WHAT DO YOU COME TO CHURCH FOR?

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Series: All In Sermon: WHAT DO YOU COME TO CHURCH FOR? 7-2-17 By Pastor Rhonda Howard INTRODUCTION: Some of the things we use on a daily basis were not originally intended for what we use them for today. Examples:  Coca Cola was originally intended as an alternative to morphine addiction.  Saccharin was invented when a chemist was trying to find uses for coal tar.  Post it notes were stumbled upon when they were trying to create a super strong adhesive for the aerospace industry.  A slinky was invented in 1943 when a naval engineer Richard Jam and was suppose to be used as a spring that would support and stabilize sensitive equipment on ships.  Playdough was originally a wall paper cleaner. These things were invented for one purpose, but have taken a life of their own and fallen into a different purpose all together. As we think about things that were invented for one purpose, but have been used for another, let’s look at the following scripture. Jesus called attention to the state of the worship in the Temple in Jerusalem. These words of the Lord are very relevant to us as we gather here to worship today. Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”[ Let’s about this scene….. (Explain) This was Passover. Millions of Jews were at the temple to worship from all over. Jesus had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This was the last week of his life. This is the day of his triumphant entry into the city on a donkey. He went to the temple to offer a sacrifice along with the others. Money changers and sellers were in it for themselves… When we read this passage, it takes us back and we ask the question, “Why is Jesus so angry?” We think to ourselves, “Now, that just doesn’t seem right! Why did he create such a uproar in God’s house? Why did he make such a scene?” So, why was Jesus angry?

JESUS WAS ANGRY BECAUSE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD HAD BECOME SOMETHING THAT GOD NEVER INTENDED IT TO BE. In His day, many did not see the center of worship as He saw it. For them, it became a center for themselves and for their advancement. Jesus’ warning is relevant for us today as well.

THREE THINGS THE CHURCH HAS BECOME THAT GOD NEVER INTENDED: I. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME A PLACE OF GETTING AND NOT GIVING

We come to church for lots of reasons:  To socialize and see our friends  Because someone asks us to  To please Mom or Dad  To hook up with someone  We come out of religious obligation  Because your wife asked you to Joke: A mother was giving instructions to her three children as they drove to church "And, why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" Her son quickly responded, "Because people are sleeping!" So, why do we to church? Jesus said This place is to be a ‘house of prayer’. This is a center for worship. Do we come with that in mind? Or do we come focused on ‘I, me, my’! Do we come to honor God, or only to get something for ourselves? WE HAVE MADE GOD’S HOUSE INTO SOMETHING HE NEVER INTENDED IT TO BE. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME A PLACE OF GETTING AND NOT GIVING. Prayer = Prayer is, at root, simply paying attention to God; to offer passionate petition, praise and thanks to God; spiritual communion with God BUT TOO OFTEN WE COME TO BE ENTERTAINED, NOT TO ENTERTAIN THE SPIRIT. GOD’S HOUSE IS TO BE PLACE OF PRAYER - A PLACE OF HONOR - A PLACE OF WORSHIP!

Illustration: In the Old Testament, the priests would lay the sacrifice on the altar and killed it as they offered it up to God. It was then burned and consumed by the fire. 1. WE MUST FIRST SACRIFICE BEFORE THE FIRE COMES Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. We want the presence of God to touch us. We want God’s blessing. We want to experience Him. We want His presence to fall in this place. But we never bring a sacrifice. You must bring something to God. 2. WE MUST SEEK GOD AND HIS PRESENCE ABOVE OUR OWN NEEDS Matthew

6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. THE CHURCH IS NOT ONLY TO BE AN E.R. FOR HURTING CHRISTIANS. We have to begin by coming here with a sense of awe about the One we are coming to worship. We do not want to be cast out because we’re involved in our own life matters and ourselves, as were the moneychangers and sellers of pigeons. We need to focus on Him, not us- the moneychangers and sellers of pigeons were focused on themselves and their own affairs.

II. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME DIM WITH SIN THE CHURCH HAS GROWN DIM WITH THE SAME SIN THAT IS IN THE WORLD What Jesus said in the temple that day was a quote from…. Jer.7.9-11 “‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! 9 Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, 10 and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? 11 Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken! Matthew

5:14-16 You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives

light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. THE BRILLIANT LIGHT OF THE CHURCH IS GOD’S GLORY AND THE CHURCH HAS LOST ITS GLORY! Philippians 2:12-15 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. SIN HAS DIMMED THE LIGHT OF THE CHURCH!

III. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME TOLERANT OF SIN Do we tolerate things that ought not to be tolerated? Think about it, those who came as worshipers in Jerusalem, did not cast out the moneychangers and sellers of pigeons, but they accepted what occurred and, probably, thought it was something that had to be tolerated. However, Jesus thought otherwise. What do we accept that is unacceptable? Just like the worshipers at the temple in Christ’s day, do we ignore the dishonor and the disrespect to God in his house? Do we tolerate it? Should we accept it as normal? IT IS EASIER TO BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND THAN TO STICK YOUR NECK OUT! But the church was not formed to hide away, but to make a difference. The church is called to aggressively go against the gates of hell. We are called to confront and expose! We are called to make a difference in this world! Our purpose for being here is to reach as many as we can with the truth and the power of the gospel. God is holding us accountable to reach this generation. To raise a standard of holiness! To reach out with life and freedom! To expose the enemy and free those who are bound! To preach the truth! Let’s hand off this light we have been given! Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

CLOSING: Are we a thief in God’s house? Are we robbing from God what is due Him? So why are we here at church? What are you here for? There are four things we are to be actively doing in God’s house. (1) To worship This was why God put the church here Christ said to assemble our selves This is a house of prayer (2) To grow Grow in grace Grow in love Grow in the word There are people in churches that have never grown as Christians (3) To serve God has work we need to do By the way we are his servants We are his witness to win souls (4) To give Time Service Money Talents