The Called Out Ones
The church is a called-out people (Ekklesia) who belong to the Lord. The mercy and grace of God is the abundant life.
Pastor Alan Counts
11/8/20253 min read
Please, instead of thinking I judge people, go back and open the bible to the verses I used. Did I bring an experience, or did I use scripture, God's word, with what I posted?
The church is a called-out people (Ekklesia), but we are a called-out people that belong to the Lord (kuriakos). When we take communion, is it not to take the supper of the Lord? It's His supper, not ours. It is through communion that He has invited us to eat the healing bread of His Body and drink the washing of His blood, with the recognition that it is He who forgives our sins. It was He who took those stripes and shed that blood so He could call us His own. He wants us to know Him as the Worthy One when we take communion.
People have asked me why their loved one wasn't healed. I can't explain why God heals some and lets others die, but if that person who died has faith in God, I can guarantee they're healed in heaven, never to be sick again. I've ministered to both. Our God heals, period.
The modern-day church wants the Jesus who gives us everything now. We have traded the Peace and the Joy of the Lord in for the abundant life now, without the understanding that Jesus Himself is the abundant life. We want Jesus to give us prosperity and health, rather than denying ourselves daily, taking up our cross, and following Him. The riches are in Christ our Lord, and healing is the very nature of God. Follow Him.
We are the church that boasts against the sin of the world and calls itself Holy with no regard for the fact that we, too, are sinners. We treat the Holy Spirit of God as if He were sent for our sensuality (good pleasure, to make us feel good); we are told it is licentiousness, debauchery, sensuality, lewdness, lust. Please don't let us tell ourselves that it is a physical act against our spouse or fornication. That's not excluded in the meaning, but there is more to it. It is wanting something other than what God wants us to have, and it feeds the flesh or the desire of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit of God convicts and warns us when we stray from the path of faith in Christ, and leads us back to Christ. He also leads us to the love of Christ and the power of God's word.
You know, I hear so many people say, "We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit", but what God did on the day of Pentecost was sufficient. God does not do things half-assed. We need to walk in the Spirit, so we don't fulfill the lust of the flesh.
The prodigal son wanted everything in his time. The most beautiful part of that story is when the son returned to the father. If the son had not returned to the father, chances are, he would have died in the world. He decided to go home; the Father ran to greet him, never asking the son where he had been or what he had done. The father simply put his arms around the son and loved him.
The mercy and grace of God is the abundant life. Run to Him. We are the family of God, and all of us have moments when we need to feel the forgiveness and the love of our Father.
Let's put our faith in the one who shows us so much mercy and grace. His word is forever settled in heaven. It's not up there, sitting on a shelf collecting dust. Jesus never separated the words He said from who He is. We are so fortunate to be able to pick up a bible to learn of Him.
Jesus makes it clear about false prophets in the book of Revelation
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars."
You don't need to believe me, but please believe His word.
God bless you.
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