Church would you know that you and I were created for a time such as these

if you believe God is the God of the universe then just maybe we’ll not maybe He created you for this particular time so that you and I will be able to shine a bright light for Christ during these difficult and unchanging times

Does that make sense church that the church was uniquely created and uniquely staff for times such as these so that given the opportunity meaning right now we could peak and shine for Jesus

I believe that God has uniquely called each and everyone of you to be a member of this particular body for a purpose and right now is the time to be acting on that purpose

So what does that look like specifically for Maranatha Baptist Fellowship

I am so glad you asked

Church now is a time for you as individuals to speak about Christ

yes you should always speak about Christ

But when Peter says that you and I are to be prepared, I would bet for us that now is the time that you and I should be prepared for

We stay prepared during this time, church we take advantage of make some extra time from not being so busy to lean into Jesus

And then church as a church we look for opportunities to meet the needs of the community for the purpose of ultimately meeting the Spiritual need

This is our time to step up

This is our time to not sit on the sidelines and wait

We don’t need to be sitting a church full of resources, but rather at Jesus’s leading we utilize those resources to reach the community for Jesus

This is why we are here church

This is why you and I are here Maranatha

Matthew 5:14–16 NASB95

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Church this is a time for the church of Christ to shine bright and not for the sake of Maranatha but for the sake of Christ

You and I are to be a light

You and I are to be the church because Jesus put us here for a purpose and church now is our time

Now is our time to shine not for the purpose to make Maranatha look good

Not for the purpose of growing Maranatha

But church we are to shine so that people see us and see Jesus

Remember from our sermons earlier

If people are seeing you and I then we are not doing something right

People we interact with should be seeing Jesus

This is our opportunity to be Jesus to people right now so that people see Christ

We have an opportunity to share Hope of Christ with others

We have the opportunity to share the Peace of Christ with others right now

Church we are to shine so that we can Jesus with people

This is what we are to share with people

That Jesus loves them

That Jesus died for them

Jesus took their payment for their sin and dealt with it on cross so they didn’t have to

All they have to do is to accept that free gift given to us by Jesus Himself

And maybe thats you, maybe you are watching this and you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus

Can I be honest with you right now without Jesus scripture says you will spend eternity separated from Jesus in a place called

With Jesus you are given life and peace and strength and courage

So if that is you and you want to begin a relationship with Jesus would you repeat this pray

Sinners Pray

Dear Jesus

I am a sinner, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me, please forgive me.

I don’t want to sin anymore, I want to have you in my heart Jesus.

Jesus I am turning from my old life and turning to you!

Please come and live in my heart.

Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer the Bible says you are a new creation and you have a personal relationship with Jesus

If you prayed that prayer would you email me

My email is below

For those of you who are believers and have made a decision would email me as well

For those who are the church, now is our time to rise up and be the church

We will continue to be creative in how we do that during these unique and challenging times

Let me pray and we will be dismissed

Pray