Purpose and Power of the Church

From Ephesians chapter 3 verse 10 and the same chapter verse 16 and 17. Amen, uh last two messages which I gave on Sunday was regarding the church and the power which is inherent in the church. So today I want to complete that uh this particular topic. So these words can we can find that when I started uh when I first preached uh this particular subject at that time I uh preach from chapter 1 uh verse 18 Paul is praying for the believers that their eyes may be open they may be enlightened so that they can understand the hope and the power which God has reserved for the church. So Paul is praying for the opening of the eyes, the opening of the inner eyes of the believers. Now we can we can understand from the verse 10 what is the purpose behind the church? continuing Paul is continuing about the importance of the church. So here God is putting church before another party but another power and that power is the rulers and authorities of not the earth but in the heavenly place. So just like in earth we have a system of governance in America it is the presidential form of democracy where in India it is a parliament form of democracy wherever you find there is some system going on and all the people are under that system don’t we it’s it’s not a big surprise we are all created in the image of God so in that also there is an there is that system is an attribute of God Once God makes a system and God is very much adherent or stubborn in following the system. The same way there is a system of Satan also. If you read the extra biblical Jewish theology, they also agree that there is a system in heavenly places where Satan is the supreme and under Satan there are demonic and evil angels. Now God particular focus we have to give on this in the 10th verse it is written that so that through the church the manifold manifold means the plurality the diversity of God’s wisdom it is not that be made known but now be made known that is very important now it should be known It’s a great privilege for the church to take the responsibility as the body of Christ to fight against this heavenly system. This type of privilege was not given to Old Testament believer that is Israel. We consider Israel is a very special people. Yes, they are special people but we shouldn’t consider ourself inferior. The Israelites has to fight against the Canaanites. But we the New Testament believers, we have to take on, we have to be very offensive against the Satan and its kingdom. So when you are called as a Christian, don’t consider yourself as the people of other religion. Your calling is very different. What is your calling? You have to fight. You are put against a devil. A system created by devil. So how much we are serious about that? Who has put this? This entire verse is written in passive sentence. Passive sentence means the subject is passive. Who is the subject? The subject is church. So who is the doer? The doer is the god. So who has put you against Satan? Whether you are coward or whether you are courageous, you are against a devil. So first you have to believe that it is if any problem is coming in your life through the devilic influence be sure that it is God who has put you against him. So what is what is the implication? The implication is that we should never lose the courage. Hallelujah. Now the Christ death has brought something new because Paul says now not early. Earlier it was not like that. Paul is saying that now the church is now now the God’s wisdom is is presented. Now it is present. Earlier it was not there. Now it is there. Now what is happening? Why this now? Because the death of Christ has changed everything. That’s why Christ says that all the power in heaven and earth is given to me. So there is something new is going to happen. What is the new thing going to happen? In old testament when you read when we read the book of Daniel at that time we can see that Daniel was continuously praying. A man who prays three times in the day. But even though he was a very mighty person, never compromise with anything. Whatever happens, I will stand for my God only. Whatever happens, such a brave person, full of faith, full of wisdom. When he prays, you know that what happens? His pres, his prayer was not answered. Why his prayer was not answered? You all have the reply, right? You all have the answer. Why his prayers were blocked? Who blocked it? The prince of Persia. Means during those time if David prays, Elijah prays or Alisha pray whoever prays the Satan has the power to block the prayers. Now what is happen now? Now according to verse 10, now now God’s manifold wisdom is presented to the church. Against whom? against not Donald Trump not against Prime Minister Modi okay against whom the Satan and his angels what is now happening now we don’t have to worry whenever we pray if any pastor says maybe your prayer has some tarsome because of the problem in your life it’s not like that there is no tum there is no problem whoever prays God answers why because because why In the according to the epistles of Hebrew, what is written? Jesus Christ is the high priest who prays for us. What is the guarantee? Because in chapter 17 of John, Jesus prayed a long prayer for whom? For us. Hallelujah. So when Christ prays, when Jesus Christ Morning. [Music] Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Satan cannot block your prayers. This is what happening right now. So if some concept is going in your mind that okay like Daniel my prayers also I’m not holier than Daniel. I am not wiser than Daniel but I’m not holy but maybe because I’m not like that my prayer is hindered. No it’s your prayers cannot be because Christ prays for you. Christ is the mediator between you and God. Hallelujah. So one thing is sure that we have to we have a fight against the devil. It’s very very surpris very very confusing very intricate means very difficult to analyze now see in psalms most of the psalms were written by who? Most of the psalms were written by David. Such a holy person. Not holy person only. He was a prophet, mighty warrior, but he was also vulnerable like us. In 1 Chronicles chapter 21 verse one, it is written like that, Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. So easy access, no password, no login for Satan. It doesn’t Satan doesn’t require the login to enter your heart. Don’t think that between me and Satan, Christ is there. Do you think like that? that between I and Satan that is Christ. So when Satan comes to me comes to me Jesus blocks. No it’s not like that. It’s don’t if you believe that remove that delete that thought in your mind Satan can go anywhere can go into the heavens. Why? Why can’t you come in your heart? So we have to understand what is the principalities and power. David was a great warrior, writer of Psalms, full of Holy Spirit, prophesied of about coming Messiah, everything very good, excellent. But that doesn’t mean that Satan cannot come into his heart. Satan came into his heart and he was also not knowing. This is what the power of Satan. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. This what this happened in old testament. So can it happen in new testament? It can also happen in new testament. It can also happen with me and you. Right now my my topic is on the principalities and power. That means what is the purpose of telling this thing to you? I’m not trying to scare you for about devil. I want to take I want everyone including me to be serious about my calling and my mission. What is my calling and what is my mission? What is said in Ephesians chapter 3:10 that you you God’s wisdom God’s what type of wisdom? God’s manifold. What is that malaram of manifold? Can you can anyone read that manifold wisdom? Hallelujah. So if God wants to display the his wisdom, who is responsible? Who is responsible? through the church through the church and how now now is the time so that’s why I’m tell trying to I’m not scare you what I’m trying to do we have to be very serious about being Christian it’s not that clapping hands giving tithe giving the offering attending the church it is not only don’t limit that sir it’s a lie that is thing the world is so much the world is so much enticing the world’s affairs is so much enticing that it creates a spiritual dizziness in your mind in our heart that’s what Paul says that satan trying to distract you by putting thoughts in your mind from the devotion of Jesus Christ. So you will be tempted, you will be trapped, you will be distracted in such a way that you will not be able to fix your mind on Christ with devotion. That is what Satan does. When he success, when he succeeded, that means you are you are God. So that’s why we have to be very careful about our calling. So the message purpose is that after this sermon I and you both should be very much serious about our fight against Satan. In the New Testament if you come Jesus Christ called all the 72 disciples preach the gospel. All the 72 went did a wonderful ministry did the wonderful ministry and came back. What did and they began to tell I did all these things in your name. You all did this miraculous things in your name. Then Jesus said that I saw Satan fall like a light. Hallelujah. Remember then when Christ is with you, I’m telling when Christ is with you, Satan can fall like a light. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. When Christ is with you, Satan falls like a lightning. But when Christ is in you, hallelujah, Satan cannot stand against you. Hallelujah. There is a difference between you are with Christ and you are in Christ or Christ is in you. Hallelujah. Sometimes we live a life like with Christ. Sometimes we limit our Christian life while living with Christ but not in Christ. With Christ was the old disciples without the Holy Spirit. In Christ is the disciples who are with the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. So when the disciples were with Christ, you know to whom Jesus called Satan. One of the disciples got a name called Satan. Can you tell me who was it? Who was it? the the passage in which Jesus called Peter Satan. If you read the above passage in that what was written Peter, it is not your own wisdom. This is what revealed by heavenly father to you. That’s why you are able to say this thing to me. Jesus appreciated Peter but immediately such a holiness Peter had such a feeling of holiness from all the 12 disciple he was very pride full of pride Jesus said nobody this to any disciples only to me even the John also is left out from this type of praise I am something hallelujah the privilege is only given to me immediately Satan entered his house within Second Satan entered his heart. The greatest receiver of the revelation of Christ suddenly received the revelation of Satan. When Jesus was Christ was telling about his crucifixion at that time Peter said no no no Lord this shouldn’t happen to me. Get behind me Satan. What is our life? If a holy man like Peter can be fall in the trap of devil, person like great saint like David can fall in the trap of devil. What about we imagine Peter was with Christ. I’m not limiting there with Peter only. Paul is also not excluded. Hallelujah. If you read 2 Corinthians in that it is written, the messenger of Satan tortured me. Paul says, Paul said, Paul said these words that the messenger of Satan tortured me and I prayed God how many times? Three times. Did the devil depart? Did the devil depart? [Music] Resist the devil and he will flee. Did Satan flee for? No. But God opened another way. Grace. Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Hallelujah. Another example I give you. Paul and the believers of Thessalonians were in great love. That was a bond greater than the blood relative. Actually the church relationship the church in church the believers relation between each other should be not just like blood but should be like should be the blood relation. Hallelujah. That is the command of God. Even Jesus said, “If you don’t love another, you are not my disciples.” Hallelujah. Very practical things what Paul says that I long to see you and I tried three times. I tried three times to come with you but you know what was the what was the problem? The Satan blocked me. Satan didn’t allow me to come to you. Salute to power. How he got this eyesight? All the problems in our life is not caused only by Satan. But how we can discern it? How we can discern it? That this particular problem is because of devil. this particular problem is because of the world whatever happens in the world that that’s why how we can understand it are you able to follow what I say how you will identify this is because of Satan and this is because of my mistakes how to discern even I am also not able to discern sometime God tell me once I was preaching the word of God about some problems and suddenly God said that this this word is not for the church it’s for you then immediately what happened my financial resources were closed down I was drained financially that was the biggest miracle in my life every year I got uh nearby 18 20 tions but the next year I didn’t get nothing suddenly God reminded me I had told you on that day that this year this word is for you you not get anything but at the same time God opened another way for me hallelujah now see Paul says that but did the God’s work stop? If you read that following passage in that it is written that I have heard a report about you that your love and your faith has grown strong. Hallelujah. Why was why was why Paul wanted to go to the church of Thessalonians? Why? So that because of Paul the church will receive spiritual blessings. But that already happened. That already happened. No. What is the purpose of Paul going to Thessalonians and give the message so that the church can grow in love and faith? That already happened because Paul says that about your faith and about your love it is reported among the people. So already God’s work is done. one time that’s what I’m telling that when Satan when Satan start to think create problem about you God already starts work for you hallelujah what I want to say when devil things about you to torment you to torture you to create problems for you God already before that has opened a way for you hallelujah So that means this is the reality. This is a fact that we all have to face the devil. But what is the good thing? The God’s wisdom is displayed through our Hallelujah. Now the second part, how God will display his wisdom through us. Is it a calling of a prophet? Is it a calling of a pastor? Is it a calling of an evangelist? If God’s wisdom has to be displayed through your life, is it necessary that you should be a pastor? Is it necessary that you should be a prophet? Is it necessary that you are evangelist? No, it’s for all. Hallelujah. Because you are in part and parcel of the church. So how God’s power, how God’s wisdom can be displayed through our life, through our church. So the answer is given in chapter 3 verse 16 and 17. I will read out that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power. Paul is Paul is what Paul is doing? Paul is praying for the believers of Ephesians. He would grant you. God will grant. There is a difference between granted you and would grant. Okay. Why? Why we are granted the riches of his glory? So that we can be strengthened with might by his spirit in inner man. You have to understand that if God has to give you power according to the riches of his glory, first condition is that there should be God’s spirit in you. Hallelujah. If God’s spirit is in not is in God’s spirit is in not you, then you can’t get the riches of his glory. Neither you can be strengthened with the mind. In Ephesians chapter 1, I I in Ephesians chapter 1. Okay. Verse 18. Why? What is Paul praying? I pray that your hearts may be your eyes of your heart may be enlightened. Now here again Paul is praying that you receive the power. How? Through the spirit which is in you. So that is 100. Paul believes that each and every believer in Ephesians church has got the spirit holy spirit. But the question is do you have the power is praying that you got the spirit but now I pray that God may grant you the power so that you can be strengthened. So that means the church of Ephesians didn’t have the strength which Paul had visualized for them. Once I preach one church at that time I was preaching in Hindi and one brother was translating in Mallaya. So I preach in this way that speaking of tongues is not the only evidence that you have the Holy Spirit. The first the most prime evidence is that what Jesus Christ told in Acts chapter 18 when you receive the Holy Spirit you will receive the power. After receiving the power what you will do you will witness me. So when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, it is okay that you speak in tones but at the same time there should be witnessing from you and whom you should witness it is the Christ. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So when you are receiving the when you are receiving the Holy Spirit the first thing is that you have to witness Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. I’m reading 1819. may have strength to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Christ is Paul is telling that the reason why there should be holy spirit in you is that you should realize the love of Christ for you. So when you experience the love of Christ, see how it is. Holy Spirit is in you. As Holy Spirit is in you, you experience the love of Christ and you get the strength and then you witness Jesus Christ. Now Paul is telling this theory not what he learned from the other apostles but what he practiced in his life. Hallelujah. And when we each of us practice that in our life that means in each and every believer if this theory is applicate applied then the church would be very different. Hallelujah. Because each person carries Christ. When each person carries Christ, it’s a difference. Actually, there are two Christ. The one Christ which came 2,000 years before and went. There is another Christ. You know where is that Christ? Is the body of Christ. Hallelujah. The church is the body of Christ. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I’m not bringing some new teaching. It is already in the Bible. Hallelujah. The church is the body of Christ. That means that is a Christ. Allelujah. That’s why Paul says, [Music] Until what? What should happen? Why we are in church? Until Why we are in this church? Until Christ Christ should be formed in us. Hallelujah. Christ should be formed in us. That’s why Paul preached. Paul had to do double struggle, two struggles. One struggle was bringing the believers into one was to convert the people to Christ. That was the first laborious work Paul had do. And second struggle the one those who are brought in the church in them what should happen? Christ should be formed. Why? Another reason is the logic logic because if Christ is in you then how God’s wisdom will be displayed before the devil. Hallelujah. Now main thing the mantra what is the mantra to have what is the key to have Christ formed in us? The letter epistle to Galatians chapter 2 verse 21. Can you please display this verse on the Yeah. 221. Oh, sorry. 220. Yeah. Okay. Now, even if I take one or two minutes more, please forgive me in the name of Jesus Christ because I want to complete it. See the this is the main thing. What is written here? Faith of the son of God. In case in NIV it is written faith in the son of God. Okay. In NIV what is written? Faith in the son of God. I am using ESV. In that also it is written faith in the son of God. They were utan. Huh? Amen. If you read Hindi in that also the faith in the son of there is a big difference between faith in son of god and faith of son of god the bible of anil matthew it’s my thing so now I’m g to pastor manu so my my bible I’m giving in the hands of whom that is the difference that means the faith is the faith which was in Jesus Christ. The faith of Jesus Christ understand what I’m telling the faith of Jesus Christ is whom is whom? In whom? In me. [Music] That is a different [Music] Hallelujah. I challenge you to wrong. Okay. You you in Bible only in this place it is written. Everywhere Paul has written in Christ in Christ in everywhere in New Testament it is written in Christ. How? [Music] Hallelujah. What is the faith of Jesus Christ? He looks face to face to the trouble. Hallelujah. When people came to tie him up, what he say you I am the person whom you are looking come and bind me. Hallelujah. That is the faith. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Unless you go into the cross, you cannot get the faith of Christ. for. Yeah, I can ask my mom. Whenever any prophet will come in our church for fasting prayer, I get scared because I think that that that pastor will tell all the secret things about me. So I was scared. So I will be very holy person for that fasting prayers. Three four days. Then again I will back to the world. So on that days I am in the cross. I am on the cross. But one one day what happened? No I one of my friend another we are three youth sitting on the front of the church. What happened? Contrary to my belief the the prophet came and said that were. So, [Music] But what I want to say is that when we are going to eat Lord’s supper, we are very holy. God forgive my sins. So make me worthy to partake in that otherwise you will get I’ll get punishment from you. Please God forgive me. And God forgives and we take the pump and wine and go. And then after getting all this after ending of the church service we we become that old person. We come out of the cross. We come out of the cross and we are the original self. And again when another fasting prayer comes another worship session comes then again we go to the cross. It’s not like that. Whether you are here, whether you are home, whether you are dealing with your wife, whether you are dealing with your kids, whether you are dealing with your church members, you have to put yourself in cross. You can’t do whatever you want to do. Hallelujah. You have to put yourself in cross. Hallelujah. And it is not very easy to go to cross. First you enter into gas. Hallelujah. There’s a long prayer service going in as Gina. There you pray so that you get strength to go into the cross. And when you are in the cross then who can stand before you? When you are in the cross who can stand before you. Hallelujah. Even the will comes his purpose will not be fulfilled. Hallelujah. You such a revelation. You such a you get such a revelation. You such a you you get a such a discernment. You tell that I know Satan you have caused this sickness to me. You I told you how you will. Hallelujah. It’s all prophet only. It’s all prophet only. Hallelujah. My dear brothers including me don’t get so much enticed and distracted with the worldly affairs that is only last for a moment but this is what the main gem main pearl which we should have receiving the spiritual blessings from the god hallelujah that’s what god says that Jesus Christ said a parable that once upon a time a man went and went to the field and he found a very great treasure inside under the earth and what he did he silently and purchased the entire field. He sold everything whatever he has because he find that whatever is there in this hidden in the earth that is more worthier than what I have. So he sold everything bought the field and began to enjoy the treasure. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. My dear brothers and sisters, the main treasure, the main pearl is what the God’s wisdom displayed in our life. That can only possible if you are on the cross. Hallelujah. Let us keep ourselves always on the cross to enjoy how Christ is living in us. Hallelujah. Then we can know the love of Christ. Then we can know the power of God. Hallelujah. Otherwise, God will not do anything. Hal, we are we will just be peripheral Christians. Per It’s a boring life. Peripheral Christians. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. It’s a boring life. Hallelujah. We have to struggle and struggle and struggle. Neither we are in the world nor in the Christ. In between we are living. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So here I want to conclude about the the reality of the church. If each every believer has this Christ in us, I I will tell you as there’s a assurance that this church, our church will be a dynamic church. Hallelujah. Dynamic church. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. It’s a dynamic. It will be a dynamic church. Hallelujah. That’s what keep our focus. I always uh remember what Join brother said when he was taking the holy pass of holy spirit. He showed the picture of white house and said that looking in the small picture we lose the bigger picture. We always focus on little little picture and we miss out the big picture. The big picture of Christianity we missed out. Christ should be formed in us. We have to labor. We have to put ourself in on the cross. Then only we can experience the Jesus Christ. Why Paul has said this? So that the you can know the love of Christ to the believers there. Hallelujah. So let us enjoy experience what the God has reserved for. May God bless you through this verse.