Monday, July 3, 2017

140. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY CHURCH? – Interruption (g) – For a church to ‘grow strong in the Lord’, it needs to grow strong in Christlike service (1)

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 136 we saw that for a church to ‘grow strong in the Lord’, growing in pure Christlike love, produced by God’s Spirit, is a first necessity. In Meditation 137 we tried to formulate other major requirements a church community should meet if it wants to grow strong in the Lord. In Meditation 138 we meditated on the fact that corporate Christlike compassion for those who suffer is another powerful expression of divine love in a church that desires to grow strong in the Lord. In Meditation 139 we reflected on the importance of corporate Christlike humility.

In two meditations, we want to talk now about the significance of mutual Christlike service within the local church as a requirement for growing strong in the Lord. We do not speak about any act of helpful activity organized by individual Christians or a church organisation. Our purpose is to find out what God’s Word reveals on the type of service that has been produced by the Spirit of God within a Christian community. Only such service can truly withstand Satan’s attacks.   

In this first meditation, we need to look at the characteristics of the divine Servant of God, Jesus Messiah. In the second meditation, we want to see how Jesus’ way of serving characterises a church that is controlled by God’s Spirit.  


Jesus Messiah demonstrates what true divine service indicates

In the Old Testament Jesus is often called the Servant (Hebrew: ‘ebed) of God. The Hebrew noun ‘ebed means servant or slave.   

God the Father points to His Son, Jesus Messiah, when He proclaims by mouth of the prophet Isaiah (8th century BC): Look at My Servant, whom I strengthen. He is My chosen One, and I am pleased with Him. I have put My Spirit upon Him...” (Isaiah 42:1*)

From this text, we understand that God’s Son - the Father’s beloved Servant - is chosen by God Himself and anointed with God’s Spirit. This opening words are clear-cut Trinitarian!

Isaiah continues: “He (i.e. God’s Servant) will reveal justice to the nations. He will be gentle -- He will not shout or raise His voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope. He will bring full justice to all who have been wronged. He will not stop until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for His instruction.” (Isaiah 42:1-4*)

Here we read that humility and compassion are characteristics of this divine Servant’s ministry. He will champion the needy and valiantly stand for justice, righteousness and truth on behalf of God’s covenant people and the rest of humanity.    

In Isaiah 49:13 and 5-6*, we receive a personal testimony from God’s divine Servant: “Listen to Me, all of you in far-off lands! The LORD called Me before My birth; from within the womb He called Me by name. He made My words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden Me in the shadow of His hand. I am like a sharp arrow in His quiver. He said to Me, ‘You are My Servant, Israel, and you will bring Me glory.’ ..... And now the LORD speaks -- He who formed Me in My mother's womb to be His Servant, who commissioned Me to bring His people of Israel back to Him. The LORD has honored Me, and My God has given Me strength. He says, ‘You will do more than restore the people of Israel to Me. I will make You a light to the Gentiles, and You will bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.’"

In this testimony, God’s Servant addresses the nations and speaks of His divine origin and commission. His heavenly Father calls Him ‘Israel’ to demonstrate that He is the embodiment and true representative of God’s covenant people. As such He is appointed to reconcile God’s people Israel and the rest of mankind with God the Father. In this way He will bring God’s message of the hope of salvation to our entire lost and reprobate world.

Furthermore, in Isaiah 50:4-9*, God’s messianic Servant speaks of His intimidate relationship with His heavenly Father: “The Sovereign LORD has given Me His words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning He wakens Me and opens My understanding to His will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to Me, and I have listened. I do not rebel or turn away. I give My back to those who beat Me and My cheeks to those who pull out My beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock Me and spit in My face. Because the Sovereign LORD helps Me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set My face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will triumph. He who gives Me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose Me now? Where are My enemies? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign LORD is on My side! Who will declare Me guilty?”

In this text, we read that His wisdom comes from God who shows Him how to encourage those who have grown tired and are disillusioned. He is determined to know and obey the Father’s will in any situation. He is not a rebel, fighting on the barricades for justice. He is ready to suffer injustice if that is the way His heavenly Father has chosen to reveal His glory.

In Isaiah 52:13-15**, God reveals how He will commission His Servant to save mankind: “See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at Him -- His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness -- so will He sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.”

First we read here again that the divine Servant will be filled with God’s wisdom to know how to act in a God pleasing way. His heavenly Father wants that the commission of His Servant will include the fact that He will be “raised and lifted up.” Jesus shows us that these expressions speak first of all of His crucifixion: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up (on a cross)...” (John 3:14**). See also John 8:28 and John 12:32. Yet, His commission will also comprise that He will be “highly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13). In Acts 2:32-33**, the apostle Peter explains in his Pentecost message that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (i.e. the coming of God’s Spirit)” Later, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi (Greece) about the fulfilment of this prophesy in Isaiah 52: “... He (Jesus) made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:7-11**)

In Isaiah 11:2-5**, we find another description of the characteristics of Jesus’ personality: “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the of the LORD -- and He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.”

Like in Isaiah 42:1, we notice in this portrayal of the divine Servant first of all that He is anointed with God’s Spirit. That’s why Jesus is called ‘the Anointed One’ (Hebrew ‘the Messiah’ and in Greek ‘the Christ’). Then follows a depiction of some of the attributes of God’s Spirit. Finally, we read how God’s Spirit shapes the character of God’s Servant.

700 years later, God points to Jesus as being the fulfilment of what He had said about His divine Servant through Isaiah’s prophesies: “Look at My Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with Him. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.” (Matthew 12:18*)

In the Gospels, we read another fulfilment of Isaiah’s testimony about the coming Servant of God.  Jesus testifies to Satan: “... the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only Him.’” (Matthew 4:10*; see also Luke 4:8)

Jesus Himself explains the reason of His arrival on earth as the beloved Servant of God:  “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28**, see also Mark 10:45)

Again, we read in Luke 22:27** that serving God and man was the main characteristic of Jesus’ ministry: “I am among you as one who serves.”

On the evening before His death, Jesus did the humble work of a slave by washing His disciples’ feet. In that way He wanted to show them that Christlike service will indeed be the main characteristic of His Spirit-anointed followers: “After washing their feet, He put on His robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12-15*)

As we said in the beginning, in the next meditation we want to see how Jesus’ way of serving characterizes a church that is controlled by God’s Spirit. So, stay with me.  


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


About “Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His ministry?”, see Meditations 27-33 and 49-55.
About "God's major project: transforming me and my church into the likeness of Christ", 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 131-139.

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