The Church has a duty to fulfill.
The word “church” derives from the Greek word “ekklesia” and originally referred to the gathering or assembly of citizens.
As time passed, it came to denote a general assembly of Jewish people who had come together to learn the law or some religious doctrine. In the New Testament, the word “ekklesia” was used in a transformative way.
The word "church" was used to refer to the entire body of believing Christians throughout the world, a particular area, or even a particular congregation.
Today, I am talking about the churches in our communities and their ecclesiastical purpose.
As we work through this lesson to seek all that God has ordained us to do, we must first see what the Church is not. The Church is not a place where you will find perfect people who never make mistakes. That declaration is not a free pass for anyone, including pastors. We can testify that, though perfection eludes us, we are a people saved by grace, actively engaged in the pursuit of Philippians 2:12: “people who continue to work your (our) salvation with fear and trembling.”
Churches are institutions that push the reset button of true repentance, because, like the prodigal son in Luke 15:21, we have come to realize that we must confess that “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” We know that we must ask for forgiveness.
The Church, that is sensitive to the needs of the community, is built on the foundation of 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 (NIV). Verses 1-3 say, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
The Church must operate as though the assurances given by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 are part of the operational plan for ministering in every community where churches are located. Jesus, in Mathew 16:18 (AKJ), made it abundantly clear that the “gates of hell shall not prevail against…” his Church. There is no promise that the keeper of hell will not war against the Church. Therefore, the Church must fortify itself for the siege that will most certainly come against those who would work to carry out the plan of Jesus in this world.
The Church was appointed in purpose. There is a need for the Church. The purpose of the Church is to feed the sheep (John 21:15-17, Jesus speaking to Simon Peter). Where there is hunger for a morsel of food, it is our assignment to give bread to the hungry. Where there is a hungry spirit crying out for comfort, it is our responsibility to share the bread of life. We must not let any imaginary barrier prevent the Church from doing the work God has assigned.
The word of God in Ezekiel 18:4 says all souls belong to God. We do not have the power or the assignment to discriminate against who should be fed. They may smell like drugs. The Church must feed them. They may be dressed inappropriately or living ungodly lifestyles. The Church must minister to them in tangible and spiritual ways.
True ministry is rooted in love.
