Gal. 5:1 "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
Are you standing firm?
SEE VIDEO HERE: http://youtu.be/rn_AeINu22Y
The Church is defined as 'A Community of Believers'. Eph. 4:11-12, Heb. 13:21, Gal. 6:2, James 5:16, Hebrews 10:25, 1Cor. 6:19,20. To follow the teachings of Christ, Those in the church are to help each other, to equip to do good works, bear each others burdens, pray for each other, help in time of need. Believers come together to worship and to glorify God in what they do. To preach the Gospel, to evangelize, and to witness.
The Church is for Believers - Acts 10:42, John 6:44
The Church is clear in purpose. The Church conforms to God's Word - Matt 28:18.
The church is unified because it submits to God's Word.
When a biblical church does what it's suppose to do it continually repents and confesses - 2 Cor. 13:5, Matt 5:16, Colossians 1:16-18
** Jesus Christ is Represented by the JAR - and it's content the water represents the purity of the church - The Believers. (Watch the visual illustration in the video)
What Happens when sin or false teaching enters the Church? 2 Cor. 13:5, Gal 6:1, Psalms 51, 2 Tim 2:21
The definition of a Church is : A Collection of Believers.
A look at the Seeker-Sensitive , Emerging church, and Modern-church:
1. The church wants to be more Relevant - Eph 4:12, Heb 13:21 , So it can reach out to more people.
Instead of equipping it's members to witness and testify to the One who saved them, Jesus Christ, they don't do that.
What do they do? They change the format of their church to appeal more to unbelievers then believers. 2 Cor. 6:14
What does the Dye represent? False teaching and...
1. having people who don't believe
2. Messages that leave out the gospel
3. Entire books are left out (John 3:18) because they might be too offensive to unbelievers
4. We're not going to talk about Sin
5. We're not going to talk about Judgment (Heb 9:27)
6. We're not going to talk about Romans
7. Or talk about Hebrews (2 Tim 2:15)
8. We're not going to talk about 'Sin' or peoples actions, and how it offends God, because their breaking God's law. (Acts 17:30)
We're going to teach a Positive Message
1. Life skills
2. How to deal with stress
3. Financial success
4. The Church to be relevant
5. reach only a certain demographic (2Peter 3:9) Those who make 40,000 -80,000 a year.
6. Youth-groups - Pizza, six-flags, video games, bring in non-believers.
What is the end result? What does the outside world see when it looks?
LOOK AT THE JAR - WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE PURITY OF THE WATER?
1. They can't see Jesus anymore
2. The world only sees the problems
3. All they see is sin, hypocrisy, drug use, divorce --- The church looks just like the world. The church is no different then the world. (Matt 16:18)
This is not the church that God Instituted. Eph. 2:19-22. Sadly for the Modern church; this is what it has become.
God always has a Remnant. Those who say it doesn't matter what the majority of people say (John 14:15) They will hold to God and His word, be faithful to the One who saved them.
Gal 5:1 Talks about Standing Firm. But, first you must decide:
1. If you are going to Stand
2. Then you got to Stand Firm
3. Jesus is looking for a pure bride
Which one are you?