I. An interesting story of Babe Ruth is often told “his team was losing and the Babe was up to bat with men on base. The manager told him to bunt, but ignoring the order, he lashed out at the next pitch and hit a home run. He came trotting into the dugout after rounding the bases and said ‘Wasn’t that great?” The manager replied “It was great alright, but not what I told you to do and I am fining you $50.00”.
II. I wonder how many of us are going to be fined* by God for not following orders? Now, there’s some great work going on, and some of the work is very effective and very successful, but I still wonder how many of them are following the orders from God.
III. Let’s compile a list of what the “CHURCH” is doing:
Marriage Funerals Communion Baptizing Confirmations
Bible Study Preaching Support Missions Dedication of Children
Praying Visitation (widows, orphans, sick, afflicted, unsaved)
Dinners Take care of needy Fund Raisers Education
Sunday School Mid-Week services
IV. Let’s look at our text and see what Peter has to say … 1 Peter 1
1-2 Introduction to the epistle
3-5 Peter reminds us of our great salvation all from God through
Christ’s death and resurrection
6-9 It’s not so easy, this life of a believer. Heaviness, Trial
of faith BUT Glory at His appearing
10-11 Salvation, hidden for centuries, but not made manifest
12 Now here’s what the Church is to be doing:
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
*fined by God – (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.)
Not fined but a loss of rewards.
⇛ return to Church ⇛