WHY I LOVE THE CHURCH OF GOD?
( Ephesians 5:25-27 ) [25]Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26]That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27]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.
1. THE
CHURCH MAKES ME PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-20) [12]For as
the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13]For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or
free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[14]For the body is not one member,
but many.
[15]If the foot shall say, Because I
am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[16]And if the ear shall say,
Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body?
[17]If the whole body were an eye,
where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
[18]But now hath God set the members
every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
[19]And if they were all one member,
where were the body?
[20]But now are they many members,
yet but one body.
2. THE
CHURCH CONNECTS ME TO SPIRITUAL PEOPLE WHO WILL PRAY FOR ME
( Acts 1:13-15 ) [13]And when
they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and
James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
[14]These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with his brethren.
[15]And in those days Peter stood up
in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were
about an hundred and twenty,)
3. THE CHURCH
PROVIDES MINISTRIES WHERE I CAN USE THE TALENTS
GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO SERVE HIM.
( Romans 12:6-11 ) [6]Having
then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7]Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8]Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth,
with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9]Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
[10]Be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
[11]Not slothful in business;
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
4. THE
CHURCH ENCOURAGES AND EQUIPS ME THROUGH THE STRONG AND MATURE CHRISTIANS AROUND
ME.
( Ephesians 4:11-16 ) [11]And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
[12]For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13]Till we all come in the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
[14]That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive;
[15]But speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
[16]From whom the whole body fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to
the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
5 The Church encourages my soul
having stronger servants around me that serve as a model Christian to me.
( II Timothy 2:1-6 ) [1]Thou
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[2]And the things that thou hast
heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also.
[3]Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4]No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier.
[5]And if a man also strive for
masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
[6]The husbandman that laboureth
must be first partaker of the fruits.
6. THE
CHURCH GIVES ME A PLACE TO EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND WORSHIP HIM IN
SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
( Mathew 18:20 ) For where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
* ( John 4:22-23 ) [22]Ye
worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the
Jews.
[23]But the hour cometh, and now is,
when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh such to worship him.
7. THE
CHURCH PROTECTS ME FROM THE ATTACKS OF OUR SPIRITUAL ENEMY, THE DEVIL.
( Ephesians 6:10-18 ) [10]Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11]Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12]For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13]Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
[14]Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[15]And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;
[16]Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[17]And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
[18]Praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints;
8. THE
CHURCH GIVES HOPE TO EVERY MEMBER FOR THE SOON COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
( Titus 2:13 ) Looking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;
( I Thessalonians 4:13-18 ) [13]But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14]For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
him.
[15]For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16]For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17]Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18]Wherefore comfort one another
with these words.
* God bless you
all always*
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