INTRODUCTION

Author: Pastor Johan du Toit

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

DEFINITIONS

Term	Definition
Pastor	Minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation.
Church	A community of people who believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Member	A person belonging to a particular group.
Ministry	The work or vocation of a Pastor or spiritual leader.

1. ORGANIZATION

1.1 Scriptural Organization of the Church

• Colossians 1:18 – the church has a Head in heaven, namely Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 1:18 – the church has a body, namely the believers.
• Ephesians 4:4-6 – the structure is: one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one baptism.
• Ephesians 4:11-12 – God has set five-fold ministry gifts in the church. The purpose of Jesus as Head of the church is to direct operations. The purpose of the five-fold ministry is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry (called helps ministries). We are all important and we cannot do without one another, but some are called by God to do specific things.
• I Corinthians 12:12-31 – membership and functioning of the body.
• We should always do our best in whatever we do in and for the body of Christ.

1.2 The Office of the Pastor

• While Jesus is the heavenly Head of the church, the pastor is the head of the church on the earth.
• I Peter 5:4 – Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of the flock; the pastor is the shepherd.
• Hebrews 13:17.
• A good relationship with the pastor is of utmost importance to every member of the church.
• Ephesians 4:11 – The pastor is a gift to the church. He is the only one of the five ministry gifts that stays in the church to be with the people all the time.
• The pastor’s job description is found in Ephesians 4:12-16.
• The pastor must feed the flock spiritual food and protect them against evil and deception.

1.3 Helps Ministries

• Acts 6:4 – The pastor is called to preach the Word and pray, and to care for the flock, and should not be burdened with too much other work.
• Romans 12:3-8 – God designed the church to function as a body with every member doing his/her part to make the church a successful operation.
• The ministry of helps today involves those who type, do administration, organize, do book and tape sales, children/youth ministry, sound, music, etc. All of this must be done in harmony with the pastor who is responsible to God for the condition of the church. Authority and responsibility always go hand in hand.
• We are all in the body of Christ, and we need to respect and help each other to do the work of the Lord. If a person is worthy of your criticism, he is worthy of your help too!

1.4 Disciplines

• We are first and foremost disciples of Jesus Christ Himself. A disciple is someone who adheres to, learns from, and imitates Jesus Christ. This is done through the Word. However, this Word is taught by the five-fold ministry gifts that operate in the church.

1.5 Tithing and Offerings

• Genesis 14:18-20 – We need to tithe as a means of worship and as a command of God.
• Malachi 3:6-12
• Luke 6:38 – Principle of giving and receiving.

1.6 Fellowship

• Hebrews 10:24,25 – We are required to go to church faithfully to praise and worship God, receive ministry of the Word and fellowship with one another.   Fellowship is important as it builds us up in our faith and helps us walk in holiness.

1.7 Communion

• I Corinthians 11:23-26 – We ought to partake of the Lord’s Supper regularly. Notice we need to examine ourselves before partaking. It should not become a ritual but be a meaningful experience.

1.8 Fulfilling the Ministry

• We are partners together in the ministry of the church. Members should see themselves as partners with the pastor to do the work of the kingdom of God on the earth. By partnership we understand that we put together what we have to ensure the success of the church. Think of finances, talents, gifts, time, etc. When the church is successful, we are all successful, but when the church fails we all fail!
• Don’t get into bondage by following a man, but on the other hand you need to belong to a local fellowship with a pastor.  Don’t be a footloose Christian or a homeless Christian!

1.9 Membership

• Membership of the local church confirms your commitment to it. Pastors rely on people who share the vision and are committed to it. Ask for a membership form as soon as you decided to make a church you spiritual home and declare your commitment and availability to serve.
• Your level of commitment will determine your level of growth.

2. FULFILLING THE MINISTRY

Many people attend church, are faithful at it, but yet something is lacking. It may be that they are not fulfilling the ministry God has for them. When we consider ministry it does not necessarily mean being a pastor or evangelist. We are not all preachers of the Word, but we all are ministers (servants) of the Word. The ministry involves the fivefold ministry gifts (Eph. 4:11) as well as helps ministries.

The body of Christ functions as a unit knit together by our love for one another in obedience to Jesus’ command in I John 3:23. The church needs people to get involved and help to stimulate the growth of the church.

It is the responsibility of each member to find through prayer and enquiry where they can fit in and how to go about it. The initiative must be taken by the individual. If every person who attends church contributes something at least once a week, the Lord could use this ministry so much more effectively.

Not all the work that needs to be done does happens under the roof of the church building. We need to be active out in the world. Look for a way to get involved under our banner in order to spread the good news further and further. Church attendance is one thing, church involvement is another dimension. There is a world of opportunity awaiting us all!

3. THE DIFFERENT FACES OF THE CHURCH

The book of Ephesians brings us wonderful revelation on many issues concerning our position as new creations in Christ, our walk as Christians on the earth and the church. As we learn in the beginning of the book, in the prayer that Paul prayed for that church, we need the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened and a spiritual understanding to grasp the full potential and function of the church.

There is a natural way to understand the church, but there is also a spiritual understanding of   the church. If we only have a natural understanding of what the church is, we will probably never be drawn to it at all. To some the church looks like a club, a religious fraternity, a social institution or something similar. To some it is only a building. But the church is much more than that! In the book of Ephesians Paul shows us four different faces of the church.

3.1 The Church is a Family

Ephesians 3:14,15 NKJV 
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named... 

The church is, first of all, the family of God. All those who are born again by the Word and the Spirit of God become the children of God. We are children of the same Father:

I John 3:1 NKJV
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God!

A family implies relationship. We can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our family!   We have to recognize as family all those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and who have surrendered their lives to Him. While we may not all be in the same congregation, just as all the members of a family do not always live under the same roof, we are related to one another by the fact that God is our heavenly Father.

But although relationship may exist, many families fall apart simply because they spend no time with one another. Fellowship is what binds a family together, and it is no different with the family of God. Fellowship draws us to one another and when there is no other reason to be together, love will provide a good reason.

God is a family God. In the beginning He spoke “Let us make man, in Our own image…” He was looking for someone of His own kind to have fellowship with, and so He created Adam and Eve and came to fellowship with them in the cool of the day.

II Corinthians 6:16-18 NKJV 
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them.   I will be their God and they shall be My people. Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 

He promised Abraham “…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” because He is a family God!

We live in a time where we are seeing the man made divisions in the church finally disappearing. The family is growing back to one another in a prophetic, sovereign move of God all over the earth. Old hurts are being forgiven and reconciliation is taking place everywhere; petty doctrinal differences are laid aside for the sake of the kingdom, while we all retain our own uniqueness. The bigger picture is being completed. Small, self-centered visions are swallowed up by the greater vision and self-focused fiefdoms begin to flow over the borderlines into the big kingdom of God. The church has never experienced a time like this! What a joy it is to see pastors of different churches praying and fellowshipping together!

If you are still outside, why not come in and enjoy the warm fellowship of the family of God? A warm welcome awaits you!

3.2 The Church is a Body

Ephesians 4:16 NKJV
...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Romans 12:4,5 NKJV 
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 

The church is the body of Christ on the earth. Every member has its own unique function, as well as the responsibility to fulfil a necessary function in the body. That’s why we are not the same; our differences do not to divide us, but rather serve to enrich and complete the body as a whole. Each one of us is equipped with unique talents and gifts according to our unique purpose in the body, which means no one else may be able to do what you are to do. The church needs you! But certain things can only be done in harmony with the greater body of Christ: God did not call lone rangers but a body consisting of many members. His plans are just too great for a single person to fulfil: we need the rest of the body in order to walk in the greater plan of God.

If we look at the church from a distance, we’ll see that the body is sick, dismembered, handicapped – unable to fulfil it’s calling. Restoration is needed. Love needs to flow once again from member to member, through fellowship, to once again join and knit us together to form the strong and healthy church God ordained us to be. Every member needs to become effective by doing it’s share in order to cause growth in the body and the edification of ourselves in love.

The church is the body of Christ! Let’s rise up to the full stature of Christ and become all that God created it to be and fulfil our calling with honor. Let’s recognize one another as members of the same body of Christ.

There is a greater picture here too: there are more life-giving churches in town than just us. And just as is the case with the local church, each church has a different function and purpose and calling, therefore

we are all equipped differently. Together we form the greater body of Christ in town. We were divided for centuries, alienated from one another by differing views and suspicion which left the church weakened and ineffective. Thank God, restoration is taking place and the way of the Lord is being prepared so He can begin to work through His body mightily!

3.3 The Church is a Bride

Ephesians 5:23, 25-27 NKJV
For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body...Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that He may sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He may present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus loves the church and gave Himself for it; there is a love relationship between Him and the Church. God is love, therefore love will obviously play a major role in the church. This love is manifested in willing submission and obedience to Him and His Word, and is expressed in true worship that comes from longing hearts. It is a drawing near to Him, knowing that He will also draw near to us (James 4:8) because love draws us together. It is in the worship that we behold Him in all His splendor and glory, that we stand in awe of His majesty and power.   The revelation of who He really is comes in our drawing near to Him with a loving, worshipping heart.

I Peter 1:8 NKJV
...Whom having not seen you love.   Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory... 

The Lord is preparing us to become the glorious church without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. As His beloved He nourishes and cherishes us by His Word that edifies and cleanses us. Jesus is not going to take a bride below His standard! Be ready to become the glorious church! Let’s fall in love with Him all over again; restore that first love we had for Him when He first found us and rescued us from the path leading to eternal death. Become involved in true worship, expressing your love for Him from your heart in a practical way.

Revelation 22:17 NKJV 
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And  let  him  who  thirsts  come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 

Will you come?

3.4 The Church is an Army

Ephesians 6:10,11 NKJV 
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

The church is also an army, fighting a spiritual battle with spiritual weapons against spiritual forces of darkness.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV 
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Spiritual forces of darkness are real. Principalities, powers and rulers of darkness exercise great influence on the earth through people to further the aims of the kingdom of darkness on the earth. Our battle, however, is not against the people who are being used this way, but against the spiritual forces that take advantage of their ignorance and weakness for darkness.

Jesus gives us clear understanding in these things:

John 10:10 NKJV 
The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

How many times God has been blamed for stealing from people!

We cannot just stand there idle, watching how that abundant life is being chipped away from people day by day. The church is the army of God – a defensive but also an offensive force.   For too long the church has remained passive, but God is raising up an army of true intercessors to combat and push back the encroaching darkness. We are well able to do it because we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!

Christians everywhere are taking up the armour of God (Eph. 6:14-17) as a lifestyle. Note this is not a symbolic armour as religion taught us, but a practical, daily lifestyle. Let us be girded with truth, clothed in righteousness, ready to share the gospel, protected by faith against all the fiery darts of the devil, our minds fully convinced of our salvation, wielding the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, at all times in all situations:

• that you may be able to withstand in the evil day
• and having done all, to stand
• praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
• being watchful with all perseverance

Our God is a mighty warrior, fierce in battle!

Let the church arise and become all that God intended it to become! Let us do all to fulfil the great purposes of God in our lives and in the place where He placed us. Let us leave behind the smallness of our own vision and embrace the great vision of our great God. Let us boldly take hold of all that God intended for us to have. Let us take hands and begin to march as the body of Christ and army of God, fulfilling our individual roles, working together as a united family, walking in love with Jesus and one another, pushing away the forces of darkness.

APPEDNIX 1

Author: Pastor Johan du Toit

At Living Water Faith Fellowship we see ourselves a “life‐giving” church. By this we mean, first of all, that we don’t exist merely as a religious organization with the purpose of having services or doing good works. Religion is commonly known as “having the appearance of godliness without the power of God.” At a life‐giving church anyone can receive new life in Christ Jesus because of a living faith that is present there. The message preached and taught generates faith the hearts of all, enabling them to live the kind of life that speaks of the goodness of a caring God. The best way to preach the good news is to be it!

The attraction of a life‐giving church is not the entertainment value of its programs and music, but the Word of God presented in a way that inspires, informs and edifies. The Word is the daily bread of our inner man that gives us strength and wisdom to face life in a broken world.

John 8:31,32
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Making the truth known is to destroy ignorance, one of our fiercest enemies. Wrong thinking leads to wrong believing and eventually to wrong living. A superficial understanding of the work that Jesus did on the cross is not enough to guide us to the true experience of newness of life. The blood of Jesus purchased much more for us than a free ticket to heaven! If life before and after an encounter with the living Christ is not visibly and vastly different, the gospel has failed to deliver the good news that it claims to be. This truth that sets man free is the treasure that we hunger and thirst for. To be a churchgoer only is not our goal, but rather to rise up to live life “to the praise of His glory” (See Ephesians 1:14), here and now, as witnesses of His resurrection power.

The life‐giving church operates by the power of God to fulfil its mandate, not the combined efforts and resources of its membership. That is the power that enables us to do over and above that which can be done by numbers. God must at all times and in all situations be our Provider; in this way we can take on assignments that are far greater than our natural ability allows us to do. This is why the sun never sets on our ministry as we reach around the globe with the good news of the gospel that changes lives everywhere.

While we believe that we are to do good works “which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” we also understand that the purpose of the church reaches higher than the world we live in.

Ephesians 3:10
… to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places… 

The life‐giving church is not just a gathering of like‐minded people; there is a strong spiritual component that affects the spiritual world as well. The Bible reveals to us that we have access to the spiritual world, to minister even there as the redeemed that once was lost, but now are found. Our worship is not only singing Christian songs together and making good music; it is a drawing close to God in faith that He also draws close to us for a time of intimate fellowship. This is where our hearts are tuned in to hear His voice and to echo His Word through the realms of the spiritual world. Worshipping together as the new creation is a life‐giving experience in itself!

Finally, the prayers offered in a life‐giving church are bold declarations of the truth over the challenges that life brings to every one of us. When we anchor our faith to the Word that never changes and take hold of His unfailing promise, life flows into our spirit‐man to encourage and embolden us to see and embrace the victory

until it manifests in the natural. Prayer is not an empty religious ritual but a bold act of faith, empowered by the anointing of the Holy Spirit to accomplish much. (See James 5:16b) .

APPENDIX 2

Plug In & Prosper: Embracing the Spiritual Significance and Biblical Basis for the Local Church

By Mac Hammond

• Is church attendance really necessary?
•  Does it matter where I go to church?
• Does it matter why I go to church?

Ask people these questions and the diversity of answers you will hear, even from committed Christians, is astounding. There seems to be a widespread lack of understanding concerning the benefit, purpose and importance of the local church. As a result, church attendance has become a dead, religious ritual for many and to some a casual and, at times, unnecessary distraction.

Even for those who attend church regularly, their reason for doing so vary and are often not rooted in the Word. For some, it’s the socially acceptable thing to do, others think it’s a good thing for their children, and for many, it’s simply a religious ritual handed down from generation to generation.

Worse yet, there are those who faithfully go to church every Sunday, but it’s a different church every week! They’re called “floaters.” Week after week, they float from church to church. The Bible describes these as “not being able to endure sound doctrine” because they have “itching ears!” (II Tim. 4:3).

An in‐depth study of the Word will reveal that God’s directive for church attendance is actually quite specific in purpose. The Word reveals that “assembling” is a supernatural design orchestrated by God to interconnect believers with one another for the purpose of impact and increase.

In fact, there is spiritual evidence that properly plugged into the company of believers God has connected you with will position you to access the power of God in a way nothing else can, causing increase and growth to come to your life.

And that, dear friends, is what I want to talk to you about.

Connecting to Your Company

In Hebrews 10:25, we are told to not forsake the “assembling of ourselves together.” This isn’t dinner over at a Christian friend’s house or haphazard gathering. The kind of assembly that is being talked about I liken to a jigsaw puzzle where certain pieces are designed to fit together in a particular group.

In effect, this verse might as well have said, “don’t forsake going to your local church,” because that’s what it means.

But according to the Word of God, attendance to just any church will not do. The Bible gives us clear indication that there is a specific church that God wants to place you in. And when you’re in that church, the power of God will flow to and through you.

We see this demonstrated in the fourth chapter of Acts. It says that after Peter and John were apprehended by the temple priests for preaching Jesus, they were brought before the high priest. The high priest interrogated them, threatened them, and then let them go.

Then it says, Peter and John “after being let go, went to their own company.” (Acts 4:23)  Notice it says they went to their “own company.” That means there were other companies of believers available, but they had a particular company they identified as theirs.

Now I want you to see what happens next. After Peter and John shared all that was said and done to them by the chief priest, all the members in that company lifted up their voices together “in one accord” and prayed. The result?  The power of God came in such strength that it shook the building!

What was the result of this release of power? It says the believers in that company were emboldened to go out and share the gospel fearlessly and many got saved. They had a powerful impact on their community.

Furthermore we see that that supernatural power had an effect on their individual and personal lives as well. It says that not one of them lacked in material need. The power of God drove out insufficiency!

God is Pleased to Place You

In addition, this same truth is confirmed in a revelation that God gave the apostle Paul where he compares the body of Christ with the natural human body (I Cor. 12:12‐18). Paul uses this revelation to teach a number of spiritual truths. It is a revelation that is practical yet profound in its application as to how the church is to operate and function in the earth.

First Corinthians 12:14 says “For the body is not one member, but many.” (KJV) Every time I read this, a picture of a jigsaw puzzle comes to my mind. The pieces of a jigsaw puzzle can be hundreds. Yet when put in their right places, all the pieces fit together so perfectly that they form a whole picture that appears seamless and is a blessing to others. That is how you and I are to fit into the church that God has called us to be part of.

But more specifically, I want to draw your attention to I Corinthians 12:18. Notice it says that God “sets” the members in the body as it “pleases Him.”

Without a doubt, there is a specific church that it pleases God to set you in. And it might not necessarily be the church that your parents or grandparents attended for the last fifty years. It might not be the church that’s closest to where you live.  And it might not be the church that has the biggest pipe organ that you like so much. It is a place‐a specific place‐where it pleases God to place you.

Finding Your place

How do you know when you’re in this “place”? First, follow your heart and pay attention to the “inward witness” of the Holy Spirit. When you are in the right church, it will feel as though you are at home. You will

receive a balanced spiritual diet and the preaching will minister to you. There will be times when it feels as though the pastor is speaking right to you. In fact, I’ve had husbands come up to me after a service and want to know, “Has my wife been talking to you about me?” When you are in the place it has pleased God to place you, the preaching and the teaching of the Word will be “right on target” and what you need (and not just what you want) to hear!

Also, do you agree and can you hook up with the vision of the church and what is being taught? For instance, if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, it would be unwise for you to attend a church that preaches against baptism in the Holy Spirit. If you believe in divine healing, would you want to attend a church that believes healing is no longer for today? If you believe God wants to prosper you, it would be contradictory for you to attend a church that believes poverty and lack are states of holiness.

Incredibly, I’ve talked to many people who actually attend churches when they are in direct contradiction with the vision and doctrine of that church. They believe God has called them there to bring revelation to that pastor and congregation… to change their mind about the baptism in the Holy Spirit… to change their mind about healing… to change their mind about prosperity.

Though their intent might be for good, they are dreadfully deceived. They end up placing themselves in a position where they become a source of strife and division or they experience rejection and persecution,  because of their doctrinal difference. These are definite signs you are in the wrong church!

Get Plugged In

Finding you church “home” and where it has pleased God to place you is vitally important, but there is one more step you must take if you desire to fully experience God’s anointing for impact and increase. Look at Ephesians 4:16:

From whom the whole body fitly joiner together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:16 KJV

Did you catch that?  It says “every joint” (or member) is supposed to make its supply to the body.  Simply put, just coming to church every Sunday will not position you to prosper. Your next step must be to get involved in the local church using your gifts and talents.

Sadly, statistics reveal that 20 percent of a church’s congregation does 80 percent of the work. Folks, there are way too many pew‐warmers in the church!

Giving your “supply” to the body by getting plugged in and involved at the church is to your benefit. When you give your supply to the church body, it experiences growth and increase. When the church body experiences growth and increase as a whole, you, individually, will experience growth and increase as well. It’s a fact. The normal growth process of the human body is that every part of the body grows in unison. You won’t see a baby’s arm or leg remain infant size while the rest of the body increases in size. All the contributing members of a body grow in unison.

What happens when a member fails to contribute? Again, let’s compare it to the functioning of the human body. What would happen if you taped your arm firmly to your side, making it unable to move? In a couple weeks, it would begin to wither in strength and would eventually become atrophied.

Likewise, when a member of the church body fails to plug in and make a contribution to the increase of the body, they are disconnected from the power source designed to bring growth and increase to them.

Embrace Your Position

This often happens because people fail to understand and embrace the position God has created them to play. You see, God know whether you’re a “foot” or a “hand” in the body of Christ. Meaning, he knows what gifts and talents you have and, therefore, knows where you’d best fit in and prosper. By applying Paul’s understanding of how the natural human body works, the significance of being properly plugged in can be clearly seen.

(Though this example might sound silly, it is, I believe, an effective illustration of this truth.)

Let’s say the little finger on my right hand didn’t like where it was anymore and decided to relocate next to the elbow. The little finger would quickly discover three things. It would discover that it doesn’t make any contribution to the body placed next to the elbow. Second, it’s in the way and because it is “out of position,” it will not receive what it needs from the body.

The same is true for every believer.   When you try to be something you are not or don’t appreciate what God has made you to be, the results are devastating. So embrace your position, plug in, and offer your spiritual supply. Become a faithful steward of the gift God has entrusted to you by committing your time, talent, and resources to the place it has pleased God to place you.

Warning: Enemy Alert!

Before I end, I feel it necessary to make this cautionary note. We have a real adversary ‐ Satan. Rest assured, he is not going to sit back in his lawn chair; sip iced tea, and watch you cruise on by toward victory.  No!  He’ll attack.

He doesn’t want you to plug in and prosper, so he’ll have a strategy designed to cause you to stumble, to unplug you from your God‐ordained position and place. This strategy almost always comes in the form of strife and division which begins with getting offended. It’s his mightiest tool.  If he can get you in strife, he’s able to stop the power of God from flowing to you.

His lie is often this church will be fine without you, but you must remind yourself that you will not be  fine without the church.

Using Paul’s revelations again as an illustration, this truth becomes obvious. For instance, what would happen if a hand was severed from the body? Without a doubt, the body would suffer a devastating loss and would have to get by having only one hand. Nevertheless, it would continue to live and function without the hand, albeit handicapped. The hand, however, would suffer great devastation. Without the life flow of the blood from the body, the hand would eventually wither up and die.

So it is in the body of Christ. Those believers who isolate themselves from the place where it has pleased God to place them cut themselves off from the life flow of the body of Christ, from its anointing and power. Unknowingly, they have set themselves in a place where they will fail to grow and flourish in their Christian lives. Just as you will never find a severed body part surviving and thriving, any person who is not properly connected to a local church will struggle and never fully develop spiritually.

Don’t allow yourself to be divided off. We all have multiple opportunities to get offended and times we’re tempted to be contentious. It’s at those times when we must judge ourselves and get it right. Don’t let the enemy poison your heart and drive you away from the place that it has pleased God to place you. Repent‐ forgive‐and stay connected!

The Pathway to Purpose and Power

Is church attendance really necessary? Does it matter where I go to church? Does it matter why I go? Emphatically yes, yes, and yes!

The local church is designed by God to be your pathway to purpose and power. When you find where you fit in the body of Christ and connect to “your” company, you will experience the power of God operating in your life as never before and you will be properly positioned for impact and increase.

I want to encourage you to leave religious rituals behind and begin walking your God‐ordained pathway. Embrace the spiritual significance and Biblical basis for the local church, find the place it has pleased God to place you‐and then plug in and prosper!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hammond, M. (n.d.). Plug In & Prosper:. Emracing the Spiritual Significance and Biblical Basis for the Local Church.

Nelson, P. (n.d.). Bible Doctrines.

Nelson, T. (1982). The New King James Version Bible. Thomas Nelson.