Ruben D. Martinez

The Primary Purpose

Today I want to spend some time in Matthew 28 talking about the mission that Jesus left us with when He was finishing up His ministry with the disciples on earth. The mission is something that many church’s read and many Christians know. But do we really understand the mission and what Jesus was calling us to do? The struggle is in our hearing God’s call to us. As we read and study today, I am hopeful you will realize the plan that God has had since before the beginning of time and for each and everyone of you. God desires to be with you every step of the way.

Turn with me to Matthew 28:16-20

[Matthew 28:16-20 NLT] 16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him--but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

I think if we were to go around and talk to church’s and the saints of Jesus Christ you would find varying opinions on what our primary purpose is. I think in some regard you would find many who think that the primary purpose of the saints is Fellowship. Church’s with a solid foundation on programs and events. Youth services the services of the needy. This builds solid relationships with other believers and brings crowds to hear the good preaching and to have good music to worship God. They might even bring to light John 13:35 as the scripture reference to follow in this plan:

[John 13:35 NLT] 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

You are God’s disciples by showing love for each other and this love for each other is built by the fellowship we have with and for each other through the church.

Still some might say that the primary purpose of the body of Christ is to Praise of God. We are called to be a praising community of believers in reverence of God. God loves to hear our praise.

[Revelation 4:10-11 NLT] 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased."

And again, in Ephesians we can read about praise to God:

[Ephesians 1:5-6 NLT] 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

All of these are good purposes to walk by and are important to the body of Christ. But they are not the primary reason we are here.

Think about it. If our primary purpose was to have Fellowship…. God would have already taken us all to heaven. Where else can we have the ultimate fellowship with each other and with God?

If our primary reason was to have Praise of God… again God would have already taken us into heaven as we could be with the angels I heaven singing praises to God in His presence rather than here on earth with all this chaos that goes on around us. It would be a lot easier for us to be in His presence and praising Him uninterrupted by the world around us.

So again, all these are good… but they are not the primary purpose we were called to the mission. We are here for a purpose that is to bring the message of redemption to the world. To teach the people of the world that there is hope, there is a place of love, and we are the light in this dark world. That is why we are here and why God has not called us home.

Today just as in the fall of man when Adam made the choice to be disobedient to God’s will and ate the fruit that brought sin into our blood stream, man has been hiding from God. This is how Adam reacted to the knowledge of good and evil and the way that we react today.

Look at Genesis 3:8

[Genesis 3:8 NLT] 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

We did not know fear until that day. Adam and Eve hid from God, and we are still hiding today.

Now I want to make sure you get these next points I am going to try and make. I am hopeful that God will use me to make this as clear as it can be made. Since that day that that sin was brought into our bodies by the dis obedience of Adam; God has been on a relentless pursuit of man to reunite with the plan of salvation. When the fall occurred, God called out to Adam… and has been calling to us ever since. Read with me in Genesis 3 again.

[Genesis 3:9 NLT] 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

Where are you? Just as Adam the biggest problem with the body of Christ today is, we are all still hiding. And God is calling to us… Where are you?

In the Garden of Eden was God’s first call for Adam and Eve who were hiding, and His last call can be read in Revelations.

Turn with me to Revelation 22:17

[Revelation 22:17 KJV] 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Now more than ever it is needed to know the plan that God has for us as the saints. We are the light of the world. He is calling to all the saints today to share that light:

[Colossians 1:12 NLT] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

This has been God’s plan ever since the beginning that man would be free from sin… His offer is the plan of salvation. Make no mistake that we have a purpose and a plan for all mankind to hear of God’s plan of redemption from our sins through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Then why did God choose Israel? Weren’t they the chosen people of God? Yes, they were but there can be confusion in the reason that God chose Israel and think the call from God was only for Israel. But It was never God’s intention to isolate redemption to Israel. Listen to the words that God gave Abraham in Genesis 12:3

[Genesis 12:3 NLT] 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."

God said to Abraham very clearly that ALL the families of the earth will be blessed through you. Not just the nation of Israel. This is lost many times in how the word of God is taught. We can also see this message resonated to the nation of Israel that was called to be the light of the world to show the world the plan and hope and love of God. Look at 1 Chronicles 16: 23-24

[1 Chronicles 16:23-24 NLT] 23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

And again, in Psalm 18:49

[Psalm 18:49 NLT] 49 For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

That is why we are still here today. Israel failed in their mission that was given to them. They missed to plan that God was clear to them about. That His love and hope and peace are for all mankind. God’s desire is that no man would ever miss the opportunity for His love and just as in the Garden of Eden he is calling to each of us: Where are you?

[2 Peter 3:9 NLT] 9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

The Lord isn’t being slow… we are! He is being patient because He wants every opportunity for man to hear his calling. Jesus came because He needed to show man how to walk according to God’s plan. He taught the disciples, and became the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind that the curtain would be torn and we would be filled with the Holy Spirit to be empowered when you hear His call. The Holy Spirit is filing all the saints to fulfill the mission.

The great mission of the church is to love, learn and live as Christ taught us. Jesus was here and spent His time with the sinners the tax collectors and the sick that needed healing. He wanted to find the lost souls and bring them to the foot of the cross.

[Luke 19:10 NLT] 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

Jesus was clear on His plan for us:

[John 20:21-22 NLT] 21 Again he said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." 22 Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

There are five essential elements that Jesus gave all the saints to fulfill the mission we have been given. Availability, Worship, Submission, Obedience, and Power.

Next week we will talk about each of these. But today the call has been given to the church. There are so many untapped resources in the church and the saints because just as Adam and Eve… we are hiding. We are fearful. The call is there from God…. Where are you?

Let’s pray…