There are three things satan hates:

• A praising church
• A praying church
• A church where God’s word is the authority

satan hates these because there is nothing the satan can do against such a church. satan’s lies have no room in such a church.

A praising church – when you are praising and worshiping God, it is impossible to be ungrateful. When you are focused on all that God has already done for us in Jesus, everything we encounter pales in comparison. The more we praise and worship God, the more we come to realize that our God is WORTHY of worship and praise.

A praying church – a church that prays stands in the gap between the world as it is and the world as God intends it to be. Few things scare satan more than a church that will stand in that gap declaring God’s promises for this world. A church who prays is a church who commits to God’s Kingdom plan for this world. The more we pray, the more we find ourselves invested in God’s Kingdom.

A church where God’s word is the authority – now, that’s a church where the lies of the devil have no room or opportunity to penetrate. The devil’s lies cannot find a foothold in a church where God’s word rules. When a church commits to God’s authority in his word, and commits to doing what God says simply because God said it, the devil has no footing. God’s church grows where God’s word flows.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

It is not the job of the church to change the world. The church does not have that kind of power. God never asked the church to change the world. That has never been our calling.

What God does call the church to be the world that has already been changed by Christ. God calls the church to be a changed community. That is our calling.

And when the church lives that calling out – when the church demonstrates a world that has been changed by Christ:

• No longer dominated by worldly philosophies, political ideologies
• No longer ruled by consumerism and materialism
• No longer shaded by prejudice
• A world where all sinners are welcome to receive God’s grace and be transformed by God’s love
• A world where God’s children take care of one another’s needs
• A world where burdens are shared by others
• A world where love, grace, forgiveness are the rule
• A world where people live for the glory of God by giving and serving God’s church and God’s people

When the church lives that calling out, the church sticks out like a sore thumb in a world of hurt and pain. And when the church lives like that, God’s light will so shine that others cannot help but be drawn to and end up glorifying the Father in heaven.

Wow! What a world that would be.

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:40-42).

One of the distinguishing marks of a disciple is their eagerness to share with others the good news of Jesus.

Think about it…is there anything better in the universe than the gospel that God loved sinners so much, that God could not imagine spending an eternity without you or me in it, so God sent his only Son to die for our sins and rise again from the dead to give us new life?

The first thing that Andrew did after meeting Jesus was to tell his brother about him, and bringing him to Jesus so Simon too could meet Jesus for himself.

Little Church and Lakewoodgrace would you be intentional about inviting people to meet Jesus for themselves? How will people know about Jesus unless you invite them.

Some find coming to church in person a little intimidating. Share with them this “Verse of the Day” that shows the way they can join us online.

In fact, I encourage you to consider sharing these “Verses of the Day” regularly with friends and family who might be encouraged by them.

God is doing some great things at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. I can’t think of another place I would rather worship, serve, give than our church.

God is doing great things. Let people know.