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Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Church As A Ministry
Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are
differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Today's
focus discussion is the church as a ministry where the different gifts that is
given by God the Holy Spirit to serve in furthering the gospel message of
Christ and kingdom building. As stated in our scripture text these different
spiritual gifts are given for the profit to all mankind (v. 7). Just as these
gifts were an indispensable part of the early church and its ministry they are
today as well. It is God's will that these ministry gifts continue until Christ
returns for His bride-the church.
In
ministering one's God given spiritual gift is to manifest the love, grace, care
and compassion of God as believers serve God through serving others. Serving
others just as Christ did during His earthly ministry believers meet the human
need of the needy in order to meet the spiritual needs. Believers have been
given the commission by Christ Himself to carry the gospel to the uttermost
parts of the world (Matthew 28:19-20) and this is an integrate part of the
church's ministry. As the church continue in its ministry God has left His
spiritual body armour (Ephesians 6:11-18) to defend against Satan's evil
attacks.
Church,
fear not in your ministry for God is with you always.
Comments are welcome
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Temple Of God
1 Corinthian 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple
of God
Continuing
our discussion on the church; today our focus is the church as the temple of God
Why
must God's temple remain holy? God's temple must remain holy even in the midst
of a wicked society is that He is holy and cannot reside in a filthy place or
along side idol gods (2 Corinthians 6:16). The local church is viewed as the
city that is set upon a hill lighting the way for lost souls so they too may
come to Christ. Most importantly, the temple/church must remain holy as it is
the bride of Christ.
Being
that the church is God's dwelling place it is imperative that it remain
separated from this world and its systems. Who make up the church is the body
of baptized believers who are holy and have been declared righteous through the
blood of Jesus Christ. Being that believers have been bought with the blood of
Jesus Christ, then believers' bodies are no longer theirs; therefore, believers
being members of the body of Christ must live to glorify God as His Spirit
lives within (vv. 19-20).
Church
and believers you are the temple
of God
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welcome
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Friday, June 1, 2012
The Church
Matthew 16:18
And I say 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.
If
the question were raised, How do we define the church? Over the next several
topical discussions we will look at the church from different points of view;
in today's discussion we defines the church as a congregation of believers who
have accepted Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and is now members of
God's kingdom. The church is both visible and invisible where the physical
church is the structure or local congregation where believers assemble to
worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The invisible is the faith
component where all believers are united with Christ through their faith.
Jesus
Christ is the rock who is the great foundation of the church (1 Corinthians
3:11) and it was Peter's faith in Jesus Christ that Christ's church is built.
Peter solidified his faith as recorded in 1 Peter 2:4, 6-7 when he stated that
Christ is the "living stone…the chief cornerstone which the builders
disallowed." Peter's faith allowed him to become part of the living stones
as do all believers become living stones
and part of the spiritual structure of
the church that in turn make up God's spiritual house He is building (1 Peter
2:5).
It
is noteworthy to say that regardless of how hard Satan may try to destroy
Christ's church, it will stand forever.
Christ's
bride-the church.
Comments are welcome
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Abide In Christ
John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me.
Christ provides a powerful observation as it relates to the
believer remaining in Him by using the analogy of a branch remaining in the
vine. In order for the branch to bring forth fruit of any kind it must remain
attached to the vine. This analogy is true for believers; they too must remain
in Christ so the world will know who we are and whose we are. Remaining in
Christ all believers can and will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit as
outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.
If the question was raised, How must believers remain in
Christ so that the world will know that believers are God's children? Believers
remain in Christ through a constant study of God's Word and then living
according to His word. Believers are to remain in union with Christ so they can
and will draw closer to Him. Obeying God's Word and commandments is a major
factor in remaining in Christ because believers will share in His love and in
turn love Him and others as commanded by Christ. Lastly, remaining in Christ
and yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit believers have the ability to
resist sin. It is noteworthy to say that all believers are to remain in Christ
as we died to sin with Him and was raised with Him to a life of righteousness.
Just as God the Father and God the Son are one; believers are one in
Christ Jesus; the branch and the vine.
Comments are welcome
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Friday, May 25, 2012
Remembering
Joshua 4:3-6, 21
….Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the
priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them in the lodging
place, where you shall lodge this night…That this may be a sign among you, that
when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean by you
these stones?
If
we were to subtitle today's discussion it could be "What mean these stones"?
Our scripture text provides the answer to the question, which was to establish
a monument as a memorial as a remembrance of God's salvation and His deliverance
of the young Israel
nation out of bondage. Let's build our memorial in our hearts remembering God's
goodness, His grace and mercy that endures forever.
This
weekend's celebration of Memorial Day has been set aside as a day to keep alive
the memory of a love one or an event that is near and dear to our hearts.
Have
a safe and blessed weekend.
Comments are
welcome
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A Christ-Centered Life
Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
What does it mean to live a Christ-centered life? Living a
Christ-centered life is a life where believers have committed his or her life
to one of holy living. A Christ-centered life is one where self has been
removed and replaced with Christ. A Christ-centered life is one where the
believer cherishes an intimate fellowship with Christ above all else. A Christ-centered life is one where the
believer has submitted him or herself to Christ in obedience to His atoning
work on Calvary 's cross. Given the price Christ
paid in ransoming all believers from the bondage of sin is reason enough to
live lives that is Christ-centered which pleases the Lord.
If
the question were raised, How must one remain in fellowship with Christ and
live a life that is focused on Him? Believers remain in fellowship with Christ
through daily prayer and Bible reading which enhances our knowledge of the Lord
and His presence is felt. There is joy, protection and eternal blessings from
living a Christ-centered life. Believers have Christ's Spirit the Holy Spirit
residing in each believer to aid in living a Christ-centered life. It is
noteworthy to say that living a Christ-centered life, the believer experiences
an unspeakable joy that the world does not understand neither can it give or
take away. O! What joy to be had from
living a Christ-centered life?
Living
a Christ-centered life has put this song in my heart, O what a fellowship, what
a joy diving leaning on the everlasting arms of God.
Christ-centered
or self-centered, Christ-centered is best.
Comments are welcome
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