The church that changes the world
Haggai 2: 1~9 “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts. “And in this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts. (9) Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #249 Come, We that Love the Lord (#249 in previous version) The church that God has built is the place where evangelism and missions begins. The church doesn’t just symbolize a building to simply have worship in. A church saves the region that is covered in darkness, and it is the outpost where the Gospel is shared to save those who are spiritually dying. God blessed the church to be a place where the later glory would be greater than the former glory. What does the church mean to me? What is God’s plan for the church?
1. The church is the fastest way to change the culture
Many think that the church is a very old-fashioned place. However, the church is the very core that can change the age and the culture. The first step to changing the culture is breaking the forces of darkness that is conquering the culture. The culture of worshiping idols destroys the person, families, regions, and nations. A place that is filled with idolatry may seem physically abundant, but all of a sudden, disasters will plow in. When a church is raised in a region, the forces of darkness in that region crumble, and what was once a desolate culture of idolatry changes to the culture of the Gospel.
2. You must know the importance of church construction
The church is a place that has been chosen and established by God, not man. It is the place where evangelism and missions begins, and it is the center of world evangelization. God commanded the people of Israel, who were freed from captivity, to build a temple. Church construction is most needed in fulfilling God’s greatest desire of world evangelization. When a church that shares the pure Gospel is established, God will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land and make all the treasures of all the nations return. (Haggai 2: 6)
3. God’s blessings come upon the church
Endless wealth and finances are available in the world, but there is a separate finance God has prepared for the church. When a child of God knows the importance of the church and realizes the reason for church construction, God will bless them and open the doors of finances for them. (Haggai 2:19) What is it that God desires to fulfill through the church? When we place the church in our hearts and pray for it, God will give us the finances of the Gospel that He has prepared and bless us.
- God blessed David who embraced church construction as his lifelong commission throughout his entire life. Meditate on the true reason why God raised up churches. Immanuel Church Sunday 2nd Service / 2012. 6.17