Pillars Make a Strong Church (Santosh Poonen)

If you think that the pillars in the church are those who do the outward ministry, that’s Old Covenant thinking. The New Covenant calls all of us to be priests in God’s house. Most churches are content with large numbers of people just “being there.” God is not! The Christian life is more than just warming a pew. The proof that you are a strong Christian is that you bear the weakness of those who are weak. God has his “stud finder” out in churches today, looking for those who will be strong supports in His Church. Pillars are different from decorations in their permanency. Which are you, in God’s house? Do you have an earthly need in your life? Be a pillar in God’s church and see if He won’t add all the things that you need in your life (Matthew 6:33). 1. Disciplined by Inner Principles not Outward Things in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit: Most Christians would be more worried about cancer in their physical bodies than about cancers in their motives, thoughts, words, and deeds. The characteristic of the Devil and the world is unrest. The characteristic of God and the Church is rest (Hebrews 4:1). God is the most unpopular person in history. But He never pays attention to popularity ratings. When you’re in a difficult trial, just remember that you’re only visiting there for a short time (I Corinthians 10:13). The secret to peace is to keep your mind fixed millions of miles above the earth (Isaiah 26:3), because then you realize how small your problems are from God’s perspective. Most Christians are living by the opposite of Philippians 4:4: “Make money always; again I say make money.” 2. Devoted to building harmony: Find things in common with others, not things that divide. Bear with the weaknesses of others. 3. Dedicated in service: A servant doesn’t seek his own good but the good of the one he’s serving. To be a “minister” (servant) is to follows the perfect example of the Minister of Ministers in washing the feet of others. The way we give hope to others is through persevering in encouraging them. An amazing thing happens when you take a break from your own spiritual garden to water your neighbor’s: God sends rain (Proverbs 11:25). The strongest person in a church is the one who is willing to do whatever nobody else wants to do, for the building up of the Church! If you want to know God in the intimacy of His secret Name, be an overcomer who is a pillar in the Church (Revelation 3;12).