Monday, July 26, 2010

God's Habitation

"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:22

You may wonder what the church is really here for. It would be surprising to hear the answers from many Christians if I asked them why they thought the church existed in the first place. Now let's be clear first: When I speak of the church, I'm not talking about just a building with a bunch of people in it, but a whole group of people throughout the world. So I would get many answers and probably most of them would be correct for the most part. Some would say to win souls to God's kingdom, to provide a place of fellowship and strength and teaching for the believers in Christ, or to help those less fortunate then us just make their way in this life by providing to them the things they need. Yes, all of these answers are no doubt correct but the real reason God has his church is to have a place of habitation and an organism in which he can move through. Of course we know God is everywhere and knows everything. We know he is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful and can do what he wishes. But as he didn't assign the angels the task to take the gospel to the lost, so he didn't assign them to be the agents to which he could move through although they do engage in spiritual warfare but only at his command and that is done through the prayers of the church. God ordained that the church would be the organism to which he would move through. That's why Paul said that it is the habitation of the Spirit.

In verse 19 we read, " Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." When someone really gets saved, they become members of the church. No, not from signing a church roll or a certificate, but from being truly born again with their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. Those who are really members of the church are not citizens of this world in that the world is only a temporary place where we can work for God, but our home is in heaven.

We learn that it is like a building that has been in progress since Christ rose from the dead for we read in verse 20, " And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone". It all begins with Christ as he is all and all.

So if the church is to be the instrument in which God moves through, it is a necessity that his people pray. The reason our country is in the condition it is in is because of the church! The reason we have killed about 50 million babies, see homosexual behavior on the rise, have continual corruption in our government, is because of the church. Hollywood runs rampant with filth, the cults including the Moslems are increasing and gaining influence, and our families are breaking up is due to the church and the lack of prayer in it.

The church is not for a gymnasium or a social club but a place for prayer and teaching God's Word. It's should be a place where people can get deliverance from sin, bad habits, and get healing. We will see revival in American when people pray, really pray. We will see wickedness less prominent and vctories won in the name of Christ when we pray! Will you pray? We will see revival in America! I hope you are in on it. I want to be! Pray church pray!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Church and the Home

"And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door." Exodus 33:10


 

This took place when the children of Israel were in the desert and had only been so for a couple of months. Many starring events had occurred even within this short time frame and I invite you to review these which are found, especially in chapter 32 and chapters 12 through 20, not to mention the first 11 which cover their history in Egypt and the plagues. Not Moses has interceded for them on the mount after they made the golden calf. They have the tabernacle where the holy of holies is located and which is the central point where God meets with them. We read that when Moses went to the tabernacle, the children of Israel stood. Then we see that the presence of God is with Moses in the tabernacle because his cloud is over it. But then we read another interesting thing. "and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door." They worshipped, not at the tabernacle but in their tent door. God is showing us that there are two mportant instructions and places for worship, the church and home. Yes, we can worship him everywhere in prayer as we are told to "Pray without ceasing," in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and that we should do. But the church and home are two places where we should be able to plray without hindrances, albeit Satan will hinder us everywhere but the church and home should be like sanctuaries away from the world.


 

Now, let's get to it. The church cannot be a sanctuary from the world when it brings the world in. Yet, the church is doing all of that and more. Instead of making itself more foreign to the world, it's using the world's tactics, methods, and providing the the amenities that a world class resort or country club would provide to entice membership. Yet, to put a religious ding to it, they still go on mission trips, try to feed the poor when it is convent, and even quote the sinners prayer with folks then baptizing them so they can gleefully boast of their converts and add them to their ever gloating numbers. Yet, for all of this, America's culture and the church's influence in it are less today then it was even ten years ago. Would you say that something is wrong?


 

Then we go into the home. The home cannot be a sanctuary when Hollywood is blaring their goods in your living room from morning 'till night or the satanic rmusic is constantly pounding in your ears. How can that be a place where one can get alone with God and have fellowship with him? Our homes in America are being ravaged by Satan because of what is brought in and is constantly flowing in from outside. Sometimes, we just have to shut these things off or switch our listening. How about listening to some good, challenging preaching at night instead of the sensual programming that is on TV that will damn the soul? Even the talk shows are many times nothing but bickering and arguing with nothing resolved. Don't we have enough of this in our lives without inviting more? If the true believer would turn his attention to the things of God instead of the things that seems to flow into his home, we could see revival in America. Yes, the big churches of this world would still have their retainers, but we would see God change lives and the influence of the church would be felt in this falling nation of ours. May God send revival to my heart and yours!