Let’s Lose Some Weight – 7

Let’s Lose Some Weight – 7

Subject – The Engine of Our Church

By Rick Welborne

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                                                                                ¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

--Every church should have an engine or something that they can attribute to the life blood of the church and actually be what makes them who they are. It’s their DNA.

--If we are wise we can learn from history. Of course all history is what it is and you obviously cannot not change it. Tearing down statues or changing books still will not change what happened.

--The obvious thing is to learn from history…learn from our mistakes and learn from things we possibly did right. With God’s help I believe we have done a few things right.

--I know for most men who own a truck they did not want a four cylinder or a six cylinder but all of us wanted something with a V8. The sound and the power are great and fun to drive.

--As I meditated on this sermon and on the history of Life Church I began to define what I thought would be the main cylinders for us. I came up with four. Works better for a sermon.

--The first one was not in our distinctives and I am sad about that but it has definitely been in our practice and preaching. Hopefully some day we can change that.

1. Our first cylinder is the Word of God.

--In our Tenets of Faith in the AOG number 1 is The Scriptures Inspired.

Constitution and By-laws – This assembly shall accept the Holy Scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all sufficient rule of faith and practice, and adopts the following Statement of Fundamental Truths from the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

The Scriptures Inspired – The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. 

--One of the criticisms that I have received over the last 31 years is that I include or read so many scriptures in my sermons and my response to people every time is the same. Thank you!

--Sometimes we Pentecostals have a tendency to desire the charisma of the messenger more than we do the content of the message. 

--Question: when you go out to eat is it important to you that your server do a little song and dance as they bring your food or is it important to you that your food is fresh and good? 

--Sometimes on the inside I smile at these younger preachers who say you have to walk (keep moving) and be animated to keep people’s attention. You have to have passion!

--Another question: Is our passion measured in our shout or in the show we put on or is it measured in our obedience to do what Jesus has commanded us to do? Jesus simply stood up and read the Word and sat down.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NLT2)
²  Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
³  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
⁴  They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 

--Paul told Timothy to “Preach the Word!” Why? Because it is the truth and the truth is what will set people free. The reason we welcome Holy Spirit to every service is because of the Word of God.

John 16:7-8 (NKJV)
⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

--The reason we are a mission’s church and support sending so many missionaries is because of the Word. Just in case you have not heard these verses in a while:

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
¹⁶  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

--I really do not care who the man or woman of God is who stands behind the podium but remember this… nothing will ever be said from their lips that is more powerful or appropriate than the Word of God.

2. Our second cylinder is welcoming Holy Spirit.

--In our Tenets of Faith number 7 is the: 

Baptism of Holy Spirit – All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the Promise of the Father, the baptism of Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.

--Another thing I will always be thankful for in the church I was saved in was the emphasis on the Baptism of Holy Spirit. You were either filled with Holy Spirit or seeking Him. Having Him was imperative.

--My story here (I love stories) was probably somewhere around twenty-five years ago we were having either a Christmas Eve service or a New Year’s Eve service and I believe God sent an angel to Life Church.

--We had a great service and were just fellowshipping afterward and a young man (17-19) came up to me.  I had never seen him before or since. He was alone. He was kind and respectful.

--Pastor, can I offer you a suggestion? Of course. I believe you should welcome Holy Spirit in every service or ministry you have here every time you meet together. Yes! Of course, yes! He suddenly was gone!

--We have done that for years and welcoming Holy Spirit has become such a part of who we are. I hope and pray we not only do that corporately but also individually. Main reason we welcome Him…

John 15:26 (NLT2)
²⁶  “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

3. Our third cylinder is home and foreign missions. 

--Obviously, we refer back to cylinders one and two for this. We are mandated or commanded in God’s Word to fulfill the Great Commission. I do not believe it is optional for the true church of Jesus Christ.

--I hope all of you are aware of how blessed we are here at Life Church and how well God has taken care of us. That has not been by accident.

--It hasn’t been because we are the coolest church, or that we have the best preaching or teaching, or because of our worship and music, or that we are the latest and the greatest in town.

--We are blessed because we have taken God at His Word in regard to the Great Commission, it is because we have welcomed Holy Spirit, and it is because we have made missions the heart of our church.

--In other words we have found our purpose which has been defined by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

--Doesn’t it make sense that God will bless a church that is doing all they can to be obedient to the Great Commission and that He will also bless individuals who do the same. 

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (NCV)
¹²  This service you do not only helps the needs of God’s people, it also brings many more thanks to God.
¹³  It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ—the gospel you say you believe—and because you freely share with them and with all others.

--Your giving helps people find Christ…your giving results in thanks to God…your giving is proof of your faith (you trust God)…your giving will cause many to praise God (the lost who get saved).

4. Our fourth cylinder is generosity.

--Obviously, we refer back to cylinders one, two, and three for this. The Word of God, the unction of Holy Spirit, the mandates of the Great Commission, all shout for us to be generous.

--God so loved the world that He gave…Jesus so loved the Father and the world that He gave…Holy Spirit so loves the Father, the Son, and the world that He gives us power to be witnesses.

--Everything about God has giving and generosity all over it. Don’t tell me you are Christ-like (Christian) if you do not have a heart to be generous. 

--Generosity has been what has blessed Life Church and sustained us through many difficult times. Things like financial crashes and Covid. 

Proverbs 3:5-10 (NKJV)
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. ⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. ⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.