Church Unity

 

    Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, but unity among the believers is what makes it work as a church.  Jesus set the standard for the church.  He gave it meaning.  He became our purpose.  The prophets and apostles built the foundation through their teachings on what to expect and how to follow Jesus (the Bible).  We are the living stones that continue to build the church.

    The church is a living unit.  Unity is necessary for it to be built and grow.  We learn how in the Bible.  The truth, wisdom, and guidance is all there.  If the believers are in the Bible, then they will hold onto unity with a common purpose and sense of belonging.

    Christians are not to be isolated.  We are not obeying God when we push His church away.  He created us to need each other.  It is a healthy co-dependency.  If we lean on each other so we can follow Jesus, then the need is not unhealthy.  It is empowering.  When we unite as a church in life and prayer, then we are uniting the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

    Unity with the Holy Spirit means that the heart is aligned with God.  When Christians come together united with the Holy Spirit, then their goals align to follow Jesus.  All hands are on deck.  It is not the small 10% doing all the work, but the entire church working for a common goal.  We can't accomplish the goal successfully unless everyone finds their way to be involved.

    The Holy Spirit provided gifts to be used for the church, not personal gain.  Christians have a responsibility to use their gifts in obedience to God.  If we obey, then we see so much good in life.  We work as a church.  We grow in the church.  We have fellowship that makes it where others want to become a part of the church.  The church only works if we are united together.

John 17:20-21, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 2:17-22, Philippians 2:1-2, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 10:23-25, & 1 Peter 2:4-8

Holy Church

 

    The Holy Church is a group of people that are joined together through salvation from Jesus.  They choose to form a membership in the community to share God's Word.  They rely on Him as their source of power.  It is a communion of saints as they come together in common faith.

    The Holy Church is a household of saints led by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus gave us access to the Holy Spirit at the moment we accept the truth and declare our faith.  There is no longer a difference between Jews and Gentiles.  There is now only believers (followers) or unbelievers.  All believers are united by one Spirit to be reconciled with God.

    Redemption brings transformation.  Christians see sin for what it is: evil, wicked, anything that goes against God.  It is the job of the Christian to convince the world the truth about sin and what is sin.  Sin is the problem.

    Being a part of the holy church is to be a part of God's family.  We are citizens in Heaven.  We are no longer children of wrath, but on God.  Salvation makes us a part of His household.  We were called out of sin and the darkness of the world to be given hope, fellowship, and a life in light.

    The Holy Church is all the people who live in faith: past, present, and future.  We are the ones that profess faith to the world.  It doesn't matter the nation, language, or culture we were brought up in.  We are united by faith.  We pray for each other as an international church.  We may be strangers in this world, but we will know each other in Heaven as family.

Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12:3-5, Ephesians 2:17-22, 1 Timothy 3:14-16, & Hebrews 12:1-4

Believe in the Church

 

    Church is the body of believers that follow Jesus.  It is not the building in which they gather at a set time during the week.  It is people that live life together.  They use their spiritual gifts to connect with the community and help the church grow.  They invest into other believers to make disciples.  This is why we need to believe in the church.

    Each church does communion at a different time.  It is scheduled, so that the people in the church can take the time to reflect on what it is about.  It gives the members time to make things right with other believers and God before they participate.  Christians are blessed and we need to remember that.  Communion is just a good time to do that as a Church.  

    Together we are God's temple.  The church has been delivered.  We have been passed over on the final judgment.  We have all this because we acknowledge that we are not perfect, we sin, and we need God.  The church community are just people that are trying to do better.  We are all on different places, but most are trying to grow in their relationship with God.  

    We are not perfect and we do hurt people.  The important thing is when we realize it, that we do what we can to make things right.  People have been hurt in churches.  Some don't like the hypocrites.  However, it is better to go to church with hypocrites than to hell with everyone else.  Instead, focus on how we can motivate each other to act in love.  Encourage each other to do good work instead of acting like people of the world.

    The church is full of spiritually sick people.  Hurt people hurt others.  Hopefully they are at church to get better and not continue to hurt other people.  If someone in the church hurts you, then let them know and choose to forgive them.  Do not part take in communion if you have not let go of that hurt.  Confess your hurts, evaluate your salvation, seek forgiveness, and then part take in communion with a clear conscience.

Mark 12:18-31, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, Ephesians 2:17-22, & Hebrews 10:23-25

Indwelling Helper

 

    The Holy Spirit is the indwelling helper for all true Christians.  He is the Spirit of Truth.  He blinds the minds of the unbelievers since they are follower of Satan.  If you are a true believer, then you helps you understand the truth. True believers know him because he lives within you. 

    The Holy Spirit is the indwelling helper because he lives within you.  He lives in you to help you remember the truth in times of need.  He helps you see the truth clearly.  He convicts you to see the reality of sin and your need for Jesus.  He empowers you to be able to follow God's design for your life.  Our power comes from God, not ourselves.  The Holy Spirit lets that power shine in our hearts like a great treasure.

    When sin entered the world it tarnished the ability for people to have a relationship with God.  People have had glimpses of His presence, but nothing like when Jesus came into the world.  The Holy Spirit remains unseen by people, but he is the one that is always with believers.

    The indwelling helper gives us redemption.  He is our moral compass.  He opens our eyes to God's hope and why we need it.  He changes every aspect our lives.  He transforms us by helping us prepare for eternity.

    The Holy Spirit transforms us by putting us in right standing with God.  We are a work in progress.  We will not become perfection until we get home (Heaven).  He helps us learn and do better.  He makes life full with his presence.  

    The more we submit to God, the more we trust Him.  It is the most serious relationship you have, so allow the Holy Spirit to give you what you need in that relationship Because he is loyal.  It is a pure love relationship.  Hold onto your joy, prayer life, and thankful heart, so that the Holy Spirit can help you live a good and full life of love that abstains from all evil.

Psalms 51:7-11, John 14:15-21, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Philippians 4:10-20, & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Why Jesus Left

 

    Jesus had to leave this world, so that the Holy Spirit could come.  The Bible never explains why one one can be here at a time.  We can speculate a lot of things, but God knows the reason.  Jesus and the Holy Spirit obey God without question because they work perfectly together.  We have to trust God in the same way.

    Jesus said that he would leave, but promised that the Holy Spirit would be here for all that follow him.  Jesus told his disciples to wait.  Waiting is hard, but there is value in it.  They waited on the the Holy Spirit and he rewarded them with supernatural power.  He convicts people of righteousness, judgment, and truth.  He proves the truth by taking us back to Jesus.  Jesus could not lie because God cannot lie.  Jesus' words and actions are truth.

    Righteousness is where through faith the Holy Spirit makes a person worthy.  It is to be made right with God.  When a person understands what sin is and their need for Jesus, then that person starts to understand Jesus' complete work.  Jesus is sufficient to grant you salvation and righteousness.  He is the only way to true salvation.  

    Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit moves in and starts cleaning house.  He will convict you of your continued sin.  He will allow judgment now, to avoid eternal judgment later.  Eternal judgment belongs to Satan and all that follow him.

    The Holy Spirit gives Christians hope.  Our hope is rooted in the fact that Jesus is our victory.  He gave us salvation.  He is eternal and he will never leave his followers.  Salvation is only the beginning.  It allows the Good News to live in you through faith.  The Holy Spirit seals your salvation.  What God seals can't be unbroken.  Our hope is that guarantee.  Once you are saved, you will never loose your salvation.  It is perfect and locked in.

Matthew 16:24-28, John 14:15-121, 16:5-11,  Acts 1:4-8, & Ephesians 1:12-14

Believe in the Holy Spirit

 

    The Holy Spirit is the Help of the Trinity.  He is eternal. He was the one that hovered over the world before it had form.  He is the one given to believers to live in our heart since Jesus ascended to continue his work.  He is the conscience that speaks to our heart to love instead of hate or being self-serving.  He prepares us for Heaven.  

    Jesus ask each and every person to follow him.  He wants you.  He is your advocate.  That is why he sent the Holy Spirit to us.  Jesus did not want us living in a dark world alone without hope or an internal light.  The Holy Spirit is always in your corner while Jesus fights for you.  If you follow him, then no sin can be found in you.

    The Holy Spirit is your counselor.  As you read your Bible he reveals truth to you as you need to hear it.  He provides you comfort when you need it.  If he leaves you feeling uncomfortable, then you need to seek out why.  It is to move you somewhere else.  

    Jesus is the original helper by giving us the opportunity to have salvation.  The Holy Spirit is the helper that can live in every person that accepts the gift of salvation.  He seals your salvation by living in your soul.  He helps transform you into the person that can live in Heaven, while still living life on Earth.  How can a person not believe in the Holy Spirit?

John 14:15-21, Acts 2:38-41, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, & Galatians 5:22-23

Judgment Part 4

 

    Jesus is the judge over all people.  We all will be transformed from their mortal body to their immortal body.  One the transformation is complete, we will face judgment.  God's people will be separated from those who went their own way.  Jesus will lead his people into Heaven and escort everyone else into the place of eternal torment.

    God wants everyone to live with him in Heaven, but it is our choice.  We are born into our sinful nature naturally.  It doesn't take work.  Left alone we will live life and go straight to hell.  Following Jesus takes more effort.  It requires change, but the change is not too hard.  It starts in the heart and spills out into the rest of our life aspects.

    Here is the thing, you are with Jesus or you are not.  That is the final deciding factor on facing God's judgment.  If you are with Jesus, then you name is in the Book of Life.  If not, then you will be reaped away from those who are followers of Jesus.  

    Your life will be judged.  You will be judged for your good works based on faith or you will be judged as an enemy of God.  If you are an enemy of God, then you will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire in a body that will never be consumed by the flames, but feel every aspect of that agony.

    We all deserve death.  However, if you turn to Jesus in faith, then he will take your brokenness and give you a new life.  The false Christians will discover on that day of Judgement that they did not fool God.  You either live a life of obedience out of love now, or you will be removed from God's presence on that day.

    Today is the day that we can search our hearts and see where we stand with God.  Has your heart been changed by God?  What motivates your deeds, attitude, and thoughts?  Are you ready to dwell with God and His people or do you need to accept and proclaim Jesus?

Matthew 7:15-23, John 3:16-17, 5:25-30, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, & Revelations 20:11-15, 21:1-21