1 year ago

DAY 17 - I WILL BE A FUNCTIONING CHURCH MEMBER

Eph 4:11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Eph 4:12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Eph 4:14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Eph 4:15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Eph 4:16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

This speaks to how the Lord Jesus appoints some not all to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (by the way this is not a raking order) for the purposes of equipping us and building us up for His work through the local church.

Jesus chose this word “Church” translated “ekklesia” which means “an assembly called out of and separated from its surroundings to perform a particular task or duty for Him”.

When Jesus said in Mat 16:18 , and upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH, He placed emphasis not on the word CHURCH alone, but on the words MY CHURCH. The church is unique not because it is a church, but because it is the assembly of believers who belong to Jesus, who is the Head.

In the book of Revelation, there are seven times where Jesus admonished us to hear what the Spirit was saying to the Churches. How could this be possible without Christian participating in their particular local church. He also assumed spiritual alignment with the local church for a Christian to hear His word and walk out His message of instruction and edification.

Eph 4 affirms that every faithful Christian is in a covenant relationship with a local Church that meets the requirements of a biblical church. In alignment means where you are taught, discipled, and loved. In truth, it is about being in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and His Body.

Asked yourself this legitimate question: If I believe that the Church is the Body of Christ and I am a part it, am I doing my part by the giving of my time, my talents, and my resources to help support and build it up?

So, it is my desire and prayer, if you are a member of The Body of Christ that you become even more so “a functioning biblical Church Member” serving without hesitation unto the Lord Jesus with no strings attached.

#pastorkingrhodes #hischuch #HCICC #lortonva #springfieldva #washingtondc #virginia #pray #fasting #devotional #devotion #devotions

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