Our Church Family

 "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1) 

We come to church to worship the Lord, that is paramount. But it is a great feeling, and should always be a great feeling. to get together with your church family.

To say as Bill Gaither writes: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God."

 I owe a great debt to my home church. They helped me as a child to know the Lord, they ordained me to the work of pastoral ministry. They visited me, at some of the churches I served. They prayed for me, when my family and I went through some challenging times. At different times, they gave gifts of money to support us.

Your church family is a vital support group for you, when you are in need. both spiritually, and physically. I have heard people say, that when they miss a church service, or Bible School on Sunday morning, that their week, just doesn't seem right. There is something missing.

The more that go and join with fellow Christians, to worship, to study, to pray, and serve the Lord, the tighter that bond of love becomes. You realize that your relationship with your church family is something that you can, and should not, live without! GP

 Photo ID 25967878 © Americanspirit | Dreamstime.com

Outside These Walls

 

Outside These Walls

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." (Acts 1:14)

I have thought about this question, as I have looked at the responsibility of the church in reaching the lost world for Jesus Christ; Are we as the church, part of the problem, or part of the solution?
We are part of the problem, if we just operate a Sunday routine worship activity within the walls of the church building. Nothing more than just staying comfortable within the inner walls, with no concern for the lost sinful state of those outside our sacred walls.

When we look at the attitude, and actions of the early church, Vance Pitman shares four characteristics of the early church, that reveals that they had a deep concern for lost souls outside their Christian community.

1. They Had A Faith That Produced Obedience (Acts 1:8) 

The apostles allowed the Holy Spirit to empower them, to be witnesses to the world, concerning Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will empower us to speak boldly on behalf of our Lord. Yes, the Holy Spirit will inspire us to trust, and obey, the Lord's calling to share how He has made a difference in our lives.

2. They Had A Passion That Produced Unity (Acts 1:14a) 

The apostles continued with one accord" Just like the apostles, we need to show the world, that we as members of the body of Christ, are all on the same page. How division has ruined our witness today!

3. They Had A Desperation That Produced Prayer (Acts 1:14b) 

The apostles, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." continued their practice of prayer. Their prayers, without a doubt were for those who had not surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. This is such a desperate need today, as it was then.

4. They Had A Spirit That Produced Power (Acts:1:8) 

When they prayed, and connected with the Holy Spirit, it was like a spark that ignited an old army cannon.They became confident, bold, and excited to be the witnesses Jesus called them to be. The same can happen to us, if only we will connect together in prayer, and follow through with ministry of the Gospel to this lost world.

Let's not just get comfortable behind the church walls on Sunday, but let's go in the power of the Holy Spirit, to see what we can accomplish in the the lives of others, outside these walls! GP

Photo: Copied 

Stepping Around The Veil

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

When I read these verses I ask myself this question: Can the Gospel be veiled at church? Has Satan caused preachers, and spiritual leaders, to stray away, from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

As I have mentioned before, it has really bothered me that churches have closed, leaving such an urgent opportunity, to preach the Gospel, to their communities that desperately need our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Satan's biggest disguise is self. When a church becomes so self-absorbed that they lose sight of their responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ, wouldn't you say, that the god of this age has brought about a spiritual blindness, to that church?

And the next question I have: If they lost sight of the importance of the Gospel, did they really believe in it, and receive Christ as Savior of their souls?
Are they, along with the world, (that does not believe) perishing too?

These are questions the church today needs to answer.
It's time to step around the veil, that Satan has placed in the minds of people today. It's time to let the light of the Gospel shine on us, and time to reflect it to the world, so the world can be saved! GP

Photo by Suriya Kankliang. Published on 12 December 2015 Stock photo - Image ID: 100383418
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