ADVANCING THE KINGDOM(13)

It’s Time To Lean In

Joshua 23:10 “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth [for you,] as he hath promised you.”

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him for ever.

Westminister Catechism of 1647

It is man’s greatest priority to worship God and bless Him, the Psalmist says it this way Psalms 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Jesus said it like this, John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and [they that worship] him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” It is with this in mind that we shall discuss church development and the advancement of God Kingdom .

It is time to Lean In and move forward.

Leaning In To Worship

Moses says in Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:”

Moses says in Ex. 20:2 “I am the Lord thy God, which have [brought thee out] [of the land] of Egypt, [out of the house] of bondage.” Ex.20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:4 “Thou shalt not make [unto thee] any [graven image,] or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” Ex.20:5 “Thou shalt not [bow down thyself] [to them,] nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Moses quoting God gives us reason to only worship this Mighty God.

Jesus when combating the devil said these words, Matt. 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, [Get thee hence,] Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” When speaking to the Samaritan woman said, John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and [they that worship] him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

The Acts church worship

Acts 2:40-47 “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then [they that gladly received] his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about [three thousand] souls. And they [continued steadfastly] in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all [that believed] were together, and had [all things] common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as [every man] had need. And they, continuing daily [with one accord] in the temple, and breaking bread [from house to house,] did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily [such as should be saved.]”

The Ephesian church worship

Eph. 5:17-21 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And [be not drunk] with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and [making melody] in your heart to the Lord; [Giving thanks] always for [all things] unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [Submitting yourselves] [one to another] in the fear of God.”

The Philippian church worship

Phil.3:3 “For we are the circumcision, [which worship] God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and [have no confidence] in the flesh.”

The Thessalonica church

1 Thess.1:9 “For they themselves show of us [what manner] of [entering in] we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”

There are many Psalms that encourage us to lean in to worship.

Psalms 95:6 “O come, let us worship and [bow down:] let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Ps.96:3-9 “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

Leaning In To Witnessing

If men are going to worship the One True God they must be reconciled to him because all have sinned and need to be brought back into fellowship with Him.

2 Cor. 5:17-21 “Therefore [if any man] be in Christ, he is a new creature: [old things] are [passed away;] behold, [all things] are become new. And [all things] are of God, [who hath reconciled] us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [To wit,] that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Now then] we [are ambassadors] for Christ, [as though] God did beseech you by us; we pray you [in Christ’s stead,] be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, [who knew] no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Jesus witness in Lk.19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save [that which was lost.]” John 4, the Samaritan woman and John 3 to Nicodemus.

Andrew to Peter- John 1:41-42 “He first findeth [his own] brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, [which is,] being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which [is by interpretation,] A stone.”

Philip to Nathanael - John 1:45 “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

We are to witness also: Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the [uttermost part] of the earth.”

Acts 4:1 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, [came upon] them,” Acts 4:33 “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 10:41-43 “Not to all the people, but unto witnesses [chosen before] of God, even to us, who did eat and [drink with] him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he [which was ordained] of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him [give all the prophets witness,] that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Luke 24:47-48 “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of [these things.]” Acts 5:42 “And daily in the temple, and [in every house,] they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Leaning In To Spiritual Growth

All believers must develop into a mature christian if we are to worship a Holy God

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

We must develop our character

Galatian 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

2 Peter 1:5-8 “And [beside this,] giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness [brotherly kindness;] and to [brotherly kindness] charity. For if [these things] be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 4:23-32 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye [put on] the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore [putting away] lying, speak [every man] truth with his neighbor: for we are members [one of another.] [Be ye angry,] and sin [not: let] not the sun [go down] upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let [him that stole] steal [no more:] but rather let him labor, working with his hands [the thing which is good,] that he may have to give to [him that needeth.] Let no corrupt communication proceed [out of] your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and [evil speaking,] be [put away] from you, with all malice: And be ye kind [one to another,] tenderhearted, forgiving [one another,] even as God [for Christ’s sake] hath forgiven you.”

We must develop our gifts

Our gifts are the tools God has given to us to serve Himself and others with.

1Corinthians 12:7-11 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to [every man] to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to [every man] severally as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, [after that] miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Romans 12:6-8 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace [that is given] to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or [he that teacheth,] on teaching; Or [he that exhorteth,] on exhortation: [he that giveth,] let him do it with simplicity; [he that ruleth,] with diligence; [he that showeth mercy,] with cheerfulness.”

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

1 Peter 4:10-11 “As [every man] hath received the gift, even so minister [the same] [one to another,] as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [If any man] speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; [if any man] minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in [all things] may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion [forever and ever.] Amen.”

In serving our fellow man these gifts are the precious power the Holy Ghost gives to each one.