The most beautiful place on earth
What is the most beautiful place on Earth?
It is the church. Specifically Sunday morning in the church, & being gathered there with God's people. What is going on on Sunday morning when believers gather together across the globe... What is the Church doing when we gather together? And, what are we are proclaiming to the world?
The church is the most beautiful place in the world.
Starting in Genesis, let's take a look at redemptive history, where see yet another theme in the Bible.We never want to elevate a theme above the theme of Jesus and God: redemptive plan for you and for me for his glory. Nevertheless, we can see the elegance of scripture as we study some of the obvious themes in the Bible.
This theme is God's dwelling place. Where does God dwell? In the beginning of Genesis, he created the heavens and the earth. And he dwelt with Adam and Eve. They walked through the garden. They talked to one another. God, reigned from the Heavens & the earth was his footstool. And then omething happened. Adam sinned. God imposed a curse on the world. And that relationship was broken.
So when do we next see God dwelling with his people? It happens a number of years later all he way to give or take about 1,400 years (211 BC) when God instructed Moses build a tabernacle and I will dwell there with my people. Fast forward give or take for 500 years. Tabernacle done. They're out of the wilderness. They weren't using it now that they were dwelling in the land.
And so God instructs Solomon to build a temple. And what happened there? God dwelt with his people. Special event yhen he would come down to the temple. His shikina glory would appear on the day of atonement. It was God with his people and it was amazing. Fast forward to the New Testament. God's presence was clear and obvious. In whom? The God man who tabernacled amongst his people; Jesus Christ. God living on the earth with his people. And yet, he died. He rose rom the grave. He ascended into Heaven
Where is God's presence on earth now?
Where does he dwell today? inside of his people. You and I are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Is that a big deal? Yeah, it's a very big deal. Consider what Paul wrote to the Ephesians "about the local assembly of saints" so that we can consider what is going on on Sunday morning when you and I gather. [And further, this along with Scripture shows we are to gather, that it isnt optional].
Ephesians 1:22-23: And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
What? Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The church gathered is God's presence on earth. The individual has God dwelling in him or her together. It is a profoundly special event. But there's mord from Ephesians, specifically chapter 2. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellov citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation, the teaching of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
Think Matthew 6:18. "In whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
We are a part of that theme reveals of God's dwelling right now. God chooses to dwell on the earth in his people individually and collectively. And what do we do when we gather together? Ephesians ch 3: "and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places this was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord."
What is the Church doing when we gather together? We are proclaiming to angels and to demons that Jesus Christ is risen from the grave. Jesus Christ is King. Jesus Christ reigns. That is what we are doing when we gather together. And that is why Sunday morning in God's house with God's people is the most beautiful place in the world.
Let's take a look at some pictures together, shall we? And as we do, I would like to ask you the question, what are they doing.
The church assembly, God has been dwelling with his people in different vays at different epochs, and now he dwells in us. And when the church gets together, it's the most beautiful thing in the world.
This assembling of the saints - we are coming to hear from God through the proclamation of his Word, to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as we partake of the Lord's Supper or we witness a baptism, that get to sing praise Jesus to the God who has taken dead sinners and made them alive. That we are proclaiming to the athorities Jesus is King.
When we learn something about God, what he is doing, that should show itself playing out in some way. If we really believe Sunday morning's the most beautiful place in the world, the most special activity on the planet it is transpiring. Shouldn't that show up in the way we worship in the way we do some sort of service that it's decent and in order? That it's higher, loftier, and shouldn't it perhap manifest itself in ways we apply theology. We express this embodied totality in corporate worship through our shared symbols, our ights and rituals, through our posture and gestures as we bow, kneel, or lift our hands through our actions. Whether/when stand or sit in unison or pour out our hearts musically in congregational song and our [respectful] clothing belongs on this list, by it we express to God and those around us what this occasion means to us. This is why [not just comjng to church, what we do there, but also] when we come to church, our clothing matters.
How we do church, how we present ourselves at church says something about what we think about church [&our respect & reverence to God].
I'l never forget a number of years ago visiting a casual church, casual worship. And later that same lay, there was going to be a wedding. And the same people who cam basically in flipflops and shorts to church they appeared at the wedding all dressed up(!). Why? Because they thought that that eas a formal occasion. They thought tha was a big deal versus what they were thinking about church [:/].
[Our hearts matter, but] recognize that clothing speaks. It says something to the world and it says something to ourselves. You [even] feel differently when you wear a suit and tie than when you go all casual. You feel like, "This is a big eal. This is kind of important." By the way you get treated differently at the airport when you get dressed up, don't you? Why? Because your clothing speaks.
While there's different socioeconomic statuses, you should simply do you best to present yourself in your culture with your means so that it somehow matches what you are doing. Wear he best you've got; do your best to present yourselves to the King.
Because we are participating in the best and most beautiful activity in the most beautiful local church on the planet. (1)
We're not talking of building design, we're talking about God and His people. The Church.
And there's much more we need to understand about that, what we do at church, and our place & purpose in it.
One way we follow our purpose as a member of the local church is to help & provide for one another. Being good stewardship of the money he has given us, for godly purposes.
Acts 2:44-45
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
Acts 4:32-35
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
"Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed". 1 Timothy 6:18-19
Here, as the Apostle Paul closes out his first epistle to his beloved Timothy, he explains that how believers handle their treasure is a measure of their spiritual maturity and devotion to Christ. All believers are stewards, given the responsibility to protect and manage what the Lord has entrusted to them.
In 6:18-19, the Apostle Paul gives four phrases that define that stewardship--how believers must use their resources to meet the needs of others.
First, Paul calls Timothy to instruct the church to do good. The phrase in Greek means "to do what is inherently, intrinsi- cally,and qualitatively good"and refers to doing what is noble and excellent, not what is only superficially good. It describes the most general aspect of the duty; using money to do genuinely good and noble things.
The second aspect narrows the duty further. They are to be rich in good works. God does not intend for material wealth to be hoarded or doled out sparingly. The key word is "rich," meaning "abounding' or"abundantlyfurnished." Material wealth is to be used to perform good works on behalf of others. Believers' resources are to be used to support their own families (1 Timothy 5:8), especially needy widows (1 Timothy 5:4). The leaders of the church (1 Timothy 5:17) and any believer in need (Acts 4:34-35) must also be provided for.
And all such sharing is not to be minimal but to fully cover the need and beyond.
A third phrase sharpens the Apostle's focus still more as it zeroes in on the motive. As they meet the needs of others, those with money must be generous. The word means "bountiful." The duty involves meeting the needs of others beyond minimums, and that requires a generous, unselfish heart. Believers are to act toward others with the same generous love that moved God to act so richly toward them. Like the Macedonians commended by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, they must give sacrificially from an open and unrestrained heart.
The final phrase states that the duty of the rich is to be ready to share. There must be mutual care and concern arising from the common life believers share.
Christians must live their lives in light of eternity.
Those who invest in eternity show that they have taken hold of that which is life indeed. Real life, life indeed, is eternal life. Christians must live their lives in light of eternity. (2)
Get a solid, proper overview of the Church, your place in it, and on church matters, here, as well as help finding a church if you've not been attending nor are a member at one.
God bless
(1) from Church Matters, Fortis
(2) from "Handling Treasure", by J. MacArthur
