The Necessity for Christians to Know the Biblical Definition and Purpose of the Church!

02 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 June 2026   Ephesians 6:18.

Ephesians 6:18.        ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’

Oh boy, it’s Tuesday, sunshiny and warm! And since we’ve rumpled Monday’s feathers, it ought to be a breeze from here on in! I wouldn’t be so sure of that nuh, for Tuesday might just rumple our feathers. For any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, presenting challenges that we cannot handle and thus causing us grief. So let’s take one day at a time, don’t belittle any of them, but deal with each one seriously, as though it was our last one. And who knows, it just might be, since we’re not guaranteed to see tomorrow.

And as the prophet Jeremiah so rightly declares in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) Yes friends, let’s remember that it’s only because of God’s goodness and mercy that we are granted life to see a new day, and therefore live the way we ought to, in  righteousness and thanksgiving.

Now, today, we’re going to look at one of the Prayer Cards issued by the In Touch Organization a few years ago. This one deals with the church. So please pray with me. ‘Lord Jesus, thank You for the church. Please protect and encourage Your people. Comfort those who suffer, and provide for those in need. Strengthen us against temptation. Help us grow in LOVE, discernment, and good works. May your church be a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception. Let Your Holy Spirit be fully present wherever You are lifted up. Make Your church ready for your return, Lord Jesus, and keep us safe as we hope in You. Amen.’

Yes my fellow believers, that’s a wonderful description of all the things Christ’s church ought to be and do! But is it doing them? Definitely not to the standard it ought to. But before we get down to the nitty gritty, let’s see what the church really is. Many people understand it as the building where believers gather to worship, however in the real sense the church is not so much the building, but biblically it refers to the worldwide body of Christian believers with Jesus as it’s legal head.

It’s as Bruh Paul describes the church in 1 Corinthians. ‘For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond (slaves) or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.’ (1 Cor. 12:12-14) Bruh Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain the church. Just as a body has many parts (hands, feet, eyes, and ears), the church has many members, but they form a single, unified body, under Christ, unified by the Holy Spirit.  

And later on in that same passage, Bruh Paul further states that although the church is composed of many individual members with diverse gifts and functions, every part is essential to the whole. This means all members are interconnected, equally valued, and called to care for one another. And further still, he emphasizes that no one part can say it does not need the others, and when one part suffers or is honored, the whole body experiences it together. (1 Cor. 12:15-27) Yes mih bredrin, Christ’s church is  just like the human body, with Christ at the head and the many other parts making it up into one whole, all unified by the Holy Spirit.

So let’s see now, how it’s living up to its purpose. Per the Prayer Card, the church should be a place where people are encouraged, comforted and provided for when in need; a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception.’ How much of that is the church really doing eh? Not enough. And it cannot when it’s so badly broken up and disunified, when there are so many different denominations, cliques and different entities all claiming to be a part of Christ’s body and preaching different doctrines, as well as doing many things differently.

Therefore, it’s totally contrary to Bruh Paul’s words; ‘That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.’ (1 Cor. 12:25) And is the church really a haven of peace and truth? No way! For today’s church is strife-filled and what truth that’s being preached is usually skewered to the preacher or the people’s liking.

To a great extent it’s like Bruh Paul warned Timothy: ‘Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:2-4)

And are we ever seeing that in these last days, where preachers are telling people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. But regardless of how bad things might seem, we still cannot afford to give up. No way! For giving up does not exist in Christ’s vocabulary! And we desperately need to keep on praying for the church, for the body of Christ that’s supposed to bring light and LOVE to mankind on Christ’s behalf, for if we don’t, it will only continue to fall into bad habits and eventually crumble. And that we definitely don’t want to happen.

So, let’s do as the Prayer Card strongly suggests by using as it’s Bible verse: ‘Be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.’ Now that’s a new-fangled version of Bruh Paul’s declaration after admonishing us to put on the spiritual armour of God in Ephesians. But here’s the real McCoy. (smile) ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18)

Yes my people, prayer is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. For even the spiritual armour of God is inadequate without it. And we are to pray not only for ourselves, but for all of God’s saints, because, as the scholars tell us; ‘spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’

And now, with all that information re the church and its purpose refreshed and renewed in our minds, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

And as per the Prayer Card …Give thanks for Jesus’ commitment to His church…He will not let her fall…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Sincerely Living for Christ, and Boldly Speaking His Word in These Turbulent Times!

28 Apr 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acts 4:31b.       and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Oh friends, it’s Tuesday! Monday’s over and done with; caught up in the annals of history, and Tuesday has replaced it, though with a somewhat chilly and cloudy look. It’s therefore our duty to pay serious attention to it, to cherish and appreciate it like the present from God that it is! So let’s declare and put into action this wise and wonderful advice from the Bible: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’  (Ps. 118:24) And we can never go wrong by doing that, because each new day is a special gift from God to those whom He keeps alive, and there’s a special purpose for Him doing that.

For as the prophet Jeremiah so wisely acknowledges in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) And that’s the gospel truth for God’s mercies are new every day. As Jesus prayed; ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matt. 6:11) For the Lord only gives us enough to handle each new day, as our finite souls and spirits cannot handle much more than that.

However, despite only receiving enough compassion, LOVE, peace etc. for one day at a time, His glorious purpose(s) for keeping us alive is (are) deeply embedded, deeply rooted in our hearts. And today we’ll discuss one of those most important purposes that God’s set in our lives; it’s called Boldness.  And we’ll get the basics of that from one of the Praying with Purpose Prayer cards that the In Touch Organization published last year.

So please pray with me: ‘Lord Jesus, I’m so grateful for the gift of salvation. Please make me bold to share the gospel with others openly and fearlessly. I want everyone to know You and Your name to be lifted up. Lead me into situations where I can tell others about You through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May your words abide in me so I speak the truth of Scripture without compromise. Thank You for Your precious Word which contains the path of life. Amen.’

Now, we have to be careful when we pray a prayer like that, for the Lord will take us at our word and begin bringing situations in our paths to do so. However, they might not all be easy or fortunate circumstances. Like Bruh Paul, we could face many difficult and dangerous times in sharing God’s Word. But sharing God’s word with boldness and without compromise is of the utmost necessity.

Remember what Jesus said to the disciples and consequently to all His followers, when He gave them the Great Commission? ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples of) all nations. baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.’ (Matt. 28:18-20)

Now that’s our basic purpose on this earth my faithful brethren; to spread the good news of Christ’s gospel and live our own lives in a way that others would see it and desire to turn to Him for salvation. And that situation needs to be very seriously addressed today my fellow believers, because evil doing and ungodliness are running rampant. Yes my brethren, it’s in times like these that the Word of God needs to be spoken evermore vociferously and sincerely, because the people need it ever so much, as our world is on a direct tangent to hell fire and damnation, and only we, the servants, disciples and children of Almighty God can save it through our bold and timely witness.

But unfortunately, not enough of us supposed Christians are making the desired effort to spread Christ’s gospel of salvation, so our world is sliding downhill to hell more every day, and Satan and his evil cronies are just smiling and high-fiving each other as it happens. And we can use this situation from the early church as a good example.

Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, and when they were warned by the Council of leaders not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they replied: ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:19-20) And after more threats of serious punishment, they were released and went out and told their people what had happened.

‘And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,  ‘Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is.’ (Acts 4:24) Then they went on to state how the Lord had set matters in Israel in Jesus’ time (Acts 4:25-28) Finally, they declared: ‘And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by (through) the name of thy holy child (servant) Jesus. 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 4:29-31)

Now friends, it’s stuff like that we need to initiate in these dreadful times, where we can go out and speak the word of God openly, without fear, regardless of any consequences that might arise from it. But unfortunately, Christ’s people are not doing such actions, because we’re either too afraid, or too comfortable, and we don’t want to upset the old applecart. But please note, that no changes, good or bad, ever happen unless the old apple cart is upset. (smile) So please, it’s time for all Christians to seriously get together and both live and speak the Word of God with all boldness and sincerity, if we hope to make a positive difference in our failing world!

Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

We are now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…what a privilege it is…to speak out boldly for Christ…and nothing is more urgent… (In Touch Prayer Card on Boldness)

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien