“ Charge to the Church ”

 I Chronicles 28:20,21

Introduction

• What do we mean by “Charge to the church?”
• The word “charge has several different meanings. The meaning in particular here are these 1) To give a task or duty to someone (In this case the church) 2) something given to someone to take care of.
• This sermon is a message to the church that reminds the members what their duty (task) is as a child of God and a member of this body in Christ.
• The pastor is responsible for the church and how it operates and functions as a whole, protection of the sheep that God has entrusted to him, and to feed the members spiritually with the word of God. The pastor is also responsible for the souls that come to the church, and visit or join.
• The church members are responsible for taking care of the pastor and one another guarding the body of Christ and protecting it from those that are without (Outside the membership).

 

I. What is our “duty” as a church?

  A) Establish your (individual) heart first

• Is this something I feel that God wants us to do…
• Note in verse 20… David here is encouraging his son Solomon and instructing him how to make it work for the Lord…

1. “…Be strong” (Do not give up when trouble comes)
2. “…good courage” (Be brave, protect your church, have faith in it’s future )
3. “ …and do it: (get busy and “do it”)
4. “ …fear not” (Don’t be afraid when Satan attacks the church, or the pastor)
5. “… nor be dismayed (lose your spirit): Do not lose your spirit! Keep excited!

• Why? “…for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”

  B) You have a duty to your sending church

• You must stand firm on the doctrine (Bible teachings) of this church sending you.
• Ephesians 4:14… That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, (don’t act like children who’s mind jumps from thought to thought) and carried about with every wind of doctrine,(Don’t do or believe everything the other churches are doing) by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• You must protect the name and it’s people.

  C) You have a duty to your pastor

• In our text of I Chronicles 28:21… And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, (For all members)

1. Support him by coming to every church service…“even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God:”
2. Support him by working in the church and using your God given talents… “and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service:”
3. Support him at his every command… “all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.” 

  D) You have a duty to one another

• Colossians 3:12-17… Forbearing (be patient with) one another,
• “ and forgiving one another… Why? even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”
• “…let the peace of God rule in your hearts”
• ABOVE ALL… in verse 17… And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

  E) You have a duty to the world

• Your duty as a church is to seek the lost… Luke 19:10… For the Son of man (Jesus Christ born of the flesh, Mary) is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
• You must be busy seeking lost deaf/hearing souls! Go on visitation, pass out tracts or cards, hold revivals and special activities to draw them in.

  F) You have a duty to God

• Now look into I Chronicles 29:1 and note the later part of that verse… for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.”
• This church you are organizing is for God not you or any other man.
• It is to bring glory and honor to God in every thing said and done.

 

II. Are you willing to consecrate your service?

  A) What does consecrate mean?

• Look into verse 5 … And who then is willing to consecrate (separate to be holy) his service this day unto the LORD?”
• The word “consecrate means… to declare as holy; set apart as holy; devote to the service of God.
• Everything we do as a church individually is to be with holiness. We are to separate ourselves from the world, it’s ideas, philosophies, programs, agenda, or anything that it propagates (tries to pass out, or hand out to us).

  B) Christ must be the head of the church

• Colossians 1:15-18… And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (final authority on everything).
• In other words… Christ is the reason you sing, the reason you are patient with others, the reason for your tithes, the reason for your coming to church, He is the reason for everything you do and say in your church.

III.  Is the pastor qualified?

  A) Choose one who is great

• Matthew 20:25-28…
• Note verse 26… But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;”
• These verses are telling us this…The world chooses one that is to rule over them and force many things upon them and they must obey or be punished.
• But God’s way of ruling his house is to have the pastor/minister be a servant to the people.
• The term “whosoever will be great among you” does not mean whoever is the most popular. It means that whosoever is called of God, has more knowledge of God and His word, and whosoever would be the best example in your church to lead the church.
• A minister is one who “aides (helps)” another person. The pastor is to help the church with it’s duties that God has commanded them as a body of Christ, with Christ being head of the church.

  B) What are the pastor’s duties to his sheep?

• I Peter 5:1-4…Here is what God expects of his bishop (pastor)

1. In verse 2… “Feed the flock of God…
2. “…taking the oversight thereof…” Making sure that everyone is doing what God wants them to do, make sure the needs of the church are met.
3. “…not by constraint(force), but willingly;” Do not force anything upon them but allow them to do it with a willing heart for the glory of God.
4. Verse 3…“ Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Don’t shout orders as a king and then do nothing to help…be an example to your sheep so that they will want to follow.

C) How and who is to lead

• The pastor (a man) is to lead… always!
• Many churches today are having women lead, teach, and lead in songs.
• This is against God’s law I Timothy 2:1-13… Note verses 11)… Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp(to hold by force) authority over the man, but to be in silence.
• Here is one reason why… 13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
• Of the twelve apostles how many were women? None.
• Women were not even allowed to speak in church at that time.
• The person who fills the pulpit must be “holy men of God” II Peter 1:21 …For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
• Let it also be known that a man that steps into the pulpit must be called of God to lead in music or in bible teachings.

What happens when the church follows His Word

A) Give offerings willingly

• In our text of I Chronicles 29:6,7… They gave of their offerings willingly.
• God does not need your money, the church does, and the ministry does.
• God doesn’t want you to give because you feel that you must.

B) The people rejoiced

• Read verse 9…Then the people rejoiced, Why? “…because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD:
• God judges each person according to their own heart.
• Is it perfect? No, only through Jesus Christ can we be presented as perfect.

C) Thanked the Lord and praise Him

• Read verse 13…
• You will want to praise Him (God)

 

YOU SHOULD BE A CHURCH THAT STANDS FOR GOD, NOT MAN!

 

 

 

 

 

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