DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - WEDNESDAY: “Church, Face Up To Your Challenge!”

"You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!" - Catherine Booth.
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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 continue 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!

There are no victories at discount prices. -- General Dwight Eisenhower.

WE MUST LIVE ABOVE SMALL-MINDEDNESS

Even Good Church’s Can Be Hindered By Small-Mindedness.
Notice Paul's concern for the church at Philippi… I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. -- Phil 4:2-3.

Paul is informing us that there were disagreements between the two women, Euodia and Syntyche, and Paul wanted them reconciled to the Church. It is not known what they had disagreed about, but if it had been a major problem, he would have mentioned it.

However, he clearly states that they were undoubtedly walking with the Lord and both of them were great workers. So on the surface it seems a minor problem, but enough of a problem to write about it!

When churches loose sight of their primary purpose, they are ripe for being torn apart by the selfishness, gossip, and factionalism that he found at Corinth... For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish--that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. --2 Cor 12:20.

"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.

So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.

Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life." – A. W. Tozer.

WE MUST KEEP A PROPER SENSE OF PROPORTION...
It is disastrous if we begin to "major in minors", to blow problems all out of proportion. We must see the largeness and importance of our work in comparison to our own personal problems. Every church has its problems, for we are imperfect people.

Remembering Paul's exhortations... So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. -- Phil 2:1-4.

Paul is encouraging us to get on with our Christian duties; to be like-minded, according to the example of the Lord Jesus; compassion is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the uniform of his family. If we expect or experience the advantage of God's compassions to ourselves, then we must be compassionate one to another.

"It must be remembered that there is spiritual wickedness at the back of all confusion and discord in the work of God. The servant of Christ must, therefore, practically recognize that his warfare is with these satanic beings and must be waged on his knees." - D. E. Hoste.

What a sad thing it would be to have a congregation hindered by small-mindedness. Yet so many congregations do allow it to keep them from growing. Will we accept the challenge never to allow small-mindedness to so affect us? It will be easy to meet that challenge, if we allow Christ to work in us!

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 work in harmony with my brothers and sisters in Christ, to rise above small-mindedness and to walk in victory! In Jesus mighty name! Amen!