Spiritual Ingredients

But the moment we took one bite of that delicious food, we immediately knew that one of the main components that would have made this dish taste so good, such as salt or pepper, was missing.

There are some ingredients that can be left out of a dish or a drink, and no harm is done, but then there are others that, if omitted, just ruin the whole dish.

There are substitutes for some ingredients, and then there are other ingredients for which no substitution can be made.

Illus: A man was known for creating certain health drinks. One of his favorite health drinks was to pour a glass full of orange juice in the blender, and blend a couple of bananas in with it. Then, after this become a creamy base, he dropped in a couple cubes of ice and let it blend. Everyone who ever drank this health drink, loved it. A man who was visiting with him one day, told him that he heard about some of the health drinks he had created and wanted to know if he would fix him one. The man felt honored that he would want one of these drinks that he loved to fix. To his dismay, as he looked in the refrigerator, he saw there was no orange juice. Rather than disappoint him, he decided he would substitute the grape juice for the orange juice. He blended the drink, and soon delivered a very attractive looking drink to the man. The man tasted the drink and did not say he liked it or disliked it. He was very kind. He eventually drank every bit of it. But before he left to go home he began to show the facial expressions of misery and discomfort. He soon began to turn about as purple as the drink he was given.

The man who was known for his health drinks discovered something very important, and that is, you cannot substitute some things.

There are many things in life that you cannot substitute, but that does not stop some people from trying. Now that is true in many things.

Illus: Suppose a person has to take a certain kind of medicine for high blood pressure. The individual runs out of medicine, but he says, "Well, a pill is a pill, they all look alike, it doesn't matter what kind I take." Really, he will find out very soon, it does make a difference, and you cannot substitute some things.

Illus: Suppose a person runs out of gas, and he says, "Well, I do not have any gas, but gas looks a great deal like water, so I think I will fill my tank with water and go to town."

It won’t take this person very long to find out that you cannot substitute some things. You have to have the real INGREDIENT.

A great deal of life teaches us this lesson over and over again. Did you know that this same lesson has to be applied to the CHURCH also?

There are some things the church cannot get by without. Many have tried by substituting other things, but there is living proof all over this nation, that there is one thing in particular the church cannot get by without.

A church cannot get by without DEDICATED CHRISTIANS.

Beloved, show me a church that is trying to replace the DEDICATED CHRISTIANS with UNDEDICATED CHRISTIANS, and I will show you a church that is spinning its wheels, or sliding backwards.

In the Book of Acts, we clearly see the reason that the early church was so successful. It’s success was because of the DEDICATED CHRISTIANS in the church. We can see the greatness of this church.

• The greatness of this church was not in the luxuriant buildings they worshipped in

• The greatness of this church was in the God they worshipped and the people who worshipped Him.

Now when you take these two ingredients out of the church, you have a poor substitute for a church.

If you have any doubt about what the early church consisted of, let's read Acts 2:41-47. This passage says of the early church, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there added unto them about three thousand souls.(This church was built on the preaching and receiving of God’s Word) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord into the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."