Promise of Life Church Podcast: "The Importance Of The Right Church"

Speaker: Pastor Edwin Anderson
Date: May 11, 2024
Summary by Podcast Summarizer (July 16, 2024)

Episode Overview

In this episode, guest minister Pastor Edwin Anderson passionately and personally unpacks "The Importance of the Right Church." Speaking to the Promise of Life Church congregation, Pastor Anderson uses stories from his life, testimony, and biblical teaching to emphasize why choosing and committing to a Bible-based, faith-centered church is not just important, but absolutely vital—for individuals, families, and future generations.

Key Points and Insights

1. The Power of Spiritual Lineage and the Message of Faith

• Legacy and Heritage:
  Pastor Anderson gives thanks for his Pentecostal upbringing, tracing his spiritual roots to his grandmother’s salvation in 1918. He recounts how each generation experienced God differently—his grandparents witnessed “the fire,” his parents had the doctrine, and his own generation struggled unless they encountered the fullness of the Spirit and Word.
• Kenneth Hagin’s Influence:
  He shares a rarely told story about Kenneth Hagin’s call to operate as a forerunner for Christ’s second coming, highlighting the global impact of the "word of faith" movement, not just as one man’s ministry but as a message adopted by many, including laypeople and ministers alike.

  “The message of faith is the most important message for our generation because it equips the church to be the church we must be for Jesus to return.” (09:16)

2. The Scriptural Foundation for Being in the Right Church

• Hearing and Heeding the Word:
  Citing Romans 10:17 and Mark 4:24, Anderson insists that faith comes not just from hearing, but from actively heeding the right teaching:

  “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you...the one who does not act on what he hears—is the one who loses even what little he has.” (19:30)

• Not All Churches Are the Same:
  He confronts the widespread idea that “as long as you go to any church, it’s fine,” and warns against indifference:

  “Nothing could be further from the truth...Your present, your future, and future generations—should Jesus tarry—are absolutely dependent on where we go to church.” (28:00)

3. Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Church

• Life and Death Outcomes:
  It’s not only about making it to heaven; being in a church that teaches and operates in faith can mean the difference between victory and defeat, even between life and death.

  “Millions who ought to be healed this year will die because they’re in the wrong church.” (57:10)

• Supernatural Testimonies:
  He shares stories of protection and provision that he and his family experienced as a result of being in a church that taught faith—that he knew how to “take a stand” against the devil’s attacks.

4. Criteria for Choosing the Right Church

• Don’t Let Familiarity Dictate:
  He warns against choosing a church based on family tradition, proximity, building appearance, or convenience.
  • “I go across town to eat...why would I limit my spiritual life to what’s nearest?”
• Seek the “Whole Counsel of God”:
  A church that teaches and demonstrates the full Word—faith, authority, healing, victory, correction, and the Spirit-led life.

5. Generational Impact and Personal Testimony

• Third and Fourth Generation Faith:
  Anderson explains how being in the faith-filled church ensured his children and grandchildren are serving God. He contrasts his experience with others who left the faith due to weak teaching, especially in subsequent generations.
• Illustrative Anecdotes:
  He tells humorous and profound family stories, including his uncle who “ordered his food in tongues” and actually received a meal from a waiter who understood the language (1:08:45), underscoring the supernatural can be real and practical.

6. Four Deceptions That Separate People from Their Church

Pastor Anderson lists and explains subtle deceptions that can pull people away from the right spiritual home:

1. Lack of Commitment – Distraction from leisure, family, or inconsistent attendance.
2. Lack of Participation – Not serving, not volunteering, or being passive members.
3. Desire for Other Things – Pursuing jobs, opportunities, or interests over God’s placement.
4. Trivial Disputes – Offense over small matters:
   > “People will receive tremendous blessings and turn around and walk away over the silliest things.” (1:52:00)

7. Pastoral Encouragement and Call to Faithfulness

• Suffering Is Part of the Victory:
  The other side of walking in victory is enduring hardships and overcoming offense—with gratitude for those who keep us “on our knees.”
• Never Give Up:
  He closes with encouragement, sharing his own return to Christ from a life of rebellion and darkness, attributing his restoration to a mother’s prayers and a faithful God:

  “Don’t ever give up. I don’t care what it looks like, don’t ever give up.” (2:14:30)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Faith and Victory

  “If there’s any failure, it’s on our part, not on God’s.” (12:40)

• On Generational Impact

  “If you want your children to turn out right, stay in the right church. That’s this church…Just being a pew warmer is dangerous.” (1:41:45)

• On Church Commitment

  “Where you go to church is more important than where you go to college. Is there a word of faith church there? It’s not worth it if not.” (1:17:15)

• Humorous Story

  “He went out to eat and just kept talking in tongues...the man ordered in tongues, and the waiter understood!” (1:08:45)

• Four Ways People Separate from Church

  “Lack of commitment, lack of participation, desire for other things, and trivial disputes will separate you from your church.” (1:51:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction, honoring hosts and Promise of Life Church | | 09:15 | The message of faith in our generation | | 19:20 | Romans 10:17 & Mark 4:24 – The importance of heeding the Word | | 28:00 | Does it really matter which church you go to? | | 57:10 | The consequences of being in the wrong church | | 1:08:45 | Supernatural family story: ordering food in tongues | | 1:17:15 | Where you attend church vs. career and education choices | | 1:41:45 | Generational faithfulness and consequences of church choice | | 1:51:41 | Four deceptions separating believers from their church | | 2:14:30 | Final exhortation: Never give up |

Tone and Delivery

Throughout the message, Pastor Anderson’s tone is heartfelt, personal, and earnest—mixing humor with challenging truth. He is warm, candid, and full of stories, often poking gentle fun at himself and the church subculture, but always circling back to passionate encouragement for sincere faithfulness and commitment.

Summary Takeaway

"Where you go to church isn’t a small decision—it shapes your faith, your family, your children’s children, and your destiny in God’s plan. Faith comes by hearing the Word, and victory flows from staying planted, participating, and never letting trivialities uproot you from where God has called you."

Pastor Anderson’s central message:
If you want the victorious, supernatural Christian life—choose a Word-based, Spirit-filled church and never let go.

For more on Promise of Life Church and to hear messages like this one, visit promiseoflife.ca