When the church isn't acting like a church

We all have some idea of what a church is and have our own assumptions on how it operates. You say 'Catholic' and people automatically equate that to a man in robes (like the Pope). You say 'Pentecostal' and people envision the the mega churches full of prosperity preaching. But lets' draw away from the big picture and focus on what actually makes up the church. It's the people.

It's your first day at church, maybe you've been invited or were on the hunt. You attend, someone greets you, you hear the message and hang around after service or shoot off. Maybe you manage to exchange a few words with someone, maybe not. For whatever reason you come back and before you know it you're apart of a church. You start to form friendships, later you find yourself wanting to get involved, perhaps you join a ministry and so on. All this is great! But then what happens when you have a disagreement with one of those friends, when your efforts in ministry go un-notice or you begin to become overwhelmed with how busy your life has become with 'church.'

We get so distracted on the things we're doing in the church, the relationships we've made, the latest Sunday outfits that we've lost sight of the church's true meaning. Is God pleased?

You're in church but not growing in Christ. You hear sermons weekly without fail and yet there is no change in your conduct, language, way of thinking or your heart. Your pastor delivers powerful messages that stem from the word of God, but these teachings are not applied to your life.

Though we are in church and believe we're doing all the right things, we are still very fleshy and not operating in the spirit. That is why we're able to say 'amen' whilst the pastor is preaching, but fail to speak life to our brothers and sisters. That is why we can be the first in last out but fail to recognise our brother/sister is in need. That is why we put so much emphasis on pleasing the pastor that we forget to please the father. We might look like the role model Christian, but really we are far from God.

So what is the purpose of the Church? How do we fulfil this?

Ephesians 2:19–22

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Romans 12:4–5

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

1 Timothy 3:14–15

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Romans 12:1-2

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As we've read, the church is a community of believers worshipping Christ. The church is to be preserved for Christs return. It belongs to him and we are his stewards. As we mind his church, remember the church is Holy and the place of truth. Let us focus on the meaning; to serve God, to encourage one another, to sacrifice/get involved. All this contributes to the growth of the church. Is that not what we want to see? More lives being saved, more souls added to the kingdom!

Whilst in church we should see change within ourselves. Lastly, the way we act, serve, treat one another, is it aligned with holiness and truth? The church is the body of believers that follow Christ. Hence whether the building comes or goes, the church will always remain!

Amen.

Revelation about Jonah and Fish

God Will Cover You & Carry You into your destiny.

Experiencing God's Guidance Through Life's Toughest Situations

Life is filled with challenges, but as I've seen time and again, God doesn't just cover us; He carries us through the toughest situations. His support and guidance are evident in the story of Jonah, which offers profound lessons for our own lives.

Jonah 1:17 – God's Provision in Unexpected Forms

"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." – Jonah 1:17

Consider Your Current Situation

Where are you right now? What challenges are you facing? Jonah found himself in dire circumstances, not by chance, but due to his own choices. He was running from God's will, and as a result, he faced a life-threatening storm.

WATCH THE FULL SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/live/veQ5OwFzdYk

Jonah 1:2-3 – Running from God

"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."

Running Away Brings Storms

When Jonah fled from God's command, he encountered a violent storm. This wasn't a random act of nature; it was a direct result of his disobedience.

"But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up." – Jonah 1:4

Jonah admitted that the storm was his fault: And some of your storms are your fault

"Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me." – Jonah 1:12

Similarly, our own financial or relational crises can often stem from our decisions.

No Hope, No Way Out?

Have you ever felt trapped in a situation with no apparent way out? A bill you couldn’t pay, a relationship you couldn't escape – these are moments that require divine intervention.

Divine Intervention in Desperate Times

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God stepping in to change circumstances:

• Joseph in prison was freed through a dream and a cupbearer (Genesis 41).

• Paul and Silas were liberated by an earthquake (Acts 16:25-26).

• Moses and the Israelites saw the Red Sea parted (Exodus 14:21).

Jonah's story, however, is unique because God used a great fish to save him, showcasing His preparation and providence in extraordinary ways.

Jonah 1:17 – God's Unique Preparation

"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights."

The preparation of the fish demonstrates God's meticulous care. Whether it was a special creation or a natural anomaly, this great fish was ready at the precise moment to carry out God's plan.

God's Protection in Our Darkest Moments

Even when Jonah described his experience as being in the "belly of Sheol," he recognized God's presence and deliverance:

"Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: 'I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.'" – Jonah 2:1-2

God Speaks to Our Situations

Just as God spoke to the fish, commanding it to release Jonah, He can speak to our circumstances and bring about miraculous change.

"So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." – Jonah 2:10

Jesus: Our Ultimate Deliverance

The story of Jonah is a foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection, highlighting the ultimate way God covers and carries us:

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." – Matthew 12:40

Our sins once left us without hope, but through Jesus' sacrifice, we have a way out. Just as Jonah was saved from the belly of the fish, we are saved from sin and death.

Conclusion

No matter what storm you're facing, remember that God is prepared to cover and carry you through it. He has a plan for your deliverance and will speak to your situation. Trust in His provision and find comfort in His unwavering presence.

Why does God see all sin as the same?

Have you ever heard a Christian say "all sin is the same." Which then leads you to respond "so there's no difference between murder and telling a white lie?" It is true that God treats all sin equally, however we are looking at it in the wrong way. Does this mean that if you lied to a child about the hidden vegetables in their dinner God would react in the same way to you killing someone innocent? Well the bible doesn't specifically talk about the different degrees of sin. That is because rather than focusing on measuring the sin we should be measuring his grace! Lets' not look at it as 'he sees it all same' but a testimony as to how gracious God is. It is showing us his love, that regardless what we do he will not disown us. Where else do you see this?

It's easy to fixate on an answer that makes God look bad but the next time we come across this statement, lets' remember the cross symbolises grace. God sent us his own son, Jesus, who laid down his life in exchange for our sins. He loves us so much that whatever we do he will forgive us (so long as we repent). Selfishly we probably don't like the idea of this. The fact that someone who sins far more than myself has just the same level of grace as me, even though I barely sin. However, one day that could be you in need of his everlasting grace. Thus let us not pass judgement.

Micah 7:18-19

8 Who is a God like you,

    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression

    of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

    but delight to show mercy.

19 You will again have compassion on us;

    you will tread our sins underfoot

    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Romans 6:15

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.