“The Church Must Have Purpose” The meaning behind the word purpose: It is “the reason for which something is done or created or the reason for which something exists. [Oxford Languages]” – Implies – conviction and force. Jesus speaking of His death, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27).
Our Purpose Must Not Be: To Please Men – “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4). There are many religious people in the world whose purpose is to be pleasing in the eyes of men—which opens the floodgate of error. One way this happens is when the church starts to accept Human Tradition. God’s purpose was for the church to assemble on the first day of the week—and to break bread, pray, sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs, and take up an offering are commands, not traditions. But Human tradition says you can assemble and serve the Lord’s Supper any day of the week—collect funds any way you chose—it’s up to your church. If that’s your church, you are in the wrong church. We must be careful that we do not intermingle God’s commands with our traditions.
READ Matthew 15:1-3 “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?”. Notice that there are two very different ways of thinking. One: Human Traditions. Two: The Commandments of God.
Our Purpose Must Not Be: To Meet The Minimum Requirements – By that I mean we shouldn’t be searching the scripture for proof that our lack of involvement is “Ok, Approved by God”. Should we forget Luke’s record from Acts 2 verse 46, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” – Is that not an example of the early church? With gladness and simplicity of heart! Is coming together as a church for fellowship, to enjoy a meal, to sing or to pray—a good thing? If this is true—then why wouldn’t we be zealous for every opportunity? Remember what it means biblically To Be Zealous. To have warmth or feeling for something: To be eager: “properly, to bubble over because so hot (boiling); (figuratively) “to burn with zeal” (J. Thayer)”. Here as used by Paul it is defined as, “to be the object of the zeal of others, to be zealously sought after” [Thayer’s]. Brethren, there are many words that well define being Synonyms for Zealous: Passionate, Dedicated, Fervent, Impassioned, Afire, Devoted, Eager…Then there are the Antonyms for Zealous: Apathetic, Cold, Dispassionate, Indifferent, Unconcerned, Lethargic, Unenthusiastic, Unpassionate, Lethargic. Why don’t we all look into the mirror of our souls this week—meditate and make appropriate changes where they apply.
Consider one thing that Jesus said we, the church is to be…Our Purpose Must Be Lights of the World (Matt. 5:14), to Keep All the Commandments – Matt. 22:36-37. Remember Solomon’s conclusion: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13).
And if the Lord wills, and I live, I will be here to continue this lesson. . . where we will look again to the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two. . .