. This Thing Called Church

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What is your relationship with the local Church? I want to encourage you today in your relationship with the local church. The local church is an expression of the Body of Christ. The word of God tells us to NOT forsake the assembling of ourselves together

Not only that, but especially as we see the end approaching. One thing that the enemy has tried to do to God's people, that is to keep us from fellow-shipping and working together. The devil's motto is "divide and conquer." Don't buy into his plan.

Our walk with God is through the local Church. We get involved with the Lord's plan through the local church. The local church is the expression of the Body of Christ in a particular area.

God places an emphasis on the ministry of the local church. His vision for a church is that it would be ministry centers. We are designed to reach our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We are very excited about what God is doing in our midst. We are made up of individual members who are unique and special. God is meshing us together for His purpose and for His glory.

A successful church is made up of individuals who are willing to work together for the glory of God. Some people want to have a relationship with God, but they don't want anything to do with His church.

Many have been hurt or burned in church situations. Some have seen hypocrisy or moral failure. Some have decided to reject the visible church of God. They say "Just me and Jesus. . ."

I want you to know, you can't separate Jesus from His church. (Acts 9:4) "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?" Jesus was talking to Saul of Tarsus about his evil treatment of the church. Jesus said that anyone that persecutes the church is persecuting HIM! This shows how closely He identifies with the church.

Some would say, "I love Jesus, but I can't stand Christians," The Bible says: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1John 4:20, KJV).

Being a Christian and not being part of a particularly local church is like being in the Army and not having a battalion. Isolating ourselves from God's people is no answer. We have to get involved and make the Church better. We need to be part of the solution.

Be involved in a local church, walk in love, and serve one another.

1. Protection and Care

The local church is a place of protection and care. That's why He said, "Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together." We need to be under the spiritual prayer covering of a local body. We need the pastoral care and oversight that exists in the local church.

We need the fellowship of people of "like precious faith" who can encourage and help us in our walk with the Lord. We need people who can agree with us in prayer.
We need people who will be there for us when we have troubles in our lives. There is a special corporate anointing that is manifested as God's people come together.

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

In the local church you receive spiritual food and spiritual oversight from a pastor.

The scripture says: 1Peter 5:1-2 (KJV)
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;.

The elders or pastors were to "feed the flock of God" and "take the oversight thereof." This doesn't mean that they are to babysit God's people. The elders are not to hold your hand every time you do something. They are to protect from false teaching and winds of doctrine

They are to warn, protect and care for God's people. Jesus is the chief shepherd. He left pastors to be His "under shepherds" to care for the flock of God.

2. The Church is the Birthplace of Ministry

The local church is a place where ministry is birthed.

A good example of this is the church at Antioch.

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)

Notice it doesn't say that there were "in the caves" or "floating around from place to place" prophets and teachers. These ministries were IN THE CHURCH that was at Antioch.

Through this prayer meeting which occurred IN THE CHURCH, the ministry of the Apostle Paul was launched to reach the ends of the earth. This simple meeting held in a local church was one of the most significant events in the New Testament. It literally changed the course of history.

Your special area of gifting will find expression as you become part the body of Christ called the local church.
You don't have a legitimate ministry if you are not submitted to a local body.

That is more than just attending when convenient. There is something about working with the rest of Christ's body. Fellowship and sitting under a strong ministry, causes our faith and ministry to flourish.

Our churches need to be greenhouses to sprout new ministries for the glory of God. Your ministry may not be planting churches like Paul It may be helping needy people, serving as an usher, giving to missions.

Whatever your ministry is, it will find its expression as you are faithful to serve God in the local church.

3. Fulfilling God's Plan

Being part of a local church you can be a part of what God is doing in the earth today. God's glory and purpose is linked to the visible church.

If you want to be involved in God's Kingdom plan, get involved in a local church.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Amplified version says:
that these gifts are given to equip the saints so that "THEY should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body the church."

God is involved in a building program. It's not with brick and mortar, but with human vessels that are willing to be used by him. As we work together in the local church, Christ's body is built up.

God is saying that He will be glorified IN THE CHURCH as His church is built.

By getting involved in a local church and working for the glory of God, we can see spiritual progress in the earth.

We need to have "a mind to work." We will never be satisfied in our Christian life by sitting on the sidelines. Like a track star that doesn't run or a aviator that doesn't fly,

We will not be fulfilled until we put our hands to the plow and get busy for Jesus.

So I encourage you today. Get involved. Get to work. Get in a good local church.

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