My message today is "THE CHURCH." It is important that we understand that the Church is the closest and dearest entity to the heart of God. The Church is called the Ecclesia, the unique called out ones. We are the ones of whom Peter says in 1 Pet 2:9 "We are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of Him, Who has brought us from darkness into His marvellous light." I need here to reiterate that the CHURCH is the only Divine institution here on earth. This fact is of great significance, as we must be part of His church on earth, to be part of his Church in heaven. Just as in natural birth, there is blood and water, the Church was also birthed in Blood and Water, when Jesus died for us on the cross of Calvary. We remember the account in Genesis where God took a rib from the side of Adam and formed and presented to him his wife, Eve. The Church is a mystery, and it continues to confound the enemy. This simply proves that the devil is not omniscient. (1 Cor. 2:8) "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." John 12:24, Jesus said, "Verily Verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit." When Christ died and subsequently rose from the dead, the church was born, and that singular incident has unleashed the greatest headache and challenge the devil is yet to encounter. We are told in Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. No wonder why Jesus said that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church." Ps. 24: 7 Lift up your heads, a ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads,O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. LO Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

The Church was birthed in power, and as a mighty army it is being lead by a victorious Captain, Jesus. He was victorious over sin and the temptations of the devil. He was victorious over satan, death and the grave. My brother my sister don't you speak of the Church in any apologetic, impotent, anemic terms, for if you are part of this Church, you are more that a conqueror. The devil may come after you, but use the Word of your testimony, 'devil you are an already defeated foe, I take authority over you, now, be-gone In The Name Of Jesus.' There is an old hymn which states in one of its verses, "satan trembles when he sees the weakest of saints upon his knees." As in any fight you may not come out unscathed, but do not let the enemy of your soul overcome and overpower you through fear. You must claim your victory over him in the might and power of Jesus. Remember what Eph.6 tells us, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, therefore take unto you the full amour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy, and having done all to stand." Every drop of the blood of Christ is efficacious to the saving of souls, to the deliverance of God's people, and the constant defeat of our enemy, the devil.

All through the ages, the enemies of God have tried to bring the Church of God to extinction, but to their utter failure, frustration, and totally without success. Kings and rulers of regimes, have imposed tremendous hardship, and have struck many a blow, many a fatal blow at that, to the Church. Many saints have died as mm1yrs, but instead of defeat, we hear that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. The Church does not die, the Church cannot die, it grows and thrives, and still is the most dynamic movement, and the greatest phenomenon the world has ever known. The Church cannot die because her Redeemer lives, and her Redeemer is alive forevermore, and having died once cannot die anymore. Don't you hear the echos of Job when in the midst of his suffering and persecution, he declared most emphatically and unequivocally, I know my Redeemer liveth, and though in this flesh, worms may destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Remember, this is Old Testament writings, Job being one of the oldest Books of the Bible. Job had gotten a revelation which his wife, Mrs. Job could not figure out, else she would not have told him "Curse God and die." Over the seas and in every continent, in every country, and island, in every tribe and tongue, the praise and worship of the Church ascend to heaven and reaches God's throne, and daily God adds to the Church such as should be saved. I love the Church, Do you?

I want with all my heart to be part of the Church, God's Church, Don't You? I love my Jesus and I love the people of His Church, and like Moses, rather to suffer affliction with God's people, rather enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Do you remember the old Spiritual, "0 when the Saints go marching in, 0 when the Saints go marching in, Lord I want to be in that number; When the Saints go Marching in.

The Church is God's idea; it must be good, for He is forever a Good God. I cannot improve on what God has established; I rather co-operate with His plan for my life within His Church. God has given His Holy Spirit to preserve and sustain His Church, in its joys and its sorrows, in its victories and its seeming defeats. God has equipped His Church with gifts, for our edification, and has given to ,His Church, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers for our leadership. He has given us in His Word, exceeding great and precious promises, and above all He tell us, l Cor 2:9, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him." The plan of God is great and is yours for the taking to be included. As for me I'll say sign me up, I'll take my part with God's People, be they many or few. How about you? The Holy Spirit's mission on this earth is to guard, guide, protect and preserve God's Church, until Christ comes to catch His Bride, and rapture the Church 'away. Jesus is looking for a Church without spot or wrinkle, a Bride who has made Herself ready, one who is chaste, washed in the blood of the Lamb, one who is ready, watching, waiting and anticipating His soon return. Are you such a one? The hour is late, the time is now, we are not to play church, but we are to be The Church, the transformational force in this sinful and adulterous world and generation.

All Bible Verses: KJV