IS THE CHURCH A PHYSICAL LOCATION?

We often hear people saying; I am going to church. My church is called so and so. Others would also say Our church is a Mega church they would boast. Some will say the church service was awesome!

However, what does the word of God say in regards to the church?

(Hebrews 12:23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Here are my few thoughts as to what the Church is;

  • The church is composed of the whole number of regenerate or born-again believers from Pentecost to the first resurrection. Born again in the sense that without it you cannot see the kingdom of God as the Lord said unto Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews

(1 Corinthians 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

  •   The church is united together to Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit

 (1 Corinth 12: 12-13), 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. 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.   

  •  The Church Is the body of Christ of which He is the Head

(Eph 1:22-23) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church?

As such the church is a holy temple for the dwelling of God through the Spirit

 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:21-22)

  • The Church is one flesh with Christ

 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Eph 5:30-31)

  • The church is espoused to Him as a pure virgin to one husband

  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinth 11:2-4)  

  • The church and will be translated to heaven at the return of the Lord through the air,

 (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). 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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

Do you belong to this Church Universal? You can only be part of this church if you are genuinely born of the incorruptible seed and have the assurance in your heart that you belong to this church. May the Lord make this possible in your life.

SHALOM!

CARNALITY VRS SPIRITUALITY.

(Romans 8:6-7)

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.    Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Certainly the letter kills and the spirit gives life to a believer, so it behooves on every believer to depend wholly on the spirit of God. The devil plays on the sensual and carnal mind of men to understand the word of God, leading men to death.

This same spirit manifested itself in the Pharisees and the religious sects when they took the words of our lord Jesus in their own carnal interpretation.

When Jesus Christ said, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it back again “, Many who listened to this statement didn’t understand Him.

A carnal minded man can never understand the things of God. It takes the revelation and the spirit of God in a believer to understand the word of God. The spirit of God leads a believer deeper in the revelation of the word of God.

 * (1 Corinthians 2:10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, and the deep things of God.

* (Romans 7:14) Because the law itself is spiritual

In the beginning, the fall of Man in the Garden of Eden was both spiritual and physical.  Eve fornicated with the intellect (knowledge of good and evil) of the serpent (Gen 3:4-6), who added to the word of God.

It took the Serpent to deal with Eve on carnal reasoning to doubt the word of God, by adding just   *`NOT* ‘ to the commandment of God.

A carnal knowledge draws men away from the word of God while divine knowledge of God draws men to the word of God. 

Divine knowledge is one centered on the revelation of Christ Jesus, the word of God .Certainly , one way or the other a believer will deal with words of knowledge, which could be either from above (heavenly knowledge ) or from the pit of hell .

The bible hinted that for lack of knowledge my people perish (Hosea 4:6), and it is not good for the soul to be there without knowledge (Prov.19:2). Through knowledge the wisdom of God is made known to the believer.

The *former* and *latter* rain comes with `knowledge of God that equips a believer to do what is required of him.  Remember, the word m-o-u-r-e-h,

moureh is a Hebrew word which means teaching, the “former rain.” It says the moureh_“rain,” the teaching rain. 

Let`s stop playing church and get serious with God. Religiosity does not lead one to heaven but one needs to be spiritual. Cain was a religious fellow but without the revelation of the word of God. The enemy has played on the carnal imaginations of men to the extent that, the wrong notions of men are being accepted and justified.

  • Number of years in a church, ministry, on a gift makes no difference a face value if it without obeying God`s Truth in His perfect Will. (Mathew 7:21)
  • Having a string of degrees in theological studies does not give one an added merit for being qualified to handle the word of God. It takes God`s ordained men to handle the word of God. (1 John 2:27)
  • Having believed the message of the hour and being recognized at church does not give you the ticket to heaven, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk with God in the spirit. (Rom. 8:14)
  • Large crowd or no crowd has no value on the kingdom of Heaven when God`s Truth is not made known. (Math 7:21)
  • Being religious and following traditions of men does not merit one to heaven. Get rid of religiosity and be spiritual.  Romans 8:14 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God

 AMEN.

Bro Stephen Awittor, Cape Coast, Ghana.