Don’t just sit in church

…Walk in the Spirit!

Pleasing God is not a matter of choosing to go to a church. There is only one “church” which comes from the Greek word, “ecclesia”. It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ. It is the Body of Christ. God tells us that fellowship is very important for our personal spiritual welfare and for that of our brethren (Hebrews 10:24-25), but He is talking about fellowship with those who, in God’s eyes, are considered part of the Body of Christ:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

For those who have newly been born again and do not have any like-minded brethren with whom to fellowship, the encouragement is to share Truth with others and pray the Lord will raise a fellowship for you. Or, pray in faith that the Lord will make a way for you to move to an area where you know there are brethren of one mind and one accord (Acts 1:14, Philippians 2:2). Or, maybe the Lord is developing you into a leader in your community – maybe even to be a catalyst for revelation and empowerment within an existing group of believers looking to learn and grow.

God does not want us to be “church-goers.” He does not want us to be “religious.” He wants us to walk in the power of His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 tells us, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Also, consider the following:

John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Pray in the Spirit and read the Bible daily. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. Fast regularly, and keep your mind and body (the temple of the Spirit) pure. Set your sights on the hope of eternal life with Jesus, and never compromise God’s will to please others. Hold fast to Truth and don’t let people’s reactions dissuade you from sharing your experience, for their faces may not reveal how their hearts are truly being affected. If you do these things, you will surely grow in spiritual strength and wisdom, and the promises of God will be yours: 

Jude 1:20-21, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15-22, “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick” (the living) “and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms…”

Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

1 Corinthians 7:2, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

1 Corinthians 6:13-20, “Now the body is not for fornication…What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Ephesians 5:17-18, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Proverbs 31:4-5, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”

Revelation 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Hebrews 11:6, “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Galatians 5:22-23 & 25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”