RENEWING YOUR COMMITMENT (2 CHRONICLES 15:1-19)

 

RENEWING YOUR COMMITMENT

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Chronicles 15: 1-19

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Scheduled Teacher: Sis. Liza F. Biado

JANUARY 15, 2022

 

MEMORY VERSE

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 CHRONICLES 15:7

 

INTRODUCTION:

What is your response after a lot of work? What is your body’s response after a tiring work? Most of our answers are in the same, we need “rest”. I remember that the attitude of some CBT members before was to rest after a big event happened. I don’t say we don’t need to rest but the attitude of some members was they skipped minor events and also some services just to take rest. After rest or vacation, they went back. I don’t judge them, but the consistency is not there and the fact that you can have your rest while attending the church. There are lot of days to schedule and not Sunday. Sad to say sometimes they took this “okay” and not a big deal. I said this because I asked one of the members why her friend was not with her and she answered, “He’s too tired after the event last time and it’s expected for him to rest and that is fine. All of us need rest you know”. I just kept quiet and left. I realize If all pastors have that attitude, no one will preach on one of the Sundays if all of them get tired from any work.

The situation goes the same with Israel, after the battle with Ethiopians. God helped them with this battle (2 Chronicles 14:11-13). After the battle God spoke to the prophet and reminded the King Asa and the people. In 2 Chronicles 15: 1-3,

And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: ² And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. ³ Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. ⁴ But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

God reminded the king and the people the possibility that they forget their God and their covenant. In verse 4 proves that they just approached God in times of trouble. These reminders made Asa, the king of Judah, encouraged the people to renew their covenant. WHAT MADE THEM RENEW THEIR COVENANT?

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  THEY ARE ENCOURAGED THAT THEIR WORK SHALL BE REWARDED (2 CHRONICLES 15:7)

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

Aren’t you encouraged with these words, “for your work shall be rewarded”? What happened to King Asa when he heard these words? In verse 8 says,

And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.

Asa took courage with the words came from the Lord and he did amazing works: he put away the abominable idols out of the land of Judah and Benjamin and out of the cities which he had taken from Mount Ephraim. We can see here the great efforts he did. The next line the verse said, “and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord”. We don’t know what kind of renewal he did to the altar, but we can feel in this verse his heart and eagerness to be with God’s will and his courage to follow God in the presence of his mother who was against God’s will.

 

Does this verse, 2 Chronicles 15:7, applicable if we stop from serving? (allow responses) Again let’s read, “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded”. The words, “let not your hands be weak” simply shows that we need not to allow our work for the Lord to stop and encourage us to be strong.

 

2.  THEY SAW THAT THE LORD IS WITH THEIR LEADER (2 CHRONICLES 15:9)

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

It’s important that you discern that God speaks to you through a leader or a pastor in entering to God’s covenant. You cannot enter to a spiritual covenant by yourself or without God’s word or the people use by God to speak to you. God uses ordinary people to speak to you. The people followed King Asa because they saw God worked in his life. What they did.

·       They gathered themselves in Jerusalem (verse10). We can see that God’s word and with the help of the pastor we can follow God’s will. God’s word moves you and help you enjoy spiritual things like going to church. 

·       They offered unto the Lord (verse11). Giving is not a question if people are enveloped with God’s word. Therefore, if we hear Christians are being complaining about money mothers though the giving in that church is transparent and not questionable then we know the answer for this.

·       They entered into a covenant (verse 12) to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul.

 

 

3.  THEY BECAME AWARE THAT GOD WOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY FAILED TO YIELD TO HIM (2 CHRONICLES 15:2,13)

The words of Azariah carried a real threat as well as a real promise. Starting well is not always the key to victory—how you end is much more decisive. Twenty years ago, you might have been on fire for the Lord, ready to storm the gates of hell. But, what about today? Are you eager to serve him right now? Are you ready to say “yes” to his call in your life? If not, be ready to face the consequences. Our God will not sit idly back while his children go astray—he disciplines those he loves and will use every measure available which is in line with his character to make sure the prodigals come home.

 

When Judah heard God’s call to commitment, they gave themselves totally to the Lord.

¹⁴ And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

¹⁵ And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.

 

These two verses give us reminders that in giving our commitment to the Lord, we should commit with all our hearts. Their decision made them proud which mentioned in verse 14. They sware with a loud voice which means they openly announced their oath and they did it with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets they are happy and not regretful for the decision we have made. The question is every time we promise to the Lord or make an oath, are we regretful or are happy?

 

CONLUSION:

Swimming the English Channel

Source unknown

It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.

The water was numbing cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit. . . only one-mile from her goal.

Later she said, "I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it." It wasn't the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog.

Many times we too fail, not because we're afraid or because of the peer pressure or because of anything other than the fact that we lose sight of the goal. Maybe that's why Paul said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Two months after her failure, Florence Chadwick walked off the same beach into the same channel and swam the distance, setting a new speed record, because she could see the land.

- John Cochran

REFUSING COMMITMENT (JONAH CHAPTERS 1 - 4)

 

REFUSING COMMITMENT

JONAH chapters 1 – 4

Lesson prepared by: krisha of Solomon Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: RevCharles Stanley Lesson

Scheduled Teacher: Sis. Roxanne V. Velena

Lesson Update Frm:Jan.29,2018

JANUARY 29, 2023

 

MEMORY VERSE

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I WILL PAY THAT I HAVE VOWED. Salvation is of the Lord.

(JONAH 2:9)

 

INTRODUCTION:

Do you believe that God wants the best for us? (Let the audience raise their hands or say “Amen.”) If that so, why many of us in any circumstances refuse being committed whatever what God has called us to be or to do? When knowing God’s will in our lives, why we willfully refuse God. Why we do that? For us to give an example, let’s look the life of Jonah. Jonah is the perfect example of man who knew what God was calling him to do, yet resisted God call anyway. We often do that, too, don’t we? What is it that you know right now that God is requiring of you but you’re holding it off? What is God challenging you to give up? What area of our life God wants us to alter (change)?  What relationship he said to you “settle that?” What challenges in your business that He asks you commit to Him? Is it your money, your faithfulness? What’s that God keeps bringing up to you? If you pray, God keeps bringing it up and this cause us to cease praying; either we deal with it or stop praying. Let’s see Jonah’s life; let’s read the few beginning verses.

1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

² Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

³ But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

 

Let’s take a look in verse 3: went down to Joppa, went down to it. A pastor said using this verse, “Every time we run away from God’s presence, we’re going down.” Let’s read Jonah 1: 4-15.

You know what why there is raging on in the inside of us; we’ve got Jonah aboard. Something in our life we don’t want to surrender, something we don’t want to give up, something we won’t face or deal with it and the storm keeps raging on inside.  And we think somehow that we’ll get the storm to cease and keep on holding of what is not of God. It will never happen because that’s not the way God operates; throw him overboard.

In Jonah chapter 2, he prayed unto the Lord. We can see in here a man in true distress.  Let’s read verses   1-7 and we can see in verse 8, at the point of dying, he remembered the Lord. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.” In verse 9 says, But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. This verse tells that Jonah made a vow before to the Lord; He made a vow to go to Nineveh. He made a commitment but failed doing it. This scene is like Jonah was in desperate situation and says, “I will do my commitment Lord just get me out of here.”

What have we seen in this lesson? Don’t wait till God has you in the crouches of pressure until you are willingly said, “Yes, Lord I’ll do Your will”

LESSON POINTS:

1) WE ARE AFRAID

We become fearful suppose we fail afraid of failure, afraid of criticism – afraid of people, what they’ll say what if I don’t measure up the people’s expectation and afraid of exposure. They’ll see my weaknesses, they’ll see my faults, they’ll see that I’m not good as they see in me, they’ll see that I’m not capable and they’ll see others capable than I am. That’s why we’re afraid of exposure, afraid of failing and afraid of the unknown. Suppose you’ll do what God says to do, what will happen? The act of faith is being willingly place your trust in the wisdom and the will of God without knowing the outcome. One of the reasons of not obeying is we don’t know the results of the circumstances. We’re willing to obey if we know the outcome, is that we call faith? People will follow by sight and not by faith. It’s like you’re trying to put God in your own will and not trusting God.

Another question we need to answer, how many blessings we have missed in our lives because we’re afraid to trust God? How many blessings we have missed in our business life because we’re afraid to trust God? What have we missed in our relationship to others because we don’t open or become transparent. We miss deep abiding friendship and fellowship. What have we missed because we’re afraid to give the 10% of our money? You think how many have left in your salary and think more of our bills. We need to start giving to God first. We’re afraid of failure, afraid of criticism-what people may say, afraid of exposure and afraid of unknown trouble us and these are the reasons of not fulfilling our commitment to God. These speak of our ourselves – our selfishness.

 

2)  OUR SELFISHNESS (JONAH 4:1-6)

We fail to follow our commitment and that is purely selfishness. Most often than not of what God is requiring of us doesn’t fit our plan, doesn’t fit what we want, doesn’t fit our schedule, doesn’t fit where we go and what we do then we say, “That’s I don’t want to do.” We don’t say that, but we casually and quietly go and do our own thing. And you say, “Lord your plan doesn’t fit my plan.” What we do is to rebel against God, God’s plan doesn’t

What do you think Jonah’s reason why he didn’t want to follow God? Nineveh is 500 miles in Jerusalem; he was prejudice against Ninevites. And why? Because Nineveh was a big treat in Jerusalem, to the people of God. He didn’t them to repent; he wanted them to be destroyed.

  

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

² And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

³ Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

⁴ Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?

⁵ So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.

⁶ And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

 

If you see that in verse 6, Jonah was exceedingly glad of the gourd but not happy in God’s plan. What have you seen in Jonah’s attitude? Where were Jonah’s priorities? Is that what we feel sometimes?  He was just like a Christian being unhappy with the revival meeting, evangelism and other Christian gatherings but he was happy with things not spiritual. He was totally unconcerned about spiritual things and concern something with no lifetime value at all. God saw his attitude and God prepared a worm to smite the gourd.

Let’s read verses 7-11

⁷ But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

⁸ And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

⁹ And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

¹⁰ Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

¹¹ And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

 

Sometimes the reason we disobey God because we have His plan disfigure His plan. We act   like with Jonah, we see the plan like as if we see better than God. Let’s be reminded based on the bible that whatever God wants us to do, let’s put in mind that He sees the beginning, the middle, the end and the ultimate results and he has the divine reason that’s why we need to obey. Selfishness destroys us. We should commit and live in submission without our convenience.

 

3)  POOR SELF IMAGE (Judges 6)

When there’s a call we say, “Oh God not me.” And sometimes we give prospect people who we think will fit in the position rather than us. Remember Gideon’s call and says to him in verse 12, “thou mighty man of valour.” The angel told him that he would save the Israel from Midianiates. And he answered in verse 15,

 

^15, And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. ¹⁶ And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

¹⁷ And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

Have you seen the lesson in these verses? Most of us have many excuses in getting into the ministry or make a commitment. We may say, “me” and it might not be me; there are others there who are better than me. Though Gideon was assured by the angel that God will be with him, he still asked for a sign.

 

CONCLUSION:

Personally, we can learn so many things in the life of Jonah: he made a vow and refuse to fulfill it, and he met troubles in his life. It’s scary to make commitment and refuse to do it but it’s not okay not to commit which you know that God has first gave his commitment to you. The final thing we see in Jonah’s life was when he was unhappy to God’s will and happy to the things not spiritual. His life is the same with us. We commit and resist later on. Don’t wait for God’s hand to warn us before we say, “Okay Lord, I’ll do it.”

 

AM I ENGAGED? (EPHESIANS 5:25-32)

 

AM I ENGAGED?

BIBLE PASSAGE: EPHESIANS 5:25-32

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: ttps://www.lifeway.com

AUGUST 29, 2021

MEMORY VERSE

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

EPHESIANS 5:32

 

INTRODUCTION:

How Did Marriages Work in the Bible?

There were a series of different events culminating in a marriage ceremony. Let’s consider them:

The Betrothal – This was more than an engagement like we think of today. The betrothal was actually just as binding as being married. The woman who was betrothed to her future husband was bound to the husband.

She was considered married even though the actual wedding ceremony would probably not take place until later; likely for another six months to a year. In fact within the Mosaic law, a husband who was betrothed to his “wife” was exempt from military battle.

Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her. – Deuteronomy 20:7

The Friend of the Bridegroom – The bridegroom would choose a close and loyal friend whose responsibility was to assist the bride in preparation for the wedding. He would stay by her side throughout this entire betrothal period and make sure she was ready for the bridegroom on the wedding day.

The Procession – On the day of the wedding, the bridegroom would leave from his father’s house and proceed to the house of the father of the bride to receive his bride. The bridegroom would not announce in advance the exact moment when he was coming, so the bride had to be prepared, ready, and waiting for the bridegroom.

The Ceremony and Feast - Once the bridegroom had received his bride, they would proceed to the house of the father of the bridegroom. They would then have a wedding ceremony followed by a spectacular wedding feast. These feasts could last up to a week and sometimes even longer.

 

We will not go deeper regarding the marriage here on earth, but we’ll talk about Christ's love for His bride, the Church. We know that church is a group of believers. The title of our lesson, Am I engaged? is a question that focuses on the bride. Let’s answer the question by checking some of the attitudes and actions of the bride for her coming marriage. AM, I ENGAGED?

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  CHECK YOUR ACCEPTANCE (JOHN 14:6, JOHN 1:12)

Have you remembered the time you’d accepted the engagement, or you’d say “YES”?  You won’t forget that, right? Therefore, the same way in our spiritual, the date is very important. It’s a plus point if you’ve recorded it for a proof and as a keepsake. You’ll take that moment a big event in your life.

 

If you belong to Jesus Christ...if he is your Savior...then you are his bride. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13

The moment you heard the message of the gospel and received salvation you were in a sense betrothed to Christ. Your eternal life began that very moment. There is a space of time between now and when you reach your eternal destination. However, as the betrothed bride is considered married to her bridegroom, the same principle applies to you.

Even though your faith has not yet become sight, and you have not experienced heaven in its fullness, you can be confident that your eternal home with Jesus is secured. You belong to him both now and forevermore.

 

John 14: 6 says, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. – John 14:3

What a promise! We will soon with the groom in heaven someday.

 

2.  CHECK YOUR COMMITMENT (EPHESIANS 5: 25, 32)

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

In this 2^nd and the next 3^rd point, we’ll not be talking about the good works in salvation because we believe in salvation through faith.  We will be dealing to the actions and attitudes of the bride.  Are you betrothed or dating? Now the difference in the two is obvious. Dating is a kind of trial period in a relationship where your commitments are soft, relationships are tentative, and you keep your options open. Marriage is a covenant relationship of devotion and sacrifice and joy. In marriage, you've burned the ships, there's no turning back, and you only have eyes for the one to whom you have pledged yourself.

So I ask you again: are you engaged to be married -- fully devoted, making sacrificial investments of time and money and energy? Or are you just dating: nominally involved, partially invested, maintaining enough detachment so that if it doesn't work out the way you want, you can hit the door with no lingering obligations?

We need a personal commitment to a local church.  It is vital to have a strong, growing relationship with the people of God, where you can encourage each other in Christ and pray for one another and bear each other's burdens and intervene when you see a brother or sister lapsing into sinful patterns.

Statistically, one out of four church attendees are considered "church shoppers," with no real devotion to any particular local church. An estimated 15-20 million Americans have said they are Christians, but don't want to be a part of the church. Around 80 percent of American evangelical churches are plateaued or declining. When asked, people give the standard answers: church is irrelevant, boring, hypocritical, after my money. Some have been hurt by the church, in some cases deeply. ("The Condition of the Church in America," Compiled by Andy McAdams, Pastor to Pastor Ministry.)

We already have heard how important the church is in the previous sermons and lessons but personally to you, how important the church is? (Allow response from the audience or online)

 

Some of us here have been here for years and it could be one proof that the church is important to you. The question is you’ve been a member for so long but how often do you attend the church services? If you compare your attendance vs absences, what would be the higher. But sad to say that some treat church as a gathering only that we could meet our friends, and hear values in life.

 

Based from my experience, I don’t know if you agree, if you treat the church least, the enemy will give you lots of schedule during Sundays. Please don’t get mad at me this is based from my experience. You know what, not just busy schedules, many personal and unavoidable circumstances will arise. For example, you’ll get sick often, you’ll receive unexpected visit of in-laws or relatives and many more during church services. One time I had a problem with my internet provider, and they told me to fix it as soon as possible I had waited for the weekdays for the fixers to visit but they came Sunday, I received the call before 9am. I didn’t know what to do at first because I really needed to get it fixed. I told the caller that I was in the church and I can’t entertain them at that time. Though they said that was the only day they were available, still I was grateful because they gave me options. I chose 11am (after morning service) and they came back at that time. That is a simple situation but we need to pay attention to it.  When we entertain those things in our lives, time will come that though we don’t have schedules or anything, our mind gives you the thought that no need to church on that Sunday just rest and give yourself a break. You are already used to it. Sometimes we need to be firm and do what is right. Let’s remind ourselves of Hebrews 10:25. 

 

 

The whole context of this passage about marriage has this model of Christ's passion for His bride, the Church, as its foundation. And the point is powerful: Jesus wholeheartedly, unconditionally loves His Church. You know there is a moment in every wedding when the bride walks down the aisle to her groom. Everyone rises to their feet as the music soars and all eyes turn to see the bride - radiant, beautiful, adorned in white, she seems to float past on her way to the man who has captured her heart.

 

I’d experienced being an emcee in a wedding, I’d seen special moments wherein it somewhat like emotional. The reaction of the groom is what I see the most. He is grinning from ear to ear in anticipation, wistful, unspeakably happy, lost in love for the one who is coming to pledge herself to him and some get emotional too. Maybe the groom sees the person he would spend the rest of his life.

Now listen, if you can see that look on the groom's face, then you have a small understanding of the intensity of Christ's love for His church. It resonates through this passage.

What makes this thought and scene more striking for me is that I am a part of His church; I know you feel the same. The church in the Bible is made up of those who have been called out by the Spirit of Christ to salvation. The church is God's people. It's you and me and every believer in every place around this world who has put their trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The truth is when you read that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, you might as well be reading, "Jesus loves me like that."

It becomes intensely personal to meditate on the words Christ loved the church when I see that I am included among those He loves. And it strikes me when I see that the Greek word for love that Paul uses here describes immediately takes me to the cross. It is the word agape, which refers to the absolute, un-self-centered sacrifice of Christ for my sake. His love for His me never quits, never waivers, never weakens. Together, church, we will take a piece of bread and a swallow of juice to remember that cross love He has for His bride, you and me.

And then I read that He gave Himself for His bride, and I count the cost He has personally undertaken. The wording here speaks of voluntary surrender and total commitment to the horrors of bearing my sins in His body on the cross to ransom me from slavery to sin and take me to Himself. The broken body and shed blood of Christ are the measure of how far He will go for me.

And when I read that His holy love for the church moved Him with purpose to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word, I am thrilled to see my complete forgiveness in those words, my justification accomplished at His Word, and the gentle, patient work of making me holy like Himself.

Christ is totally committed to the church. He is totally committed to me. Can I receive love like that from Him as an imperfect person He is sanctifying while ignoring the rest of what His love has purchased? The truth is the more like Christ we’ve become, the more we love what He loves and devote ourselves to what moves Him to action. Say what you want to say, but you know it's true. If we're going to be like Jesus, we won't date the church anymore. And you won't stumble over the imperfections that are going to happen when a group of imperfect people gather together. You'll just realize that it has its flaws, but it's what Jesus died for.

Knowing that you are the bride of Christ, and the Bible clearly states that the bridegroom or Jesus is coming again, stirs this question: How is your wedding prep going?

3.  CHECK YOUR SERVICE (EPHESIANS 5:30)

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Like the bride of Christ, if you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you belong to the Body of Christ. In v. 25, the church is the wife of Jesus Christ. But in v. 30, the church is called the Body of Christ: we are members of His body, it says. Paul changes the imagery to emphasize something important.

The image of the bride tells us deep things about the devotion and love of Christ Jesus for us, His bride. The image of the body of Christ reminds us that we have an assignment to fulfill. When Jesus bodily walked this earth, He moved from place to place in a small geographical area, doing the will of the Heavenly Father and securing the salvation of everyone who believes. Now, having ascended back to heaven, He still moves from place to place, only now on a global scale. How does He do it? Through us! We are His body!

Ephesians 1:22 expands on this picture when it explains, by telling us that God the Father has put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way. Like the fingers and toes, like the eyes and elbows of your physical body, you are a part of Christ's body on earth, which is the church. And just like the various parts of your physical body have a specific function in relation to your body, so you have a specific function in Christ's body! There is no unimportant member of the church. Each of us has a function to fulfill for the good of the whole body. Ephesians 4 speaks about the body being built up in love as each part is working properly (v. 16).

Paul plays with this analogy a bit in his letter to the Corinthians: If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted. (1 Corinthians 12:15-18)

Run with me on this, okay? Let's say for the sake of illustration that when God saved you, He made you a hand in His body. You have the gift of service that is meant to minister to the rest of the body by assisting and fixing and working. You are the oil in the machinery that keeps things running smoothly. So what happens when you say, "I love you Jesus, but I don't want to be a part of the church"?

That's like saying, "Jesus, I love you, but I don't want to be a part of Your body. So I'm cutting off Your hand from Your body. But hey I really love you, okay!?" How would that work out for your physical body if your body parts did a little mutiny? "As your big toe, let me just say that I'm sick and tired of working with these other toes. They're all a bunch of posers! I do most of the work, and they still get treated as equals. So I think I'm just going to take a break. You don't really need me anyway."

You get the point. If you're a Christian, you have an assignment to fulfill in the body of Christ. He's on the move and needs every member of His body in on what He's doing. So when you're missing in action, half-hearted, casually committed, the rest of the body is crippled and weakened.

Another thing that caught my attention, love leads you to service. Therefore, if you love your groom, you would serve him.

CONCLUSION:

Hebrews 10:24-25 calls us to a different value system when it comes to the church. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

For this church to be all God wants it to be, each member needs to be working properly, needs to be connected, needs to be participating, sharing the burdens and the joys together. Most of you here today are living examples of this message, and I cannot thank you enough for your example, your partnership, your stewardship of life for His sake.