Our church is the Lord’s church, established by the blood of Jesus the source of our enlightenment. It is where we share the Lord’s precious love, forgiveness, and the Gospel with everyone who walks through our doors, and where we teach and share what He has done for us. God sent His precious Son, Jesus, into the world for the sake of sinners. It is a holy house where we listen, learn, and teach. Through the church, we humbly learn about God’s amazing love shown for us, and where we worship and offer praises to God. Also, a place where all can give their testimony of what God has done for them. We all have a testimony!

Isaiah was prophesying against Israel. They would often forget their God for idols or little gods… of this world… We are no differnt than them!

Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

The Lord your God is asking …Have you built a house for the Lord your God? So that He may have a resting place among His people. A place of praise and worship for Him or are you too focused on you?

Isaiah 66:18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

Right now, believers are spreading the Gospel all over the world, and it is a precious time when people who speak different languages come together, listen through translation and interpretation, and become saved, and encounter God. This is why God sent His only Son, Jesus, some 2,000 years ago to save sinners in this lost world.

Since God is almighty, He sees all, and knows all, and ever intention of men and women’s hearts is known by our God. There is no escape, in the end we all shall be judged for our deeds both good and bad.  God says come and see the Glory of the Lord, His Glory.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed and followed Me.” Don’t you want to come and meet Him? The miracle of God parting the Red Sea to save the Israelites, yet the Israelites were ignorant people who sought God only when they received His help, and afterward responded with complaints, stubbornness, and disobedience, even going so far as to make idols. This is no different from and in no way better than our own attitudes and the way we serve God today. We claim to serve Him while acting like hypocrites. God, who is unchanging yesterday, today, and tomorrow God, the source of life even now bestows boundless grace upon us. “Don’t you want to come and receive it?”

Jesus’ “Come and see” is a famous invitation to all. The moment of transformation in our lives when a sinner becomes a righteous person and it is a special invitation from Jesus to you. Jesus spoke these words to two men who wanted to know where he is staying. Then they go with him, see his home, and stay with him for the rest of the day. They would later become his disciples.

John 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. {about two hours before night}

One of the two men was Andrew, Simon Peters’ brother. We are not positive who the other one was some scholars believe it was Thomas others say John the writer of the Book of John.  Then Andrew goes to tell his brother Peter “Come and see.” “We have found the Messiah.” which translates to “Christ.” Amen.

John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

We see a pattern starting to emerge here…one person tells another about Jesus. Then they both end up following and experiencing the teachings of Jesus and then it repeats itself. So, we see that two are better than one; we read stories of countless disciples who share both the Gospel and their devotion with one another, working together in pairs rather than alone. Next, we start to read of the multitude of followers. Our Riverview Church is also a home for Jesus’ Gospel. The church community is formed when we help, encourage, and share with one another, and work together in the Lord’s ministry.

The Angel at the tomb says…

Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The angel tells them to “come see” the place where Jesus was laid. Our issue is sometimes we must see for ourselves before we believe. How much greater is your faith without seeing but believing only and trusting that belief without wavering. Only by reading the words of God. Amen!

The Women at the well

John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Consider the women at the well, she later tells the whole city about Jesus, and many came to see Jesus “and many more believed because of his own word; for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ.”

Because they heard His word for themselves, they believed, this is a call to the Church to bring people in to hear the word of God. Amen!

A lost and dying world needs to hear the word of God for themselves. They have to   to make a decision for themselves because it is personal to each person. God desires a personal relationship with each one of us.

Paul writes to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Just as Paul is asking the church at Philippi whether I visit you or not “let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” and “may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” all churches today should have this same doctrine on display.

Therefore, in these last days, we must stay fully alert and stand firm neither veering to the left nor to the right and we must not become children of Satan who divide the church with foolish words and sow discord among the saints. Today’s society is one where people blaspheme the Lord through their words and actions and fall into Satan’s temptations to oppose the church and the saints. Not everyone will share in salvation. Only those who are chosen and obedient will enter the house of God.

A few years ago, the entire world was plunged into chaos by COVID-19; we witnessed firsthand the extreme and harrowing ordeal that first divided families, severed human relationships, and shut down hospitals, churches, and social life.  Satan is the father of all lies. I pray that those who have participated in the bloodshed, suffering, and Satan’s deception and those who have lost their faith due to the massive lies spread by Satan will regain their vital calling so that they may be with the Lord when He calls them. Amen.

Are you shaking off the dust, rising up, and restoring your original purpose and faith as you head toward God’s house? Are you taking the lead and preparing to bring them in to help others hear God’s Word. Bring the wandering ones to Jesus directly by becoming people who preach the Gospel in faith? Let us go out to people and invite them to see the Jesus whom they need to know with their own eyes. We just have to invite them in to come and see for themselves.

Please keep in mind that obedience is better than sacrifice.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. amen!

You all have been blessed today, because you came and saw Jesus and heard His word.