(continued from meditation 64)
b.) Another thing a local church needs is Spirit-guided people who are the bearers of a ‘Spirit-given vision’ for corporate, Christlike love for God.
Last week we wrote that God’s Word [the Bible] requires of a healthy local church to have a ‘Spirit-given vision’ of corporate, Christlike love for God, shared by the entire congregation.
Today we will see that God’s Word also shows that God appoints Spirit-guided people in the local church who bear that vision and blaze the trail.
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (modern Turkey) of the fact that all fundamental initiatives in a healthy local church are taken and executed by our triune God - Father, Son and Spirit:
“He [Jesus Messiah] is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until...” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
In the 7th century B.C., God had already promised His wayward people that a Messianic age would arrive. Through His prophet Jeremiah, He assures them that He will make a new (Messianic) covenant with His people. Then He will appoint Spirit-guided teachers who will lead God’s people in God’s way and according to God’s Word [the Bible]:
“And I will give you leaders after my own heart, who will guide you with (God’s) knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15)
Also through the prophet Isaiah, God promised Spirit-guided teachers to His people for that Messianic age of the new covenant: “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, « This is the way; walk in it. » ” (Isaiah 30:20-21)
Once more, God promises His people that under that new covenant He will actually lead them Himself, supposedly through His servants, the prophets, teachers and shepherds [pastors]:
“I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will make the darkness bright before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
The apostle Paul shows the followers of Jesus in Corinth, that the great promise of the new (Messianic) covenant has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Messiah and the gift of God’s Spirit.
Over the centuries, God has given His church again and again Spirit-guided teachers to teach the church the knowledge of God and to lead God’s people according to His will. Paul testifies to the Corinthian church: “God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
Again, Paul tells the same great truth to the Ephesian Christians. It is now - in these new testament times – that God’s Spirit teaches the teachers, chosen by Him, how to teach God’s Word and God’s Will to God’s people:
“God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now he has revealed it by the Holy Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets...” (Ephesians 3:5)
In the book of Acts, the evangelist Luke gives us an example of how God’s Spirit can use prophets and teachers to reveal God’s will to a local church:
“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called "the black man"), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them. So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” (Acts 13:1-2)
The apostle Paul reflects on the same link between the commissioner (God), the message (God’s Word and God’s Will) and the messenger (God’s servant) when he writes to the Roman Christians: “...And how can they hear about him [Jesus Messiah] unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” (Romans 10:14-15)
Here are some closing questions for reflection:
--- Is my church eager to be empowered by God’s Spirit to grow into corporate, Christlike love for God in such a way that it fulfills God’s first and greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)?
--- Does my church have Spirit-guided people whom God appointed to bear His Spirit-given vision of corporate, Christlike love for God?
--- Who are those people in my church?
--- Are they assigned by my church to act as trail-blazers for growing into corporate, Christlike love for God?
(to be continued)
Isaiah 30:20-21 is a quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
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