God's Church
What is the church?
Where is the church?
We see in Ephesians 2:19-22 We are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, v 19.
A church building is sometimes called God's house. In reality, God's household is not a building ,but a group of people.
V.20. Says, built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
What does it mean to be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets? It means that the church is not built on modern ideas, but rather on the spiritual heritage given to us by early apostles and prophets of the christian church.
In v.21 it says, In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. People can see that God is love and that Christ is Lord as we live in harmony with each other and in accordance with what God says in his word.
Are we living in harmony with each other?
Let's move to Ephesians 4
Unity in the body of Christ
In v.2 It says, Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. We must accept and love other christians in spite of their faults. V.3 says, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. We have to be willing to be led and to do our part to keep the peace. If another christian does something we don't like we still need to be humble and gentle. Don't just write them out of your life, pray for them, love them, the way Christ intended. Fighting and trying to get others to write them out is wrong, God wants us to unite, not point out faults or mistakes.
Where is the church?
Let's look at the church and its role now in our time and in the Book of Acts. I believe our churches now want to follow rules that are worldly, that make them seem further from lost people, or maybe because most seem worldly it draws outsiders in, but for the wrong reasons. Where is the power in the churches? We tend to hold onto material things instead of trusting God for what we need, we keep to ourselves what we have and give excuses why we sholdn't give to our brother in need. What would we do if the Holy Spirit came on us like He did the day of pentecost in Acts 2?
I think we pick and choose, we pick the best dressed person, the one with more money, the one with a fancy car, or the one who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. In Acts 2:42-47, all the believers sold their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. They met together everyday, they broke bread in their homes and ate together and praised God. Now adays we tend to push the needy away, because we may not have enough to fill our own worldly desire's .
As part of God's spiritual family, it is our responsibility to help one another in every way possible. In 1 John 3:17, It says, If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Also in Romans 12:13 says, share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. So, I ask again, where is the church?
We are here to bring God glory, to help others find Him, to work for His Kingdom. We are not here to build up treasure's on earth, but to help each other also who are in need. To show God's love, its what we are to do. We are not to hoard, or to say, I will save this stuff for myself for a rainy day, well, maybe there is someone who needs it now, let go, feed others, pray, and let's be the church God made us to be. One Body, One Lord, Jesus our King.
Written By://Betty Bolden
5/17/08
copyright
Jesus Is My Joy Ministries
Into His Arms I Fall.
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