Week Four

The Saints of Christ’s Church

Everyone who believes that Christ died for our sins, that He rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven is a member of Christ’s Church. It is not a place, a denomination or a building. It is a state of the heart. We are one with Christ, we are his brothers and sisters, we are joint heirs with Jesus. And that makes us part of one another.

Everyone comes to Christ individually, one at a time. No one can accept Christ for anyone else, it is a personal decision. I heard it said by a very wise woman that “God has no grandchildren, only children.” Our parents’ faith cannot get us into heaven. Our parents can lead us to the throne, but we have the option to accept or reject Christ. This week we are only going to refer to those who have accepted Christ as a personal savior. These people are the saints of Christ’s church.

What happens to us after accepting Christ? We become part of something bigger than us. We become members of the universal church of Jesus Christ and we are surrounded by others who share the same belief and are growing in their faith walk, just like us.

The Holy Spirit of God is at work within the church of Christ. He was sent by Christ to be in the church. Every true believer has the spirit of God inside their heart. It is by the Holy Spirit that we become empowered to do the will of God. We are also tied together with other believers and instructed to encourage and uphold one another.

In Hebrews 10:24-25 we see the way the church works to encourage and uphold one another. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We can encourage one another and help one another, that is what it means to be a part of something this huge. The same Spirit that speaks to me also speaks to my brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. We are connected in a way that is supernatural and almost mystical. The same spirit moves within the entire body of Christ and knows the needs and the pains within the body.

At times God has wakened me in the night with a strong desire to pray. Sometimes it is for believers who are close to me and have physical or emotional needs, but on other occasions I have felt a burden to pray for someone I didn’t even know. God’s spirit spoke to my heart that someone was in pain or that there was a situation going on with someone in bad circumstances that needed prayer right at that moment.

I have had occasions when I felt a burden for a man in China, I don’t know anyone in China, but God’s spirit does and the spirit put the desire in my heart to pray for this persecuted Chinese man. I had the impression that his house church was in trouble and I needed to pray for protection for them. That is how the saints of Christ’s church work together.

What a comfort it is to think that when I get into a bad situation God’s spirit will put me on someones heart. This just happened to me last week. With a family situation, financial problems and life in general overwhelming me, I could feel myself sinking into depression. When a person gets into that downward spiral it is hard to pray for yourself. I was spending a lot of time in tears, but I continued to praise God in spite of my sadness.

When I arrived home from work that day, there was a message from a prayer warrior in our church. I called her back and she said the Lord had put me in her heart. She gave me so much encouragement and I was able to share some of the grief in my own heart with this lovely lady who was being obedient and listening to God speak to her. I witnessed first hand just how God’s spirit will minister to the needs of the believers.

In Matthew Jesus explains the kingdom of heaven in parables. It is my belief that he was referring to his church when he said, “For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13:17 How blessed the church is to have the teachings of Jesus written for us to digest and soak in.

Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45. Being a believer is like that pearl. It is of great worth and when put together with other pearls of great worth it becomes more beautiful, and it is strengthened.

Picture a tapestry with a beautiful scene, very intricate and detailed. Each saint of Christ’s church is a thread, we are different colors and strengths. Some are golden, others are brown. Each thread fits in a different place in the scene, but all threads are needed to make the scene complete. Jesus needs each one of us to complete his work on earth. Praise God for choosing you and give yourself to him to let him place you where he needs you within that picture.

Dear God,

How marvelous you are. That you would choose each one of us and see us as pearls of great value is wonderful. Thank you. Help us to see others as you saw us, so that your kingdom may grow and become all you meant it to be. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.