Saturday, October 29, 2016

137. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY CHURCH? – Interruption (d) – For a church to grow strong in the Lord and in Christlike love, it must meet the requirements for growth.

In the current meditations we reflect on the question: is the full armour of God of which Paul talks in Ephesians 6:10-17 only meant for individual Christians or also for the local church as a whole? Does God’s armour only protect Christ’s life in us personally against Satan’s assaults? Does it equally protect Christ’s life within the local church which is the Body of Christ? So far we have seen that Jesus wants to manifest His life in our churches through our passionate love for God and for each other. We have realized that God’s Spirit is well able to produce this Christlike love in our hearts and in our congregations. However, the question remains: how do we protect Jesus’ life in our churches against Satan’s attacks? The apostle Paul encourages the church in Ephesus (Turkey) to “be (or: grow, become) strong in the Lord...” (Ephesians 6:10**). In the present meditations we ask ourselves: how does a church that wants to grow strong ‘in the Lord’ practically look like?


In Meditation 133 we read that a healthy congregation is in all likelihood a mix of Christians from different age groups and different cultures, with different characters, different likes and dislikes, different educational backgrounds, different professions, different skills, different gifts, different experiences, different ‘levels’ of faith (from new converts up to mature believers), different degrees of commitment, etc. Hopefully, such a church will welcome interested outsiders in their midst as well.

In Meditation 136 we saw how pure Christlike love, produced by God’s Spirit, practically looks like in a church. I finished that Meditation with the question: how could true Christlike love ever permeate a church completely as every church on earth consists of ‘saved sinners’? Is that not an unrealistic church concept which is not worth trying to achieve?

I think that if a church wants to grow ‘in the Lord’ and in mature Christlike love, there are several factors which need to be in place:


(1) Firstly, it needs a vision given by God’s Spirit. In Meditation 64 I wrote: “Without a Spirit-given vision on a certain matter, based on the knowledge of God’s Word and shared by the whole church, there is no Spirit-given unity on that matter, even if there are plenty of Bibles around.” Therefore, I believe that our churches are in need of:

A clear corporate vision seen from God’s eternal vantage point.

(a) God’s Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom

Our churches need to be aware of the fact that God’s Kingdom is not a promised reality for the future only. God’s Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom. It always has existed and always will exist. God’s revealed Word, i.e. the Bible, contains innumerable texts that speak of the eternal dominion of our Triune God. Here are three examples: 
-- “Your throne, O LORD, has been established from time immemorial. You Yourself are from the everlasting past.” (Psalm 93:2*)
-- “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.” (Psalm 145:13**)
-- “About the Son (Jesus Messiah) He (God the Father) says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of Your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8**)

 (b) A short history of ‘God’s Messianic Kingdom People’, saved by the sacrificial death of Jesus Messiah

In Romans 8, the apostle Paul teaches the church in Rom about God’s eternal plan for His people that exist of messianic Jews and Gentiles. God has called and saved them by His grace out of the bondage of sin to follow His Son Jesus Messiah as their Saviour and Lord. God’s plan started with His eternal covenant and promises to Abraham and was finally executed by God’s Son Jesus Messiah. God’s ultimate goal is to see His people being transformed into the likeness of His Son and receive their inheritance which is God’s eternal Kingdom. Here are some verses that speak of this eternal plan of God:
    
-- “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30***)

-- “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds", meaning many people, but "and to your Seed", meaning one person, who is Christ.....  
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:16 and 26-29**)

-- “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. ... He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven... God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to His good pleasure. ... Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as He decided long ago. ... And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us everything He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.  (Ephesians 1:4.5.7.9.11.13.14*)

-- “... Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27**)

-- “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same mighty power that He will use to conquer everything, everywhere.” (Philippians 3:20-21*)

-- Then the King (Jesus) will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34*)

-- “We (the apostle Paul) pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For He called you into His Kingdom to share His glory.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:12*)

-- “Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when He comes we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.” (1 John 3:2*)

So, as far as the presence and future of our churches are concerned, we learn from these texts that:
-- God’s eternal plan consists of transforming our multifarious churches by His Spirit into the likeness of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!
-- God intends all good and bad things that ever could happen to our churches to work together for bringing about that Christlike transformation.
-- All church members who are saved by Christ’s sacrificial death and reborn by His Spirit have been called into God’s eternal Kingdom to share His glory. That has been God’s eternal plan and is His promised inheritance. What a vision!


(2) That leads us to the second requirement. If a church wants to grow ‘in the Lord’ and in Christlike love, it needs a clear corporate acknowledgement that the entire Bible is God’s revealed Word. It is only this Word that His Spirit uses to transform our church into the image of Christ:
  
A clear corporate acknowledgment that the entire Bible is God’s revealed Word, i.e. the Truth.

There are hundreds of Bible verses that testify to the fact that the Bible is God’s revealed Word. Here are four examples that not only attest that God’s Word is the truth, but also that it has the power to change our churches into Christlike communities:   

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17*)

“The Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” (Hebrews 4:12*)

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4**)

“(Jesus Christ) 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 we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of His Body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:11-15*)

We have spoken about the necessity of a clear corporate vision seen from God’s eternal vantage point and the importance of corporate acknowledgment that the entire Bible is God’s revealed Word.


(3) A third requirement for our churches to grow strong ‘in the Lord’ and in Christlike love is the need for Christlike leaders who are bearers of God’s vision and exemplify Christlike love for and obedience to God’s Word. It is clear that Christlike leaders never will be perfect, sinless people. Like all church members, they are Christians who know the daily need for God’s forgiveness and grace. Yet, they have learned how to devote themselves to be close to God, like His mouthpiece Jeremiah says: “Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to Me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to Me? declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 30:21**)
  
Church leaders who are bearers of God’s vision and exemplify Christlike love for and obedience to God’s Word.
  
Meditation 65 deals with the importance of Spirit-guided leaders in the church who are bearers of God’s vision and exemplify Christlike love for and obedience to God’s Word. Without such leaders our churches will miss a unified and clear vision of God’s purpose for our churches. Equally, they will miss the example of Christlike love for and obedience to God’s Word. I think that the question how to form such Christlike leaders is of utmost importance to all churches, Bible seminars, theological faculties and Christian organisations.     

I think that the following hallmarks are characteristic for Christlike church leaders:

(a) Christlike church leaders are solely appointed by our Triune God:

The Bible is clear about the fact that God Himself appointed the leaders of His people Israel in ancient times. Here are 2 examples:

-- “... I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you.” (Deuteronomy 1:15**)

-- “I will give you leaders after My own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15*)

In his letter to the church in Ephesus (Turkey), the apostle Paul testifies that God the Son nominates the leaders to God’s people: “He (Jesus Christ) is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11*)

The apostle Paul declares in Acts 20:28 that God the Holy Spirit appoints the leaders of God’s people: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” (Acts 20:28**)

(b) God wants Christlike church leaders to care for God’s people like good shepherds:

God calls the leaders whom He has chosen for His people shepherds: “I will appoint responsible shepherds to care for them..." says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:4*)

The apostle Paul charges church leaders with the following words: “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He (Jesus Christ) bought with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28**)

The apostle Peter implores church leaders to care for God’s people like good shepherds care for their flock: “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4**)

(c) Christlike church leaders model themselves on our Triune God who is ‘the Good Shepherd’:

David testifies in his famous 23rd Psalm that God cares for him like a good shepherd: “The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” (Psalm 23:1*)

Isaiah prophesies that God the Son, the promised Messiah, will care for His people as a good shepherd: “The Sovereign LORD is coming in all His glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, He brings His reward with Him as He comes. He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” (Isaiah 40:10-11*)

God promises by mouth of His prophet Ezekiel to save His people from harm like a good shepherd would do: “I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. ... I will feed them, yes-- feed them justice!” (Ezekiel 34:12 and 16*)

Jesus Messiah, who is God the Son, testifies of Himself: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ... I know My own sheep, and they know Me” (John 10:11 and 14*)

The book of Hebrews as well as the apostle Peter point to Jesus Messiah as the good shepherd:

-- “May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with His blood. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20*)

-- “Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25*)

(d) The Church should follow its Christlike leaders:

A church that desires to grow in the Lord and in Christlike love, will obey and imitate their Christlike leaders:
-- “Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.” ( Hebrews 13:7*)

-- “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17**)

-- “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-13*)


Obviously, there are more factors that need to be in place if a church wants to grow ‘in the Lord’ and in mature Christlike love. Yet, I think that the earlier mentioned requirements are of the utmost importance.

Let us close this meditation with some challenging questions:

1.  Does my church family have a clear divine vision on what it means to grow together in Christlike love?

2.  Does my church have leaders who are bearers of God’s vision?

3. Does my church family acknowledge that the entire Bible is God’s Word and therefore divinely revealed truth?

4. Does my church family have leaders who exemplify Christlike love for and obedience to God’s Word?

5. Are the leaders of my church family solely appointed by God?

6.  Do the leaders of my church family model themselves on our Triune God who is ‘the Good Shepherd’?

7.  Do the leaders of my church family care for our congregation like good Christlike undershepherds?

8. Does my church family follow her Christlike undershepherds?

I wonder if a church is able to grow strong in the Lord and in Christlike love if the earlier mentioned requirements for growth are not entirely met.


Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version; *** New King James Version


About “Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His ministry?”, see meditations 27-33.
About God's major project: Transforming me and my church into the likeness of Chris”, see meditations 44-48.
About “Personal, Christlike love for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ”, see meditations 56-62.
About “Corporate, Christlike love for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ”, see meditations 63-99.
About “The Church as a ‘Corporate Personality’, see meditation 63-65.
About “The two Tracks of Maturing in Christlikeness”, see meditation 100.
About “How to overcome the power of sin in my life?”, see meditations 101-130.
About “How to overcome the power of sin in my church?”, see meditations 131-136.

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