Organized Church

 

    Church is not about programs or gimmicks to get people to come.  It is not about getting rich or a scheme.  Church is about people coming together to worship God, serve one another, and live life together.  

    There is a lot a pressure to always have programs going to keep people's attention.  There is nothing wrong with programs, but they do take up a lot of time and can wear the core people out.  If the church could find their way back to the basics, then I think God could really show up.  We need to focus on teaching God's complete word, fellowship, meals together, and prayer.

    The church should be led by a group of gifted men with the pastor at the lead.  In the first church the order was the apostles, prophets, evangelist, then pastors and teachers.  Today the pastors of the different community churches should come together to pray over their communities and hold each other accountable, like the apostles did.  The prophets and evangelist are the church leaders, then the teachers are the face of the church for many.

    God gives people gifts to equip the church.  We all have a purpose in the church.  If we all work together equally in our purpose driven areas, then the church will be strong and grow naturally as the body of Christ.

    The church needs elders and overseers.  These are men that are the leaders and guardians of the church.  The elders are blameless witnesses.  Originally they witnessed Jesus' death and resurrection.  Now they witness the persecution of the church and see what is happening in the community while staying blameless.  They are mature Christians able to shepherd God's flock.  They are responsible for submitting and obeying God's leadership.  They watch over the church and give an account.

    The Overseers are now normally referred to as deacons.  They hold many of the same characteristics and responsibilities as the elders; however, their role is servant to the church.  They minister to the needs of the church members.  

    The church body are all the members of the church.  The church body is called to come together.  The teachers are the one's that lead us through God's Word to find instruction.  They teach us how to observe God's Word in our daily lives.  Everyone else in the church needs to focus on growing their relationship with God and caring for each other.  The roles are determined by how you choose to live over time, but we are all responsible for sharing God's good news.

    As a church, if we are not doing this, then we are failing as a church body.  If we focus on living a Godly life together, then we will not need so many programs to fill the time and draw each other in.  We will be living life together.  That means we won't have to work to hard to know each other.  It will come more naturally.  

Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 9:13-16, 12:22-26, Galatians 6:4-6, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Hebrew 10:23-25, 13:7-17, & 1 Peter 5:1-4

The Church

 

    The church is not a building or cluster of buildings.  The church is God's people.  It is all of us throughout the world.  When we come together we may be identified as a denomination, sect, or association, but that is not what we are.  When we come together we are a spiritual body that puts God at the head.  We come together for fellowship, worship, communion, and community.

    Jesus is the head of the church and the people that follow him are the body.  Jesus bought us with his blood.  If you become a Christian it is important to become a part of a local church.  It is not a choice.  God commands that His people come together when he said make disciples.  

    You can find God in many aspect in life, but God created us to need each other.  The church can't be replaced by anything else.  You will never be a strong Christian without being a part of a church.  That includes being a member, but never getting involved.

    To become a member of a local church you need to be baptized.  It is the first act of obedience as a Christian.  It is a statement of faith put into action.  It is kind of like your anointing into being a part of something bigger than yourself.  

    Believers need to come together in small groups.  You can be a part of a mega church and that is okay as long as you are a part of a small group within the church too.  Community is what makes the church unite.  If you don't even know the people you go to church with, can you really say you are a part of a church?  

    The small groups is where you get to know each other and how to work together.  You come together to worship Jesus, receive instruction through scriptures, pray together, encourage one another, and evangelize.  When the church began, it was in homes.  Now we have designated areas within a community.  If your church is not invested into that community, then the church is dead spiritually.    

    The church once met every day.  Now most church typically only meets once a week.  How can you live life together if you only see your church family one to two hours a week.  You need to know each other.  You need to be invested in each other's life.  The church needs to take care of each other.  If we would open ourselves up and be real, then the church has an opportunity to do that.

Acts 20:7-31, Romans 16:3-9, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 16:19-24, Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 1:15-20, 3:12-15, Hebrews 10:23-25

Prayer Work

 

    Prayer can be hard work, but that doesn't mean that we need to give up on praying.  Prayer sometimes requires sacrifice.  Some prayer requires fasting to accompany it.  When something or someone seems to weigh on your soul and it feels like God is not answering your prayers, then it may be time to fast for a set period to draw closer to God.

    Jesus prayed before he selected his 12 apostles.  He prayed all day and all night sacrificing comfort and sleep.  Hours before he faced his mock trials before being sacrificed himself, he prayed so intensely that he sweated blood drops.  He was devoted to prayer.  His entire life was a sacrifice.  What can we learn from Jesus' prayer life?  We can learn how to devote our life to prayer.  This means we stay alert and keep our hearts thankful.

    Prayer can take work when life gets frustrating or discouraging.  That is probably because God commanded us not to be discouraged or afraid.  Frustration can be a sign that you don't trust God.  The more you fight Him, the harder it is to pray.  However, life is hard, so we do get frustrated and discouraged at times.  That is when we have to work at our prayer life, so we can get back on track with God.

    When you feel unheard, it is easy to feel anxiety.  When life is hard it is easy to complain.  You can cry because you hurt.  Life can drain all your energy to the point where you get so tired you can't even sleep at night.  This makes praying hard.  This is when you have to lean into prayer, so you can let go and give all your burdens to God.  When you do that, you will find rest and peace.

    God hears prayers, but He is sovereign.  He has a purpose will direct how He answers prayers.  It can take work to pray to get your attitude aligned with God's way of doing things.  Pray that you can accept His will and understanding of His perfect ways.  Realize He is working through your weaknesses to refine you and help other people at the same time.

    It is okay to pray to have hardship, burdens, and pain removed.  You can pray for it repeatedly, but if God does not deliver you from it, then you need to accept that it is a part of your life for a time or life.  That is hard to accept, but once you do then perspectives can change.  

    It is hard to hear no when you really want something.  If God's reply to your prayer is no, then turn to His grace and power to accept that it is for your benefit that He said no.  Do not give up on prayer all together.  Jesus even asked that his hour of suffering may pass him.  He knew the answer would be no before he asked, but he still needed to ask.  He accepted it and stayed obedient to honor God.

Psalm 13, 22:1-2, Mark 14:35-36, Luke 6:12-16, 22:41-44, 2 Corinthians 12: 5-10, & Colossians 4:2-6

Practice at Prayer

 

        Prayer is not a one time thing to get into heaven.  It should become a part of you, like breathing.  Prayer needs to be worked like a muscle.  It will become natural, but it doesn't normally start out that way.  It takes practice to be able to obey God well.

    Throughout the Bible, you will find where God encourages and commands believers to persevere in prayer.  Never give up on prayer.  Pray consistently by praying over everything.  Even if it may feel like something stupid to pray over, pray.  God appreciates our efforts.  

    Pray in spirit because it is a personal relationship between you and God.  It is okay to pray out loud with other people if it is corporate prayer and not get attention prayer.  Stay alert to persevere and see God's intercession for His people.

    The Bible provides many guidelines to help you develop your prayer life.  If you are persistent in your prayer life, then you will receive what you ask for or what you really need.  God only gives out what is good, never evil.  If bad things happen, then it comes from Satan, not God.

    Jesus taught us how to pray without ceasing.  He was always in communion with his father.  He would get up early to pray or spend nights in prayer.  He would give supplications with tears and crying.  His prayers were intense and powerful.  At times he would agonize over prayer.  The pattern that Jesus taught us is to pray to God, exalt Him, submit, seek, confess, depend, and trust God.  

    All that is required to pray is to stay in Jesus' presence.   If you do that, then he is praying with you and you can trust that your prayers will be answered.  That is why you should pray with confidence.  Ask in God's will and it will be answered.  It is just not guaranteed to be answered in the manner you want it to be.  It will be answered in the best way for you.

Matthew 6:7-13, Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8, John 15:5-8, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, & 1 John 5:13-15

Believer's Prayer

 

    Prayer is communication between yourself and God.  However, for it to work you have to submit to His authority as sovereign over your life.  When you pray you display trust as you reveal your heart.  Prayer is not about checking things off your to do list or wish list.  It is about bringing yourself into His presence.  It is reverent communion with God.  It is a form of worship and acknowledging that he is the giver of all things.

    A believer that prays is developing their spiritual discipline.  Prayer is so simple, but it still has to be taught.  Luckily believers have the Holy Spirit to help them pray.  When you don't have the words to pray, then ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you.  

    God is very interested in hearing what you have to say.  He wants to help us with our personal struggles.  He wants to protect us.  Instead of turning to other people and complaining, take everything to God.  He will listen to your issues and problems without judgment or gossip.  It takes boldness to go to God so openly.

    You have the privilege to pray and have access to God at any time.  However, to access the full power of prayer, you need to walk in loving sacrifice and humility.  Prayer offers you a release of burden.  Humbly exalt God and cast all your cares upon Him.  He will take them gladly and intervene as needed.

    Prayer is effective for the believer.  It can change situations and people's hearts.  When you pray, you should expect results or you are denying God's ability and promises.  God has the power to release a person from bondage, heal the sick, heal a broken heart, and so much more.  Don't limit God.  When you pray you get an inner peace that surpasses understanding.  It guards your heart and mind.

Psalm 34:15-18, 142, Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, Luke 11:1-4, Acts 12:1-8, Romans 8:26-30, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:14-16, James 5:16-18, & 1 Peter 5:4-9

Holy Spirit's Ministry

 

    The Holy Spirit's ministry is in believer and to motivate unbelievers to seek the truth.  He is our connection to God and Jesus.  The truest sign of a Christian is that the Holy Spirit dwells in them.  You cannot be a true Christian without the Holy Spirit living in your heart.  

    The secret ministry of the Holy Spirit is how he reveals truth to us.  He tells our soul things that are not of this world. He reveals the spiritual world to us.  One is how his presence seals a true Christian to have access to eternity with God in Heaven.  It is the seal of redemption.  It can't be altered or falsified.

    Do not grieve or stifle the Holy Spirit.  It grieves him to dishonor or reject Jesus.  He fills you with the himself.  He gives you freedom even if you are under persecution.  All he ask is that you stay in the relationship and not allow distractions to lead you away.  

    To be filled is to make room for the Holy Spirit.  That means that you recognize His domain and control in your life.  You confess and repent of your sinful nature.  You willingly surrender your will, thought process, talents, possessions, and desires to him.  

    You allow him to use what you have to make it better, but it does require dying to your selfish nature every day.  It can be a real internal battle at times, but the reward is more than you can imagine.  Your actions, words, and every other aspect of who you are is being transformed to be more like Jesus.  

    You start walking by the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are the good and holy things that your life will start producing.  They consist of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and patience.  If your life does not exhibit at least one of these, then you really need to evaluate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

    The ministry of the Holy Spirit holds a great significance in a Christian's life.  He uses you to bring more people into the family.  He motivates you to keep your body a holy temple.  You realize that your life is not your own.  It was bought and belongs to God by Jesus' blood.  You understand that you are still on earth to glorify God by being holy and righteous with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 6:18-20, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 4:30, 5:15-20, & 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Holy Spirit's Work

 

    The Holy Spirit works as one with God the father and God the son.  They work in perfect unity, but each has their own roles.  There is no power dynamic with them.  It all happens naturally and flawlessly.  If you are a Christian, then you get a basic understanding of this now.  However, when we enter Heaven, we will be a part of that perfection.

    The Holy Spirit is active in creation, life, salvation, resurrection, and our eternal hope.  He bears witness of who Jesus is and always has been.  He confirms to us that Jesus is Christ.   He discloses and reveals Jesus to us in a more intimate way.  He never speaks of himself, only God and Jesus.

    The Holy Spirit is the minister in our hearts.  His role in salvation is vital.  He lives in our heart, cleans house, and helps build us into someone more like Jesus.  He is our counselor to convict us of sin, reveal righteousness, and motivates judgment on our conscience.  His residence in us is our seal that allows us to enter Heaven.  If he has not marked us, then we will never enter.

    When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit comes along side their soul to live out the rest of the human life with that person.  He pours himself into them abundantly like a person that is very thirsty drinks up water.  If you limit the Holy Spirit's access, then you limit the abundance that He is trying to give you.  

    You are only as close to God as you want to be because the Holy Spirit doesn't force himself into you or on you.  You have to be willing and want it.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit only occurs once when you get saves, but he refreshes, strengthens, and changes your daily.  

Psalm 104:27-30, John 3:5-8, 15:26-27, 16:5-15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 1:12-14, Titus 3:3-7, & 2 Peter 1:19-21