The benefits of going to church
ONE of the areas of planning recommended in the past session was spiritual success.
Planning for spiritual success will definitely involve going to church. Like I said, some people stop going to church because they were hurt, others just do not have enough reason to do so.
The purpose of this column is to present the benefits we receive from the house of God. This revelation will enable some of us to make a decision to return to God as we approach the end of the year and subsequently the beginning of another.
“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May he send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; May he remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. May he grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfil all your purpose” [Psalm 20:1-4, NKJV].
The Psalmist begins this Psalm with a petition for God’s children, requesting the Lord to answer us in the day of trouble.
Is it possible, that the reason trouble seems not to end is because we have turned our backs to God by forsaking worship?
The reality of facing challenges in life is unavoidable. Yes, trouble will come but people who are spiritually ready will be overcomers.
Answers to prayer are reserved for people who pray not everyone. Seeing that everyone, irrespective of their spiritual disposition will face troubles. It is therefore necessary that we find solace before the need arises.
That solace is offered in the house of God thereby presenting the first benefit of going to church as covering and protection in the days of trouble. The sanctuary presents a conducive atmosphere for answered prayers.
Furthermore, prayers will be answered and help will be sent from the sanctuary.
The Psalmist did not stop at the benefit of praying and the certainty of answers, he further alerted us of the direction of the protection and defence that we so desire.
The help we need will come from the sanctuary. The sanctuary represents the church, being the house of God and the house of prayer. In the sanctuary, God uses his vessel to give a word that will bring answers to our prayers.
Whenever we ask God for a miracle, he gives an instruction. The instruction we follow will determine the future we create. There is power in the word of God and being in the sanctuary makes the word accessible thereby creating a clear direction of our deliverance.
The help will come from the sanctuary; however, the sanctuary will not come to us but we are meant to go there. There may be other opinions that suggest that the omnipresence attribute of God makes it possible for us to talk to him everywhere.
Yes, that is true, but the same God recommended that we should never forsake the assembling of ourselves together- [Hebrews 10:25] because there is power in united faith. It provokes the manifest presence of God and enforces immediate miracles.
The third benefit is the opportunity to give an offering.
One of the principles of the kingdom is giving to the work of God. It is done through seeds, tithes and offerings. The Psalmist emphasised that one of the things God will remember is our offerings and he also accepts our sacrifice.
Going to church creates an avenue for us to sow into the anointing and participate in the propagation of the gospel. Giving to God is a transgenerational investment. What you give to God, he multiplies and returns it back to you.
Offering is the way through which we express our gratitude to God and sacrifice or seed is what we have been given to provoke what God has promised.
Both principles produce enormous miracles when applied with purity of motives. Giving to God is like planting trees of remembrance, your seed leaves your hand but never leaves your life. It goes into the future like a tree and produces a harvest for you. When we go to church, we hear the word and promises of God which prompts us to sow into the moment provoking the blessings of God.
The last but not the least is the promise that God will grant our hearts desires and fulfil our purpose. A lot of people are living in pain and misery all because they have not learnt about the generosity of God. Seeing that God has promised the blessing of having our hearts’ desires granted and the ability to fulfil our purpose, the onus is on us to make ourselves available to access such benefits.
Those struggling to understand their purpose and those wishing that their hearts desires ought to be granted should wake up on Sunday or midweek and find their ways to the house of God.
God is waiting for us and in his presence, there is clarity of purpose and the possibility of hearts desires being granted. Going to church is not for the righteous, even sinners are welcome.
Going to church is not for people who cannot help themselves. It is for those who acknowledge that all their help comes from the Lord.
Dr Nick Ohizu is the senior pastor of The Empowerment Ministries and the president of the Empowerment School of Wealth both located in Graniteside Harare. He is a successful entrepreneur with vast experience in leadership, mentorship, business and marriage consultancy with a mandate from God to change lives and bless people. Feedback : call 0772304917