The Power of the Local Church

Bible Reading:  Ephesians 4:1-16

Key Verse: Verse 16 – “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Key Words: fitly joined together

We are told in Matthew 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Have you ever considered the power of a church united together to stand for right and against evil?

Dr. Louis Evans tells the story of a man from Boston who in the early days was riding next to the driver of a Western stagecoach.  Being very adept with the use of the whip, the driver began to demonstrate his ability.  Pointing to a thing lying in the road, he said, “See the twig?  Watch it.”  He cracked the whip and broke the twig in two.

A butterfly flew ahead of the coach.  “See the butterfly?  Now, watch it.”  The whip cracked and the butterfly became nothing more than powder and paste on the end of the whip.

After a moment he said, “See the hornet on the harness?  Watch it!”  He snapped the whip and the hornet was no more.  Quite impressed, the passenger rode on in silent wonder.

Suddenly he said to the driver, “See that gray thing hanging from the big oak tree?  I’ll bet you can’t hit that!!”  The driver carefully looked and said, “I certainly could, but I won’t.  Don’t you know that’s a hornet’s nest?”

“But,” protested the passenger, “you had no trouble with the other hornet.”

“I know, I can handle an individual, but those boys are organized.”

Now, the moral of the story is that powers of evil can play fast and loose with an individual believer, but they cannot withstand the strength of human hearts standing shoulder to shoulder in a church of like believers organized and ready to stand for right.

People often ask, “Why should I be a member of a good Bible-believing church?”  Well, one reason is there is power in organized numbers.

  

What to do: 

Are you a part of a church that is fitly [organized] together?  Are you an active part of that organization?

                                                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse