The Church

Author: Joshua Sparks

Written by Bro. Josh Sparks.

Praise the Lord Jesus our soon coming King.

Today I am going to just post several thoughts about the church, God’s Ecclesia, locally and abroad. Though the Ecclesia (the church) meets in various ways, and in various places; the one thing that gives the church identity is the fact that is is built by Jesus. The Psalmist declared Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. Jesus told the Apostle Peter in Matthew 16:15-19 (NKJV) 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The bible teaches that the church are to be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, but that Jesus is the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20-21 (NKJV) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. The Apostle Paul, the very same one who wrote the Epistle to the church at Ephesus, also wrote the Letter to the Corinthians and in 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 (NKJV) 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.

Jesus is the rock the church is built upon and by no means was Jesus telling Peter that the church would be built on him. Jesus is the founder and foundation of His church. He is the head of the body and from that head the body is fitly framed together and grows unto a holy habitation unto the Lord. Colossians 1:17-18 (NKJV) 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The church is the Lord’s building and yet so many try to build the church by their own means. The Lord and He alone can add to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. In spite of popular teaching Water Baptism in Jesus Name is obedience to Jesus command. Mark 16:16 (NKJV) He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Water baptism is not what officially makes one a member of the church of the Lord Jesus. What then does make us members of Christ’s Church? Being baptized into the one body by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV) 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

The Lord adds to His church by baptizing them into the body by and through the Holy Spirit. We will look at some very important facts concerning the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. God does not dwell in temples made with the hands of men.
   Acts 17:24-25 (NKJV) 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. Acts 7:48 (NKJV) “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says.
2. We are God’s Holy Building that is made to be a Holy Habitation for the Spirit of God.
   Ephesians 2:20-22 (NKJV) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Those who reject the truth that the church is not a man made, brick and mortar building but a spiritual building that is God’s house made up of lively stones. 1 Peter 2:5(NKJV) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. These have rejected that precious stone that was set at nought of the builders, because God is the builder of His house and man cannot build God’s Church and God will not take second place to what we call the church. I have heard so many say are you going to church tomorrow? I say no I am the church and wherever I am there God has a house and I can as a lively stone function in my calling in His Kingdom because I was fashioned to be a fit in the building blocks of His Church.

I will close with these very powerful inspired words written by God’s Inspiration, penned down by the Apostle Peter. 1 Peter 2:6-10(NKJV) 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “ Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “ The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “ A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Today we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. So many have gathered together today to remember the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church and 3,000 souls were added to the church. I felt led of the Lord to write this article today in honor of what Jesus began to establish when the comforter came to the church. Not a brick and mortar building or building system, but a spiritual house made up of lively stones (people) who are the very temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

In the Name of Jesus Christ I post this article.

Bro. Josh Sparks.

About the Author:

Bro. Sparks is a bible teacher who has been involved as a Pastor, Evangelist and International Radio Missionary. He has reached many through radio programs and the printed page for over 18 years. Bro. Sparks is a bible student and is only concerned with preaching the truth of God's Word.

Bro. Sparks is married to his best friend and faithful companion and fellow laborer of the Gospel Sis. Melissa Sparks and they have two sons, Ronnie age 7 and Elijeh 1 years old.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Church