The Oasis of the Church
Psalm 63:1 ¶
« A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. »
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my
flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy
power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Intro: This year,
our theme is “Build My Church”. We have looked at the:
·
Origin of the Church
·
Organism of the Church
·
Ordinances of the Church
·
Offices of the Church
·
Opportunities of the Church
·
Obligations of the Church
·
Oppositions of the Church
But this morning, I want to look at the Oasis of the Church.
Would you agree with me that the Church should be an Oasis?
·
Psalms
122:1 I was glad when they said unto
me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
In our TEXT, David is acknowledging that the sanctuary has a
pull – an attraction to him as a thirsty man.
1. Notice
the Priority – early will I seek thee
2. Notice
the Pull – my flesh longeth for thee
3. Notice
the Problem – in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is (we shouldn’t
find water in the world!)
IT IS AN OASIS
BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE…
I. Saints are
Edified
·
1
Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue
edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
After being beat down and mocked and laughed at and
ridiculed all week, it is a blessing to come to church and to be surrounded
with other Christians that believe the Bible and receive some encouragement.
II. Scriptures are
Explained
·
2 Timothy
4:2 Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine.
One of the key aspects of the local church is the teaching
and preaching of the Word of God that will help us grow.
·
1 Peter
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:
The word “sincere” here means unmixed, unadulterated, pure, in persons: without dishonest intent,
This is why CHURCH
ATTENDANCE EVERY SERVICE is so important!!!
The world has ALL DAY EVERY DAY to explain their agenda,
their philosophy, their beliefs, their demands.
It is at church that the child of God gets to hear GOD’S
AGENDA, GOD’S PHILOSOPHY, GOD’S BELIEFS, GOD’S DEMANDS.
·
Hebrews
10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
“FORSAKING” – TO LEAVE, TO ABANDON
III. Servants are
Enlisted
Throughout the week, believers are busy working, providing
for their family.
We get caught up in the rat-race and volunteering to help
everybody and fulfill requests of our friends.
AT CHURCH, WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE SHOULD BE BUSY ABOUT THE
FATHER’S BUSINESS!
It is at church that we are reminded of our priorities and
it helps us re-calibrate our obligations.
It was seeing God in the Temple that got Isaiah’s attention
in Isaiah 6.
Isaiah said, “Here am I Lord, send me!”
IT WAS AT CHURCH THAT
I DEDICATED MY LIFE TO SERVE THE LORD AT THE AGE OF 15.
IT WAS AT CHURCH THAT
GOD CALLED ME TO PREACH AT THE AGE OF 21.
IT WAS AT CHURCH THAT
GOD BURDENED MY HEART FOR THE MISSION FIELD OF SOUTH AFRICA.
IV. Sinners are Evangelized
·
1
Corinthians 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.
