Most Friday nights our church has a prayer time where all who will, come together to do nothing but pray. A very simple hour where we gather, share with each other and pour out our hearts to God. Last Friday night as I knelt, my heart was filled with gratitude as I thought about what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to have a body of believers, that the Bible calls a church, to call on God together. God established the church, and I am thankful for it.
The church is not a building. The church is a body of believers in Jesus Christ. In six of Paul’s letters to churches, he takes time in his salutation to thank God for them. Each one is a little different because each one exhibits a different godly attribute of Christ. Paul was instrumental in establishing each of these churches and more.
He thanks God for the church in Rome that has established itself as a church of faith throughout the world. Stories of their great faith had been shared and it was a great testimony of them. Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
In I Corinthians 1:4 He thanks God for the grace of God that is evident in their lives. I Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”
The Philippian church must have been one of great joy to Paul. He thanks God for every memory he has of them.
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”
When he speaks of the church at Colossae, he thanks God for them and mentions they are always in His prayers.
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”
In First and Second Thessalonians Paul prays for them regularly and then in II Thessalonians he is thankful for their faith and charity toward one another.
I Thessalonians 1:2 “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”
II Thessalonians 1:3 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith has grown exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other abounds;”
A church should be a place to worship together. A place to learn more about God. It is a place where God called men, pastors, and teachers to give us God‘s word so that we can better understand it, and apply it to our lives. The pastor studies the Bible and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit brings the word to us. It is a place where we are to be held accountable for how we live representing the Savior.
Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
It should be a place where we bear one another’s burdens. As it teaches in Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When there is sorrow over a lost loved one, when there is grief over a death, when there are financial hardships, physical ailments, or any type of mental distress, Christians are to be there for each other. This fulfills the “law of Christ,” which is stated in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
It should also be a place where we admonish and exhort one another to be more like Christ. The writer of Hebrews also mentions that we are to gather together for worship. Some were not faithful to assemble together, and the writer instructs us that we should be meeting more often than less often as we get nearer to the coming of Christ. It is not a suggestion that we go to church it is a command.
Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
I am so thankful for the church God has placed me in. Is it perfect? No, because it is made up of imperfect people, but it is a place where there is love, biblical teaching, and biblical worship. It is a place where there are people that feel like family because we have a common bond. We have a kindred Spirit which is the Holy Spirit, dwelling within us. It is one big family with a common goal, to glorify and honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
If you do not have a church, pray, and ask for God’s guidance to direct you to a biblical church. One where the pastor preaches what God says not what men want to hear. Find a place where you can serve others and have sisters and brothers that will bear your burdens. Find a church where you can grow the most important part about yourself and that would be your relationship with Jesus Christ. I have that kind of church and I am so thankful for it.
