THE TENT’S MOMENT
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, June 20, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
THE TENT’S MOMENT
By Michael D. O’Neal……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church…… Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 17:1-12
Text: 1 Chronicles 17:5,12
1 Chronicles 17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
1 Chronicles 17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
Introduction: David was not allowed to build a house for the Lord. It was not his time, and it was not his task. There was a specific time for the Lord to dwell in tents. However, there DID come a time later, when the Lord provided for a house to be built for his name, and it was magnificent.
In this series of messages, I have been comparing tents with the local church. The greatest church planter of all time was also a tentmaker, and I believe that was by divine appointment.
The local church is here for now. It serves a purpose. It has a time.
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NEEDED
I. UNTIL THE SPIRIT OF GOD COMPLETES THE LORD’S BODY
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Not all of the world is going to be saved, but there will come a time when the last soul is saved before Jesus returns. You and I don’t know when that will be or who that will be. Until that time arrives, though:
A. The Lord is calling out a body
B. The Lord is creating a bride
C. The Lord is constructing a building
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NEEDED
II. UNTIL SINS ARE COMMITTED NO MORE BY THE SAINTS
2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
A. Now pastors reproves God’s people 1. This is not ALL they do, of course, but real preaching exposes and expunges sin.
B. Now preaching rinses God’s people 1. The word of God cleanses believers – John 15:3; Eph. 5:25-26.
C. Now people raise up one another 1. Christians cleanse one another – John 13:14. 2. Christians assemble to exhort one another – Heb. 10:25.
One day there will be no need for us to grow any more.
One day there will be no need for us to groan over our sins and shortcomings any longer.
That day will be the Rapture, and the local church will no longer be needed.
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NEEDED
III. UNTIL SATAN IS CHASING BELIEVERS NO LONGER
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Did you know that the above verse was written primarily to pastors over local churches? See:
1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
The next verses shows how long the pastor’s job is necessary:
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Paul commanded the preachers at Ephesus to feed the church of God, and one of the reasons for that was the existence of WOLVES:
Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
A. Doctrine must be declared correctly
B. Deceivers must be demonstrated clearly
C. Division must be done constantly 1. False teachers should be avoided. 2. Those who follow them should be avoided.
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS NEEDED
IV. UNTIL THE SAVIOR CATCHES US UP INTO THE SKY
Then we will have a place in the Father’s MANSIONS!!!
John 14:1-6 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
A. The Lord’s return is sure
B. The Lord’s return is sudden 1. It will interrupt the local church’s tasks. 2. We must plan everything in light of our Lord’s return and realize that it is the most important event to anticipate, not some building program or special meeting.
C. The Lord’s return is soon! 1. I love the local church, but there is something better –the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, returning from heaven, to gather all the saints of God unto Him! 2. Amen! Even so, COME, LORD JESUS!!!