Why Am I Here?/Why Are You Here?
Pastor's Anniversary • Sermon • Submitted
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All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Why Am I Here?
INTRO:
I’ve come here tonight to help Pastor Garrison and to help this church. Pastor Garrison has been pastoring longer than I have, so I can offer very little insight on how to do, if anything I think he could offer insight to me rather me to him.
Yet, God gave me a word for you all on tonight and prayerfully this will be a help to Pastor Garrison.
The relationship between Pastor and Congregation:
The purpose of the Pastor:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Why has God given these? Why does God give these?
Ans:
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
For perfecting for katartisis: First of all for strengthening. Secondly for equipping, training, or disciplining.
Pastor Garrison isn’t here to only speak a good word to you.
He isn’t here to preach you happy. His responsibility as a pastor is for the perfecting of the saints. He’s here to equip you, he is here to train you in the way of the Lord, he is here to discipline by the word of God.
Why?
“For the work of the ministry.”
Ministry is serving. Work is action. He’s here to prepare you for action. He’s here to prepare you to serve.
There are a lot of pastors out here. You need to know that some of these so called pastors are not in it to equip the saints. There are some who have become pastors because they thought it was a good career choice. There are others who became pastors or even entered ministry because they want to be liked or they want to be seen, they want to be esteemed by others. Then there are other who have ulterior motives, they want to control, manipulate, and dominate others.
But the true task and purpose for the Pastor is to equip the saints for ministry AND to build up the body of Christ.
Turn to your neighbor and tell your neighbor:
“It’s All About Souls.”
It’s good to come to church and have a good time.
It’s good to sing praises and shout the victory.
But at the end of the day......IT’S ALL ABOUT SOULS!!! SOULS NEED TO BE SAVED, SOULS NEED TO BE DELIVERED AND SET FREE!!!
Paul then says in verses 13-16:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The purpose of the Congregation:
The purpose of the congregation is growth in Christ and Unity. I shared with our congregation on Wednesday night that the whole synopsis of the book of Ephesians is about “Unity & Christian Character”.
Our purpose for being here, our purpose for coming to church, is for us to GROW in the knowledge of God. Our purpose is for us to develop Christian Character.
Paul in his exhortation to Titus records:
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
He is referring to young men, yet a pattern of good works is not restricted to young men, a pattern of good works is for everyone!
Again, Paul states eariler in Ephesians:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
When God saved us, he renewed us, when He washed us in the blood, and filled us with his Spirit, we were born again, we were made anew.
Before I came to the LORD I had a pattern of works that opposed God, but when God got a hold of me, he forgave my sins, he washed me in the blood of the Lamb, put his Spirit in me, and now I have a pattern of good works.
It doesn’t mean that I’m perfect, but I’m going on to perfection.
You need to know that you need help. You can’t be good on your own!
It takes the word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost to develop christian character.
When I say “christian character” I’m speaking of actions, manners, and characteristics that are Christ-like. GROW!!!
The purpose of the congregation is to continue the work of ministry! THIS IS NOT A ONE MAN OPERATION!!! Pastor Garrison needs HELP!!! I need HELP!!!
We have erred in our way of thinking. We think that if we put on a good program that souls will be drawn.
We think if we have the best musicians souls that souls will be drawn.
We think if we have a bunch of programs and things to do that souls will be drawn.
We think if we have a good pastor that can preach the house down Sunday after Sunday, that souls can be drawn.
That’s not what the scriptures says. The scriptures says:
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
REFUGE/BIBLEWAY YOUR PURPOSE IS FOR YOU TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY!!!
A lot of times we get fixated on the by-products of church. We’ve been duped into thinking that the purpose of church is to come and have a good time.
Then when things aren’t going the way that we want to, we ready to pack up and move membership.
Preacher ain’t preaching me happy so I’ll go where the preacher can preach me happy.
I’m tired of hearing about the same things, I want to hear something new.
And that’s the mindset that Paul warned Timothy about, that in the last days some will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of devils!
Paul warned Timothy in his 2 epistle
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The NASB states this same verse by saying
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Paul tells Timothy that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. It is beneficial to you, it will help you, it is good for teaching, it is good for refuting error and showing us what is wrong in our lives, it is good for restoration and correction, and it teaches us what is right.
God uses the word to prepare and to equip his people to do every good work!
Close:
I’m here so that I can grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I’m here so that I can be equipped to do every good work.
I’m here so that I can be strengthened by the word of God and by the power of God.
But while I’m here.....I want to feel the presence of God.
While I’m here, I need to take something with me that will strengthen me, that will help me, that will keep me.
While I’m here, I need to talk to God, and I need to hear from the LORD.
While I’m here.....I want to feel the power of God!!!
While I’m here.....I need the Lord to touch me.
While I’m here.....I need the LORD to renew me.