Sunday Morning Podcast March 24, 2019. Bro. Danny Sanders.
TEXT: ROMANS 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Building God’s Church. Imagine you live in medieval times, traveling through the country side and come across men busting rocks. At the first one, you wonder and ask “what is this guy doing?” He says “breaking rocks.” You see another man, doing the same. You ask him also what he’s doing, he says “making a living.” So you continue to go further, watching a third guy doing the same with a sledge hammer, …breaking rocks. So you say, “Excuse me, can you tell me what you’re doing?” He replies, “I’m SO glad you asked! I’m building a church!” This third man sees his job as NOT trivial! He’s part of something much bigger! The first guy, is just religious, he can “at conversion,” …talk the God Talk, “breaking rocks.” But like much of society, is comfortable with the world and sin. The second guy attends church. Usually at significant times, such as Christmas and Easter. His friends and neighbors go, so he goes to church also. It’s the thing to do, with it’s entertainments, etc. He might not really know what is being taught, but it feels good, …he’s just “making a living.” But the third guy, he really sees himself apart, as something much bigger! For the preacher alone, cannot build the church as something much bigger, but with each other, we are in this thing together. We are building a church, that is not just a building!
Before this is over, we want the community to know, we’re not just a building, but we are building a church body for Jesus! This is the kind of people you want to “run in to.” Someone that is “sold out,” …and not just a merely religious people. When one is feeling inadequate, lost, confused, needing answers…the ‘third” man, is who you want to run into. One that in action demonstrates the love of God, compassion, and empathy. This is the kind of person God has allowed us to meet in our journey of life, especially when we come to “our crossroads.” For not only once, but many times on our way, we have to make serious decisions.
Anyone facing crossroads? We all are! You won’t be able to escape them, at any realm of your life. In Joshua 24th chapter, Joshua as leader stands before the Israelite’s, reminding them of all the times of being delivered by the Hand of God, from their many enemies and calamities. Each calamity was a crossroad. A crossroad of decision of what way they would decide to take. Choices with accountability. It doesn’t matter our status, or lack thereof. We are all accountable for what and whom we choose to follow. Every interaction we have is critical in our life. It is filled with our actions and choices, when we interact with others. They are watching. Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Now, .. I must know how to be instructed, to know HOW to serve the Lord. Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. It’s not enough to love God with my all! I also have to love you, you, and YOU! Others! Christ has said to love one another/neighbors as myself….to build God’s church! “…….And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.” I Corinthians 13:2 For without love, we have nothing!!
Should You and I Meet At Crossroads, What Can I Expect From You?