Building For the Day 2 | Grace > Spirit > Prayer

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Open your bibles to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (ESV)

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This is God’s word.

Intro & Recap

2 weeks ago we started into this section of 1 Corinthians 3 looking at how we are admonished to order our collective life in such a way, that

at the Day of the Lord,

when our work as disciples is tested,

when our teaching and our practice is tested,

we pass through fire

because our work was done with imperishable materials, gold, silver, and precious stones

AND NOT perishable materials, wood, hay, and straw.

Because the day of the Lord is coming to test, Paul urges them and us to “take care” how we build.

Meaning, after we have received the message of Christ crucified; the message of:

God creating all things for his glory and good pleasure

Man and the serpent rebelling against that good pleasure

God making promises to Eve, Noah, Abraham, David, and the Prophets

That a King would come from the Jewish people

to crush the serpent, banish wickedness and restore all things.

And that this king would offer mercy before the Day he comes to do this

by dying for the sins of the world.

Christ; King. Crucified; die for our sins.

After you’ve received this message, after this foundation has been laid, now take care how you build upon it, for the Day will test it.

Clear?

So last week, what I tried to get across was that one tool, one mechanism for solid, fire retardant, building is an intentional, biblical, theology and practice of church membership; ordering our life here around

real,

clear,

Serious,

Joyful

biblical

Church membership.

Ordering our life here to take seriously what the bible teaches in that regard and so introduced for prayer and consideration a church covenant.

I think a biblically ordered and biblically structured church is a vital building block for being found in Christ on that Day.

Next Foundation: Worship, Discipleship, Evangelism

So if we have

Christ crucified as our foundation,

and we then organize ourselves on top of that,

committing ourselves to that gospel and each other,

then next foundation is our function, what we do.

And in light of the Day of the Lord, the Day of the testing, the church that will prove itself as a wise builder will be the church that gave itself to

3 primary functions:

Worship

Discipleship

And evangelism

First, WORSHIP

The church that comes out refined on that day gave itself to the worship of God.

Like these gatherings here, gathered around God’s word, and songs, and prayers where we do Romans 5:1-2 and

Romans 5:1–2 (ESV)

...and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

AND

The worship of offering up our lives in our homes and relationships and work life. You go to work as an act of worship.

Second, DISCIPLESHIP

The church that stands the test, that shows itself to be built on solid material, gives itself to discipleship, gives itself to Ephesians 4:13 and reaches:

Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ok, so gives itself to knowing and loving and following Jesus and

And does

Titus 2:12–13 (ESV)

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

The church that worships and matures in it’s discipleship comes out as gold.

And third, EVANGELISM

The enduring church gives itself to Acts 4:33, and testifies to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and does Romans 1:5 and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call for the obedience of faith to all the nations.

Acts 4:33 (ESV)

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Romans 1:5 (ESV)

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

We Need Grace For Worship, Discipleship, and Evangelism

3 things.

Nothing I said there is new.

Even 2 weeks ago with the presentation of a covenant.

Church covenants have been around since Mt. Sinai and really clearly in Nehemiah chapter 9.

So none of this is new.

None of it is profound.

None of it especially difficult in that none of it takes massive amounts of money or skill.

These 4 things, meaningful membership and worship, discipleship, and evangelism, could be found on 99% of church websites.

Any church that reads the bible is going to come away wanting to build their lives on these three things.

So here’s the rub.

If these things are so simple and obvious, why does it feel like we’re not sometimes not doing it?

Why does it feel sometimes

like my individual worship and our corporate worship, is sometimes lacking, and feels like it might be shown as wood and straw on the day?

Why does it feel like

my individual discipleship and our corporate discipleship is not quite what it should be? “God, how am I still this fleshy and immature?” is a pretty regular prayer of mine and I worry what foundation it’s being built on.

Why does it feel like

our evangelism is just not there all the time? Why is it a rarity, instead of the norm, that we share the gospel with someone and our work in this regard might be burned up?

Here’s why: Those these things are simple not not new, the fact of the matter is:

We need grace for these things.

Because of our utter depravity,

because of our condition,

because of this body of death,

we cannot walk these things out in faithfulness in our own strength.

We just can’t.

We need the grace and the Spirit of God!

We need the gift of the Spirit working among us to worship God as we ought to in light of the day of the Lord!

We need the gift of the Spirit working among to walk as disciples in light of the day of the Lord!

We need the gift of the Spirit working among us to share the good news with others in light of the day of the Lord!

This is where the disconnect comes from. This is why we know what to build on, but still struggle with.

And you know how I know this?

Because this is how the apostles pray! This is what they pray for.

They pray for the church to have

the grace and spirit of God,

to walk out their worship,

discipleship,

and evangelism,

in such a way that it’s not burned up, but comes though the fire on a lasting foundation at the day of the Lord.

Apostolic Prayers

Look at how Romans is book-ended. Opening:

Romans 1:7 (ESV)

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And the closing...

Romans 16:20 (ESV)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Why does Paul open and close with grace?

Cause it’s necessary for them to walk out the things between chapter 1 and chapter 16. None of that stuff gets done in the strength of man, but only by the grace of God.

What about John the Revelator?

Opening...

(NIV Revelation 1:4-5)

Revelation 1:4–5 (ESV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come...

And then the closing…

Revelation 22:20–21 (ESV)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Do you think the church is enduring the events of Revelation in their own power?

No way!

To be faithful to God in the midst of tribulation,

to walk in righteousness in those days

requires a great outpouring of grace and the Spirit on the people.

The apostles know this because this taught it to them for 40 days.

To show this, we’re gonna blast through the apostolic prayers now and I want you to see how all of them are aimed at

the church walking out worship, discipleship, and evangelism,

and how all of them are crying out for the grace and Spirit of God to do so

So that they are shown to be gold, silver, and precious metals, and not wood, hay, and straw.

Let’s just work through these.

(NIV 2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 (ESV)

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.

So the apostles’ mission, to lay a foundation of Christ crucified and then build worshiping, discipling, evangelizing, communities on that foundation, brought pressure beyond their ability to endure. In their own strength they couldn’t do it.

Why was it like this?

But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf (for what?) for the gracious favor (Gk. charisma, in English: grace) granted us (how does grace come to the church?) in answer to the prayers of many.

Do you see? Grace is necessary to walk this out. And prayer is necessary to access this grace. Should the day come, these guys will be shown as gold.

(ESV Ephesians 1:16-20)

Ephesians 1:16–20 (ESV)

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,

what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (there’s the prayer) 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you (may grace you with, what?) a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand…

How does a church worship rightly, become mature, and boldly proclaim?

Through the grace of the Spirit that gives us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him! The Spirit that fixes our gaze on our inheritance to come!

Do you see?

When you’ve got those things, the Spirit of God and a solid anchor of hope:

you worship in light of it.

And you follow Jesus in light of it.

And you evangelize in light of it.

(NIV Philippians 1:9-11)

Philippians 1:9–11 (ESV)

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound (worship) more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best (discern if we’re building on a solid foundation or a perishable one) and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness (discipleship)that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God

Worship and discipleship take grace, and grace is accessed by prayer. And when it’s given, we’re able to discern our building material.

(ESV Colossians 1:9-12)

Colossians 1:9–12 (ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (worship) ,10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (discipleship)11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (discipleship) 12 giving thanks to the Father (worship) , who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (be shown as gold, silver, and precious stone)

(Ephesians 3:14-19)

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power (give you grace for strength, what’s the mechanism for that? ) through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love (worship) , 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (discipleship)

(NIV Romans 15:5-13)

Romans 15:5–13 (ESV)

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you a spirit of unity among yourselves, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

May the God who gives (grace) endurance (endurance for what? Sojourning faithfully unto the Kingdom and the Day) and encouragement give you (grace you with; what?) a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (discipleship) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (worship) … 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope (hope for what? The kingdom and the resurrection and being found as pure gold on that day. How’s that happen?) by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(NIV 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13)

1 Thessalonians 3:10–13 (ESV)

as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

... may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith...12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts (for what? What do our hearts need the strength of God for?) so that you will be blameless and holy (so that you’re found as gold, silver, and precious metal!) in the presence of our God and Father when (when?! When will our foundation be tested? When will we find out if we’ve taken care how we’ve built?) when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Do you see the aim of Paul’s prayers?!

He knows the church needs grace, so he prays!

He knows they need to take care how they build on the foundation he’s laid so they’re found as pure gold, so he prays!

All of these prayers are prayed:

with the Day of the Lord in mind

and the church having strength to walk in worship and discipleship and evangelism.

Every single one. Like maybe there’s nothing more important.

We’ve hit the first two pretty hard, now let’s look at how they pray for for the evangelism and proclamation:

(NIV 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 (ESV)

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

With this in mind (“This” is the flaming fire of the Day of the Lord from v.6-10), we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy (count you as those who have built correctly) of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this (what’s this prayer aimed at?) so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, (that your life and your proclamation; your evangelism, glorifies the Lord. and how does this happen?) according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(NIV 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5)

2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5 (ESV)

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you (in what?) in every good deed and word. (grace of God, Spirit empowered, evangelism.

How do we know that’s what he means?

(2 Thess 3:1)

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

(NIV Colossians 4:2-4)

Colossians 4:2–4 (ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, (why? Why does Paul want them to pray? Why is it vital that the church engage in prayer on Paul’s behalf?!) that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

(NIV Ephesians 6:18-20)

Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV)

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and

also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, (why do you want prayer, Paul?) that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

If Paul requires grace and prayer in order to be an effective witness, you think we do too?!

(NIV Acts 4:24-30)

Acts 4:24–30 (ESV)

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them...

now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them…29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

We Need to Pray for Grace for Worship, Discipleship, and Evangelism

Beloved!

to take care how we build,

and to build the things God calls us to,

worship, discipleship, and prayer,

requires the grace of God,

and that grace is accessed by prayer.

So we gotta figure out how to pray...