What comes to mind when I say “church?” Is it a place you go when you need something? Is it a social organization? Is it for spiritual advice? How do people see us? What do they think we are? What is the difference between what the world thinks we are and what we actually are, or at least are supposed to be? Matthew 16:18 “18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Those are pretty strong words. They were spoken by Jesus. Who does He say the church belongs to? It belongs to Him. And who does He say will build it? He will build it. And what did He say it would do? It will prevail against the gates of hell. Over the next couple of weeks we will begin to see what we are supposed to be as “The Church.” We will discover how it started and how it’s going now. But today we will look at what the world thinks we are supposed to be as a church...and see if the actions that we are taking agree with them or not. The church body is made up of individuals, so we have to examine ourselves first. Here is a simple question for you. Are you part of the church body or are you still on the outside looking in? If you don’t know the answer to that question, but you’d like to, here is one way you can test yourself to see where you stand. Now, hear me out before you come to any conclusions or get offended by what I’m about to say. Have you made more deposits than withdrawals or are you spiritually overdrawn?
People on the outside are all take and no give. What do you think the average guy on the street believes about us? We are just a bunch of bible thumpers who look down on them. But when they are in a bind...we are an easy place to go for financial help. That is the way a lot of people outside the church view us. When I’m in trouble, just give me some money. No questions asked. They see us as nothing more than an ATM at a bank. But now let me be clear about something. They don’t want to apply the same rules as a bank. Here’s what I mean. If you went to a bank that you didn’t have an account with and asked them to withdraw money, what would they say? Excuse me, who are you? We don’t know you...If you haven’t put any money in...you can’t get any money out. You have to make more deposits than you do withdrawals. That’s just common sense. But you’d be surprised at just how many people don’t get that concept. And they get mad because we operate this way also. You see, this is how the church works when it comes to ministry. You can’t expect to get anything out of a church if you haven’t put anything in. If you rarely ever show up, if you don’t serve and you don’t give, what do you think happens when you have a need...spiritual or financial? You have no equity built up because you have not made any deposits. The church says, we don’t know you. If we knew you, we’d know if the need was legitimate. People outside the church and people inside the church react the same way to this situation.
Hey! Waite a minute, churches are supposed to love everybody and obviously you don’t love me if you don’t give me what I’m asking for. What kind of pastor are you, that doesn’t love people? How dare you question me? That is the response I get when I ask people we don’t know how they ended up in their current situation of need, and why they decided to choose us as the place to ask for help. The more questions I ask, the more defensive they get. You may be surprised at how many people contact us wanting money. These are people who have never actually been here, we don’t know them and neither does any other church. But that doesn’t stop them from expecting us to give them whatever they want. It also doesn’t stop them from getting mad when they don’t get it. This comes back to what they believe our function is supposed to be. Are we just here to give out free stuff and make people feel better about whatever problems they have? Are we called to enable those who continue to create chaos for themselves? Laura and I met in a Christian touring group. We did a concert in a different church every night all over the country. There was one church in particular that I’ll never forget. We had parked the bus in front of the church and had just begun to unload the luggage, when one of the church staff told us we should unload the equipment around back because it was closer to the stage. So our driver moved the bus, but he didn’t realize they had not put the luggage back on board. Only one bag had been unloaded and left sitting in the parking lot. Guess who it belonged to? Yes, my bag was still sitting in the front parking lot and there was only one other car there. By the time someone
realized it and went to go get it...it was gone. And so was the car that used to be there. As it turns out the car belonged to a guy who had come to the church asking for money. When he didn’t get it, he decided he wasn’t gonna leave empty handed...he stole my bag. That bag had everything I owned in the world. Literally everything. When we informed the pastor, he said, “sorry about that” but he didn’t offer to help at all. This was a very large church. That seemed odd to me, but I got over it and moved on. The group we toured with took up a collection and I was able to go to Walmart and buy some clothes that night after the concert. My “family” on the bus took care of me. They guy who stole my bag thought he was entitled to get something from the church... and what he got was some clothes that I’m sure didn’t fit him, a used tooth brush...and my high school class ring. I’m not bitter. A guy contacted us here at FUEL recently asking for money and when I asked if he had a church he attended that knew him and could help, he said yes, but he hadn’t been there in years. He didn’t ask for a job or if he could earn some money. Is it our job to cover every financial problem that anyone in the community has, regardless of how much they reject God? Is that how we are supposed to use God’s resources that He has trusted us to oversee? Acts 2:42-47 “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together
and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This is a description of the church as it was established originally. Based on this, we actually are supposed to function like a bank. But we have to abide by the rules of deposits and withdrawals. When it comes to finances, did you see who they were responsible for taking care of? Each other. Our primary responsibility is to care for each other. If one of you has a need, it should be addressed by the church. But that can’t happen unless you act on verse 45. Acts 2:44-45 “44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” We should not be dependent on social programs from the government or even from miracle hill. We are supposed to be responsible for each other. If we gave to the church as we are instructed by scripture, we could deal with any needs that arise in this body of believers. Can you imagine what that would be like? That’s what the first church did. We have to be willing to give sacrificially to make sure our family has their needs covered. That’s what a family does. This isn’t about handing out money to who ever walks in here or contacts us demanding we give them money just because we are a church. We have helped with rent, mortgage payments, construction, major appliances and medical issues for those among us. And
for our extended family in Kenya, we have sent money that has literally prevented people from starving. Does that mean we will only help Christians? No, we have on occasion helped people that God has led to us and the Holy Spirit has confirmed that we should help. But that is not the rule, it is the exception. Just last week we put a guy in a hotel to keep him from being outside during the coldest few days on record. Can you imaging being outside on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning? Pastor Eric in Kenya gave some of the money to two muslim families who were very grateful. He was going back to talk to them about Jesus and the reason they were open to that is because the money showed that he loved them. Let me say this while I’m here. I’m not saying the church is your personal savings account and if you’ve given, you can just come get whatever you want whenever you want it. But we will be here for you, in your time of need. Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We cannot neglect coming together, because that is how we stir each other up to love and good works. This is how we invest in each other. This isn’t easy, it requires a commitment. It is like a savings account, you have to keep putting in a little bit every chance you get, so that when you need it, it will be there. You will be surprised at how quickly it grows if you are committed to doing it.
Have you invested yourself here at FUEL? Have you deposited into relationships with others? Have you been there for others during their time of crisis, both financially and spiritually? Do you know your spiritual gifts and place of service in the body of Christ? Do you just expect for others to serve your needs without any relational deposits into their lives? There are several verses that illustrate what I’m saying. What you want to receive from others, you should be willing to give to them first. Matthew 7:12 “12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Paul as he was encouraging the Corinthian church in their giving for the church in Jerusalem said this to them. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 “13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” When you have an abundance, you should be willing to give, so that when you have little you can receive. Paul says this is fair. Wether you have the ability to give much or little, is not the issue. It is the fact that you have determined to apply this kingdom principle to your life. Philippians 4:18-19 “18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and
pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” The promise of God supplying your needs is based on you supplying the needs of others. This kingdom principal occurs over and over in the Word of God. The question is: Are you going to follow it? Or are you just going to wait till you have a need and then get offended that no one wanted to help you? So let me ask that opening question again. When it comes to your relationship with your church family, have you made sure that you’ve made more deposits than withdrawals? Is your account in balance or are you spiritually overdrawn? Have you ever even considered looking at your account? Are you an active part of the church body or are you still on the outside looking in? What do your actions say? When people here at FUEL think about you, what do you believe are their first thoughts? Do they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love them? How do you know? Have you been there for them when they needed someone? Are you someone they could call if they needed help? Do they even know your name? Do you know theirs? Are you connected enough to even know when there is a need among the people here? If we are not showing love to each other, how can we possibly show love to those outside these walls? We call ourselves the church, but are the gates of hell prevailing against us? Are we able to destroy the work of the enemy in each others lives with the love of God that is at work in us? Are we known by love? Have you been offended by what I’ve said today? If so, I’d challenge you to ask yourself why? Are you willing to ask yourself the hard questions and then answer them honestly?
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