DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - THURSDAY: “Church, Face Up To Your Challenge!”
"Until self-effacing men return again to spiritual leadership, we may expect a progressive deterioration in the quality of popular Christianity year after year till we reach the point where the grieved Holy Spirit withdraws-like the Shekinah from the temple."- A. W. Tozer.
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I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. -- Rev 3:11-12.
As we conclude our series, we remind ourselves that Jesus is coming soon for His Church! Make no mistake about that, He is coming to deliver us from this earth and the hour of trial and tribulation! People can argue all they want about when, but the truth is, He said He is coming and that’s that!
So get ready, prepare yourself for His coming again by ‘Holding Fast’ to what we have, so that the no one can steal our crown of righteousness and life! Reminding ourselves of the previous challenges; REMEMBERING WHAT OUR WORK IS and LIVING ABOVE SMALL-MINDEDNESS! Our final challenge is that...
WE MUST MAINTAIN GRATITUDE FOR OUR BLESSINGS
We Have Much To Be Thankful For As Individuals;
We have many Physical blessings in our families, friends, homes, health, freedoms, our employment. We have many Spiritual blessings in our Salvation in Christ, the forgiveness of sins, peace of mind, the love of God, the strength of the Holy Spirit, eternal life!
We Have Much To Be Thankful For As a congregation;
We are free from chaos, free to worship, free to love each other, free to care for one another, free to pray for one another, and we are filled with love and unity! We have great potential for both individual and Church growth.
We Should Be Noted For Our ..."Attitude of Gratitude." Note how often Paul exhorted the Colossians to be thankful…
Giving thanks to the Father for our inheritance- Col 1:12
Abounding in thanksgiving - Col 2:7
As the peace of Christ rules in your heart, be thankful - Col 3:15
Giving thanks to the Father through Jesus - Col 3:17
Continue steadfastly in prayer with thanksgiving - Col 4:2
Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this." Source Unknown.
As individuals, and as a congregation, let us never become "unthankful"
It is a step toward Degeneracy… For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. -- Rom 1:21.
It is a sign of Difficult times… But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. -- 2 Tim 3:1-5.
"The same church members who yell like Comanche Indians at a ball game on Saturday sit like wooden Indians in church on Sunday." - Vance Havner.
There are many other challenges that congregations may face, such as persecution for the cause of Christ, or natural calamities that may devastate our community. But in most cases, even those challenges can be met and overcome if we...
- Remember what our work is!
- Live above small-mindedness!
- Maintain gratitude for our blessings!
Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home. "They may be as good for others, but not for me," was his reply. "Why not?" she asked. "Because they love a fellow over there," he replied.
If only we could make the world believe that we loved them there would be fewer empty churches, and a smaller proportion of our population who never darken a church door. Let love replace duty in our church relations, and the world will soon be evangelized. - Source Unknown.
Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to hold fast to Jesus and His word, so that no one can steal my crown of righteousness and life from me! Help me Lord to face up to the challenges before me and to be continually thankful, as an individual, and as part of your Church. In Jesus mighty name I pray! Amen!
posted by John @ 3:00 AM
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