What on Earth are You Doing Here for Heaven's Sake?

Ok, obviously this is going to be a little different this morning. I have a couple of things that I would like for you to do. One, I would like for everyone to move to a different seat. Two, I want you to shake hands with at least 2 people that you don’t normally shake hands with or that is not part of your sitting posse and tell them God has something for them this morning.

Last Sunday was another one of those Sundays where the God had done something that I had not experienced as a pastor before. Nothing like the time that I came in and felt God leading me in a completely different direction than what I had already prepared, which I am so thankful for. But God was guiding me in a way that was leading me to this week’s message. First Sunday of the month so the children will be in here also.

I just want to say that I am glad that you are here and that you are here because God wanted you here and something in this service is just for you. Week after week we pretty much do the same thing not only in church but in our lives. We go to work or watch the grandkids. We watch certain shows every week. Maybe we go to ballgames. Maybe we go to the grocery store on the same day. Life gets us in a rut.

We come to church and we expect certain things to be a certain way. We expect those things without thinking about them. As an example, without thinking about it, we expect the cross to be over here. The flags to be here the plants to be here and here the old pulpit to be here and the stage to be decorated for the season or holiday.

Without thinking about it we expect Pastor Mark to welcome us, tell us whose birthday it is, do announcements (that we talk through and miss what is going on) and prayer requests, pray, take up offering and then sing with the best praise team as they lead us in some worship songs. And if the order of service is mixed up or we don’t do this or that or the decorations are gone, then we really lose focus.

The song that I asked Cheryl to lead us in, Heart of Worship. Do you truly mean the words that you sing or is it just singing?

When the music fades All is stripped away And I simply come, Longin' just to bring Something that's of worth That will bless Your heart. I'm comin' back to the heart of worship And it's all about You It's all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it. When it's all about You It's all about You, Jesus.

Is it all about Him? Is it mostly about Him and partly about you? Is it mostly about you and partly about God or is it all about you? When you are getting ready for church, do you think “I have to get ready to go to church” or do you think, “I have to get ready because I don’t want to miss anything that God has for me?”

I try to greet as many people as I can, not because it is my responsibility as a pastor but because I want to. So many of you are great, Pat Gamble is way up there on my “can’t wait to see” list. She always comes in and gives me a big hug and tells me how great it is to be here. What a blessing! Harold with shake my hand 20 times if I walk by him 20 times and when I am walking by, he will stick out his hand and say, “I’ll shake your hand again.” What a blessing! Some of you are more like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. (Watch this clip)

Some of you no matter what is going right, you have something to complain about or at least you find something, whether you have anything or not.

Last week in our small group, we were blessed with a video chat with Steve Rennick. Steve was a rotten kid from Carthage until the Lord got a hold of his heart and since then, Steve has been a missionary in Africa, a Pastor, a youth Pastor and now the State Pastor of Colorado for the Church of God. Steve told us about one of the things that he prays and partners with is the Churches of God in Ukraine. He told us that 2 of the churches that were in Ukraine are in the territory that Russia has overtaken and now the churches are under control of the Russians. These churches have been changed from being churches to military buildings, one for storage of ammunitions and the other an army base.

The men in the territory are forced to serve in the military and the children are taken to away to retraining camps.

We come to church and we get our bloomers in a bunch if things aren’t just right at the church or with the service. Shame on us! What on Earth are We doing Here for Heaven’s Sake? Are we here for church to cater to our every whim? Are were here to look at the beautiful decorations? And I think that Sharon does a great job decorating. I am thankful that she does it.

Are we here because of the great music? I love our praise team and they do an excellent job. What are you here for? Let’s read our main text.

So the first thing we need to do is

1. Seek the Kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17

So, what is the kingdom of God. It short is salvation. When you repent of your sins and turn from your wicked ways, your soul becomes part of the kingdom of God. On earth we are the big “c” Church, the bride of Christ. We are here to used by God to help grow the Kingdom, but following the great commission. Going into all world making disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Where do we learn how to do that? Right here in church, at home in our bible study, in small groups, at Wednesday night bible study and in Sunday School.

Question and answer time…what are some things that Satan will use to keep us from listening to God?

Here’s what I see and believe me, I see it a lot... because you people are horrible. I am just kidding. I really love you and because I love you, I will step on your toes just a little. I am mad because it is too hot or too cold in the sanctuary. The music is too loud or too fast or too slow. So and so didn’t talk to me. There is too many or not enough decorations. No one ever appreciates anything I do. Squirrel! Anyone ever see the movie up? The dogs would be right in the middle of something and see a squirrel or think about a squirrel and they lose focus. I watch you guys. What do you think you would look like in a service if the camera was on you and I played it back for you? What will Satan use to keep you from listening to God? Maybe just distract you.

Do you know what is on my list? I don’t hear well. I am busy. I am not smart enough. I already do too much, someone else needs to step up. I, I, I. Do you see the problem? Even though your problems are not exactly the same as mine, the root of it all is I. I need to get out of the way and seek first the Kingdom of God. How do we do that.

Jeremiah 29:13

Why are you not hearing from God? Maybe you are not seeking wholeheartedly. Maybe you are allowing things to distract you. Maybe you need to get back to the heart of worship. “When all is stripped away” and you make it all Jesus as He leads you to the Father. When I study for school and the rare times that I read, I will go into a room and shut the door. If I there is anything moving or making a noise of any kind, then I will easily get distracted. I have to close off the outside world.

Maybe that is what it will take for you. I don’t know. But you need to figure it out for yourself.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Jesus said, “Live Righteously.” Paul wrote to Timothy this in I Timothy 6:11 “Pursue Righteousness.”

Righteousness is defined as “is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable.” When Jesus and/or Paul tells you to be morally correct, do you think it is morally correct in God’s eyes or man’s eyes? If we are to be morally correct in God’s eyes that means that we are striving for perfection. We are not better than anyone. It is not what I want but what God wants in my life.

Let’s think back to the beginning of the service when I had you change seats and tell 2 people that “them God has something for them this morning.” If that made you uncomfortable in a church setting, how much more difficult will it be out in the real world? When we think about the title of the sermon, “What on Earth are You doing Here for Heaven’s Sake”, your answer should be, “I am first seeking the Kingdom of God and I am trying to be more like Jesus.”

What are you doing for the sake of Heaven? Are you growing in the Lord? Can you put aside the distractions of no decorations, having to sit in a different seat, or the service not being what you think it should be to just allow God to take the first place in your life?