The Purpose of Assembling Together – Part 1
1 Peter 2:9-10
September 7, 2014
I really cannot adequately express to you how grateful I am
For the time you allotted for me to step away over the last 6 weeks.
It was a gracious gift on your part and a tremendous act of love
In which you willingly sacrificed yourself for my benefit.
I can only echo for you the same sentiment that the apostle Paul
Had for the Philippians after they sacrificed of themselves for him.
Philippians 4:15-20 “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
I also can’t express enough how grateful I am to be back with you.
13 years in the ministry has a way of making a person soft
When it comes to manual labor.
It is good to be back.
One of the blessings of being out for 6 weeks
Was that I was able to attend 5 different churches.
(Seeing other churches operate is not a luxury a preacher gets too often.)
And as we went, I had the privilege of being able to sit back
As an observer and take an outside perspective of other congregations
As they assembled together.
Some were great, some weren’t
Some sermons were great, some weren’t
But more than that I was able to take an outside view
Of why they were gathering together.
It appeared some gathered to be trendy
It appeared some gathered to be popular
It appeared some gathered to be faithful
(And certainly my initial observations can be wrong)
So I’m not going to pick on any of them this morning.
But it did cause me to wonder, why do we gather?
When we get up on Sunday morning and gather together here in this church, what is the reason we do that?
And the real question would be, what would God
(who sees our heart) say was the reason that we gathered?
Jesus looked at the seemingly faithful attendance and ceremonial worship of the Pharisees and said:
Matthew 15:7-9 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”
“They think they are worshipers, but they aren’t.
They think they love the word of God, but they don’t.”
That is a strong indictment.
And we are reminded that is possible to please God when we gather, and it is possible to displease God when we gather.
Israel taught us that.
TURN TO: Isaiah 1:10-15
• Your sacrifices are many, but I don’t like them
• Your attendance is perfect, but I wish it wasn’t
• Your offerings are continual, but they are worthless
• Your incense is rising, but it is repulsive
• Your festivals are many, but I hate them
• Your prayers are offered, but I won’t listen
It is safe to say that they were doing it wrong.
And the result of doing it wrong was that not only did they offend God,
But they actually forfeited the benefit of having God hear their prayers.
TURN TO: Jeremiah 7:1-16
Here the children of Israel lived however they wanted 6 days of the week, and then came to the magic worship service were everything was instantly forgotten.
Sure you lived like a heathen, but you went to church and so all is good.
Obviously it wasn’t.
The consequence there being destruction,
And God refusing even to hear prayers concerning them.
TURN TO: Amos 5:21-23
“I hate” “I reject” “I will not accept” “I will not even look” “Take away from Me” “I will not even listen”
• God hated that they met together
• God refused to take their offering
• God would not even look at their gifts
• And God wanted them to quit singing because He hated it
TURN TO: Malachi 1:10-11
There God is actually looking to ordain someone.
• He isn’t looking for a preacher to preach
• He isn’t looking for a song leader to direct
• He isn’t looking for a soloist to sing
• He’s looking for a janitor to lock the door!
Why? “I am not pleased with you…nor will I accept an offering from you.”
Are you getting the point?
IT IS NOT A GIVEN THAT GOD IS PLEASED
JUST BECAUSE WE ALL SHOWED UP
And if God is not pleased, we are in a world of trouble!
• Israel did not please God
• Israel did not even accept the Messiah
• And Israel was broken off
The heavy call is that the church do much better than Israel did.
Romans 11:17-22 “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”
And so it is obvious that
We should take our assembling together very seriously.
WHY DID YOU COME THIS MORNING?
WHY DO WE GATHER?
(And a look at the church in America prompts some honest questions)
• Did you come to be entertained? (You just like the music, etc.)
• Did you come to be blessed? (God will do me good if I go)
• Did you come to boost your reputation? (Other’s need to see me there)
• Did you come to worship or hear the word? (You want to hear from God)
• Did you come out of habit? (You just always come)
• Did you come for some sort of social fulfillment? (Your friends are here)
• Did you come because you were forced to? (You got drug here)
Why are you hear?
That is the question, and you have to answer that in your own heart.
Now over the next couple of weeks,
I’m going to give you three reasons why we gather.
Before I do that, let me just go ahead
And squash a few other reasons that are not correct.
Let me tell you why we don’t come:
1) EXTORTION
You know to use the church as a place of business
Or as a means to get ahead.
Like a politician using it as a platform to get votes.
Or as a manipulator using church as a platform to influence others.
John 2:13-16 “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”
I think it is obvious that we don’t gather here
As a place to get ahead in the world.
I tell you another reason we don’t come:
2) ENTERTAINMENT
You know people who are just looking for cutting edge fun.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that church shouldn’t be fun,
But if fun was all you went to church for,
Then you cheated God and you got cheated.
3) ENABLEMENT
Many people go to church just to be told what they want to hear
And to feel better about themselves.
How do you think Joel Olsteen does so good?
But I think we saw in Jeremiah 7
That the church doesn’t exist to make sinners feel comfortable.
4) EVANGELISM
The church also doesn’t meet for the purpose of saving the lost.
The attendance of lost people in the church service
Is an American phenomenon, not a Biblical one.
Acts 5:12-13 “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.”
Do you know why they wouldn’t associate with them?
Because God had just struck Ananias and Sapphira dead
For lying to the Holy Spirit.
People outside were saying, “Don’t go to that church, you might die.”
That’s a far cry from “Let’s go to that church, it is fun.”
The worship service was never intended to be
A hip and trendy baiting field for lost people.
This notion of trying to invite non-believers to attend our services
Is the result of lazy and disobedient Christians who thought instead of going and preaching the gospel, it would be much easier just to invite them and to let the preacher do it.
DON’T MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING.
Someone will say, “The preacher said we aren’t supposed to reach the lost.”
That is not what I am saying.
Certainly one of the main purposes of the church is to reach the lost.
But we aren’t talking about the purpose of the church,
We are talking about the purpose of why we gather as a church.
And while we do exist to take the gospel to the ends of the earth,
We do not gather for the purpose of evangelism.
SO WHY DO WE GATHER?
Well, I’m glad you asked. There are three reasons
And I’m going to go ahead and give them all to you right now.
• Exaltation (To Praise God)
• Exhortation (To Encourage One Another)
• Exposition (To Have the Scripture Explained To Us)
Let’s start with the first one: EXALTATION
And with that we look at 1 Peter 2:9-10
(READ: 1 PETER 2:9-10)
Now I don’t want to take you all through all the truths of 1 Peter,
But you should know it was a letter written to persecuted Christians.
They had been scattered for their faith,
And Peter is writing to tell them how to suffer Biblically.
And part of that is to praise God.
Now hopefully you notice that verse 9 begins with the word “But”
Obviously we are contrasting here.
1 Peter 2:7-8 “This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.”
Peter just spoke of the reality and fate of all non-believers.
They will stumble over Christ and they will be destroyed for it.
“But you are”
There is the contrast.
And Peter lists 6 very important realities of the Christian life.
You have to see these, because they serve as the motive for our praise.
“But you are:
1) A Chosen Race
2) A Royal Priesthood
3) A Holy Nation
4) A People for God’s Own Possession
5) Vs. 10 You are the People of God
6) Vs. 10 You have Received Mercy
Those are 6 unbelievable benefits that are yours as a Christian.
Now, let me show you where Peter got such a list.
Exodus 19:1-6 “In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
When God called Israel out of Egypt
He made an unbelievable offer to them.
Not only had He already mercifully called and chosen and delivered them,
BUT NOW HE OFFERED TO BE EXCLUSIVE TO THEM.
I’m offering to be your God, and you to be My people.
Obviously, to be considered the very people of God
Is an unfathomable benefit.
Now, you know the story.
Every time Israel had the opportunity to reject that promise, she did.
• Time after time Israel went after other gods.
• And her rebellion culminated the crucifixion of Jesus.
And the opportunity to be the exclusive people of God
Became a missed opportunity.
Israel was broken off
They will not again regain that status until they turn to Christ.
Peter says that this opportunity has now been given to the church.
You now have the opportunity to be the exclusive people of God.
And look at all God did for you:
“But you are a chosen race”
Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”
We don’t have time to go all through it, but chosen means chosen.
(Just like when you played kickball as a kid)
You didn’t choose God, He chose you.
“A royal priesthood”
This means that God then promoted you.
A priest had greater access to God than any other person.
No one came as close to God as a priest did.
And not only did He grant you intimacy,
But He also granted authority, since you are a “royal” priest.
“A holy nation”
“holy” means “set apart”
He took you and made you different
He pulled you out of the crowd and distinguished you
“A people for God’s own possession”
This speaks of His purchase of you.
He possesses you because He purchased you.
He bought you with the spotless blood of His Son.
“for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God”
That is “He endorsed you”
• He isn’t ashamed to call you His child
• He isn’t ashamed to be called your God
• He wants the world to know that you are His, and He is yours
“you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”
And He did all this when you most certainly did not deserve it.
Ephesians 2:11-13 “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called ” Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
I know we covered those fast, but let me put them all together for you.
Everything Peter mentions in these two verses is about
God taking you when you were unworthy,
And then seizing every possible opportunity
To express His love for you and to make that love known.
He left no doubt before anyone how much He loves you.
It really depicts a marriage scene.
• I chose Carrie as the woman I wanted to spend my life with
• I brought her closer to myself (as God does a priest)
• I asked her to be separated from every other
• I asked her to be mine and mine alone
• I called her by my name as one of my people
(I suppose you can argue if that was merciful on my part or not)
Just as I am proud to let the world know that Carrie is my wife,
There is nothing more I can do to say it.
So it is with God.
He has gone over, under, around, and through
Making you His exclusive child.
And He has let the world know.
You are blessed by God.
• DOES EVERYONE SEE THAT?
• DOES ANYONE ARGUE WITH THAT?
Because here comes the point, look at the end of verse 9:
“so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who as called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
• He did that so that you would praise Him!
• He did that so you would broadcast His great virtue!
• He did that so you would make known how excellent He is!
HE EXPECTS PRAISE.
And can I remind you that this is why we come?
We come to praise Him!
And certainly we praise Him everywhere,
But we especially do it here in the midst of the assembly.
Psalms 35:18 “I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.”
Psalms 40:9-10 “I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”
Psalms 107:32 “Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.”
Psalms 116:12-14 “What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD. I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.”
Psalms 149:1 “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.”
It is obvious that when we gather together, it is to praise the Lord!
It is absolutely mind blowing the number of people
Who will attend churches across America this morning,
And then refuse to sing when they get there.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
TO REFUSE PRAISE TO THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE?
“I praise Him in my heart, but I don’t sing out loud”
That doesn’t count!
Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”
“Oh, but I don’t sing well”
It’s not about how well you sing, it’s about how much He deserves it!
TURN TO: Psalms 150
• Where to Praise Him? “in His sanctuary…in His mighty expanse”
• Why to Praise Him? “for His mighty deeds…His excellent greatness”
• How to Praise Him? “trumpet, harp, dancing, instruments, loud cymbals”
• Who to Praise Him? “everything that has breath”
Listen, it is a tragedy that this world does not praise God.
In fact, they are under judgment for it.
Romans 1:21 “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
But it is an even bigger tragedy that so many of God’s people
Go to God’s house on Sunday and still don’t praise God.
• God chose us
• God drew us to Himself
• God separated us the world
• God made us His own
• God calls us His people
• God gave us mercy
And for that we “proclaim the excellencies of Him”
I may not sing on key, but I’m sure gonna sing loud!
Psalms 100 “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”
When you enter God’s courts, how do you enter?
“with praise”
“bless His name”
If you fail to do that, you are missing the fundamental reason
For why we gather.
Psalms 117 “Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!”
God’s mercy is great to us, He deserves to be praised for that.
Chris Tomlin sings a song which says,
“How can I keep from singing your praise?”
That’s a good question.
When we gather a believers praise ought to be our common language.
Psalms 84:1-4 “How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah.”
Those in the house of God are always praising!
And yet, that is not what happens so much of the time.
People refuse to sing – People refuse to praise
Maybe they don’t sing well
Maybe they don’t like the song
Maybe they don’t like the music
And all of those reasons are insulting to the God who deserves praise.
“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised”
He told the people in Malachi’s day:
Malachi 1:11 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.”
God deserves it.
THAT IS WHY WE MEET.
• It’s not to make you happy
• It’s not to entertain you
• It’s not so you can feel important
• It’s not to boost your social life
We gather here on the Lord’s Day because above all
We want to tell the Lord how much we love Him
And we want to praise Him because He is excellent!
If we miss that, we miss the point of why we gather.
Hopefully that praise spills over into your daily life
And you proclaim His excellencies to the world in evangelism.
But it most certainly should occur here.
If we don’t get anything correct, it should be our praise.
I’m going to close with a time when God really spanked me.
A few years ago our church was invited to a singing over at Lakeside Baptist church on a Saturday night.
There were only a handful of people there.
And as I sat there and looked at their few numbers and imagined what their offering might be and just how able they would be to do some of the things we think churches are supposed to do.
I actually (in my arrogance) asked God, “Why do they still meet here, using up all their resources just to keep the doors open, instead of joining in somewhere else?”
God answered sternly and abruptly.
“I’ll tell you what they are doing here, they are praising Me!”
GOD IS DELIGHTED WHEN WE PRAISE HIM!
We can have all the programs
We can have all the ministries
We can be a well-oiled machine
But if we forget the high calling of praising God
We are totally missing the point for why we gather at all.
We become like the church at Ephesus who had great doctrine,
But they had left their first love.
And God was about to close the doors on that place,
Because He has no use for an orthodox church that fails to praise Him.
I don’t know why you come…
I don’t know why you came…
But I know why you should have come, and that is to praise God.
Now, since the singing portion of our service is over,
We are going to do our invitation a little differently,
And instead of having an invitation hymn,
We are going to have another song of praise.
If you didn’t enter His courts with praise,
I at least want to give you the chance to exit them that way,
And from here on out, may be get it right.
Now, “Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!”
