“Let the Church Say, ‘From Him'”
September 5, 2021
Text: “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
Main Idea: “From Him”
I. The Plan is from Him
Where did the strategy of using people to promote the message of Christ and to get His work done on earth come from? “From Him.”
• The Old Covenant Temple was made of stones, and wood overlaid with gold.
• The New Covenant Temple is a “temple” made of human beings, transformed into precious living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
The foundation of this New Covenant temple is Jesus Himself, referred to as the Living Stone and His people are referred to as “living stones,” placed upon Jesus, the Foundation and the Cornerstone.
This is the way God wanted to do it, and in choosing human beings He anticipated problems. He knew what people are like. Our frailty was calculated. And would be addressed by the second item that is from Him.
II. The Power is from Him
Where do we get what we need to do the job we’ve been given to do? From Him.
He provides what is needed to get it done.
“I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) meant that He was going to do so using the raw materials of flawed and fickle human beings like us.
“And God is able to make all grace abound, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
He knew from the beginning that we couldn’t do it. He expected “uneven” performances from us as human beings. He expected there would be fights and factions.
His resurrection included no human involvement. That could have been the story of the church. But it wasn’t.
So why would He use people? That is our final point.
III. The People are from Him.
Where did the circumstances that got us connected to Christ come from? From Him. He arranged our circumstances to lead us to Himself.
The items for the temple were meticulously selected and it is no less so with the people that are part of the Living Temple of God. Each person was invited. Each person was chosen. Each person has a place. There are no spare parts. No random pieces. Nothing in storage. No yard sale for obsolete items.
He transported us from a vague religiousness to a personal and personalized relationship with Himself.
“You were called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6).
Called to proclaim His excellencies. (1 Peter 2:9). If we were called to proclaim His excellencies that also means we were called to experience them.
How do you measure your effect? Your effect for the Lord is neither “big” nor “small:” it is exclusively yours. There is no comparison.
Why am I still here on earth? I am here to get to know the Lord and from the fruit of that personal knowledge serve the Lord. Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” But there is a twist.
• God is not served by human, as if he needed anything” (Acts 17:25)
• See also Isaiah 66:1 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?'”
We are here to serve the Lord, but I am not here because the Lord needs our service. I believe my service to Him is in His eyes part of the relationship-building process that He desires to have with me – and with each one of us.
The Lord wants us to experience that same satisfaction of soul that comes from working in partnership with Him that Jesus experienced: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (John 4:32).
Clinton Scott says
Yes, I believe O, Lord that You came from God and went back to God and that You are God. I carry around my witness of You everywhere I go because You wrote Your laws and precepts upon my heart. I am cast down but every time I plunge beneath the tidal waves and depths of despair and hopelessness, You reach down and lift up my head so I do not drown. I am in one of those times right now. My strength is dried up within me. My mind is tossed to and fro as human emotions coursed through me. Yet I am not discouraged because from deep within, I know Your strength will sustain me. Stay with me O, Lord, and do not permit this fiery trial to consume me.