Finding the Right Church is Important.
Believers, are intended to live life together as the body of Christ. Being a part of a good local church provides fellowship, discipleship, and accountability. It offers the opportunity to serve our God and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The local church connects you to the shepherd God called to watch over you, to lead you and guide you. That shepherd provides a spiritual covering that protects you and strengthens you to stand against your enemy, the devil.
Your church is your storehouse where you can honor and obey God with your tithes and offerings. The church is an integral part of your Christian walk. Without it, you are left defenseless and open to the plans of the enemy who intends to kill, steal and destroy anything and anyone he can gain access to.
The Word of God should be preached from the alter; if they are not opening their Bibles, and Teaching the word accurately it is not a God centered Church.
The church is Jesus’ Idea, He Established It. We follow Jesus so we should be in the place he established.
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. 18 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 16:17-18
HOW TO FIND A GODLY CHURCH
When looking for a good church to call home we must ask some important Questions.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:15-20
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
John 4:1-6
Does the church believe the Bible in its entirety that it is the inspired word of God?
Any Church that claims to be Christian and follow Jesus should uphold all of the scripture without fail. As believers, we can not pick and choose what scriptures we agree with. God’s word is final and infallible. Our opinion of it does not change God’s intended meaning. Any interpretation of scripture should come through scripture and nothing else. The unchanged Word of God should be preached from the pulpit period! if they are not opening their Bibles and teaching Gods word fully, it is not the right Church.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
2nd Timothy 3:16
And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
Deuteronomy 4:8
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 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.
Ephesians 5:25-27
Does the church Believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in other tongues?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the Believer. It is so important, in fact, that Jesus told his disciples to wait to receive it before going out to transform the world. Many gathered together and waited 50 days praying and seeking God for the day of Pentecost. All 120 who remained in the upper room received the baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It was only when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that they went out and turned the known world upside down. It was the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire that gave them power to operate supernaturally and release the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. If the apostles who walked with Jesus in the flesh required the Holy Spirit to operate in the supernatural and minister the gospel to the World, then so do we. Any church that does not recognize the baptism of the Holy Spirit for today is not operating in the fullness of what God has for the Body of Christ and has cut themselves off from the power of God that transforms and empowers the believer.
We were promised the Holy Spirit
Why would we reject a promise of God?
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
(LUKE 24:49).
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was received by all who sought God; with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”
(ACTS 2:1-4)
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives us access to the gifts of the spirit.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues”
(1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit helps us to be led by the Spirit.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father”
( Romans 8:12-15)
Do they believe in divine healing, and that it is the will of God. Divine Healing is still in operation today. The word of God says,
“By his Stripes, you were healed”( Isaiah 53:5) .
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his BENEFITS: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalms 103:2-3).
“God is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
He is unchanging and still heals the sick today just as He did in the old testament and through the ministry of Jesus Christ, His son, who walked on this earth. In the book of Psalms, The word of God says He heals ALL our diseases. God is a good God; He does not send sickness and disease on his children to teach us a lesson or develop character. Psalms 41 says he rescues us from sickness, “For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.” (Psalm 41:3) Why would He deliver us from Himself? He can’t desire for us to be sick, and well at the same time that would be insanity. God is a good father who gives good gifts. It is our enemy, the devil, who brings sickness. Would you, as a parent, wish sickness on your children to teach them a lesson? No! Of course not, because you love them and desire the best for them, and we are evil compared to God.
“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:9-12
Any Church That does not believe in supernatural healing for today is missing out on what God has for us as believers and is leaving out a huge ministry of the gospel of Christ. We, as believers, are to submit ourselves to being Molded to reflect Christ. We are not fully following after Christ if healing is not a part of what we believe and operate in.
Do they believe in the laying on of hands?
Jesus frequently operated through the laying on of Hands, and our ministry should mirror Christ. The Laying On of Hands is a point of contact to transfer the power of God. It is for the purpose of healing, deliverance, blessing, impartation, anointing, and sending out ministers to fulfill the call of God. It is a normal operation in a God lead church. Paul called this a foundational doctrine,
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment”
(Hebrew 6:1-2).
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus”
(Acts 13:2-4).
“When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them”
Luke 4:40
“And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him”
Acts 28:8
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership”
1 Timothy 4:14
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”
Acts 8:17
Do they believe in deliverance?
Casting out devils with the authority given to us by Jesus Christ is Jesus’ final instruction to the disciples before
He ascended to heaven. We have been given power and authority on this earth over every power and principality. We are not in a war with our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, or Sons and daughters. We are in a war against the evil darkness of this world, the devil and his army of fallen angels.
THE UNGODLY CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE THE WORK OF OUR ENEMY, BUT WE HAVE DOMINION OVER THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS ANGELS OF DARKNESS.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness”
Ephesians 6:11-14).
Jesus’ last words to the disciples before ascending to heaven were,
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God”
(Mark 16:15-19).
Directly after speaking these words Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand
THIS WAS HIS LAST COMMAND
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT LAST WORDS ARE IMPORTANT AND THESE ARE THE ONES JESUS CHOSE TO SPEAK. IF ANY LAST WORDS SHOULD BE LISTENED TO AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THE WORDS OF JESUS ARE CERTAINLY IT.
If a Church believes in Christ, these signs should follow them… The first one listed is casting out devils. We live in a fallen world, and many people need deliverance from the power of the devil; not just the lost sinner is bound. Many believers need deliverance as well. You don’t have to be possessed of a demon to be under the influence, deception, and oppressive bondage power of the enemy. If our churches do not believe in this operation of the Holy Spirit, we are leaving people bound and under the power of the very demons Jesus says we have dominion over. We are doing a grave injustice to the people God has called us to set free.
