What Does a Church Need?

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This sermon is the sixth and final message in a series of sermons on the church of Jesus. Two messages spoke about "What a Church Is;" three messages were on the topic, "What a Church Does;" and this final message speaks about "What a Church Needs." The sermon focuses on two needs of any church: committed workers and frequent periodic revivals. The final 4+ minutes of the sermon audio above includes a story about the underground church in China as described by Wayne Cordeiro on a YouTube video.

Written Excerpts:

Isaiah 44:3 ^(NKJV) For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;

Introduction:

Before we get started, I wanted to share some humorous stories related to church attendance that I recently read.

(Today's Best Illustrations – Vol. 5) One Sunday morning after church, my 3-year-old grandson, Taylor, came home jingling two quarters in his pocket—the same two quarters he had been instructed to give as an offering in his Sunday-school class. When I asked him why he didn't give his money to Jesus, he replied, "I didn't see Jesus at church today!"

I wonder if anybody “felt” Him or “heard” Him at church that day?

(Today's Best Illustrations – Vol. 4) Hannah was spending the night with her grandparents. At bath-time Hannah asked her grandmother if they were going to church the next morning. When Grandma said yes, Hannah turned up her nose and said, "I don't like Sunday school."

"But Hannah," Grandma replied, "we should learn all we can about God."

"I learned all about that when we lived in Illinois."

"Well, I've been going to church all my life and I haven't learned everything about God," Grandma said.

"Maybe you weren't paying attention." — Donna Blalock, Christian Reader

Here are a couple of quotes that aren’t as funny, but make a vital point:

Vance Havner ― I believe in the Church and in loyalty to a local church. I am not in favour (sic) of that view of the invisible church that makes one invisible at church on Sunday morning. (goodreads.com/quotes)

Vance Havner ― We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God. (goodreads.com/quotes)

If you have been here during the past several weeks, then you know that I have been doing a series of sermons on the church of Jesus; the body of Christ. If you recall, we started out with a couple of messages on the question: “What is a church?” Following that we did three sermons on the question: “What does a church do?” Today I want to finish the series by asking the question, “What does a church need?”

I suppose that this question could have a dozen answers or more. For example, some people might answer the same for the church as they do for themselves: “What do I need? How about a million dollars!” There are many other answers people might offer; some serious and some not so serious.

There are only two answers that I will offer today.

            The church needs committed, faithful workers.

            The church needs frequent periods of revival.

I.          The church needs committed, faithful workers.

Nearly every message in this series I’ve been preaching has emphasized in some way the importance of every person that makes up the body of believers. When we were defining the church, certain words we noted in the Scriptures gave clear hints, if not plain language regarding the involvement and interaction of individual believers in the church. Then, when we talked about the mission or jobs of the church, we again kept emphasizing the importance of each individual contributing to a community effort to accomplish the tasks which the Lord has given us.

So, what I’m going to say here will probably sound repetitious and really familiar. However, the truth is, every local church and the universal church needs committed and faithful workers who will assume the responsibility of carrying out the tasks that the Lord has given us to do.

There are several verses in the NT which emphasize the importance of doing good works. Many of these verses were written in letters by the Apostle Paul to “churches.” He meant for individuals in those congregations to heed his instructions, but it was not meant for just a few members of the church. It was written for the whole church.

Consider these verses:

The Apostle Paul’s admonitions to two different churches…

Galatians 6:9-10 ^(NKJV)  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 2:10 ^(NKJV)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

There is a NT character by the name of Titus who was probably a convert under Paul’s ministry; traveled with Paul in ministry; and was instructed by Paul to stay at the island of Crete to be the pastor of the believers there. Paul writes a letter to Titus while he is the pastor and these are some of the statements he writes to him.

Titus 2:14 ^(NKJV)  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Titus 3:1 ^(NKJV)  Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 

Titus 3:8 ^(NKJV)  This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 

These passages and many others we could add, point to the importance and necessity of somebody(s) in the church being available, willing, and committed to do the good works that Paul was referring to. Though Paul was writing to each church as a unit or a whole, he would have understood that individuals within that whole had to step up and take the responsibility to do the “good works.”

Strong leaders in the church have the ability to discern (or maybe a better word is “discover”) a member’s spiritual gifts and natural talents then direct them into meaningful work that utilizes those gifts and talents. I probably do not qualify as a strong leader. I do not have the personality style suitable for positioning people in work roles. I am always concerned about adding one more responsibility on people who are already weighed down with work.

I do occasionally go to individuals and ask them to consider taking a job within the church’s ministries, but not very often. I often have announced for individuals who are willing to do a specific job to let me know, but that usually doesn’t work out well.

Look at the insert in the bulletin as an example of the kinds of work that needs done within the context of church.

(Illustrations Unlimited) A church member waiting to be asked to serve in his own church is just like the member of a family waiting to be invited to pull weeds in front of the house where he lives.

II.        The church needs frequent periods of revival.

Not only does the church need willing and faithful workers, but it also needs frequent periods of revival.

(Geoffrey R. King – Draper's Book of Quotations) Revival is a sovereign act of God upon the church whereby he intervenes to lift the situation completely out of human hands and works in extraordinary power.

Here are some of the biblical passages that seem to emphasize this important truth:

Zechariah 4:6 ^(NKJV)  So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 

Zerubbabel was the Persian-appointed governor over the people of Israel returning from Exile to Babylon, which been conquered by the Persians. This message was a reminder that the task he had could not be done by mere human strength. It was a reminder that through God’s Spirit he could accomplish God’s will even though he didn’t have the authority or resources of a true king like King David. (Tyndale Comm.)

Isaiah 57:15 ^(NKJV)  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

God Himself is the giver of revival. Revivals are a supernatural event. True revivals are not generated by human effort. Humans must cooperate with God by humble repentance and earnest prayer, but the actual pouring out of fresh waves of spiritual glory are divine acts of Almighty God.

Isaiah prayed for such a divine interruption of the ordinary when he prayed…

Isaiah 64:1 ^(NKJV)  Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake [flow down] at Your presence-- 

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus:
Ephesians 5:18 ^(NKJV)  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation [overindulgence]; but be filled with the Spirit,

Notice the contrast between “liquid spirits” and the Holy Spirit. Artificial vs. the genuine.

The verb “be filled” is in the Greek tense that indicates continuous action. It could literally be translated: “keep on being filled.” We can infer from this verse that one filling isn’t enough. It is essential for believers to be filled with the Spirit over and over and over. We need frequent fillings of God’s almighty presence.

It is the normal tendency for something hot to cool off; for a burning flame to die out; and for something fresh to become stagnant or spoiled.

When human efforts produce little or no results; when professing Christians are powerless and ineffective; when conditions in the church are pretty much the same as the conditions in the world; then it is obvious that revival is needed.

Many historians agree that the spiritual awakening which took place in England in the 1700’s with the Wesley revival probably saved the nation from a bloody revolution similar to the experience of France. Revival not only changed the makeup of the church, but it changed the face of the nation, as people not only got right with God in their own hearts and lives, but they implemented so many social and moral reforms by the power of the Spirit that it changed their world. The deplorable social conditions that brought revolution in France were eliminated by revival in England.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I just want to share a video that I shared on our church’s Facebook page last June, and I shared in prayer meeting about that time. Watch this video (approx. 4 minutes) and then decide if we need a fresh visit from heaven and a fresh filling of the powerful Spirit of God.