LIVING A LIFE WORTHY OF OUR CALLING (3 OF 3)
Scripture: EPHESIANS 4:7-16
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Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling (3 of 3)
Let the Church Be the Church
Terry J. Hallock
Ephesians 4:7-16
Pentecost Sunday
May 19, 2002
The purpose of the Church is to be Christ's presence in the world. We are to be so filled up with Jesus that we literally become Jesus. Then when we speak the poor will hear the same good news from our lips as they once heard from His. When we act prisoners will receive the same touch of freedom from us as they once received from Him. The blind will gain the same sight because of our ministry as they once gained sight from His. The oppressed will know as full a release from their oppression because of whom we are, as they once knew because of who He was. When the world hears our voice it will hear Jesus' voice. When it is touched by our life it will have been touched by His life.
Think of what would occur if we believed it could be so? Jesus promised it would. "On this rock I will build my Church", He said, "and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" [Matthew 16:18-19]. He also declared, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" [John 14:12]. In the Book of Acts we see what happened when those who had confessed Jesus as Lord believed in their purpose and promise as His Church. On the Day of Pentecost when the Church was filled with the Holy Spirit, those whom the Pharisees had called "ordinary unschooled men" brought 3,000 souls to Christ with one simple sermon. They healed a man crippled from birth simply by speaking the name of Jesus. They created a community of such love and justice that the world held them in awe and respect. They exhibited such spiritual power over disease and demons that people lined the streets so the mere sh ...
Let the Church Be the Church
Terry J. Hallock
Ephesians 4:7-16
Pentecost Sunday
May 19, 2002
The purpose of the Church is to be Christ's presence in the world. We are to be so filled up with Jesus that we literally become Jesus. Then when we speak the poor will hear the same good news from our lips as they once heard from His. When we act prisoners will receive the same touch of freedom from us as they once received from Him. The blind will gain the same sight because of our ministry as they once gained sight from His. The oppressed will know as full a release from their oppression because of whom we are, as they once knew because of who He was. When the world hears our voice it will hear Jesus' voice. When it is touched by our life it will have been touched by His life.
Think of what would occur if we believed it could be so? Jesus promised it would. "On this rock I will build my Church", He said, "and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" [Matthew 16:18-19]. He also declared, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" [John 14:12]. In the Book of Acts we see what happened when those who had confessed Jesus as Lord believed in their purpose and promise as His Church. On the Day of Pentecost when the Church was filled with the Holy Spirit, those whom the Pharisees had called "ordinary unschooled men" brought 3,000 souls to Christ with one simple sermon. They healed a man crippled from birth simply by speaking the name of Jesus. They created a community of such love and justice that the world held them in awe and respect. They exhibited such spiritual power over disease and demons that people lined the streets so the mere sh ...
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