We build up the church by being committed to the mystical teachings and its leadership. David had mighty men who were committed to him and to the nation. At one time, he and his men were under attack, but he expressed a desire for water. A few of his mighty men broke through the enemy’s ranks to get him that water. These men were not bewitched behind David. They simply loved and were loyal to their leader, a man who provided godly leadership and would have gladly risked his life for them.
Our commitment to the church is demonstrated in regular attendance at church, which is important for several reasons. The book of Acts indicated that the believers were committed to the fellowship, the coming together of the saints. Regular attendance can foster unity as we bond together during times of worship. Numbers tend to attract numbers; more believers are encouraged to attend when the numbers are up. Regular attendance allows you to be ministered to and allows you to minister to others. It also adds prayer support: you can see or hear about what is happening in people’s lives and you can add your voice of prayer and faith.
Our commitment to the church also involves our generous giving. There are a number of Christians who do not give anything significant to the church. It is imperative that we give the very best that we can because giving is an important act of worship and because the church cannot fulfill its mandate without money. Our commitment to the church means that our ministry is important. It is crucial that you find a place of service to add value to the church.
God has gifted you; every believer has at least one gift that can be used for the glory of God and for the edification of other believers. Further, this gift may open doors for you nationally, regionally and internationally. In ministry, you need to overcome fear, insecurity, doubt, self-consciousness and concern about criticism, which can seriously paralyze the call of God in your life. Know that God has called you and has anointed you to make a difference in your church.
Destroying the Church
When we destroy the church, it shows that we do not love the Lord Jesus Christ and that we do not love people. Like Peter told Simon in Acts 8:21-23, “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
We destroy the church when we gossip and talk negatively, even contemptuously, about other believers. Some people like to talk about others; they feel empowered to be able to say negative things about other people. This is often fueled by a spirit of pride: we think that we are better than other people and that we know more than they do. It is also fueled by a spirit of jealousy or envy. Jealousy typically leads to competition, impatience, bitterness, strife, covetousness, control and retaliation. It is also based on deception: persons mistakenly believe that they are doing the Lord’s work, but really they are doing the devil’s work.
We destroy the church when our spiritual lives are weak and ineffective. Believers are to worship God in spirit and in truth. We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Further, we are to be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Christians that remain immature have little to offer the body of Christ. In fact, such persons act like babies – always taking, always wanting and always creating problems. If some leaders are truthful, they are glad when such persons leave the church. Believers are to be filled with the Spirit of God. When we are not filled with the Spirit, we leave so much room for the enemy to come in and to develop strongholds. We start to operate in the flesh and not in the spirit.
We destroy the church when we tolerate sin and immorality in the church. The Corinthian church experienced the gifts of the Spirit (charismata), but it was an immature, divided and carnal church that tolerated sexual immorality “of a kind that does not even occur among pagans.” The fear of God needs to return to the church; fear referring to the awesome, reverential respect that we must have for a holy God. God has called the church to holiness, to be separated from sin.
Satan and the world and to be dedicated to Him and His service. We have to be different from the world. For example, we cannot derive our values from Gossip Girl, Scandal and Being Mary Jane. In fact, we shouldn’t even be watching these pictures that clearly promote values contrary to the values of the Word of God. We can’t talk about worshiping God in spirit and in truth when we spend more time listening to ungodly secular music than to Christian music.