Trump declares churches 'essential,' calls on them to reopen
I have heard people say, “Well, I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.”
Listen to this statement by Jesus
(1)-Matthew 16:15-He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16-Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17-Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
This confession of who Jesus is, is the foundation of the Christian faith!
You can't be a Christian without believing and confessing this truth!
It is the truth that binds all the other truths that are found in the gospel!
It is true when someone says, "We are the church!" But it is also the truth ....We are more of the church, when we are together, when we gather together!!
Yes, we can do things on the behalf of Christ as individuals but we can do so much more as a group of believers!
I like knowing that as we give our tithe, not only does it pay the bills we have, it pays for the up keep of the buildings, buildings that can be used for weddings, and funerals, and family reunions, homecomings and on top of that, we give to missions, helping to spread the gospel!!
When we take Tina and my tithe, your tithes and we put it altogether, it can add up to so much, so much that God can bless and use!
That's why church is essential!
That's why church is important!
Church (Body of Believers) is important because it was and is Jesus' idea!
So when people say they don't need the church or to go to church, I truly believe we need the church and we need to go to church to be the best Christian that we can be.
(2)-Hebrews 3:13-but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Exhort-strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something
We are living in world where there is so much negativity, a society that is filled with haters (learn that word from young people on Facebook. Lol) people who find fault with others, people who are judgemental, people who are jealous of people who are happy and successful.
We need people who are encouraging, loving, accepting in our lives!
We should find those kind of people within the church!
(3)-Galatians 6:2-Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
If we have learned anything since this virus has arrived, is our world can be turned upside down, it is nice to know we are not alone, that we have each other to pray for each other, help each other, support each other.
(4)-Proverb 27:17-As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (NKJV)
Proverb 27:17-Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.(NLT)
We all need people not only to encourage us, but also we need people who will urge us to be more like Christ, to do things that will draw people to Christ!
In other words Christians should help each other have a closer walk with the Lord.
(5)-2 Timothy 4:2-Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.
Church is essential because we can hear the preaching of the word!
As Paul encourages Timothy, he also reminds him of the most important thing he can do as a preacher/pastor, is to preach the word!
(6)-Romans 12:6- In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
7-If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
8- If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
•
We all have been given a talent a gift, and we need to share it.
Not only will you feel a sense of fulfillment but you will help someone in there relationship to God!
Congregation not only can receive a blessing but also can be a blessing!
Which leads me to the next part of why church is essential!
(7)-Philippians 1:3-I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4-always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5-for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6-being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7-just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
A preacher wouldn't get to exercise his gift without the congregation!
Maybe a congregation can do without a preacher but a preacher can't do without a congregation!
When you come to church, you are helping that preacher fulfill what God has called them to do!
You've encouraged them!
You've supported them!
You've prayed for them!
You've taken care of their physical needs!
You've exercised your gift of being there and being supportive of the preachers who have stepped behind this pulpit and I believe that is such an essential part of the church
So on behalf of all of those men who have stood behind this pulpit, I want to thank you for allowing us to do what God has called us to do!
