Remember the purpose

It has been said that when you do not know the purpose of  a thing, you will abuse it.  This is why there is so much verbal, financial, sexual and spiritual authority abuse within the Household of Faith(believers in Jesus as Lord and Savior). The purpose of the church is to share the good news of the gospel, offer salvation baptize new believers, get them filled with the Holy Spirit and help them mature in their Christian walk so they may lead others to Christ.  This will cause us to function as the first believers and add to the church daily.  This is not about adding to the numbers on the role of your ministry or church building.  When we share the gospel and tell of the Saviour's love, those who believe are added to the Lamb's book of life. Somehow we have gotten off track. Everyone wants to do their own thing and say God called them to this or that, but all Christans are called minister the good news of Jesus. We are all one body in one Household of Faith, yet there are many denominations, and varying traditions and interpretations of scripture. We get caught up in our turn to usher or our Sunday to sing lead. And planing family fun day and the church picnic.  Nothing wrong with any of that but the word tells us the Father's  heart is for lost souls to be won to the kingdom.  In Mark chapter 16 Jesus says that signs will follow those who believe.  These signs are not living in a mansion and driving a Rolls Royce.  Jesus said all who believe in Him will speak in new tongues, cast out devils, lay hands on the sick and they will recover and if we take up anything deadly it will not hurt us. We should be healing the sick and raising the dead, not only visiting the sick and burying the dead. Hold your spiritual leaders accountable. Watch for the signs Jesus spoke about.  Jumping running and falling out in the floor during a church service is not truly God's power in action.  We must get out of the entertainment business.  We have not been called to operrate as show time at the Apollo. We have been called to do greater works and show case the power of the Savior witin us. Pray for the Spirit of discernment.  Learn the difference between a good performance and someone singing, dancing, preaching praying in the life changing power of the Holy Spirit. Thre purpose of the church is not to make your first family live like celebrities. Ministers are servants and should serve.  Church is not about preachers and their spouses smiling and profiling advertising themselves on billboards and commercials. It's not about riding in a limo ot flying in a jet.  For lay people the church is not a club you join.  It is not about fashion shows and Christian comics and 10 year old preachers.  And just because somone is on television and has a  large church with many services does not necessarily mean they are preaching the true gospel of Jesus. How dare any of us use the building or minsitry wer say is His, for our own selfish purposes. The church is the body of believers walking in the signs outlined in Mark 16 and adding daily to the Household of Faith until He returns.  When  everyone flows in their role it will be just like the physical body.  The legs walk the mouth talks the hands reach, the eyes see.  Find your gift  know your purpose and use it, don't abuse it. Be blessed in Jesus Name.