The Value of The Local Church - Lessons From Capernaum

A Cause Worthy of Your Life...In this latest article we explore the importance of the local church to the Cause of Christ. All too often we undermine the place of the local church. The temptation to take the gifts and talents which God has given us and to consider that the local church is too small of a stage for them may well be a devilish plot which entices us down a deadly pathway to fame, popularity, wealth, power, spirituality, and influence. This article will explore the place of the local church in the Cause of Christ and look at how serving God leads to better honour...

By Dr Andrew Corbett
4th January 2011

What is worth giving your life up for? Your family? Your country? Your sporting team? To give your life for something is to live with purpose. It becomes the reason for sacrifice, the defining element in all your goals, and the reason you work/study/train.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

The Apostle Paul lived for a cause. He gave his life for something. Psychologists tell us that a person will give their life for something if the reward outweighs the cost. The tragedy of this reality is that too many people have fallen for a false Bill of Goods where they have been led to believe that their is a cheaper cost to pay and a greater reward to get if they would give their life for a lie dressed up as attractive truth. This is what Christ faced when He was about to commence His public ministry.

When the Devil tempted Christ he attempted to lure Him with fame, wealth, and power. Do this miracle! I’ll make you famous! I’ll give You the kingdoms of this world! Or, turn these stones to bread (a miracle, or display of 'power'), throw Yourself off the pinnacle of the Temple (fame, or 'popularity'), bow down and worship me (control, or 'influence').

Unlike us, Christ didn’t yield to the Devil’s temptations. We often negotiate with the Devil when he tempts us. We negotiate that if we perform a miracle, people will turn to Christ. We negotiate that if we were to become famous, we would have a greater platform for more people to hear about God. We negotiate that if we made one little compromise we could have more political influence. How many gifted preachers have sold their gift to the highest paying scheme only to end up spiritually divorced from God and His power? How many gifted singers have negotiated their way to stardom only to end up never acknowledging God anymore or using their voice to worship Him? How many aspiring politicians have entered Parliament and negotiated away their way to more power only to end becoming spiritually powerless?

If the Devil offered you a $1,000,000 to never go to church again, would you accept his offer? What if it was a $100,000?

“It’s not surprising that everyone has a price.
What is surprising is how low it is!”Anon.

Christ did not yield to the Devil’s temptations of fame, popularity, or power, in its various forms. He was committed to a greater cause! This greater cause would indeed result in Christ achieving great miracles, popularity, and power. But, He would do it God’s way - not the Devil’s! (Perhaps ironically, the various temptations - miraculously produce food, defy death, and receive kingdoms, would be done by Christ anyway, but for God’s glory not the Devil’s.) [Read the Full Article]