by Pastor Daniel

Introduction
As we think of this month of September, let us think of the Church of God as a whole. The Lord Jesus has established the church in this world to reach out to the world.

If there should be a revival in our land, it must happen via the Church in Malaysia. If we are part of that revival from God, how do we take this role as a church.

Having conducted the leadership training, allow me to share with all of you the 5-fold purpose or role of the Church today.

If we are to be part of God’s plan of salvation and a light to the world, we ought to play our active role as members in the body of Christ.

Church’s Purpose
What is your purpose as a Christian?  It is founded on the great commandment - to love God wholeheartedly and to love man fervently.

If you were to write a personal life statement concerning your faith - what would that be? I trust that it would be based on this verse in Matthew 22:37-40. This is what the Lord said about the greatest commandment. If we have been found obeying it, we are within God’s favor.

Church’s Design
What is your role in the church?  This is the next question to consider. The bible makes it very clear that we all have a role in the body of Christ. We live not an independent life but a life dependent on God and then a life interdependent of each other in the body of Christ. There is no place for pride (thinking we don’t need each other) nor inferiority (thinking that we are not needed) nor unforgiveness (because we are all forgiven sinners). By this we shine the light of Christ in the community of God. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have love you. By this shall all men know you are my disciples.”

Church’s Mission
What is your role in the world?  This is found in the last commission. “His last command, our first concern” as spoken by Dr John Edmund Haggai. That is our role. In other words, in everything we do, say or conduct ourselves, it is to this goal - to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nation. It is the will of God that none shall perish.

Church’s Character
What is your signature as a church? I Peter 1:15-16, speaks about our holiness. We are to be holy because God is holy. The very basis of God’s amazing grace is based upon His holiness. It is because of his holiness that sin cannot be ignored and by His grace, Jesus came to die in our place.  Holiness is the character of God. And now that we are saved, we are called to be holy. Many have said that we are the “walking Bible”. In other words, it is by our life example that we must draw people to Christ. It is more than just living a good life. It is a life so lived that others will ask, “Why is the Christian so different? They are an amazing group of people by the way they live, the attitude they adopt, the values they hold and the hope they have.”  

Our wonderful and amazing qualities of a Christian character are clearly exhibited when we go through trials with a sense of joy and hope, when we are able to forgive when the world thinks it is madness, when we are able to love the ‘unloveable’ and when we are living a life beside ourselves for the sake of others.

Church’s Power
What is our resource in doing all of the above? It is purely by the strength and power of God. His divine power has given us everything we need. The need to love God, the need to serve each other, the need to preach and the need to live a holy life. Let us not just have a form of religion like many in the world lacking in its power.

We have been talking about building a strong and dynamic church. Let us play our role in the church of God and make a difference!  As we think of the next step - it is within the same scope we do it - becoming a strong church for Jesus Christ!