Daily Meditation A high-tech way to deliver Gods Word The True Church Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. A Daily Meditation reader wrote, What religion are you? What do you think the true religion is? If you dont know what the true religion is...is it better to any church or no church until you find out? My first reaction was to immediately write a personal answer. However, I feel the Holy Spirit prompted me to discuss this via a Daily Meditation, and I will do my best to listen to what He has to say! I’m going to address the last part of this question first. God’s Word says, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.(Hebrews 10:24,25) It is definitely God’s will that His children assemble themselves together, that is, worship together. Let me illustrate it this way: I have spent many satisfying times around a campfire in the mountains, and have learned a few things while there. One of them being that if you rake one of those white-hot embers from the fire, and let it sit by itself, it gradually cools down, and dies out. However, if you will return it to the heat of the other white-hot coals, it is rekindled, and joins in putting out heat. So it is with a Christian; you need the company (heat) of other Christians. God instructs us to pray for one another, to lift up one another, to counsel each another, and etc. In other words, He wants us to support each other. Okay, what is the true church. That’s simple; It is you! If you have been born again, you are a child of God.(John 1:12). Strong’s Hebrew/Greek dictionary defines church as: ekklesia, ek-klay-see-ah; community of members on earth, or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church. Many people confuse the word church with denomination. If you should ask me, what is the true denomination? I must answer, None! The word church has nothing to do with denomination, it is referring to your relationship with God. If you are saved, you are a member of God’s church. Let me hasten to say, there are some denominations, which do NOT agree with God’s Word. In fact, Jesus said, Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!(Matt 7:22,23) Why do you think Jesus said, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves?(Matt 7:15) It was so that you could determine if what is being preached, is in accordance with God’s Word. Be very careful when you see an individual, or a denomination, focus on just a few pet verses, or points of doctrine; they will quite often be taken out of context. Be very careful should you observe a pastor, or any other leader, demand blind allegiance to whatever they say. God’s Word clearly states that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.(2 Peter 1:20) When you leave a service, do you feel as if you just met personally with God, or do you just remember how people were dressed, and how well the preacher spoke. Who was the focus of attention? The program, the praise and worship leader, the preacher - - or God? Let me say this: If I were to find a perfect/true church, it would no longer be a perfect/true church the moment I walked in the door. Why? Because, like you, I am not perfect; nonetheless, I am a member of God’s true church. My friend, look for a church where God’s Word is preached - - His Word - - and nothing but His Word! Look for a church where NOTHING is added, nor anything taken away! Don’t judge a church by how a few individuals conduct themselves, judge it by what is being taught. Now, the first part of the reader’s question: What religion are you? I am Bapticostal, that is similar to a Methoditarian. As a young man, I was saved, and baptized in a Baptist church. However, when I reached Highschool, my sweetheart’s uncle was an Assembly of God pastor; you know I changed my church affiliation forthwith. Since those years, I have been a member of the Nazarene church, the Church of God, and a few others, depending upon what was available where I was in the world. My credentials were issued by a Baptist denomination. The honest answer to the reader’s question is: I don’t belong to a religion, I am a child of God, who feels comfortable in the company of other children of God. By avoiding religious debates, I feel I can better focus on God’s voice, the Holy Spirit. Nuff’ said!! Rev. Russ McDonald dailymeditation.us/
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:35:47 +0000