WHAT A CHURCH SHOULD BE:

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A CHURCH:
A body that is directed by the Spirit, fully understanding that baptism in the Holy Spirit is both a personal blessing and endowment of power for witness and service in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Looking for a church to call home? Been out and about but you still have not found a place that is the perfect church? Well if you ever find the perfect church, don’t go there; it won’t be perfect any more. The best way to is to be a part of the team. Simply put it is about being more than just a hearer, but also a doer. I can tell you that churches we have gone to and found things lacking in are the places we volunteered. Why would we feel compelled to get involved? What makes some Christians take the next step. How can people just sit in the same seat Sunday after Sunday and never do something? No job in the church is a small thing. Greeting people, cleaning, ushering, praying, landscaping, vacuuming, it is about service. Some are called, some are sent, some just packed up and went. Here are three things that can motivate you into being more of a part on the inside than looking in through the windows. We need workers, singers, sound techs, and even tithers to make the church effective. It is US we are the team. Are you ready to take the next step?

DIRECTION
STEP ONE: BE LEAD
God wants to lead you; he wants to show you how to serve Him. That is why we have the Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. If we don’t ask for directions we tend to get lost. Have you ever felt that you just don’t need to go in a certain direction of place only to find that if you had, you would have been in the middle of a mess? That’s the leading. The more you follow the better you get at listening. Jesus said ”My sheep know my voice” That means he speaks to us, are you listening?

Romans 8 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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 
Q: How can I be a better follower?

BAPTISM
STEP TWO: BE FILLED.
You prayed and accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross and believe he rose from the dead. You confessed with your mouth what you believed in your heart. But your life still is stuck in the same old same old. Still living without a feeling of victory?  Becoming a Christian does not end all your troubles in life, it just means we win in the end. We can have abundant life and live in victory. Wouldn’t it be great if like a superhero we had some kind of dynamo power inside that would turn us from just getting by in this walk to having a power that made us stronger in the Lord? There is, the Holy spirit wants to fill you to overflowing like he did the apostles and early saints of the church. Look at this passage about some believers that Paul ministered to.
 
Acts 19:1-6
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Here are some scriptures where people were filled with the Spirit and what happened:

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Now what?

INFUSION
STEP THREE: WITNESS AND SERVE.
(The introduction of a new element or quality into something.) Is it time for you to have a new element infused into you walk with God?  Take some time and ask God to fill you to the brim with his presence and then stay there till you are overflowing with the goodness of God. When this happens it will spill over into all areas of your life. It will be strength to see you through. It will give you boldness, joy, and repair. Trust God, he will help you in your prayer time and when the flowing starts it will be pure power.

Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 2:38 -39 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If you are spending week after week just attending church and not feeling like you have the motivation to get involved, then please take some time to pray for God to fill you with this same power found in the book of Acts. God still pours out his Spirit on the church today. He still does miracles, He still answers prayers and YOU will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
 
Church of God Intercession City would love to have you visit. Sundays at 10am.