Title: The True Church
Contents
We live in the age of the church flood. After pubs, there are many churches. If you travel by bus and train, you can easily find a church with a towering cross. Also, in a bustling city, there are so many churches that it is said that when a large building is built, a church is created first. But just because there are so many churches, are all the churches being used worthy of God? Do all churches just grow up to be beautiful? no. There are many churches that do not believe in the Bible and practice them. There are many churches that have only the name of a church but cannot properly fulfill their mission as a church, a church that does not have the holiness that God wants, and a church that will have to close its doors in the near future.
Our church must have the courage to boldly erase the things that need to be removed in order to become the church as the pure bride desired by the Lord, the bridegroom. What should the true church look like?
1. The church must be devoted to prayer.
The early church members devoted themselves to prayer. Saints! Do you know the great power of prayer? Or do you not think that prayer is the last thing to ask the Lord's hand when you are trying to do something and it doesn't work? Saints! Prayer is the source of all the strength of the saints (Mark 9:29). With prayer we can do anything. Therefore, prayer is not something you do when something doesn't work. You must do anything before you start, and you must do it all the time in your life without a break (1 Timothy 5:5). See. As a result of fervent prayer before any special problems arose, the early church members not only received praise from those around them, but also converted many of them. Therefore, I hope that you will pray every day. Please pray earnestly and sincerely, not in a formal way.
2. It must be a church that teaches the word of God diligently and the members long for the word.
The early church members gathered every day to learn from the apostles the Word of God that makes them perfect as men of God. But how are you today? Are you passionate about reading and learning God's Word? Saints! We must know that without the Word, there is no realization or change in us. You must know that faith without the Word, no matter how passionate and outstanding outwardly, is in the end a faith without roots and is like nothing. Therefore, I hope that you will become those who truly yearn for and love the Word. I hope that you will read, learn, and keep the Word diligently.
3. It must be a church where the members fellowship with love.
The early church members had fellowship with love. They did not have a social relationship as we do today, but rather a relationship of self-sacrificing love, helping the poor without sparing their wealth. So, no matter how unbelievers, how can those who see these things not praise them (John 13:35) and not have a liking for Christianity? Saints! This is exactly what we should imitate. Indeed, with fervent self-sacrificing love, you need to take care of your brothers in need (Luke 14: 12, 13) and learn to have fellowship. At that time, wouldn't unbelievers be naturally moved by their hearts and come to church?
4. It must be a church that does not stop singing.
As the Bible says, "Yes, have you ever read that out of the mouths of babies and infants praise is perfected?" Jesus said to them, "Have you never read?" (Matthew 21:16). . Saints are those who sing praises. Isaiah 43:21 says, “This people I have formed for myself, that they may sing my praises.” The appearance of the kingdom of heaven in the book of Revelation is described as a place where the sound of praise does not cease. In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat defeated Moab with praise. Paul and Silas opened the prison doors with hymns. Praise is the weapon of the saints. Our members have a hymn to sing in any situation. If he can sing at any moment, he is already victorious.
5. We must be a missionary and serving church.
Mission is the fruit of the church. If you work hard in missions, the church will be blessed. And the church should take care of those in need, such as the poor, orphans and widows, and strive to do good deeds. This church is the right church. The essence of the church is to please God and glorify God above all else. (1 Corinthians 19:31, Ephesians 1:3-14)
6. Be a healing church.
Among the people who come to church, there are those who are hurt and suffering in the world, and there are those who suffer from physical and mental disabilities and diseases. The church can help, serve, and heal these people.
7. The church must be free from injustice.
In Matthew 21:12, 13 we read, “When Jesus entered the temple, he drove out all who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves, and called my house a house of prayer. You will receive a reward, but you make a den of robbers.' Even today, if the church is being used for business or for the convenience of human fellowship or business, this is making the church into a den of robbers.
Our church should be a church overflowing with righteousness, peace, and joy.
Dear saints, Is our church really looking like the true church like the early church? Just because you step on the doorstep of the church every Sunday doesn't mean you love God and the church. When we strive to gather together like the early church, receive praise from those around us, and convert people into a church that converts people, we can say that we truly love God and the church. So, what should our church and members do for that? First, you must always devote yourself earnestly to prayer. Second, we must diligently read and learn the Word of God to strengthen the foundation of our faith. Third, we must share the fellowship of self-sacrificing love. Fourth, we must become a church that does not stop singing. Fifth, we must become a missionary and serving church. Sixth, we must become a healing church. Seventh, we must become a church that is free from injustice and overflows with righteousness, peace and joy. When we do this, our church and the members will be able to restore the true form of the true church and saints like the early church.
* Prayer: Dear God, many churches today are secularized and corrupted. Pray for the Korean church to return to a church that is praised like the early church, a church filled with the Holy Spirit, so that it may die for Jesus Christ and the gospel with loyalty, devotion, and service. Do not settle in the seemingly impossible reality, but rise up for You. Attach your people and give them strength to work. Pray that many people will participate in the establishment of the true church so that they can give great glory to God. In the name of our precious Savior, Jesus, I pray.