Why Church

​Perhaps the most challenging thing for a pastor is trying to convince people they need to be in church for the rest of their lives.  Let me take this one step further, not only do believers need to be in church, but they must be there for the right reason.  The fear of God punishing you is never a legitimate excuse to be in church.  God is a blesser not a task master.
 
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some folks do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.
 
The number one reason for attending church is to keep you ready for the day when this world comes to an end.  Not all Christians will go up in the rapture, only those willing to go will go.  Jesus said we would not know the day or hour but we would know the season.  How can a saint know the season if he is alienated from his Savior?  When God’s people gather together to worship Him and to be instructed in the Word of righteousness, He will be in their midst.
 
1Peter 2:2 As new born babies, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow there by.
 
In the natural world we are subject to full disclosure.  In other words, we can be taught everything there is to know.  But not in God’s economy, we will never know all there is to know.  God’s Word is inexhaustible and it is like fresh bread every day.  The world is a breeding ground for ignorance and “religion” is the epitome of “false news”.  A lot of folks don’t agree with God so they write their own Bible and sign His Name to it.  Religion is a genetically altered Bible, it’s mans’ fruitless attempt to relieve themselves of the burden of obedience.  It’s like the man who works his tail off trying to get out of work.
 
1Corinthians 14:12 For as much as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
 
We live in a fallen world, a place where satan and his bunch run wild displaying their hatred for God’s creation.  I dare say most Christians cannot identify their true enemy so they wrestle with flesh and blood.  When a believer is edified, they are issued their spiritual weapons and taught to recognize their enemy.  David had no fear of Goliath.  The Psalms he received of the Lord built him up.  Israel’s army was scared to death of Goliath.  No one built them up, they were established in fear. 
 
2Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new. 
 
You have been born again into God’s family, now you must discover your new identity.  You cannot reign in life as a child of God until you first know you’re a child of God.  You can locate a Christian spiritually by the way they talk.  They will tell you what they know and what they don’t know.  If we live true to our identity, when folks see us they will see Jesus.  Why church?  Because Jesus is there waiting to bless us and empower us to live a victorious life.