THE CHURCH – NEW RELATIONSHIPS Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16-18) Through a revelation of the Holy Spirit, Peter confessed the true identity of Jesus, the Son of the Living God. Jesus said that this truth would become the foundation on which His church would be built and went on to describe this future church as victorious in overcoming the kingdom of darkness. Jesus and Paul used the word church to refer to the people of God and not to a religious building. These are four benefits of being a part of a local church or faith community: FRIENDSHIP We were not created to be alone nor live our lives in isolation. We were created to function, interact and be in relationships within the Body of Christ. For the best chance of success, in the pursuit of our spiritual growth, we need to surround ourselves with the right people: - who are more spiritually matured; - who have our best interests at heart; - who will hold us accountable DOING LIFE TOGETHER This does not mean spending an hour a week together and calling it church. On this journey God has prepared us for, we need to become accountable 24/7. Our lifestyles will need to undergo a transformation. There may be things we will need to unlearn or certain things that now need to take a back seat in our lives. The Word says, we have been “bought at a price”. We no longer belong to ourselves but to God and Body of Christ. We can no longer simply do whatever we wish, we have ceded certain rights to God as well as to the Body of Christ. God (and the Body of Christ) first! FELLOWSHIP If a piece of burning coal is removed from a fire and set aside, eventually that red, hot coal, will cool down. If placed back in the centre of a pile of red-hot coals, it will heat up, combust and burn again. The same is true of the children of God. If you are removed from fellowship with other “red-hot” Christians, you will “cool down” spiritually. If a Christian stays in fellowship, he will stay on fire for God. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:44-46 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart WORSHIP Worship is the expression of our love, devotion, and commitment to God. God is seeking sincere worshipers. John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” DISCIPLESHIP By the end of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) we get a clear picture of the explicit instruction Jesus gives His disciples. He tells them to make disciples of men, heal the sick, raise the dead and cleanse the lepers – to manifest His presence. There was an expectation that His gospel, which is the gospel of the Kingdom of God, has the ability to make us one with God and to manifest His presence in this earth. This was not a message about His death on the cross nor about religion. Jesus on the cross is a gateway unto something. He made it possible for us to become one with God. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. We make disciples as we introduce people to Jesus and teach them how to obey God’s commands. Paul told Timothy to transfer everything he had learned to other who would be able to teach it to others. This is the definition of discipleship.