City of God. Psalm 48.
June 4, 2006. City of God. Psalm 48
Different cities are known for different things. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood, New York for commerce and Washington D.C. for politics.
What is the city of God known for? Psalm 48 describes the church of the living God as a city where God Himself lives. From this passage we’ll begin a summer series on the character of the church. These are the signs, marks or virtues that God’s people display as a result of having Him live among us. Over the next several weeks we’ll take a more detailed look at each one of them.
1. Zion is known for its relentless pursuit of God’s glory.
What’s most important to us is that God’s significance, importance and weightiness is seen and embraced by the whole world.
We are concerned that the world beginning with us individually and our local fellowship acknowledge, thank and give glory to God for His wisdom, knowledge, holiness, sovereignty, order, justice, goodness, beauty, compassion, grace, steadfast love and wrath against sin.
This is crucial since the world will work overtime to hide, avoid and obscure God’s glory.
2. Zion is known for viewing biblical worship as our top priority.
We were created to worship, praise and adore the living God.
We’ve been redeemed so that we might enjoy His worship forever.
3. Zion is known for our proclamation the gospel of new life in Jesus Christ.
We must know what the gospel is and is not.
We must believe the imperatives of the gospel. We must put ourselves in positions to meet and have relationships with people who need the gospel.
4. Zion is known for our desire faithful preaching the word of God.
The church is a theological institution. There are things we have been commissioned to teach about God, His word, mankind, sin, salvation and Jesus Christ.
The citizens of Zion realize that worship doesn’t begin with a certain tune, but with a heart and mind that is tuned into the things of God revealed in His word.
Zion trust that God saves the lost, sanctifies the found and gives clear direction to His people by the preaching and teaching of His word.
The church believes, embraces and stands on the truth that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inerrant, infallible, God breathed word of God.
5. Zion is known for nurturing pastoral care for all of God’s people.
Biblical leadership is not position of power to be sought for the purpose gaining prestige. The pastor is not to be treated as a celebrity or some kind of super-spiritual believer who isn’t accountable to anyone.
The pastorate is not a ticket to get wealthy. No pastor is called to live a lavishly wealthy lifestyle.
6. Zion is known for proactive involvement in the community God has placed us in.
The church is never called to withdraw from having consistent contact with this world.
We are to accept that God has placed us here as His representatives.
7. Zion is known for our passionate commitment to the poor and powerless.
The church isn’t called to side with the rich and powerful against the poor.
The church is called to advocate for and pursue biblical social justice.
The church must articulate that the primary biblical purpose of politics is to insure justice for the poor and powerless.
8. Zion is known for our full commitment to God’s sovereignty by engaging persistent kingdom focused prayer.
Kingdom focused prayer is prayer in which God’s will and agenda form the substance of our life of prayer.
Kingdom focused prayer is prayer that prioritizes the overall glory of God as seen through the expansion of His eternal kingdom.
9. Zion is known for our desire to look for ways to promote authentic racial reconciliation as the natural outworking of the gospel.
The church recognizes that the work of Christ involves bringing true peace to hostile people.
The church must demonstrate the reality that God does not show favoritism based on one’s race or ethnicity but accepts all who call on Him equally.
The church therefore cannot be passive or indifferent in the face of ethnic tension and hostility.
10. The citizens of Zion recognize that the church of our Lord Jesus Christ is the very flock of our Lord, His one body, His cherished bride, the manifestation of His wisdom, His eternal army, the vehicle through which He gets glory and the place where He lives now and will dwell forever. He will be with us to comfort, lead, empower and guide us forever. He will no more abandon His people than He would abandon His eternal plan of salvation and leave the entire human race in utter darkness and doom.
There should no surprise that these things characterize the people of Zion. For we take our cue from our leading citizen, the One who has brought us into God’s glorious city Jesus Christ Himself.
Philadelphia, the city we live in is also known for a number of things. Though we have no illusions that Philly will ever become the city of God it is our hope and prayer that when people who live in Philadelphia wonder what God is like and where He is that they’ll be able to look at His church and see the glory of His character reflected in the citizens of Zion.
To Him Who Loves Us…
Pastor Lance
