What is Church - Do You Have A Home?

The speaker begins by welcoming the audience to the Morning Glory Devotion and leads a prayer for understanding and insight while studying the word of God. The theme for today's devotion is "What is Church?" and the speaker reads from Matthew 16:18 and Acts 2:41-47 to explore the concept of church. The speaker explains that the church is not a physical building, but a spiritual structure made up of believers who have been redeemed by Jesus' blood. They discuss the universal church, which includes all believers throughout time and the world, and the local church, which consists of believers who gather together physically for fellowship. The speaker emphasizes the importance of the church in providing a family and home for believers, where they can grow, serve, and have their needs met. They encourage listeners to find a spiritual home and not isolate themselves from the church community. The speaker concludes with a memory verse from Hebrews 10:24-25, urging believers to gather together Shalom, wonderful family, and welcome to today's Morning Glory Devotion. God bless you for being a part of the just and dead prayer time. My name is Joshua from Harvest Chapel in Tanasoni Akumasi and it is a privilege to be facilitating today's Morning Glory Devotion. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for another wonderful day. Lord, this morning we pray for your presence to be with us as we study your word. Appeal yourself to us and write your truths upon the tablets of our hearts. As we continue to study your word, give us insight and understanding and bring us to maturity. In Jesus' name we pray with thanksgiving. Amen. Let us kindly take our conversion from Joshua 1 verse 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate in it day and night, that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then I will make my way prosperous, and then I will have good success. Amen. The theme for today's devotion is, What is Church? This is a part of a two-part series and this first part is subtitled, Do You Have a Home? Our scripture reading today will be from Matthew Chapter 16 verse 18 and Acts Chapter 2 from the verse 41 to the verse 47. Matthew Chapter 16 verse 18 Reading from the Berean Study Bible And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Amen. Acts Chapter 2 verse 41 to 47 Reading from the New King James Version Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as any one 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, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Amen. In our first scripture reading, Jesus said that he would build his church. Some versions say assembly, and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. But Jesus did not build any physical edifice. What he built was a spiritual structure made up of all who have come to believe in him, those that he had bought and cleansed with his blood. So what is church? The church, first and foremost, is the body of Christ. It is God's own instituted family. It is the name that God has given to the gathering of his children. The universal church is made up of all who have believed in Jesus and have been bought by his blood throughout time and all over the world. It includes those who have gone before us like apostles of old and those who will come after us. The local church is made up also of all who have believed in Jesus Christ and have been bought by his blood, who, by reason of geographical certain and time, can be physically brought together to have fellowship with one another. In our second reading from the book of Acts, we see an example of what the local church looks like. It says that 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. It also says that they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. And it says also that the Lord added to them daily those who were being saved. The church is a spiritual organism and a human organization. It is a system God has put in place so that the needs of his people can be met. It is something that God has designed to provide a family and a home for his children whilst we are here on earth. It is a place designed to nurture and to bring to maturity. It is a place to learn to serve and to share and to meet the needs of others and have our needs met also. It is a place to find comfort and encouragement and companionship. The Bible says in Psalms 68 verse 6a that God sets the solitary or lonely in families We saw in Acts chapter 2 verse 47 that it is God who adds to the church or places someone in a particular local church or assembly. When God saves you, he puts you in a spiritual family and places you in a spiritual home, which is the local church. Beloved, do you have a home? Where has God planted you since you joined his family? Have you isolated yourself for one reason or another? This morning, I bring you a gentle reminder that God's will and plan for you is for you to be in his family and to have a home where you can be nurtured and where you can grow to become all that he has destined for you to be. Please allow God to set you and establish you in that home. It is for your utmost benefit and good. Amen. Let us take our memory verse from Hebrews chapter 10 from the verse 24 to 25. Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembly together as the custom of some is, but exalting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. Amen. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for your word that has come to us today. We pray that you will help us and continue to draw us to yourself. Lord, you've shown us in your word that you set us in families. Please set us all in families and establish us all in homes, that none of us will be isolated and easy prey for the enemy. In the name of Jesus we pray with thanksgiving. Amen. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more Spirit-filled content on Radio HCI today. Until we come your way once again tomorrow morning at the same time, do stay blessed.