I Love the Church

I Love the Church

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It began before Halloween at Walmart. Seems every year the push for buying and selling begins earlier and earlier.

Betty and I have great love for all of you and we wish you the best during this time. I am fully aware that this season brings great joy, along with sorrow. Sorrow for the friends and loved ones that are no longer with us.

Betty and I pray for you always. Remember the love and the grace of God. He will bring you comfort and peace through every season of life.

Soon we will begin our 15^th year. I know I have mentioned this but here I go again.

God has been very good to us. I have every reason to believe that His favor will continue. His purpose for us will grow larger. And our faith will tear down walls of division. All Things are Possible!!!

I come to you this morning in His name, to share some thoughts titled, “I Love the Church”.

Matthew 16:13-19

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”

The church has been built upon this confession. Peter ended his first church building sermon by reaffirming this statement more broadly.

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.

What must the message be? It must be Jesus

I want to spend a few minutes on the word church.

The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia.

The word ekklesia means, “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.”

Dictionary.com, a congregation, or church. Free dictionary, church or congregation, collective body of Christian believers, regarded as the universal church.

The word covers every aspect of our Christian faith.

1^st-The Body of Christ worldwide.

Matthew 16:18

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Ephesians 1:22

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

2^nd-Regionally

Acts 9:31

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

3^rd-Local congregations.

1 Corinthians 1:2

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Worldwide, regionally, and locally, the church is the light of the world, declaring the story of Jesus and the Word of life to everyone, everywhere. “It also includes those who have died in the faith as well.”

Revelation 1:11

“Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” “The message to local churches.”

Revelation 22:14-17

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

Revelation 22:14, 16-17 Amplified

14 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.”

17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost.”

Jesus named these seven churches in Rev. 1:11. They were found in actual physical locations. I want to spend some time on their character.

Most people deal with Revelation as an end time book. Lucky for you guys, I am not most people. The Bible is filled with events that seem to conclude in their real time. Yet there are lessons, and spirits, and character traits that have moved forward for thousands of years. Things that we must recognize and deal with.

“I love the church. The institution, and the people have been my life for 47 years.”

I believe that Revelation has in many cases a much broader meaning than end time. I believe there are things that also deal with real time. The character traits of the 7 churches is one of those real time examples.

Study their relevance for today.

Jesus began and ended Revelation 22 with this thought found in verse 7 and verse 20. “I am coming quickly.

The word quickly is translated from a Greek word which means, “quickly, speedily, and without delay.”

I believe, with all of my heart, this message to the churches is for the ages. For every season of time. Every failure and sin. Every indifferent attitude.

He will come quickly to restore!!! To restore each church and their negative character.

Remember this!!!

John 10:10 NASB

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

#inHisname