“16Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of death will not overcome it!”
Matthew 16:16-18 (TNIV)
Through revelation of the Holy Spirit, Peter confessed the true identity of Jesus as being the Son of God. Jesus, in response, declared that this truth would be the foundation that His church would be built on, a victorious church that would overcome the world. The revelation referred to here is a personal conviction of who Jesus is. This kind of church will not be shaken. Jesus and Paul used the word ‘church’ in reference to the people of God and not a religious organisation or building.
Following are five benefits of being part of a local church.
Friendship ‘Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)
“iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)
Real friends. Everyone needs them, few find them. The best place to look for a real friend is in spiritual family. True friends are those who have our best interest in mind. They stick with us through thick and thin. Real friends never lead us away from God. Instead, they encourage and motivate us toward godliness.
True friendship will always overflow into genuine fellowship.
Fellowship
“42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...”
Acts 2:42,44-46 (NIV)
If a piece of burning coal is removed from the fire, it will cool off. The same is true of believers, if removed from fellowship with other red-hot believers, they will cool off spiritually. As we stay in fellowship, we will stay on fire for God.
True friendship and fellowship is the best foundation for a healthy spiritual family.
Family
“Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.” Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)
“Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.”
John 8:35 (NIV)
“He replied to him, ‘Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?’ 49Pointing to His disciples, He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers. 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’”
Matthew 12:48-50 (NIV)
God the Father is a family God, He created the whole world and entrusted it to a family. Healthy natural family is the basis for vibrant spiritual family. He puts the rejected and lonely in families where they are loved, and learn to love. He requires that we walk in unity and grow in healthy relationships. He adopted us as His own and added us to a people, not to structures or organisations.
The ultimate purpose of spiritual family is to worship God.
Worship
“23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24 (NIV)
Jesus’ last command to His followers before He ascended to heaven was to go and make disciples, baptising and teaching them to obey God’s Word. Making disciples starts with evangelising the lost and establishing them in Christ. Spiritual family is more about making disciples than any other activity or event. Reaching the lost, laying strong foundations, and teaching them to go and make disciples, is our priority. We should all be disciples and followers of Jesus, while at the same time reaching out to others and inviting them to also become followers of Jesus.
True friendship will always overflow into genuine fellowship, which is the best foundation for a healthy family. The main purpose of spiritual family is the worship of God, this is expressed in the way we live our daily lives, build intentional relationships to share the Gospel and make disciples.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30 (NKJV)
God is looking for sincere worshipers. Worship is defined by what we bring and not by what we get. It’s our response to who God is in our lives, expressed by our love, devotion, commitment and obedience to God.
Our worship unto God is expressed in the way we live our daily lives, share the Gospel and make disciples.
Evangelism & Discipleship
“19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
“18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
Mark 5:18-19 (NIV)
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
Jesus’ last command to His followers before He ascended to heaven was to go and make disciples, baptising and teaching them to obey God's Word. Making disciples starts with evangelising the lost and establishing them in Christ. Spiritual family is more about making disciples than any other activity or event. Reaching the lost, laying strong foundations, and teaching them to go and make disciples, is our priority. We should all be disciples and followers of Jesus, while at the same time reaching out to others and inviting them to also become followers of Jesus.
True friendship will always overflow into genuine fellowship, which is the best foundation for a healthy family. The main purpose of spiritual family is the worship of God, this is expressed in the way we live our daily lives, build intentional relationships to share the Gospel and make disciples.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30 (NKJV)
QUESTIONS
• Are you making disciples? Who are you teaching to obey God's Word?
• Are you an active member of a local church, and participating in a discipleship group?
• Are you ready to give an answer for the hope of your salvation?
Name three Christians you can call for help in case of a spiritual emergency:
Have you ever called them?
This Week:
• I will apply
• I will share with.