Home Tags Posts tagged with "Church"
Tag:

Church

planted in God's house
FaithGod's Word for the Day

God’s Word for the Day: Do You Want Your Life to Flourish?

by Lily Benson
written by Lily Benson

Do You Want Your Life to Flourish? learn how to live a flourishing life by being planted in God’s house. Attending church will help you find fellowship and peace.

Today’s Bible Verse

“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Psalm 92:13

Reflecting on Psalm 92:13, is a reminder of the importance of making intentional choices in life, particularly when it comes to being planted in the house of the Lord.

To be planted is a choice, a commitment to growing and pushing through challenges. It means being present and faithfully showing up, not just in virtual church, but in the physical gathering of believers. You are called to be part of God’s household. To lean in and choose relationships over being right, even in the midst of disagreements. God’s house is filled with people who are on a journey, just like you, in following Jesus and becoming more like Him. There are no perfect people in the church, and that is why we can all walk through the doors confident that there is a place for us.

Being planted also means serving, following the example of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve. Through serving, you can show empathy and love and create a sense of family and covenant within the church.

When you make the intentional choice to be planted, you will flourish in every area of your life. Breakthrough may not be instantaneous, but you can trust that God will bless your commitment to Him and His house. One of the greatest signs of flourishing is an abundance of peace, which is a precious gift in these challenging times.

As you reflect on Psalm 92:13, choose to be fully planted in the house of the Lord, make a commitment to grow and serve, and trust in His promises for your life.

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Articles

Why Do You Need To Go To Church?

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Why do you need to go to church regularly?

Cliffe Knechtle

In an episode of George Janko show, Cliffe Knechtle answered a common question: If Christianity is about our relationship with Jesus Christ, then why do we need to go to church? The pastor explained that it’s because we need each other to grow as Christians.

“I can’t see God, neither can you. I can’t hear God’s voice audibly, and neither can you. But guess what? I need you, you need me. That’s what the Church is, the people of God who want to get to know an unseen God who doesn’t speak audibly so you can hear Him, He speaks deep within our spirit and within our heart. And yet, that can be confusing. That’s why we need church, to hear God speak to us through other believers who we build friendships with, who encourage us, who teach us, and who hold us accountable. Church really does help us.”

(2023). Church [Photograph], Retrieved November 8, 2023, from: www.canva.com

Go to church regularly

Tyler Vanderweele, a professor at Harvard School of Public Health, previously studied the benefits of going to church. His study shows that going to church regularly helps us in many ways.

“When you go to church regularly, the mortality rates go down 20 to 30%. You lead a healthier life. To regularly attend church services, you’re more optimistic, you have lower rates of depression and lower rates of suicide, you have a greater purpose in life, you are less likely to divorce, and you are more self-controlled.”

It is true that some churches may have flaws, that’s why it is important to find a church with people who are genuinely seeking to know Christ. Pastor Cliffe also emphasized that the church is a hospital where broken people are being healed by the grace of God and by His Holy Spirit.

Read also: WHAT HAPPENS TO US WHEN WE SPEND TIME IN THE SECRET PLACE?

Reference: Facebook | Give Me An Answer
Header Image: (2023). Church [Photograph], Retrieved November 8, 2023, from: www.canva.com

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Woman On Wheelchair Stood And Ran In Front of the Church After Prayer

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

A woman in a wheelchair who suffered from a stroke on the left side of her body suddenly stood and ran in front of the congregation after the pastor prayed. She was instantly healed!

Bound On A Wheelchair

On June 8 last year, Seanna Evans was rushed to the emergency room because of a stroke. She collapsed and had to stay at the hospital for a month. Since the incident happened, she had to be bound in a wheelchair because she couldn’t move half of her body.

700 Club Interactive. (Screenshot). (2024). Stroke Victim is Walking Tall Again, Retrieved June 11, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/H2MtNeYzZyw

 

Seanna’s health condition deeply broke her heart. She sometimes cried because she couldn’t even tie her shoelaces. Every time her son would hear her, it also broke his heart.

Seanna went through therapy to recover. However, her therapist told her it would take her two years to heal. Deep inside, she felt angry and upset. But even then, she was forced to accept the reality of her situation while holding on to her “mustard seed” faith. Then, two months later, a remarkable miracle unfolded before her eyes.

God Honors The Mustard Seed Faith

One Sunday morning, Pastor Jeremy Miller preached in the church where Seanna and her family attended. One of the staff then asked the pastor to pray for Seanna’s healing. So, he prayed, and suddenly Seanna felt warmth in her left hand when she couldn’t feel it at all before. She was surprised and said, “Okay, God! If that’s what we’re going to do today, let’s go!”

PROFESSOR THOUGHT BELIEVERS WERE ‘STUPID’ UNTIL HIS POWERFUL ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

The healing continued from Seanna’s left hand up to her left arm. Soon, she got out of her wheelchair and stood in front of the congregation. As Pastor Jeremy testified to the healing of her left arm, she also felt a tingle down from her feet up to her body. Seanna then felt a heat on top of her head. The next thing she knew, she was already able to raise her left arm and ran in front of the church without her wheelchair.

On that Sunday, everyone witnessed Seanna’s miraculous healing right before their eyes!

Watch what happened in the video below.

Stroke Victim is Walking Tall Again

Reference | 700 Club Interactive

Header Image: 700 Club Interactive. (Screenshot). (2024). Stroke Victim is Walking Tall Again, Retrieved June 11, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/H2MtNeYzZyw

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
A Christian Social Media Influencer Reminds People about Church
ArticlesFeaturedNews

Christian Social Media Influencer Reminds People What It Truly Means To Be In A Church

by Kriza Jo Tanduyan
written by Kriza Jo Tanduyan

A Christian social media influencer reminded people what being in a church truly meant.

Christian Social Media Influencer

Brian shared a powerful reminder for churchgoers. Occasionally, they had people who would sleep on the benches outside their church’s front door. He admitted that those benches weren’t made for people to sleep on. However, that wasn’t a big deal for him. He humbly acknowledged that God’s ways were different. Their security cameras would record those people who come, and they would leave them alone until morning.

Then, when the sun came up, a few of their church members would get together and ensure they were alright. “We make sure they’re fed, and their basic needs are taken care of,” he highlighted. After that, he recalled the recent encounter they had. Several of the guys who would sleep there joined the church members, and they had breakfast together. They talked about life for over an hour.

A Christian Social Media Influencer Reminds People about Church

TrentTribe
[@trent.tribe]. People still matter. Instagram, 6 May 2024, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6oAoePuY5_/

Being The Church

Furthermore, Brian stressed that he was thankful because he was surrounded by people who were more interested in being the church than having church. Then, he mentioned the love that God has for homeless people. “You see, this guy, he’s someone’s son. But more importantly, he is a child of God. And if that were my son, I would hope that someone was showing compassion,” he emphasized.

Moreover, he believed that the job of God’s followers was not to judge and condemn others, instead they were called to love, accept, and provide for them. The beautiful moment he shared with homeless people made him realize that what people did inside the church was pointless if they didn’t practice what they learned outside.

He said, “It doesn’t matter how wonderful the songs that we sing in here are, if we don’t sing that song out here as well.” Then, he cited that it didn’t matter if people heard a good sermon if the sermon they preached outside the church was the exact opposite. He firmly believed that people still matter.

Watch the full video here.

Reference | TrentTribe

Header Image: TrentTribe [@trent.tribe]. People still matter. Instagram, 6 May 2024, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6oAoePuY5_/

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Christians in prison
Articles

Prison In Iran Turns Into A Church After 2 Persecuted Christians Were Arrested

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Two persecuted Christian missionaries in Iran were imprisoned in one of the most notorious prison cells in the whole world for legally torturing prisoners. While there they witnessed how God turned the dark prison into a church.

Authorities in Iran had put Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour in jail for sharing their Christian faith. They locked them up in the Evin Prison, the prison in Iran known worldwide to legally torture and execute prisoners.

But as faithful followers of Jesus, these two women never allowed their unlikely situation to hinder God’s purposes in that dark prison cell. Both held on to God’s Word in Luke 9:23 when Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” So, that’s what they did.

Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour sharing their experience inside the Evin Prison

Bringing Jesus Into The Darkest Place

Marziyeh and Maryam brought the Light of the World inside that dark and cruel place. They kept praying every day and all the while sharing the Gospel with their co-prisoners. That’s when God started to change everything.

One day, both the faithful Christians realized how God turned that scary place into a place of hope. The Evin prison turned into a church as many prisoners gave their lives to Christ.

Every day, the prisoners could see God’s miracles and power through the life of Marziyeh and Maryam.

In one testimony that Marziyeh shared, the prisoners came to them after God answered their prayers immediately. Since then, all the prisoners started to respect them and listen to them. Everyone became interested in spending time with both of the missionaries.

Evin Prison Guards Touched By God

Moreover, some guards even came to apologize one day because of their behavior and asked for their prayers. Also, other guards became curious and asked about Jesus after reading the letters fellow Christians sent to the imprisoned missionaries.

Little by little, God changed the hearts of the people surrounding them. As a result, they never felt that their freedom was taken away from them.

After enduring nine months of interrogation, fear of life imprisonment, and the possibility of execution, Marziyeh and Maryam gained their freedom. However, both weren’t exactly rejoicing, because they knew they had to leave their friends behind. Thinking about the innocent people in that dark place suffering had put a burden on their hearts.

Sharing Their Story To The World

“We promised ourselves and we promised most of the women in that prison to be a voice for them. And to share their stories with the world. Because we feel that God had a purpose for putting us in that prison. We had seen many injustices and today we feel that God had put this burden on our hearts. We feel responsible for those people,” Maryam said.

Today, they are sharing their story all over the world to give hope to the persecuted. Both wanted to “highlight the plight of persecuted Christians and inspire people to pray and support their brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted right now.”

Marziyeh and Maryam are encouraging Christians all over the world “not to take your freedom for granted.”

These persecuted Christians have one single request to every believer, according to one Christian who has visited these missionaries in dangerous countries. He said:

“They never ask for prayer that their persecution will cease. They never ask for prayer that their national leaders will be deposed, nothing like that at all. But what they say in every single instance is when you get back home, would you please get everybody to pray for us, that God will give us the strength and the courage to stand up for Jesus and never deny Him.”

Watch the full interview of Marziyeh and Maryam with GOD TV.

The Prison Became a Church | Captive in Iran Part 2

 

ALSO READ: Persecuted Indian Christian Breathes Last Words To Family: “Never Give Up On Your Faith To Jesus
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Former Follower of False Spiritualities
ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Man Followed False Spiritualities Until He Attended A Bible-Believing Church

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

A man who sought life’s meaning in false spiritualities found peace in Christ after he attended a Bible-believing church.

Following False Spiritualities

Jon Clash used to live with his family while growing up. However, at 17, he could no longer stand living in a dysfunctional home, so he left his family. Later, he began using drugs and joined gangs. With his talent, he also dreamed of becoming a famous rapper earning lots of money.

700 Club Interactive. (Screenshot). (2023). From Spirituality To Faith In Christ, Retrieved February 12, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/M5fxUfDQ-uI

One day, Jon met a woman who convinced him to practice Santeria. She promised him that if he practiced it diligently, she would give him everything he wanted, including fame as a rapper. Jon believed it wouldn’t harm him, so he agreed to the woman’s request.

Soon, Jon delved deeper into spirituality by practicing Santeria and attending fortune-telling events, lighting candles every day. Despite pursuing his music career, he repeatedly found himself disappointed with the results.

Discovering Jesus

Later, Jon met a group of Christians who were his colleagues in the workplace. He was invited to the church and attended the service. However, he considered it another science because these Christians practiced the law of attraction and personal development.

Former Follower of False Spiritualities

700 Club Interactive. (Screenshot). (2023). From Spirituality To Faith In Christ, Retrieved February 12, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/M5fxUfDQ-uI

Jon was unsure about the truthfulness of Christ’s existence, so he decided to investigate it himself. He conducted his research and discovered that Jesus was real, and that He rose from the dead 2,000 years ago. As a result, Jon put his faith in Christ and accepted Him as his Lord and Savior.

But even when he accepted Christ, he still practiced Santeria and the law of attraction. Hence, peace never came, even with all his life’s success. He still felt sad, lonely, and empty. So, Jon went home to his mom and later found a church near their home. He tried attending it and found the Word of God that radically changed his life.

Watch what happened in the video below.

From Spirituality To Faith In Christ

Reference | 700 Club Interactive

Header Image: 700 Club Interactive. (Screenshot). (2023). From Spirituality To Faith In Christ, Retrieved February 12, 2024 from: https://youtu.be/M5fxUfDQ-uI

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Sarah Jakes
ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Sarah Jakes Opens Up: ‘I Really Took Church And Made It God’

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

During her appearance on Praise on TBN, Sarah Jakes vulnerably expressed, “I really took church and made it God.”

Church Hurt

Similar to one church’s reputation as a haven for the broken, it becomes a gathering place for individuals who rely on God, serving Him or attending services. Consequently, there may be occasions when one might experience hurt caused by circumstances or interactions with individuals who have yet to embody the character of Christ or fully surrender themselves to God. Regrettably, such disappointments from people can sometimes result in individuals turning away from God.

Sarah Jakes

Praise on TBN [@praiseontbn]. Sarah. Instagram, 8 Nov. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzWqCU-Lhua/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

With that being said, given the inevitability of experiencing hurt within the church, should believers simply continue switching from one church to another? How should Christians address and approach this issue within today’s church context?

Sarah Jakes Shares A Message

In a brief Instagram clip, Sarah Jakes shared a profound insight regarding this matter. She candidly disclosed that she was one of the individuals whose faith had been shaken due to the realities she observed within the church.

Sarah Jakes acknowledged how she had previously elevated the church to a position of prominence, making it her ultimate focus. She openly criticized various aspects of the church due to its imperfections and the hypocrisy she encountered.

“I really took church and made it God,” Sarah admitted. “And so, whenever I saw something happen in church that didn’t look like God, I was disappointed. Not just with the people, but with God as well.

“And so, my relationship with the church became complicated because though there were these powerful moments, there was also hypocrisy,” she added. “There were also people who were making mistakes And I thought that that meant that God wasn’t good the way they were saying that He was good. That He couldn’t transform your life the way that everyone says He could. And then I think as I’ve grown older and really evolved in my knowledge of life in salvation is a process.”

Then she spoke to the listeners, “I just want to plead and just ask you to stop making God the same level of the people who disappointed you. And dare to believe that He is bigger and greater than what your mom did, than what your dad did, than what your ex-husband did. He has nothing to do with that. He’s greater than that. And if you would trust His plan, He can do a better job with your life than you ever could.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Praise on TBN (@praiseontbn)

Reference | Instagram – Praise on TBN

Header Image: Praise on TBN [@praiseontbn]. Sarah. Instagram, 8 Nov. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzWqCU-Lhua/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Why Should Christians Care About Israel?
ArticlesIsraelIsrael Insider

Why Should Christians Care About Israel?

by The Israel Insider
written by The Israel Insider

God Loves Israel

Why should Christians care about Israel? A simple answer to that question is that we should care about and love what God loves. We could follow up that statement with another question. How do we know that God loves Israel? Throughout the Bible we find very clear descriptions of God’s steadfast love for His people. God Himself gives the answer in Deuteronomy 7:7-8.

“The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” 

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

But does that covenant love still apply today? Throughout Israel’s journey of rebellion, returning and repentance, God has never once given up or washed His hands of His people Israel.

God Keeps His Covenant

God is a God of covenant and will not forsake it.  In Genesis, God makes a promise to Abraham that He will give him a land and multiply his descendants. He would make them as numerous as the stars and confirms this promise by coming down like a burning torch which passed through sacrificial animals to seal the land promise with Abraham by covenant oath (Genesis 15:17-18).

Generations later, Paul says that the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).  Irrevocable here means not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered; final. When read within the full context of this passage, you will understand that Paul is referring to Israel here. He is actually answering the question he poses as the beginning of chapter 11.  The question being – did God reject his people? The following statement in verse 2 answers that question with confidence,”By no means!”

Israel Is A Key To Revival

According to Paul, Israel’s restoration will release blessing for the Church. He makes two profound statements in Romans 11 verses 12 and 15.

“Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” (Romans 11:12); and, “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15)

The Apostle Paul points out that their rejection opened a way for salvation for the nations. Their acceptance of Jesus will be “Life from the dead!” John Wesley commented on these verses: “So many prophecies refer to this grand event, that it is surprising any Christian can doubt of it. When it is accomplished, it will be so strong a demonstration, both of the Old and New Testament revelation, that will doubtless convince many… It will release overflowing life to the world, which was dead.” With this prophetic view in mind, if you long for revival to sweep the nations, pray for Israel.

Israel Is God’s Family

There is just no way around it.  Jesus was a Jew who lived with His people in the land of Israel.  The first believers, the Apostles, and the father’s of our faith were Jews and lived in Israel.  The Word of God came to us through the Jews. Our spiritual roots are in Jerusalem. It is so important to acknowledge this and give honor knowing that they, the natural branches, will be grafted back in to their own tree as Paul says. Contrary to much of what has been taught in churches for generations, the Church did not replace Israel but have been grafted in to the family of God.

This conviction of God’s unwavering steadfast love through His covenant with His people gives us a confidence in God’s nature and character. Even in the midst of sin,  rebellion and rejection of Him, He does not relent in His love. We can be encouraged that God has never broken His covenant with Israel. He will not break His covenant with us. Let us lean into the heart of God with a focus on prayer for Israel knowing that we should care about what He cares about.

_______________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Participators not spectators
ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Joyce Meyer: ‘Christians Should Be Participators Not Spectators In Church’

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Christian author and speaker Joyce Meyer preached that Christians should be participators, not spectators in church.

Partnership With God

A Christian is called to more than just attending church, serving in ministries, or reading the Bible. Above all, a Christian is called to be God’s partner because that is God’s desire for His children. He wants to partner with them to restore the world to its original design. Hence, all these good works that Christians do must be rooted in the heart of obedience because of their love for God.

Participators not spectators

Joyce Meyer [@joycemeyer]. Author. Instagram, 6 Oct. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyB1BMBvSxb/?igshid=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ%3D%3D

And this is what Joyce Meyer stressed in one of her teachings about obedience—that God desires a partnership.

“So the first thing I want to talk about is being very careful about obeying God,” she remarked. “And realizing that God is probably not going to do nearly as much for you as you may be sitting around thinking that He will do. But He will do a lot through you.”

Participators Not Spectators In Church

Joyce urged Christians not to sit around and wait for God to do His work. She noted that, first and foremost, they should do their part too.

“See, that whole mentality, that easy mentality is ‘well, I’m going to pray and God’s going to do it all for me,’” she explained. “Well, God will do what you cannot do, but He won’t do what you can do. And if we do what we can do, then God will always do what we cannot do.”

Further, the author told her listeners, “We are not spectators, we are participators.” She pointed out how often Christianity today “has become a spectator sport.”

She encouraged Christians not to settle for watching somebody else’s life. Instead, they must obey God because He also has something in store for them and wants to partner with them.

Joyce said, “We gather in the buildings and we watch somebody on the platform. ‘I wish I had your life, I wish I had your ministry.’ I didn’t get it wishing!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joyce Meyer (@joycemeyer)

Reference | Instagram – Joyce Meyer

Header Image: Joyce Meyer [@joycemeyer]. Author. Instagram, 6 Oct. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyB1BMBvSxb/?igshid=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ%3D%3D

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
seeking God
Faith

In The Spirit Our Eyes Are Opened To See

by John Mathai
written by John Mathai

In the Spirit we are ushered into a different dimension. When we were born again our eyes were opened to see into the Spirit realm. Before this we were dead to the spirit world. We were operating in our soul realm and controlled by the god of this world, Satan. The realm of the Spirit is real and we only come to discern when we are born again. Before this we are manipulated into the demonic realm and confused by all that we see and hear. God redeemed us in the spirit and now we can see. We were once blind but now we see. Spiritual blindness is a worse condition than physical blindness.

Spirit realm

To see in the Spirit is to walk in reality. The real you is your spirit. What you see in the flesh is a body that will one day die. The real you lives on into eternity. This revelation should urge you to seek for truth in the spirit realm. Few are able to comprehend this and therefore continue to operate in darkness. No wonder we see so much confusion even in the church! One can operate in the spirit or in the soul. The devil has access to our soul but not to our spirit. He is able to influence our thoughts and our feelings. This is why we see so much destruction in society. The devils main mission is to steal, kill and destroy. God’s mission is to save and give life and that abundant.

It is time that the church enter into the Spirit realm and operate in the Spirit and not the soul. The church needs to step up and be the head and not the tail. Today what we see is how the world has influenced the church to conform to its agenda. We therefore collude with the world to destroy it. God have mercy on us. We need to repent and begin to operate in the reality of the Spirit and be what God called us to be. This is the only way this world can be saved from self destruction.

Dr. John Mathai

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts

GET YOUR DAILY
DEVOTIONAL