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Col 1:24 - Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church,… NASU
I taught that what we should say is "Would you like to come and worship God with me?" We would worship God in a building where we would sing praises to Him, Christians would fellowship with one another and we would fellowship with God when we would partake of communion. We would worship God when we listened to His word be expounded upon by the minister giving us instructions on how to live a Christian life to the glory of God.
Christians are people who have been called out of the kingdom of darkness into God's Kingdom, which is a synonym for the Lord's Church. We can read this in 1 Pet. 2:9-10 - But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. The Lord's Church is people who have been called to leave their life of sin and enter into the body of Christ, which is the Lord's Church. We don't go to church. Christians are the Church. I have included a few passages of scriptures that discuss the church in the first century and as you read them I hope you will be convinced the Church passages are referencing people and not a building.
Acts 11:21-22 - And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Acts 12:5 - So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. The building isn't praying for anyone, but the members inside the building do. Acts 14:27 - When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. The good news was how the gospel was converting people and this was told to the members of the church. 1 Corin. 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. We know Paul persecuted Christians before being struck by the bright light and listening to a message from Ananias. Eph. 1:22-23 - And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body,… Paul tells us Jesus is the Head of the church and the church is the body of Christ.
Christ loved the church and died for her. If you are a Christian you should never think that you don't matter in this world. You would be wrong. Jesus died for you because you were and are important to Him. Eph 5:29-31- for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. Col 1:18 - He is also head of the body, the church;… 1 Tim. 3:15 - but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God,… After reading these few scripture passages one is able to see that the church was persecuted, ravaged, prayed fervently, gathered together, and was loved by Jesus Christ. The church is considered the "Bride of Christ" and at the end of time when Jesus returns He is not coming for buildings. He is coming for His Bride aka His Church, His people. Jesus is the Head of the church. He is the one we are to look for when anything is troubling us. He is the one we are to pray to when we want to express our thankfulness. I hope this Sunday you will not say you're going to church, but rather remember you are a valuable part of the church everyday of the week. You are a part of the body of Christ and you are the one Jesus died for. You are something. Think About These: The worship service isn't to make people happy. It is to help them be holy. The mark of a great church is her ability to lead others to Christ, not build buildings. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Ezek. 46:9 - "But when the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out." NASU
You will notice the worshippers were to exit a different gate from the one they entered. I like what Dr. James E. Smith said in his commentary, The Major Prophets, about this symbolism, "Each person should leave worship a different person than he came in." This is the best way I know to change your life for the good. When you go to worship make sure when you exit the building you are leaving as a different person from the one who entered.
Acts 4:24 - "And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,…" If you go and sit in a grassy field it is because of God. If you go and throw rocks in a creek or put your feet in a lake or an ocean it is because of God. If you take a ride and look at the trees changing from green to bright orange, red, and yellow colors it is because of the awesome Creator He is. When I look into the sky at night and see the millions of twinkling stars they are there to look at because of God. When Leah had her fourth son she named him Judah. When you translate the name Judah it means "to praise." Gen. 29:35 - And she conceived again and bore a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she named him Judah. When you correctly Praise the Good LORD for who He is and what He has done it will change you. Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Exodus 15:1-6 Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, "I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. "The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name. "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. "The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone. "Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. What great things has the LORD done for you that you need to remember as you worship Him? Moses and the Israelites remembered what the LORD had done for them by making it into a song. Think On These: Too many people try to get something from worship without putting anything into it. Worship should be a place where you meet God and it is impossible to forget Him. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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