Featured Is Your Church Really Just a Business?

We have between 75 to 100 ppl in church every sunday. Remember every church is autonomous so they meet on different schedules

 

The PB make that distinction. Conversion indeed can be understood to precede regeneration. I understand the regeneration to mean one has been saved. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

 

Conversion is a change in belief or the course of one's life. Regeneration is a change in one's nature. The means of conversion is primarily the Gospel. The means of regeneration is solely the work of God's Spirit and because of the distinct nature of the two, regeneration must come first. They may be experienced simultaneously, but even then the cause or means of each remains distinct. Regeneration makes children of God; conversion causes children of God to become Christians. Regeneration brings people into a saving relationship with God; conversion then brings them into a serving relationship to Him

 

We disagree here. See Ephesians 1:12-14. ". . . That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. . . ."

 

The heart of the sinner is corrupt and evil (Ecclesiastes 9:3 and Jeremiah 17:9). God has declared that He purposed to save some men and join them to Christ forever. In so doing, God the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of these when they were dead in sins and gave them new hearts, the new birth. When this happens, the sinner is saved. Then it is that the heart can be given unto the Lord, the same heart that the Lord has given to the child of God. Read ICorinthians 2:9, Galatians 4:6 and Acts 16:14.

 

The Shekinah Glory BUSINESS EXECUTIVE of The TRIUNE GODHEAD.

THE HOLY SPIRIT ADMINISTERS TO THE CHURCHES
By Berlin Hisel

Introduction: The Holy Spirit Is "the Vicar (Representative) of Christ."

Until the Lord Returns, the Spirit (Another Comforter, the Fulfillment of Daniel 9:24e; "to Anoint the most Holy") Has Charge of the Administration of the Churches.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT
GOVERNS THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

A. The Lord's Church Has But One Head

- Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ).

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body,

1. Any man who takes that place
is where God hasn't put him.
2. The Holy Spirit, as the Executive of the Godhead, has been sent to govern the churches while on earth.

B. Notice This Fact
By Looking At the Holy Spirit In the Book of Acts.

1. First, He appoints the human leaders over the churches (Acts 20:28). These men are to be "filled with the Spirit" (Acts 6:3).
2. Second, He helps a church to decide important cases of doctrine and practice (Acts 15:28).
3. Third, He selects men as missionaries (Acts 13).
a. He. sends them out (Acts 13:14).
b. He determines their field of labor (Acts 16:6-10).
4. Fourth, He rebukes, warns or encourages the churches. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" (Revelation 2:17, 29, and 3:13).
a. In the Scriptures (letters to the churches), the Spirit is carrying on His ministry of governing the churches.
b. Each letter is authoritative because it is the voice of the Spirit unto the churches.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS HIS CHURCHES.
A. Churches Today
Must Function Through Human Instrumentalities.
1. The Spirit calls men into this body
(l Corinthians 12:13, 18).
2. The Spirit gives the needed spiritual gifts to them to enable them in the work of the Lord (l Corinthians 12:23-24).
B. The Spirit Gives the Word of God To His Churches.
1. The Christian is compared to a soldier (Ephesians 6).
a. Defensive implements are mentioned.
b. One offensive weapon is mentioned - the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12).
2. From the Word, churches draw their instruction, creed, interpretation, practices, and all else.

C. The Spirit Gives the Diversity of Necessary Gifts (Ephesians 4:8, 11-16).
1. The officers mentioned are gifts from God.
2. See also I Corinthians 12:10, 28-30.
3. Without varied gifts, the body would fail and fall apart.

D. The Spirit Aids the Churches In Their Worship of God.
1. He assists in prayers, praise, adoration, and thanksgiving (John 4:23-24).
2. See Ephesians 5:18-20, 6:18; Colossians 3:l6; and Romans 8:26.