The Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
I have referenced alot lately that God holds the people of the church accountable.
If you read this verse God calls one person, not a group or a church or a nation. God says He will make of one a great nation.
Not a committee, a group, a church, a government, a pta, or anything other than 1 singular individual.
Why is this important? Because the church is made up of people. The building means nothing in and of itself. The ground is made Holy due to the presence of God among His people. The place is worth going to because of the people and the presence of God. The light shining on a hill is not the building for what good does a building do if no one is there who can answer questions? Provide comfort? Lend an ear to the ones who need a friend?
What good is a pulpit if the pews are empty?
What good is a radio station if no one listens?
What good is a new disciples class if no one is there to learn?
What good is anything if not one person shows?
Do people just happen to fall into the pews? No it takes a conscious effort to get there by the people of God. It takes dedication, sacrifice, love, care and concern to make it all work together.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
if my people. People! not rulers, leaders, or His nation collectively. If my people. Individuals.
God called Moses.
God called Joshua.
God call Deborah.
God called Hannah.
God called Esther.
God called David.
Are you seeing the trend? God calls people. One. To start a work, to build a work, to lead a work.
God does not call a group.
So now that we have established that the one is accountable to God, individually not as a collective, so now must we examine to what the call is for.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Do you have a job? Then you are called to be a witness for Christ at that job,
Do you have a house? You are called to be a witness for that neighborhood.
Do you take a vacation? You are called to be a witness for that vacation area,
Do you have children? You are called to be a witness to those children.
Do you have money? You are called to use that money for God's Glory.
Do you have time? You are called to use that time for God's ministry.
God has a church, That church is only as good as the people.
Notice that I did not say as good as the pastor, or music, or programs. I said only as good as the people.
The people are what serves God and makes all the other stuff possible. What good is a pastor with no flock?
The people tithe and give of their talents and time, that is what makes a church.
An empty building does no one any good.
\
The call is to spread the message of the Gospel wherever you go whatever you do.
We have many social clubs today called churches that do nothing for the gospel but sure do make themselves feel good.
We have many gathering spots where they call themselves a church but they have no love for God, no outpouring of the Spirit, no outreach for the Good News of the Savior,
Now you say that the false prophets have corrupted the church and the message.
I say the people of God have allowed it.
You say smiling Jack and the feel good "God will bless you with what you deserve" has ruined the church.
I say the people who listen to that claptrap with open bibles and fall for it hook line and sinker have ruined the church.
You say we can't have Sunday night or Wednesday night services because of lack of interest.
I say the people of God are failing Him by placing everything else in front of Him.
You say we need to entertain to get them in.
I say the Gospel will shine a light to the people bringing them forth.
You say that the tv and radio can stand in for the weekly meeting of the people.
I say people must go, to recharge revive, reconnect with other like minded folks, to recharge in the Spirit and the fellowship.
You say I can have church wherever I want it, for God is everywhere.
I say God is everywhere but He has specifically promised to be wherever 2 and 3 people are gathered together in His name. Even Jesus went to the Temple regularly to hear the reading of God's Word.
The point of all this is simple.
The people must gather and serve the one person who can effectively bring change to them. That person is Jesus.
God gave us the Bible, the Son, Creation, and the Holy Spirit so that we the people might witness, serve, testify, and Glorify the God of all.
He sent His only Son, to seek and to Save that which was lost. Just as a man caused death through sin, So Jesus through death can give life to each person.
He calls on us one at a time.
He is all about a relationship with the individual.
He has said that He leaves the 99 to find that one who went astray.
People, made up of individuals, to make a collective unit that will work for Him to do His Will. To spread His Word. To Glorify and Magnify His name.
What good are all the churches, all the tent meetings, all the revivals if the people of God do not do His Work?
What good is the voice crying in the Wilderness if no one hears and follows?
The prophet Jeremiah can attest to what happens when no one listens, Captivity.
Noah can attest to what happens, destruction.
Jonah can attest to what happens when the people listen, Revival.
Peter can attest to what happens when people listen, The formation of a movement that can change the World.
The people make it happen, through the Spirit of God.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
How will they know unless the people tell them?
The one who can bring the many to the One.
You can bring the many to Jesus. The One who can change the World.
Without you, the people, all the rest is in vain.
Heresy can not run rampant without the people.
False prophets can not flourish with out the people.
The Truth can not be spread without the people.
The corners of the earth will not be reached with the Light of Jesus unless the people make it happen.
Revival will not happen unless the people get on their knees, get off their buts and make it happen.
The people of God are the ones who will make or break this nation, this world.
The people shall decide the direction, the power, the corruption of a thing.
Jer 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Eze_11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God..
The people shall grow the church. Not the pastor. Yes God will give the increase as He has promised but the people will bear that witness, that testimony that will get the people in.
There is no increase if there are no workers to go out and sow, and reap.
I have referenced alot lately that God holds the people of the church accountable.
If you read this verse God calls one person, not a group or a church or a nation. God says He will make of one a great nation.
Not a committee, a group, a church, a government, a pta, or anything other than 1 singular individual.
Why is this important? Because the church is made up of people. The building means nothing in and of itself. The ground is made Holy due to the presence of God among His people. The place is worth going to because of the people and the presence of God. The light shining on a hill is not the building for what good does a building do if no one is there who can answer questions? Provide comfort? Lend an ear to the ones who need a friend?
What good is a pulpit if the pews are empty?
What good is a radio station if no one listens?
What good is a new disciples class if no one is there to learn?
What good is anything if not one person shows?
Do people just happen to fall into the pews? No it takes a conscious effort to get there by the people of God. It takes dedication, sacrifice, love, care and concern to make it all work together.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
if my people. People! not rulers, leaders, or His nation collectively. If my people. Individuals.
God called Moses.
God called Joshua.
God call Deborah.
God called Hannah.
God called Esther.
God called David.
Are you seeing the trend? God calls people. One. To start a work, to build a work, to lead a work.
God does not call a group.
So now that we have established that the one is accountable to God, individually not as a collective, so now must we examine to what the call is for.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Do you have a job? Then you are called to be a witness for Christ at that job,
Do you have a house? You are called to be a witness for that neighborhood.
Do you take a vacation? You are called to be a witness for that vacation area,
Do you have children? You are called to be a witness to those children.
Do you have money? You are called to use that money for God's Glory.
Do you have time? You are called to use that time for God's ministry.
God has a church, That church is only as good as the people.
Notice that I did not say as good as the pastor, or music, or programs. I said only as good as the people.
The people are what serves God and makes all the other stuff possible. What good is a pastor with no flock?
The people tithe and give of their talents and time, that is what makes a church.
An empty building does no one any good.
\
The call is to spread the message of the Gospel wherever you go whatever you do.
We have many social clubs today called churches that do nothing for the gospel but sure do make themselves feel good.
We have many gathering spots where they call themselves a church but they have no love for God, no outpouring of the Spirit, no outreach for the Good News of the Savior,
Now you say that the false prophets have corrupted the church and the message.
I say the people of God have allowed it.
You say smiling Jack and the feel good "God will bless you with what you deserve" has ruined the church.
I say the people who listen to that claptrap with open bibles and fall for it hook line and sinker have ruined the church.
You say we can't have Sunday night or Wednesday night services because of lack of interest.
I say the people of God are failing Him by placing everything else in front of Him.
You say we need to entertain to get them in.
I say the Gospel will shine a light to the people bringing them forth.
You say that the tv and radio can stand in for the weekly meeting of the people.
I say people must go, to recharge revive, reconnect with other like minded folks, to recharge in the Spirit and the fellowship.
You say I can have church wherever I want it, for God is everywhere.
I say God is everywhere but He has specifically promised to be wherever 2 and 3 people are gathered together in His name. Even Jesus went to the Temple regularly to hear the reading of God's Word.
The point of all this is simple.
The people must gather and serve the one person who can effectively bring change to them. That person is Jesus.
God gave us the Bible, the Son, Creation, and the Holy Spirit so that we the people might witness, serve, testify, and Glorify the God of all.
He sent His only Son, to seek and to Save that which was lost. Just as a man caused death through sin, So Jesus through death can give life to each person.
He calls on us one at a time.
He is all about a relationship with the individual.
He has said that He leaves the 99 to find that one who went astray.
People, made up of individuals, to make a collective unit that will work for Him to do His Will. To spread His Word. To Glorify and Magnify His name.
What good are all the churches, all the tent meetings, all the revivals if the people of God do not do His Work?
What good is the voice crying in the Wilderness if no one hears and follows?
The prophet Jeremiah can attest to what happens when no one listens, Captivity.
Noah can attest to what happens, destruction.
Jonah can attest to what happens when the people listen, Revival.
Peter can attest to what happens when people listen, The formation of a movement that can change the World.
The people make it happen, through the Spirit of God.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
How will they know unless the people tell them?
The one who can bring the many to the One.
You can bring the many to Jesus. The One who can change the World.
Without you, the people, all the rest is in vain.
Heresy can not run rampant without the people.
False prophets can not flourish with out the people.
The Truth can not be spread without the people.
The corners of the earth will not be reached with the Light of Jesus unless the people make it happen.
Revival will not happen unless the people get on their knees, get off their buts and make it happen.
The people of God are the ones who will make or break this nation, this world.
The people shall decide the direction, the power, the corruption of a thing.
Jer 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Eze_11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God..
The people shall grow the church. Not the pastor. Yes God will give the increase as He has promised but the people will bear that witness, that testimony that will get the people in.
There is no increase if there are no workers to go out and sow, and reap.
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