Jesus Christ, our Lord, promised He would build His church (Matthew
16:18). And when it was built it was left in the hands of men to care
for it and perpetuate it for as long as the world stands. Jesus chose
men called apostles and promised them that He would send the Holy Spirit
to remind them of what He had taught them and then guide them into all
truth (John 14:26; 16:13). He told them that whatever they bound on
earth would be bound in heaven, and whatever they loosed on earth would
be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). We have that truth today as
revealed to the apostles by the Holy Spirit. When these men fulfilled
their duties and died, the church was left in the hands of Christians to
care for it and perpetuate it until the Lord comes again. When he
returns at the end of time the church will be presented to Him a
glorious church without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Christians today need to be reminded that the Lord depends on us to keep
the church alive and working. Congregations of the church do not live
and thrive in places where members are dilatory. Congregations die from
lack of interest on the part of members. The lukewarm condition of the
church at Laodicea brought about its demise. This same condition has
caused many congregations of the Lord to go out of existence, even
during the lifetime of some of us who are alive today. Can He depend on
you to help keep your congregation alive and well?
A song was written several years ago by the name, "Can He Depend On
You?" It has been revived and is in our present song book. It would do
us all well to look at it and consider the words.
CAN THE LORD DEPEND ON YOU TO DO YOUR PART TO KEEP THE CHURCH ALIVE AND
WELL BY BEING FAITHFUL AND TRUE?
"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much..."
(Luke 16: 10).
CAN CHRIST DEPEND ON YOU TO BE READY TO DO YOUR PART?
The apostle Paul said, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in
due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are
of the Household of faith" (Galatians 6:9,10).
CAN THE LORD DEPEND ON YOU TO BE READY TO EVERY GOOD WORK?
"...God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work"
(2 Corinthians 9:8). "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). And we are told in Titus 3:1 "Put
them in mind... to be ready to every good work." "And let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24).
CAN CHRIST DEPEND ON YOU TO ATTEND ALL THE CHURCH SERVICES REGULARLY?
The Bible teaches, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is... For if we sin willfully after we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice
for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation which shall devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:25-27).
CAN THE LORD DEPEND ON YOU TO LOVE THE BRETHREN AS HE COMMANDED?
Jesus said, "by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another" (John 13:35). "And this is his commandment,
that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one
another, as he gave us commandment" (1 John 3:23). "He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 John 4:8). "If a man say, I love
God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
(1 John 4:20). "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
CAN CHRIST DEPEND ON YOU TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW?
The Bible teaches, "Be thou an example of the believers" ( 1 Timothy
4:12). It also teaches, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of
good works..." (Titus 2:7).
IN CONCLUSION, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is
in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Can He depend
on you?
14970 Forestview Dr
Bonner Springs, KS 66012
