SATURDAY June 5, 2021
The Church of God
...shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:28
The mission of the Church is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. In defining the Church, Dr. Billy Graham stated:
“The Church is Christ’s organization upon the earth.” He further stated in regards to the Church’s primary mission: “The changing of man is the primary mission of the Church, the only way to change man is to get them converted to Jesus Christ.” In speaking on the task of the Church, he said: “I am convinced that if the Church went back to its own main task of preaching the Gospel and getting people converted to Jesus Christ it would have far more impact on the local structure of the nation...”
I agree with him––fully and completely. Christians need to practice what they preach. Then the Church would become all that Christ wants it to be––a light in the darkness. Understand, the Church is universal. It is made up of all types of people: Chinese, Africans, French, Jews, Hispanics, and Turks. The Church is a work of God; it is not a work of men. In Acts 20:28, Paul spoke to the elders of the Ephesians before going to Rome. He exhorted them saying:
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Notice, who purchased the Church? At times, in talking with a pastor, I may hear him say, “My Church.” I ask him, “How much did it cost you?” Jesus paid for the Church with His own blood! The Church is established in the person and work of Christ. He is the Foundation and the Head of the Church. The Church is indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit, not by man’s programs. It is the Holy Spirit that energizes the Church.
It is the whole business of the whole Church to preach the whole Gospel to the whole world.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
