Hebrews 13:17-19 (ESV)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

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So what is wrong with the church? Plenty, however, it is the body of Christ. In all things the church exists to glorify God! This message deals with the state of the church in general as well dealing with a few minor issues with our family.

It’s interesting that many Christians consider missions doing service projects for people or going on a trip to hand out literature.  It’s also interesting that the church is pretty much powerless in today’s cultures and that the Church of America finds itself in a world of hurt with missionaries from Asia coming to proclaim the Gospel to the body of Christ over here.  It’s time we change our thoughts on missions.

So what is the mission of the church.  Week two of this series deals with the primary mission of God which is to procliam the value of Christ above all things.  Yes, we are to help those in need, but it’s not a means to getting the Gospel, it should be a reflection of the Gospel and a behavior because of the Gospel.

It was a few weeks ago when I begin to see “Little Christ” in the ‘religion’ heading of many friends on facebook.  It’s amazing what you discover while keep in the social network communication alive.  Baffled by this label, I begin to search for others who shared the same identity and realized that I knew most of them.

In an effort to uncover what it meant, I begin talking with several people who gave me an interesting explanation.  “Little Christ” in a sense is that a believer should be a ’small’ version of Christ on earth and to the world.  Now who wouldn’t want this as a life’s goal?  Sounds great on the surface, but when you begin to consider the implications of this attachment, it has some huge eternal problems.

First let us look at the meaning of Christian to begin with.  I have heard many say that it means we are little christs.  This could be no further from the truth.  The word Christian is defined specifically as one who is subordinate to as a follow of Christ.  In modern vernacular it would be best translated as ’slave’.  In an effort to difuse fodder over words, let’s just say that it does not mean ‘little’ or ‘like’ in nature, character or design.

Second, the idea that we are little christs or gods has a mystic and pagan root.  Many cults across the world and the US use this idea that mankind is nothing more than a finite version of the infinite and that in the end, we will all be like God as lesser or in some cases, equal gods.  This is pure herisy.  The notion that a created being would be like the creator is at best silly and irrational.  Not to count that it flies in the face of the significance of who Christ is.

We are not like Him and we are not in any form going to be Christ, even in part.  However, we are to be ‘like’ Christ in that through His changing, our hearts are formed into the ‘likeness’ of Christ.  And in the end, our sanctification will be Christ’s holiness credited to us, not ourselves being holy.

Thirdly, very popular and prominent preachers and pastors are spewing this garbage that God made man to be little gods all over the world.  In essence, these false prophets are marring the very nature of the one who has the power to throw both soul and body into hell and mocking the very character of God and Christ who are one in the same.

Finally, if we are to consider ourselves little christs, then what is the purpose of our being?  We are not to share ourselves and give ourselves in hope that Christ will be viewed, but we are to live and be the example of the Gospel which is Christ, Him crucified and risen from the dead as our Lord, Master, Priest and King!  So back to the nature of ‘little christ; it would be better said to steal the words of Paul in Philippians:

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

This in itself reflects Paul’s testimony of, “to live is Christ” and furthermore, “I count it all as loss for the priceless gain of knowing Christ my Lord.”  If we are little christs, how can we ‘count it as loss’?  Our hearts should cry from the grace that we have freely rec’d to live a life worthy of Christ but not fool ourselves into thinking that Christ needs us to be him.

The problem with the church today is that we think the mission is ours, but it is God’s.  We feel as though our ministry is imperative to God’s success but He is sovereign King and “ALL THINGS” are under His feet.  We feel that in order for the world to be saved we must dilute the truth and give tangible evidence of humanistic benevolence and philanthropy.  All the while, we push away Christ and in the end we make him small.

Christ is all ready too little, let’s drop this game and become slaves to righteousness, passionate followers of the King, longing to love the “Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.”

To make much of Christ means to make less of ourselves.  If we are to take the title and role of “Holy Anointed one of God, Priest, King and Lord” then we are missing the point.  Christ is his OFFICE, not his name.  2 Corinthians 2 is used as a proof text in some circles for this extended office of the believer as Christs.  Let’s look at it for just a second.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV)
21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,
22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Looking at this piece of text in itself creates a major fallacy.  You cannot take a crumb from a plate and effectively eat a meal – so we are going to have to rely on some understanding of the context.  I would encourage those who like to preach and don’t know what they are preaching, to buy a solid set of commentaries that revolve around the technical issues of the language and not the ‘application’ model study guides that are so prevalent today.  Nothing wrong with application, but it doesn’t apply correctly without defining and understanding the context.  Here are four points that are worth noting.

1. With these two verses Paul concludes his remarks on justifying his trustworthiness.
   
2. The apostle teaches the doctrine of the Trinity by noting that God confirms believers, anoints them in Christ, and seals them with the Spirit.
   
3. The wording in these verses—confirm, seal, down payment—has been borrowed from the legal sphere and has commercial implications.
   
4. A degree of parallelism is evident in these two verses; each has two verbs with direct objects: confirm us and anoint us (v. 21), seal us and give us (v. 22).
   Baker NTC

Paul is concluding a portion of this letter to the church in Corinth as a continuation of his trustworthiness as an apostle.  If you read Acts 18 and 1 Corinthians you will have a better understanding of why Paul is continuing this approach to ‘his’ trustworthiness’.  So just in context, these two scriptures are the close of his arguments about why they can trust Paul and the subject is not the believers anyway.Let’s look at these verses in pieces.

• And it is GOD – here we the crux of the Gospel and the main issue of this text.  God is and always will be the central theme of His work, not man.  Here Paul is dealing specifically with the fact that God has brought His covenant relationship in their lives and his life and their relationship with God can be trusted because His word can be trusted and in the word are God’s promises.  So, the promises of God are legally bound to God’s own oath.  See Hebrews 6:17.
• God anoints his people.  In anointing it is different than being the ‘CHRIST’.  This English cognitive error wreaks havoc on our interpretation of scripture when we read into the text what is not there.  God does the ‘covenant’ choosing of those who believe and therefore He seals them with the Holy Spirit.  In that the Spirit testifies we belong to God.  See Romans 8
• God’s Anointing of his people is with the Holy Spirit, not the office of Christ.  1 John 2:20 (ESV)
  20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 1 John 2:27 (ESV)
  27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.  This anointing is similar to the OT practice of anointing which was symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  Except here, it is the true giving of the Holy Spirit.
• God’s sealing in verse 22 gives a close to this neat little package of hope.  In that these two verses give the listener the understanding that salvation comes in this package alone.  This package is conversion, faith, baptism and then the evidence and power of the Holy Spirit.  This linear illustration of the process of salvation is a reminder to the Corinthians that they are saved by Grace alone in Christ because of God’s will.
• God’s guarantee is His anointing with the Holy Spirit.  Not being little Christs.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

In closing, let us consider that if others look at us as Christ, then they will see a tarnished, sinful, broken and marred image of the True Savior.  The world should see Christ in spite of us as we boldly proclaim our weakness so that the power or Christ may rest upon us and that we are able to proclaim the truth of the Gospel which is the hope of the lost and broken world.  Besides, if we want to claim to be Christ in any part, we are saying that we are without sin.  Consider the results of that kind of claim.

1 John 1:10 (ESV)
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Learning to choose wisely can be difficult in a life of pressure and overwhelming sinfulness.  Looking into this text helps us see examples of choices when made through the eyes of faith.  God calls us each day to make decisions based on His faithfulness and our belief in Him.

Looking at faith from the perspective of the faithful of the Old Testament.  Considering our Faith for ‘this’ time in our lives.

Every believer has a test of faith.  So what does it mean?  How do we ‘pass’ the test?  What if our faith is NOT being tested, then what?

This message is the last message of this year in regards to this series, we’ll pick up in January and continue our series in Hebrews and in Faith.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

2 Corinthians 5:20

What is the purpose of faith?  There is not ONE defined purpose except to show belief in and glorify Christ.

Mission of faith.

We can define mission as – a plan, strategy or purpose by which to operate, plan or strategize our purpose.

What we HOPE to accomplish.

So what do we accomplish?

Verse 13 – “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised…”

Died not having rec’d the promised – sounds like FAITH – “Assurance of things hoped for…”  & “Certain of what is not seen….”  fell through.

So if the mission or purpose of faith was to GIVE us what we want, then why does verse 13 proclaim something different?

FAITH is about God doing what HE promised because HE is faithful:  Hebrews 10:23

MISSION OF FAITH is for us to believe that GOD is FAITHFUL

Verse 13b “but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

“…but having seen them … from afar…”

MISSION OF FAITH is that we SEE through EYES OF FAITH

In order to SEE through eyes of faith we must look TO the FAITHFUL one.

God’s promises are enough, they will always come true.  Looking AHEAD, even if we die, we can see the promise of God revealed.

PROOF:  That God’s promises are not for the benefit of now even though they offer immediate reward at times.

PROOF:  That God’s promises are ETERNAL in nature which is HIS ATTRIBUTE

THOUGHT:  God who is eternal makes vows that are eternal!

“…greeted them from afar…”

MISSION OF FAITH is that our HEARTS are set on ETERNITY

“GREETED!!!”  Not woefully accepted.

PROOF:  That as believers we look to eternal promises not earthly ones
PROOF:  That we should have the ATTITUDE of FAITH that requires peace and joy when we don’t see the promises – they are there, amen!

THOUGHT:  What would we truly receive if God’s promises were temporal?  Nothing, because this life and this world will pass away – God’s word / promises / kingdom live forever!

Hearts set on eternity are not set on this world.

“and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

MISSION OF FAITH is that we become SET APART – Sanctified

Living in the temporal PROMISE, they lived as nomads in tents!

PROOF:  We must keep our minds on being GOD’S Children, not our own

THOUGHT:  As children of God, do we desire to live a set apart life from this world?

Verse 14 “For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ”

MISSION OF FAITH is that we KNOW the PROMISES of GOD

The “Patriarchs”, given to promise:

Numbers 27:12 (ESV)
12 The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel.

Knowing what is and is not a promise from God is essential – it keeps us from roaming into ‘greener’ pastures and losing our focus from the MASTER to the MASTER’S Table.

John 17:11 (ESV)
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

PROOF:  Being in Christ makes us aliens and in NEED of a HOME.
PROOF:  God is preparing a HOME for all who are found in Christ.

THOUGHT:  When we KNOW the promise of GOD is to keep us, what does that do in us?  What thoughts and actions follow?  Are we trusting in what we SEE or who is UNSEEN?

Hebrews 11:27 (ESV)  Example of Moses ’seeing’ and ‘trusting’ in the promises of God:
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

MISSION of FAITH is that WE DON’T LOOK BACK

UNBELIEF is when we reflect on the past as the better option.  When we can look at life before GOD and HIS promise

Joshua 24:2 (ESV)
2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

PROOF:  They all had the option to return to where they had been but kept focus.

THOUGHT:  Where are you looking?  What is your mission now to remain faithful to trust in the ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL or to get what you once had?

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

MISSION OF FAITH is to MOVE US TOWARD CHRIST!

“But as it is…”
Even though that had been promised something tangible
Even though they never rec’d it
Even though they died not having rec’d it
Even though they had many opportunities to go back

“they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”
PROOF:  The patriarchs understood that the promise was Christ and Eternal life not the land or the nation, but a kingdom AFTER death.

Matthew 22:31-32 (ESV)  (Jesus response to the Sadducees)
31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:
32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

THOUGHT:  Have we lost our vision?  Have we lost our mission?  To live as though we are aliens and proclaim the PROMISE of LIFE IN CHRIST?

MISSION OF FAITH is that WE MAKE CHRIST KNOWN

“therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

John 14:2 (ESV)
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Revelation 21:2 (ESV)
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

THOUGHT:  IF we believe this, what is keeping us from sharing this with the world?
PROBLEM:  We don’t fully believe it.  Our EYES and HEARTS on longing after the wins of the world, not of Christ.

**DO YOU HAVE THE FAITH of MISSION

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philemon 1:6 (ESV)
6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

MISSION OF FAITH is that YOU MAY KNOW CHRIST!