Is the Church Essential?
Do you feel like the enemy is attacking you? Do you want to discover how to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word and promises? Then join us below as we explore the importance of standing firm!
Stand Firm.
Right now Believers all over the world are under attack. For some it is a financial attack. For others it is an attack against health. Yet, the strongest attack is quite possibly against God and His people as a whole.
The enemy is afraid of God, and he is afraid of what we, His children, can do when we gather together to worship Him, to fellowship, and simply stand and be the light that we were created to be. Because of this fear, the enemy has been trying to label God’s people with demeaning names, like “nonessential,” working to disallow our coming together and serving God in spirit and in truth.
For a time we—God’s people, His children—seemed to walk in a daze, not realizing the extent of the attack… perhaps even believing that it was just meant to be a season of trying and testing that we should not actively reject. However, in these last days and weeks, while much of the world is still reeling because of the ‘COVID-19 pandemic,’ there has been an awakening—particularly in the United States of America—amongst God’s children, even from our President, Donald J. Trump. We are beginning to realize that this was an attack and not merely a season of God allowed testing. We are starting to return to a place of worship and praise for our God that we should never have left…
The Church is rising up in its authority; standing firm in God’s Word, truth, and promises. We, like many who came before, are a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, and it is time we stood to face the giants—not by standing on our own authority, but by kneeling before our Creator in prayer, praise, and worship. To stand firm we need to raise our hands Heavenward, and bow down before our God!
It is a season of change, and yet, a season of return. A return to relationship with our God, like Abraham who was a friend of God. A return to worshiping our God, dancing and praising Him as King David did. A humble following of our God, like John the Baptist—Yochanan the Immerser—who went out from the City of Jerusalem so that he might serve God the way he was meant to.
But, how do we return and change too? How do we stand firm when the enemy is attacking us without relent?
Well, that is where the Word comes in. Because, in the Word of God we can find our answers. We can find the courage to stand firm!
CHURCH ARISE!
The Word has more importance than perhaps we realize. For Jesus—our Messiah—was the Word made flesh (John 1:14). The Word is God, not in that we are meant to bow down to our copies of the Bible like some pagan altar, but because the Word provides us a direct link to God’s very heart (John 1:1)!
In the Word we find God’s truth, His life, light, and every promise and covenant He has made with us. It reminds us who we are, but it also reminds us of who God is—and who we are in Him. This is why we are meant to wash ourselves in the Word, because, like the Blood of Jesus, there is a cleansing property to it; the Word can cleanse our hearts, minds, and very souls. And, just like the Blood of Yeshua, we benefit from continual washing in it.
For the Church, for Believers—both Jew and Gentile—to rise up and stand firm in our God and His Word, we need to know who God is. We, God’s children, ought to know our Father. We ought to know His Word—which is a roadmap to Him…
His Word needs to be engraved upon the tablets of our hearts (Proverbs 3:1-3)!
Yes, Holy Spirit guides us, shows us what to do, speaks God’s will to us, and can even, whenever the need arises, supernaturally lead us into portions of the Word we did not know. Yet, should not we, His children, still be wrapped in His Word? Should we not be swaddled in His truth and promises? Should we not stop allowing ignorance of God’s Word within the Body?
If we were to train to become a pilot for a commercial airline, would we not be expected to have a certain level of knowledge about the controls, rules, regulations, machinery, etc. before we would ever be allowed to transport other people? Should we not have similar knowledge of who God is, His Word, etc. before we transport other people down the path of God? Not that someone who only learned of God’s existence or began to follow Him five minutes prior cannot lead someone to the Lord, or be a powerhouse in His Kingdom… but should not the Church as a whole know the truth of God and His Word? Should not we understand or know the lessons? After all, should it not be our heart’s desire to KNOW our God? To relish the peace and beauty and power of God’s Word?!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”—Ephesians 6:10-20
It is time that we as Believers came to passion for our God! For His Word! For worshiping Him! For praying! For relationship with Him! It is time for the Church to walk as if it is ESSENTIAL! Because it IS ESSENTIAL! We need to stand firm in that! In the truth and knowledge of our Perfect God! Of His Word!
We can no longer ignore our need for corporate worship, fellowship, and learning as the Body of Christ.
We can no longer expect to lead lives on the edge of following God, and at the same time on the edge of living as the world lives.
It is time for us to arise! Not through standing on our own authority, but through praying, worshiping, raising a joyful sound to Heaven, and even through standing upon the Word of God!
The hour is upon us where not only will the nations be separated—the sheep nations of God from the goat nations of the world—but also where states, where cities and counties, even where people are separated. The sheep and goats can no longer remain in indecision over which they are. The hour is here where we will either follow God, or not. Even in the Body of Christ this division, this separation, has begun. Some will follow the truth of God—His Word—and some will continue down a path of indecision as before, except, no longer will they be able to remain in that place. Indecision in this hour will lead to division.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”—Matthew 25:32
God’s sheep hear His voice, they know it and follow Him (John 10:3-4, John 10:14-16, John 10:27). It is time we listened to the voice of God and move with Him. We cannot go back to the way things where, or we will find ourselves left behind. We must move forward when God speaks. It is time for the Church to arise. It is time we stand firm in God!
We, the Church, are essential!
If YOU would like to display your belief that the Church is essential, then click HERE to purchase your very own “Church Essential” t-shirt!
If YOU would like to discover what Dr. Tony Evans and Curt Landry taught in recent months about using God’s Word in spiritual warfare, then click HERE!
If YOU would like to learn how the Word of God can help you overcome fear, then click HERE!