The power of a church – Part 2

A little review from Part 1. For many Christians, finding a church is about the right youth program, the right social standing, the ability to attend without conviction from the pastor, the right number of young adults for a person to find a spouse, the right sermon series that is relevant to today’s culture, the best coffee and doughnuts, etc..  All of these reasons are of the flesh to gather in a building with people who believe God exists and attend the gathering for selfish reasons.  The power of a church is in finding where God has called each person to be rooted, planted, grounded into a congregation who are on assignment from God and under a pastor who has been raised up and sent out according to the book of Acts (Acts 13:2-3; Ephesians 4:11-12). 

The power of a church is not in the ability to reflect selfish desires in one’s life, but in helping make each person at that church an equipped soldier in the army of God.  Each Christian is not called to be a spectator in the church but to put their hands to the ministry of helps by using their grace gifts to help the body of Christ and having victory over the spiritual enemies in their region (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 6:3).  When a church does not teach how to mature, fight spiritual warfare, or the foundational doctrines of Jesus Christ, that church is not fulfilling their God-given calling.  That church is doing the opposite of what God desires.  Pagan gatherings can make people feel like part of a group.  Satanists can help people find purpose.  God’s people should not look like the world but look like God’s kingdom (Matthew 12:24-29).  When Christians do not focus on their purpose of living for Jesus Christ, they must turn to gimmicks, shticks, or other forms of entertainment to keep people coming back like a TV show for ratings (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1). 

The power of a church is in its ability to allow God to move by His Holy Spirit convicting, rebuking, revealing, comforting, and fulfilling all the abilities of the Holy Spirit within the church services and within the lives of the people growing within that church.  Purple stage lights, dim lights over the people, and emotion-driven discussions are not church but a deceiver’s tools to fool those who will easily believe church looks like this (1 Timothy 6:3-5; Jude 4; Romans 16:17-18).  The power of a church is in its ability to help people be part of God’s family by giving the Word of God for them to be born again and for the people to raise up the name of Jesus, honor God the Father, and be led by the Holy Spirit.  When salvation is left out, this reflects a lack of love for the people and where they will spend eternity (John 3:3; Romans 6:23).  When the Word of God is left out, this displays that culture is more important than what God has to say. 

When challenging the people with how to live by the Word of God is left out, this exposes that the leaders do not want people to mature in a relationship with God but rely on their ability to motivate the people to do good (2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:28).  May Christians realize the power of a church is helping them live for God by knowing God themselves and being the soldier God desires for them to be. 

For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.