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Show STRIVING TO A CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE Ephesians 5 :27 might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5: 27) "That he " "If you want to have the kind of a Church Like the kind of the Church you like, You needn't slip you clothes in a grip And start You'll It's on a only long, long hike. find what you left behind,' For there's nothing really new, a knock at yourself when you knock at your church: It isn't the Church-it's When everything seems Page -1- you! to be going wrong, everywhere brewing: When prayer meeting, young people's meeting, and all. Seem simmering slowing stewing, Just take a look at yourself and say, "What's the use of being blue?' Are you doing your "bit" to make things And trouble seems "hit?" It isn't the Church-it's you. It's really strange sometimes, That When things we know, don't you go as well as they do, think of the little-the very small mite- We add to the work of the few. round, and complain of what's done, We sit and stand And do very little but fuss! Page -2- Are we bearing our to bear? It isn't the I share of the burdens Church, its us!" it to himself, a present might ft[5,Tj7 glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. In his paraphrase The Message, Eugene Peterson said the same thing "Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best our other, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness." The apostle Paul was truing to clarify for the believers at Ephesus what the Church really ought to be like by comparing the spiritual to that which is earthly. In fact, He reminds us that neither the family nor the church was of human but divine origin. That its goals is "That he " Page -3- please this world but to please God is the other worldly. And that it is to possess certain unwavering not to characteristics. The church has beliefs well as as behaviors. the Unfortunately, JJ church at Ephesus much the church of today, tom apart and floundering because we live in a • IS by sin. Sin maybe natural but living holy and Godly lives is supernatural. Thus, if we are to world tom and fractured believe and behave as "Christ did in relationship to His Father, we have to give up our own ways. I read somewhere Your ways are not my ways." We open The Holy Bible and learn to walk not by sight but by faith. Since the church is not ours, even worthy the church has to strive to be of Godly acceptance. Page -4- Maybe it is good thing that many of gather in centers or fellowship not churches. a God wants not a For church that is left her first love, just have a good name, is heretical in teaching, based on false doctrine, is dying, is lukewarm but is under discipline, is rich in love, is based on truth, is prophetic, is loyal, is alive and well. Notice the text says God wants to present to Himself a glorious church. We must strive to be spot wrinkle or or church without a blemish. Y ou remember the one who was possessed. demon The Bible say that he fell in the fire and cut himself but when he met Jesus a change came over him. made new, walked in the light, striving to be ready when the bridegroom He was came. And when He came, he had Page -5- enough oil so that His lamp was trimmed and burning. Everywhere he went he was dazzling like white silk and radiating with holiness. It will be too late to get ready when the train is pulling out of the station. You have be @tJ0 ready when He S·lXty-se%tDh years IS a I ong tune to work for the Master in His vineyard. comes. · · question is, have you been working in the kingdom for the King, striving to The be His church without spot or wrinkle and are you ready to be presented to Him a glorious church? Jesus died to cleanse us of all our sin. give us victory over death and the grave. He is coming back to take us to live with Him for all eternity. "That he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or He rose to Page -6- any such thing; but that it should be " blemish. without and holy Page -7- |
