## Our One Supreme Purpose

## Acts 26:16

Anniversaries by their nature are times of reflection on the past. That is fine, but we can't live there. We live in the present and look to the future. Today we celebrate 39 years as an organized body of believers. To God be the glory for all He has accomplished in and through this church. Perhaps in the past 39 years someone has asked the question, "Why?" Surely there are more than enough churches in Bloomington. Why does Grace Baptist Temple exist? What is the reason...what is the purpose...

(Acts 26:16) "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;" (Phil 3:13) "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"

- We really have only ONE purpose
- We really have only ONE plan
- We really have only ONE program

…That one thing is to exalt Jesus Christ

I. We Seek To Exalt The Lord Through Our Worship.

A. We should worship through the music.

(John 4:23) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."

1. Whether it is joining in with a congregational hymn or chorus.

2. Or if it is listening as a choir or someone else shares a special number.

3. When we open our hearts, our minds and our mouths to Him in worshipful expression in song and word, we are showing our love towards Him.

4. It has nothing to do with whether we sing in tune and on key…

5. It has nothing to do with talent…

6. It is a matter of our worship of the Lord.

(1 Cor 14:15b) "…I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

B. We should worship through the message.

1. The focal point of the service is the message from the Word of God.

2. Certainly as we listen to the Word, the Spirit of God deals with our hearts.

3. The Lord has told us the Word of God is alive…it cuts and divides our thoughts and He uses it to convict us.

4. For the lost…He uses the Word to draw all men to Himself.

5. For the believer … He uses the Word to shape and mold us into what He desires for us to become.

(1 Cor 1:18) "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

(1 Cor 1:21) "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

C. We should worship through our ministry.

1. I am talking about doing something for God…serving Him.

2. Jesus said that is how the world would know that He loved the Father.

(John 14:31) "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

3. The way we express our love to God is to obey Him and serve Him.

4. In the OT we find it time and again, 'Love the Lord thy God and walk in His ways'

(Mat 4:10b) "…for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

5. Worship must precede work.

6. Before we can be worthy workers, we must become willing worshippers.

7. Note: Mary and Martha

(Luke 10:42) "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

II. We Seek To Exalt The Lord Through The Demonstration of His Love.

(John 15:17) "These things I command you, that ye love one another."

(John 13:35) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

A. Lovely or Loving?

1. At times folks will comment on the auditorium or building.

2. They will say, "You have a lovely church!"

3. I appreciate the compliment, but I would much rather be known as a 'loving' church.

4. However, that will not come as easy as a new coat of paint or some redecorating.

5. It requires effort on our part.

B. It is vital if we are to exalt Jesus Christ.

1. God taught us the importance showing our love…He did it by example.

2. God gave His Son as the ultimate demonstration of His love for us.

3. Jesus gave Himself to demonstrate His love for us.

(Rom 5:8) "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

C. It is our responsibility.

1. Not just for some, but for every child of God.

2. It is for every member of Grace Baptist Temple.

3. That is what outreach is all about.

4. Every time we reach out to someone in love, we are exalting Jesus Christ.

III. We Seek To Exalt The Lord As We Communicate His Grace To Others.

A. It is the message everyone must hear.

1. There is no salvation apart from the grace of God.

2. The message that God loves us and gave His Son Jesus on Calvary that we might be saved.

3. This is the most important message in the world.

(Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

B. It has been the message of this church for the last 39 years.

(Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."

1. It is a message that isn't heard just anywhere.

2. Most of the time the gospel message is watered down and polluted with the humanistic thinking and good works.

3. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary was sufficient.

4. We either accept it or we reject it.

5. When Jesus said it is finished, He meant it… nothing is to be added and nothing can be taken away.

6. Have you trusted in the finished work of Christ for your salvation?

Come today and receive Christ as Savior

Come and unite with this local church, join with us in our desire to exalt Jesus Christ

Come today whatever the need