Why I am Thankful for My Church

 

Why I am Thankful for My Church

1.      God promises to meet with us every time at least 2 or 3 gather here together

2.      I get to see my blood-washed family.

3.      I get to rub shoulders with the best people on earth.

4.      The Word is preached, believed, received, and practiced.

5.      When Jesus said that we would have, in this life, 100-fold fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, this is where I get to see them.

6.      I get to pay my tithes and give offerings through this church. Some pays the bills, but much of it goes to get the gospel to the ends of the earth.

7.      The music here is the best music this side of heaven.

8.      This is a tremendous place to rejoice with those who do rejoice and weep with them that weep.

9.      Because this is Christ’s Bride, and His love and blessings are concentrated on this place.

10.   Because this is the Body of Christ, I am a body part and I need execute my function.

11.   His house is a house of prayer. Though I can pray anywhere, there is something special and powerful about corporate prayer.

12.   Because we get to worship together, which is practice for what we will be doing for all eternity.

13.   Because special things happen here. We pray and work for there to be an atmospheric presence of the Almighty. And when that occurs, there in nothing on earth like it.

14.   Because souls are saved here. Burdens are lifted. Babies are dedicated, baptisms occur, communion is observed, missionaries are sent, saints are blessed and God is praised!

These are a few of the reasons for which I am thankful for my church. What are some of your reasons?

The 15 Spiritual Blessings of the Believer, Eph 1

 The complex forest of life we traverse often obscures the panoply of God’s manifold blessings He bestows upon us.

Generally, when we contemplate His blessings, we consider things like health to enjoy, family to love, church to attend, food to eat, a house to dwell in, a car to drive, etc. But His richest and truest blessings are not the mere creature comforts He supplies, but the eternal and spiritual blessings shared by every child of God.

Here Paul lists these blessings money cannot buy and entropy cannot diminish.

Notice here in verse three where we see the Bestower, the recipients and the nature of these spiritual blessings: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Here we have the blessed God and Jesus, blessing us with all spiritual blessings in and from heavenly places.  

What are the spiritual blessings in heavenly places bestowed upon each of us believers?

1. Sainthood, verse 1

2. Grace and Peace, verse 2

3. Chosen, 4

4. Sanctification, 4

5. Imputed Righteousness, 4

6. Predestined, 5

7. Placed into His Family, 5

8. Accepted in/by Him, 6

9. Redeemed, 7

10. Forgiven, 7

11. Abundance of Wisdom and Prudence, 8 (moral insight)

12. Partakers of the Mystery, 9-10  (Jews and Gentiles in one body)

13. Co-Inheritors with Jesus, 11

14. Trophies of Grace, 12

15. Sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of Redemption, 13-14

Then Paul gives thanks and prays for us that our eyes would be opened and we would understand, be enlightened regarding our true riches and His mighty power working in and for us.

When we confess that we are blessed, our sentiments go far deeper than that which meets the eye. Money buys things that are counted by some as blessings. But the blood of our dear Saviour, Jesus, buys us unmeasurable blessings which are beyond our wildest imaginations.

Good, Better, Best

Sins of Omission

St Jerome said it well, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best."

My honest observation is that most of us are settling for much less than the best that God has for us. 

When we are enlightened regarding the good we ought to do, we revert to the mediocre we are accustomed to. 

We often opt for that which is passable rather than pursuing that which is gloriously possible.  

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17

When we have been led to do right, and we fail to act on that prompting, that is a called a sin of omission. 

What are we commonly omitting? 

1. Is it good, having investigated and accepted the truths of Scripture and the love of God, and having committed oneself to Christ, following Him in believers baptism, to unite with a New Testament Church and serve through that body?

2. Is it good to spend time with God in prayer and devotion, Scripture reading and meditation?

3. Is it good to attend worship services, learning more of Jesus and His Word, and encouraging and being encouraged on a regular basis?

4. Is it good to tell others of Jesus and to send the gospel to the ends of the Earth?

5. Is it good to show kindness to those in need, impoverished, abused and victimized, when we have the wherewithal to bless them?

6. Is it good to keep ourselves in mental, physical, and financial shape so that we can be of benefit to the kingdom of God when called upon?

7. Is it good to stand for truth and oppose evil? 

8. Is it good to live a Spirit-filled life, allowing Him to produce His fruit through us for the betterment of those around us?

9. Is it good to walk in the light Jesus gives us through his Word, following His will with complete obedience?

10. Is it good to spend one's life exhibiting the influences of gospel salt and light, allowing others to witness our good works and therefore glorify our Father which is in heaven?

Friend, it is time to set aside worthless pursuits and prioritize those things which are good and right, better and best.