#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 4/3/2018
Quarter’s Theme: GROWING A GLORIOUS CHURCH
Unit 1- Contents Of A Glorious Church (Lessons 1-3)
LESSON 1 4/3/2018
FEATURES OF A GLORIOUS CHURCH
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 5,9
Devotional Reading: Heb. 12: 18 – 24
Topic For Adult: Belong To The Universal Church
Topic For Youths: Keep Your Membership Of A Glorious Church Intact
Topic For Intermediates: Double Life-Style Is Forbidden
Lesson Scriptures: Eph. 5:26-27; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 13:12; Jn. 17:17
MEMORY VERSE: …that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:27) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 4/3/2018
Double Life Style Forbidden
Rev. 3:14-15
Christ, in His words, described the spiritual condition of the church in Laodicea: as neither hot nor cold. A double lifestyle or a lukewarm church is one that compromises with the world and resembles its surrounding society. They profess Christ, yet in reality don’t know Him and they are in a spiritually wretched state. Christ warns the church about His impending judgment against double lifestyle (spiritual lukewarmness). We are not expected to live a double lifestyle or be lukewarm spiritually. Christ is looking for a church that will be hot in the spirit for Him at all times. Authentic members of a glorious church need no persuasion to do the things of the Father and serve Him rightly. Christ is inviting you to repent and be restored to a place of faith, righteousness, revelation and fellowship with Him. What is the state of your spiritual life? Christ’s knocking at the door of your heart. You must desire to let Him in and dine with you. He wants you to have close friendship and intimacy with Him.
Point of Emphasis: Don’t live a deceitful life, God knows you better than you know yourself.
Prayer Point: Father, help me not to live a double life in Jesus’ name.
BACKGROUND
Church in Greek is “ekklesia”. In the New Testament, it denotes an assembly of citizen “called out” from the world. Christ’s dream of the church is like a chaste virgin that has not spoiled herself, but has prepared herself for her bridegroom. The church that would attain the standard and characteristics described in Ephesians 5:27 requires more than human natural power. This lesson shows us the provision Christ has made for His Bride (Church) to make her glorious.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD (EPH. 5:26-27; 1 THESS. 4:3; HEB. 13:12; JN. 17:17)
The church is the body of Christ, not a social gathering where people come together for merry-making, drinking, dancing etc. The Church is the assembly of believers that are called out from the world to the Lord. It is an institution of God not man. Thus, a glorious church is said to be a church not having spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing but holy. God’s intention is to make His own people holy and pleasing to Him at all times. Man fell short of God’s plan because his life got contaminated with SIN. Christ came to the world and gave Himself up so that man could be sanctified and be cleansed from sin through His precious blood.
Sanctification is the deliverance from inward and outward defilement by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Being sanctified goes in line with living a righteous life. The will of God for every Christian is to be holy because he that has called us is holy (2 Cor. 7:1). Our body is the temple of God, it must be devoted to Him, set apart for God’s use, be kept clean and pure for His service. Those who are sanctified are endued with power to live a glorious life without spot or wrinkle. It is the will of God for you not to compromise God’s holiness and truth. He wishes that you abstain from worldly lifestyle. The processes of attaining this standard are stated below:
(1) Read, study and meditate on the word of God daily (Do your quiet time daily) Ps. 119:9-11; Mk. 1:35
(2) Have regular fellowship with the people of God – Heb. 10:25
(3) Lay all on the altar of consecration – Matt. 6:19-21; Phil. 3:7-17
(4) Develop godly habits – 1 Tim. 4:7-8
The reason why Jesus suffered a shameful death was to sanctify His people. Reflecting upon God’s word and applying them to every area of your life will make you to be truly sanctified.
PART 2: SUSTAINED BY THE WORD OF GOD (EPH. 5:26-27; PS. 119:11)
The Christian life is a life of growth. A baby given birth to is expected to grow. Initially, the baby will be given milk and will grow to be given solid food. The same principle applies to a convert. After being born again, he or she must be sanctified to live a holy life. The word of God is needed for establishment, sustenance, growth and development of Christian life (2 Tim. 3:15-17).
Every heaven-bound Christian is expected to be serious with the word of God and devote much time to it just like the early church did. God’s word must be highly valued and respected more than our daily food (Job 23:12b). Christians need not run after prophets or spiritualists for assistance because God’s word has solution to every problem. It is unfortunate today that some of the things we have picked up outside the Bible have made us lose sight of the Bible – our precious heritage.
Christ expects His Church to be governed by God’s word. The church must also be involved in the searching of the Scriptures and meditate on it. It is powerful to confront challenging situations in life.
A glorious child of God who delights, walks and conducts his or her life in the principles of the word of God will be (i) undefiled (ii) upright (iii) sincere (iv) blameless (v) righteous and will not willfully give himself or herself to a sinful lifestyle (1 Jn. 3:9). The word of God can be symbolised with the following:
(a) A sword – it is a weapon used to attack and defend (Heb. 4:12)
(b) Mirror – It provides reflection, revealing who we are to us (Jam. 1:23-25)
(c) Food – It provides spiritual nourishment, strength and growth (Job 23:12b
(d) Lamp – It reveals and guides our decision and actions (Ps. 119:1-5)
(e) Water – It cleanses (Eph. 5:26)
(f) Seed – It multiplies and produces result (1 Pet. 1:23)
(g) Rain and snow – It refreshes (Isa. 10:10-11)
The word of God is a powerful agent in producing a glorious church. If all the above are appropriately applied in our lives, the cumulative active effect will be continuous sustenance in the Lord.
PART 3: EXHIBIT UNDILUTED HOLINESS (EPH. 5:26-27)
Holiness is not just about ‘dos’ and ‘donts’. It is reflecting Christ in every area of life. It begins with taking God’s attitude towards SIN and making it our own. It entails hating sin as God hates it. Morality is not holiness, one can be morally good without being holy, but one cannot be holy without being morally good.
Holiness is an essential attribute of God. The Bible says “Be ye holy for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). We are made in God’s image, so He requires us to be like Him too. A glorious church that expects the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ (Bridegroom); must comply with the divine injunction to be holy. The Bible says “without holiness no man can see God. The world we live in is changing and there is a tendencies to adapt to anything that moves or goes on in the society. However, a Christian must not change or bend for any reason. The standard of the Lord standeth sure… His word does not change or have exceptions.
Christians should always live a life that is challenging to others positively. Holiness must be demonstrated in all areas of our lives.
God wants every member of His church to be holy (Heb. 12:10). Believers must not live a doubtful life, knowing fully that God cannot be deceived (Gal. 6:7). He knows those who are His. (2 Tim. 2:19). Christ beckons on His church to be holy and never be indifferent towards God’s call to holiness.
CONCLUSION
We have the local church and the universal (invincible) church. There is no way, one can belong to the universal church without being a member of a local church. Paradoxically, membership of a local church and not being member of universal church which is the glorious church is to deregistered self from Heaven.
QUESTIONS
- Why is it necessary for believers to study the word of God meditatively?
- Moral life is not exchangeable to holy living. How can this be explained?
- In your own words, explain what sanctification means.
- Why should a believer belong to both local and universal church?
