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Pastor Beal

ARE YOU HOMELESS?

"...Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it;" Eph. 5:25

One of the beautiful gestures of the love of God is his local, visible, called out assembly of born-again believers. Not only did Jesus tell us so clearly in Jn. 3:3 that "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," but he immediately brings us into the most precious and promised family on earth. The Lord Jesus knew that a baby believer needed a family to love them and to nurture their spiritual growth. In I Cor. 12, he tells of the body of Christ which has many members, yet they are so diversified. Through this diversity God brings unity and power to His church. There are many people who claim to be saved, yet they fail to see God's wisdom in coming together and submitting to God's divine plan. What if someone brought a brand new car to you, but it was in a container unassembled? Yes, you could say you own a car, but not until the Master Mechanic assembles each part together will it then take on the image of the designer. Only then, with some fuel in the tank, will it run and perform as was intended. In I Cor. 12:18 it tells us that "...God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." Each member is essential; and if they refuse to take their place in the body and exercise their gift, then the body fails to accomplish God's perfect will. Thinking that you're too busy, and that you're ahead by leaving out obedience to God's church, is like running behind with your gas gauge on empty, and trying to make it up by passing the gas stations. Come and take your place at Joy Baptist Church this Sunday and let the Holy Spirit fill you up.

Thanks and God bless! Pastor Earl Beal