Internal Systems #4
The Anatomy of the Church
The Internal Systems #4
 
I’ve always been interested in science and medicine and all the amazing things that God has done in creation. 
 
I know we all gripe about how doctors make, but for what they have to put up with, it’s understandable.  I heard about a man who showed up at the emergency room complaining that he couldn’t straighten up. 
 
When the doctor came in and asked what was going on, he explained that he had gotten up as normal that morning, took a shower, and got dressed and all of a sudden he couldn’t straighten up.  No warning; no symptoms, just all of a sudden he could no longer straighten up.
 
The doctor took a quick look at him and sat down on the little stool.  The man said, what do you think? Is it serious? 
 
'Well, the doctor replied, “I think it would help a great deal if you would undo the third buttonhole of your shirt from the top button of your pants.”
 
But sometimes the doctor’s are the one is who confused:
 
Here are some of the bloopers doctors have written about Patients:
 
“On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.”
“The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.”
 
“The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.”
 
“Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.”
 
“The patient refused autopsy. “
 
“Patient's medical history has been unremarkable with only a 40-pound weight gain in the past three days.”
 
“She is numb from her toes down. “
 
“The skin was moist and dry. “
 
“Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.”
 
I want to return this morning to our thoughts about the anatomy of a church.  So far we’ve talked about the skeleton and the five major bones of our structure.
 
And then we moved into the internal systems.  Just like a human body, there is flowing through the church the components that give it life and make it like Christ. We are calling them attitudes.  So far we’ve identified 12. 
 
  • Obedience
  • Love
  • Humility
  • Unity
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Service
  • Thankfulness
  • Generosity
  • Forgiveness
  • Self Control
  • Dependence
 
Now, all of these are attitudes that must be cultivated in God's people; and when the Lord decides to bless a people, I believe these are the things He looks for.
 
I want to wrap it up with the final four this morning, so let’s get started. 
 
13. The Attitude of Flexibility
 
That is we need to be able to change. And obviously we are not talking about what we believe.  That’s why we started with the skeleton. And if you will remember, I said in regard to it that these are the non-negotiable.  We don’t ever have to worry about changing what we believe because what we believe is based on the unchanging Word of God. 
 
What God has declared, He says, is established forever in heaven.  It doesn’t matter what science discovers or what social dictates are requiring.  It’s not dependent on public opinion or fads or politics.  We aren’t changing what we believe when it is accurately rooted in the Bible. 
 
But there is a lot of other stuff in the church that causes a lot of tension and trouble because we are inflexible. 
In fact, somebody wrote a book some time ago about “The Seven Last Words of the Church.”  Do you know what they are?  “We never did it that way before”.
 
In fact, I was told about a church this week that lost members because they built a new auditorium and used chairs rather than pews and some didn’t like that so they left the church. 
 
By the way, do you know how many Baptists it takes to change a light bulb?  Change!?!?!?!
 
Let me show you a little nugget in the New Testament that speaks directly to the attitude eof flexibility. 
 
It’s in Matthew 15:1-3
 
You see, that happens a whole lot more than we would like to admit.  Churches can get piled high with traditions that get in the way of what the Word of God says to do.
 
And if we aren’t careful we will evaluate any new ministry or opportunity or approach to evangelism by how we’ve always done it rather than a simple Biblical test of acceptability. 
 
Listen:  just because you don’t like the way something is done or just because it’s not the way the church has always done it doesn’t mean that it is unscriptural. 
 
There must be in the church the attitude of flexibility.   
It’s amazing to me how many churches just keep doing the same thing they’ve always done with no results and no salvations and they are dying on the vine! 
 
They will say but we are doctrinally right.  You may be, but just because everything is lined up in a straight row doesn’t mean there is life there.  Go out to the cemetery and take a look!  All the graves are lined up perfectly but there is no life there.
 
The organization and ministry approaches of a growing congregation must be fluid.  That’s why we begin new Sunday school classes and ask people to change classrooms and accommodate growth. 
 
It’s why we use all the tools at our disposal to get the gospel message out there.  It never changes but eh ways to present it are endless.
I was reading a little story that John MacArthur, a pastor and author out in California, told about a distant relative of his wife that they used to visit at the holidays.  They would take her a little gift of cookies or something like that and visit with her for a while. 
 
He said the last time they went to see her, it was Christian season,.  Now this little lady was along-time Methodist.  John is a nondenominational, bible-teaching pastor, and she said, ""Do you have a Christmas Eve service?"
 
He said, "No, we don't have a Christmas Eve service."
 
She said, "You don't?"
 
I said, "No, we don't. We just encourage everybody to go home and be with their family and talk about the meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Lord; but we don't have a service."
 
She said, "Oh, that’s too bad." And he said she was very sad. She said, "You know, at our church, we've always had a Christmas Eve service."
 
He said, "Really?" She said, "Oh, yes."
 
He said, "Do you go?" She said, "Oh, no one goes...but we've always had a Christmas Eve service."
 
"No one goes?" I said. She closed the conversation by saying, "Oh, well, it's just too bad that you don't have a Christmas Eve service."
 
See, we are creature os habit.  Now that can be good, but it can also be bad.  Good habits will help you; bad habits are hard to break!
 
And when you get a whole collection of people together who are practicing bad habits, regardless of what God says, and you try to move them, it's amazing how resistant they can be to it. 
 
But sometimes you just have to change things so people don't get confused between routine and reality. There must be flexibility.  Hey listen:  God just may be doing a new thing! 
 
We must never let the traditions of men stand in the way of the commandments of God.
 
And by the way, I just need to insert how proud I am of this church for their flexibility.  Many of you were here when we merged the congregations.  That had all the potential of being a disaster.  But I llok back at that, now eleven years later, and just praise the Lord for the attitude on both sides of the deal that allowed it to be done in a way that brought honor to God and good to His people. 
 
And don’t miss the connection between flexibility and the ending attitude last week.  The only way we can ever be flexible is to be dependent.  It’s tough to change sometimes, but if God initiates it, God gives the grace and strength to allow us to do it also. 
 
And by the way, this attitude of flexibility is not just for the church.  It also comes down to personal life.
Let me show you an example from the life of Paul in  Acts 16
 
Now when I think about the personality of Paul I think of him as a go-getter.  I don't think he ever sat down. He just kept moving all the time.  He always had a project going on.  There was always a destination out there in front of him somewhere. 
 
And when we get to Acts 16, he's finished his ministry in Galatia and Phrygia. That's the modern-day Turkey area.  And so he decided that he’d just continue on south down into Asia.
 
That was a very significant place, a great place to minister.  The seven churches of Asia Minor that are addressed in Revelation are there.  And so he started to go there, but notice what happened in the meantime. 
 
Acts 16:6-10
 
Now, I don't know how the Holy Spirit did it, but somehow He put up a big roadblock and said, "Nope, that's not it, Paul."
 
What do you think Paul did? Did he decide he knew better and go anyway?  Did ne say, “Well I’m just a failure and following God.  I’m just going to quit.” 
 
No, he said, "We can't go south.  We've already been east. Let's go north. We’re going to Bithynia, guys.”
 
But eh Holy Spirit stepped in and said, “Not there either”.  So he said, "Well, let's see, we already been east, can't go south, can't go north.  That just leaves west. We're going west."
 
But here was one little problem with west.  There is an ocean in the way. 
So he goes to sleep, and I personally believe he went to sleep praying about where God wanted him to go.  By the way, that’s an encouragement isn’t it?  That ever happen to you?  Don’t fret about it!  I don’t know of any better way to doze off than in prayer about something that’s on your heart. 
 
Anyway, in the middle of the night, he had a vision; and there was a man of Macedonia saying, "Come over and help us." And he went, and because of his obedience, the door was opened for the western expansion of the Gospel.  And you I and are living in a Christianized European-influenced country today rather than a communist China because Paul was flexible and willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit. 
 
That's how it is in serving Christ; and the church needs that flexibility and that sense of dependence, that says, "God, we depend on You.  You lead us and we will be willing to adapt and bend and flex to be used by you.”
 
That's so important. Let me just encourage you, when things in the church shift and change and move, just pray with us that God's taken us that direction and be flexible to move with that very important attitude.
 
Then I like this next one.   
 
14. The Attitude of Growth
 
I guess maybe this is as important as anything - that we have the, flowing through us the desire to grow.
 
 
And let me just emphasize right off the bat, I’m not talking about church growth in numbers and baptisms and additions.  I’m talking about personal growth. 
 
One of the primary problems of modern church is we want to concentrate on evangelism and seeing people saved and don’t put an equal amount of energy into growing disciples. 
 
But I will remind you the Great Commission does not say, “Go get people saved and baptize them.”  Our instruction is to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. 
 
How do we do that?  Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”
 
Somehow we’ve decided if we just start the process we’ve done enough.  Our churches today are full of people who’ve begun the journey but they are without the necessary equipment to be successful in the long haul.
 
So let me remind us of a couple of key truth in regard to the attitude of growth.
 
First Peter 2:2
 
Now don’t misunderstand the analogy.  He’s not talking about milk as opposed to meat.  That analogy is used over in 1 Corinthians 3.  But that is not the emphasis here.  What he's saying here is "In the same way babies desire milk, you must desire the Word to grow."
 
Now, how much does a baby desire milk? Been around a baby lately? They will kick, scream, holler, roll their eyes, throw a tantrum till you accommodate their desire for milk. 
 
In fact, if you notice, babies only care about two things. Give them milk and then deal with the consequences.  That's the beginning and the ending of the whole matter. 
 
And what Peter is drawing to our attention is that single-minded devotion, that consuming desire that a baby has for milk to illustrate what should be the desire of a growing Christian for the Word of God. 
 
How strong is your desire for the Word? Can you take it or leave it? Are you a little bored with what's going on this morning? Are you looking at your watch, saying, "Man, I gotta get outta here.  We’re going to the lake. . .I’ve got a tee time. . .The Restaurant will be out of ham.”
 
Do you really hunger for the Word? Or is it some kind of struggle for you to make a little time in your day to have to open the Bible to read it? It is still a a constant amazement to me how many people sit or stand around the church on Sunday and Wednesday evenings while the Bible is being taught with apparently no interest in it at all. 
 
Do you really sense you're growing? I mean that's so important. Listen:  the Spirit of God works in the heart to bring us to love His Word and to grow in it. 
 
And I guess one of the things that I fear the most as pastor is that we lose our interest in the word of God and because we are so casual about it that we stop growing.
 
There are so many people who seem to just say, “I've had enough. One lesson a week is plenty.  One sermon a week is more than enough.  And by your absence at other opportunities you say, “I know enough. In fact, I really don't need to know any more than I know right now.  I’m satisfied.  I have no desire to grow in the Word.”
 
That is so contrary to what the Bible tells us about a growing Christian. 
 
It is said of Jesus that “He grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man”.
 
Peter said it in another way in second epistle, chapter 3 verse 18. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
 
Question:  If Jesus set the example for growth in His own life and we are instructed to grow, when was the last time you grew any?  What was the last fresh thing you learned about the Lord?  When was the last time you said, “You know, I’ve never seen that before.” 
 
Listen:  We're not just learning facts in a book. We're growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We're not getting to know facts. We're getting to know Him.
 
 
You see, when you're born into the family of God, 1 John 2:13 says you're a little baby, and you know the basics. 
 
But then you become a spiritual youth as the Word of God dwells in you. You're strong. You overcome the wicked one, but it doesn't end there.
 
First you know God in a simple way. Then you know doctrine, and then it says you become a spiritual father who knows Him who is from the beginning.
We're not learning to know doctrine. We're learning to know God; and the more you know God, the more the fellowship is enriching.
 
Does it not intrigue you to know that you can know God?  Does it not amaze you that you can be in a relationship with eh infinite Holy God Who created the universe? 
Does it not frustrate you to realize there are things you don’t yet know or understand about the Bible and about God?  That there are things yet to be learned and discovered? 
 
Do you have a hunger for it? Do you meditate on it? Do its truths run around in your mind? Is it your daily food? Can you say with Job that you love the Word of God more than your necessary food?
 
We ought to be growing, and you say, "Well, I've been here a long time. I know so much." Well, if you've gotten to the point where you think you know a lot, you're just at the point where you really don't know what you ought to know because the fact is you don't know nearly enough.
 
Because if you really knew what you need to know you’d know you don’t know nearly enough!
You may know a bunch of facts; but are you telling me you know God as well as you'd like to get to know Him? The attitude of growth.
 
What’s next? 
 
15. The Attitude of Faithfulness
 
1 Corinthians 4:2
 
There are an awful lot of Christians that are sort of spiritual roman candles.  They start off with a blast, but far too soon it’s all over.   They run their race like it’s a sprint when God is looking for marathoners.   There is something to be said for endurance.
 
I love our church because it has so many senior adults who have served the Lord for so long.  I just love the fact that there are so many who are still excited and still faithful to the Word of God  and the  truth of God and the the church of God and the ministry. I mean they haven't bailed out.
 
Now obviously we have a few who are stick in the mud and they’re just along for the ride and want to coast out their retirement years and do nothing. 
 
But I’m just overlooking them and going around ‘em.  I’m talking about those who never throw in the towel and never quit serving and don’t leave it to someone else to do. 
 
There are those people who teach year after year after year, Who continue to come to visitation.  They never miss prayer meeting.  They are the real stalwarts of the faith. 
 
They are the backbone of the church.  They are not driven by emotion.  It’s not based on circumstances.  It is based upon character, and character has that enduring quality.
 
There are lots of people who come to Trinity Baptist Church whenever they can, and who might even do something whenever they can; but they usually can't because they have other things that are more important. 
 
But here’s the truth:  you can’t build a great church on them.  You can only build a mediocre church on them. 
 
But then there are those who just faithfully move on and keep serving and they are faithful.  How we need that attitude of faithfulness.
 
Again, we find our example from the life of Paul. 
 
2 Timothy 4:6-8
 
He knew he was going to die.  But boy, what a a great statement!
 
You know what he's saying? "God, I can die now. I'm done. It's over. I've carried it out. I've finished the course. I've fought the fight. I've kept the faith."
 
You want to know one of the saddest things you’ll ever see?  Some old saint grow old and indifferent.  Or to see one that belongs to Christ get old and bitter. 
 
 
And sometimes you even see preachers or teachers and workers who get old, and they just get kind of sour and bitter and self-centered and you just wonder what went wrong.
 
But what a contrast there is where you find that sweet grace of growing old in a life of faithful service.  What a beautiful spirit is the attitude of faithfulness. 
 
Do you have a responsibility?  Be there.  Fulfill it.  And when God’s folks get together, be there. 
Just be there to worship consistently, to serve consistently, to pray consistently. 
 
The attitude of faithfulness.
One last one
 
16.  The Attitude of Hope
 
During WW2 an American submarine was torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat off the coast of England.  Ad distress signal was sent out from that stranded submarine.  The Allied Forces picked it up, and immediately a rescue squadron was dispatched.  When the rescue ship arrived at the scene, they found only an oil slick and some floating debris to mark the place where the sub had been attacked.
 
Divers were sent down to see if they could find any signs of life. When they got to the submarine they took out their knives and, using the handles, they began tapping on the hull.   And as they were tapping, one of them got a response from inside as someone began to tap back.  He grew excited an tapped again and again the response came.  And he noticed there seemed to be a pattern to the tapping.  And suddenly it came to him:  they were tapping in Morse code. Someone inside the sub was tapping a message in Morse code.  And as he deciphered the code, it was “Is there any hope?”
 
That is the great question the world is asking today.  And the good news of the gospel is, “Yes!! There is hope!” 
 
What a great word is the word “hope”. It means security for the future. It means we don't fear death. It means we actually look forward to what's ahead of us in life and death.
 
In fact, I love the expressions in Romans 12:12, "Rejoicing in hope."
 
That’s why when a Christian gathers for a funeral we can rejoice and praise God and not have to sorrow as those who have no hope.
 
But it’s not just about death and dying.  We live in hope.
 
Think about the impact of that.  That means we don't have to get all caught up in what's going on here.  Remember, Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven where moth and rust doth not corrupt nor thieves break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
 
So if our heart's up there hoping in eternity, our treasure's going to up there; and everything else is going to go with it. I hope you're not living for the present.  I hope you're not living for the temporal. I hope you're not living for the passing.
 
God’s people are people of hope and hope means that we are far greater in our commitment to invest in forever than we are in time.  Therefore, our energies and our thoughts and our prayers and our dreams and our visions and our money and all that we possess is only held as a means to invest in an eternal reality.
 
We live in hope. We live in the light of eternity. It's a wonderful day as we look into that future. And I daresay, not a one of us could face this world, nor would we want to, without hope.
 
We ought to thank God that He has born us again unto a living hope! 
 
I love the old hymn, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.  On Christ the solid rock I stand”.  Now the Bible tells us and science finally caught up with the Bible and verified it’s truth that life is in the blood. 
 
The songwriter picked up that thought and said, “My hope is built on the blood of Jesus”.  For the last four weeks we’ve been looking at the life system of the church.  We’ve looked at sixteen attitudes that are found in the life of Jesus, and if He is alive in your life and mine and in the life of the church, they will be found there also.  These are the things that give us life and distinguish us from the rest of the world. 
 
So as we close our look at the internal systems, let me see if I can bring it into s sharp focus. 
 
We began with obedience and ran down the list to hope.  And as I told you before, they feed off of one another and cycle together and developing one helps to mature another. 
 
Watch how this comes together at 1 John 3:3
 
Listen, if you really live for eternity, if we really have hope, then it's going to dramatically change the way you exist in time.  It is the attitudes, the life’s blood, the essence of Jesus flowing through the church, the body of Christ, that will make it what Christ wants it to be both now and for eternity. 
 
Let's bow.