“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:27
Jesus Christ is at work removing the spots and wrinkles from His church. I love going to church because I need that work done on me. Feeling a little spotted and wrinkled lately? Get to church this Sunday, or whenever you can go.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Eph. 5:25
I love going to church because it’s a gathering of people who get the focus and attention of Christ’s love. He gave Himself for the church. For those who are independent of the church, they miss out on that special love.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Pro. 13:20
There is no better place to find wise men than in the church. I love going to church because it is there that I can be amongst wise men and learn wisdom. For those that are independent of the church, the most wisdom they will receive is from their own mind.
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” I Cor. 14:12
God gave each of us spiritual gifts. It is when I gather with the fellowship of believers, provided that the pastor doesn’t forbid it, that I can use my gifts to bless the brethren. For those that are independent of the church, they might just as well hide their gift in the earth or store it in a napkin so they can give it back to the Lord later. YIKES!
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” I Cor. 12:25-26
If I am committed to a fellowship of believers I will be there to suffer with those that suffer. I will also rejoice with those that rejoice. So too, will those brethren that are committed to the same fellowship suffer and rejoice with me. Those that are independent of the church will suffer alone and rejoice alone.
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” I Cor. 12:25-26
It is in the nature of Christ to care for others. If I belong to a fellowship of believers, then there will be many others I can care for. There will also be others that will care for me. Those that are independent of the church, for the most part, only have to care for themselves and their family.
Though I am a pastor and am expected to be at church, when it comes down to it, I love being there. For the next week or so I will be giving reasons Why I Love Going To Church.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mat. 16:18
Though a gunman could go into a church and gun down people, it is still the safest place to be. The gates of hell cannot prevail against Christ’s church. Christian beware, if you think you do not need to belong to a church. The gates of hell may prevail against those that want to remain independent of the church.
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” I Cor. 1:7
The nation of Israel waited for the promised King and Messiah. The believers in the upper room waited for the promised Holy Spirit. Today, the church is waiting for the promised “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Come quickly Lord!
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.” II Ki. 5:14-15
Too often the church decides if the final outcome of something is good only if people are blessed by it. However, there is no greater outcome of a matter than when God is glorified and when men will say, “now I know there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (the church). Naaman did get healed, but God received the glory.
“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.” II Ki. 5:3
What confidence this little maid had of the God of Israel. She was convinced that if Naaman could get to the prophet in Israel, he would be made clean. Lord, let it be that we too can have such confidence that we can tell those that need a touch, need a miracle and needing a cleansing that there is a prophet in Israel. Lord give us confidence that we can say there is a church, a people in the community, where God’s presence and power abides.
