(continuation of meditation 68)
In meditation 68 we saw that the Greek version of the Old Testament (i.e., the Septuagint) and the Greek New Testament both use several words for ‘worshipping God’, which portray “the priestly ministry of worship by which the bringing of a sacrifice is implied.”
We also realised that the figurative way of speaking about the priestly ministry of worship in the New Testament stands entirely in the context of the Old Testament tabernacle and temple service. It is beyond the scope of our meditations to look more deeply into the Old Testament use of sacrificial language.
However, let me give you one beautiful example from the Old Testament of someone who expresses his love for God in the figurative use of sacrificial language. David says to God: “Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.” (Psalm 141:2)
Central to all New Testament use of sacrificial language stands Jesus’ self-sacrificing love. The apostle Paul encourages Jesus’ followers in Ephesus to follow His example: “... live a life of love, just as [in the same way as] Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
(Ephesians 5:2)
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 9 verse 14 we read:
“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” This is all ‘sacrificial language’:
1. Jesus offers Himself to His heavenly Father as the perfect sacrifice of love;
2. It is God’s Spirit who leads Jesus to provide that sin offering for us;
3. Jesus’ sacrificed blood will liberate our hearts from the bondage of sin;
4. The aim of Jesus’ self-sacrifice is to empower us by the Holy Spirit for the priestly ministry of worshiping God. In this Spirit-empowered ministry of worship we are called to bring to God our life as a daily sacrifice of Christlike love.
In meditation 68 we saw that Paul beseeches the Christians in Rome (and us!) to sacrifice their bodies as an act of priestly worship to God. God’s Spirit moves us to such self-sacrifice in love as a response to God’s self-sacrifice for us: “... I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
The apostle Peter points to whom we really are as followers of Jesus: “... you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him [God] because of Jesus Christ.”
(1 Peter 2:5)
Actually, Peter says that God has anointed my local church to be a Spirit-empowered community of priests. And it is my church’s priestly ministry to bring Spirit-empowered [spiritual] sacrifices to God.
But what are spiritual or Spirit-empowered sacrifices? The Epistle to the Hebrews explains that to us:
“With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
As we just saw, the Epistle to the Hebrews calls those Spirit-empowered sacrifices “sacrifices of praise”.
The Old Testament and specially the book of the Psalms are brimful of texts that summon all of God’s people to bring sacrifices of praise to Him.
What’s more, the Levites who assisted the priest in the service of Salomon’s temple, were specially ordained to bring daily sacrifices of praise to God:
“The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron's descendants [the priests] in the service of the temple of the LORD ..... They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts.” (1 Chronicles 23:28 and 30)
God announced through His prophet Isaiah (ca. 700 BC) that one day the Messiah - the Saviour of the world - will come. First of all He will redeem Israel, His rebellious people, and breath new life into them. God's Spirit will revive the entire nation so that it will solely live to proclaim God's praise. (see Isaiah 40:1-44:5).
God says: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people [Israel], my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." (Isaiah 43:18-21)
In the book of Acts we see that this prophesy of Isaiah is starting its fulfilment! These Jews, as the beginning of God's messianic, reborn people of the new covenant, find the true reason for Israel's existence. Through the inner transformation by God's Spirit they become the people which solely live for the proclamation of God's praise: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts [...] praising God..." (Acts 2:46)
Then, the apostle Paul shows in his letter to the Christians in Rome that according to God’s plan, not only reborn Jews would be the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophesy. Far from it!
Paul writes that Jesus the Messiah is indeed the Saviour of the entire world! Therefore, all the nations will ultimately join in the sacrifices of praise to the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ: “... he came so the Gentiles [non-Jewish people] might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: « I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name. » And in another place it is written,« Rejoice, O you Gentiles, along with his people, the Jews. » And yet again, « Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise him, all you people of the earth » (Romans 15:9-11)
Important questions emanate from this meditation:
-- What does it practically mean that God has ordained my entire local church to be a Spirit-empowered community of priests?
-- Are my local church and its leaders aware of the fact that God has ordained us to that priestly ministry?
-- We read in Hebrews 9:14 that one of the aims of Jesus’ self-sacrifice is to liberate my local church from being self-centred, so that God can use us for the priestly ministry of worship. In how far has God’s Spirit liberated my church for that ministry?
-- Does my church realise that the true reason of its existence is to be a people which solely lives for the proclamation of God's praise.
-- Is my church committed to the priestly ministry of worship?
-- Does God’s Spirit urge the members of my church to offer themselves to God as living and holy sacrifices of Christlike love?
(Romans 12:1)
-- What are Spirit-empowered sacrifices of praise? That will be the theme for our next meditation.
(to be continued)
Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:1, 1 Chronicles 23:28.30-32, Acts 2:46 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
68. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( f ) : the priestly ministry of worship
(continuation of Meditation 67)
Does God’s Word use other expressions for ‘worship’ which speak of our love for God the Father and for His Son, Jesus Messiah?
Yes indeed, there are several words for ‘worshipping God’ in the Greek version of the Old Testament (i.e., the Septuagint) and in the Greek New Testament, which portray “the priestly ministry of worship by which the bringing of a sacrifice is implied.”
Our English bibles often offer a rather meagre translation for these rich and meaningful words:
• either with verbs like ‘to serve (God)’, ‘to minister (to God) ‘to worship (God)’;
• or with nouns like ‘(priestly) service’, ‘(priestly) ministry’, ‘(priestly) worship’ or ‘(religious) ceremony’.
We find an early example of this when God sends Moses back to Egypt to deliver His people from bondage: “Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." (Exodus 3:12). This verb ‘to worship’ implies in the Septuagint not only prayers of adoration, but also the priestly ministry of bringing sacrifices.
Another classic example is in Joshua 22:27: “... we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.”
At the background of its meaning as “priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”, Moses is able to use this verb (‘to worship’) figuratively when he says: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the LORD's commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.”
(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
This text speaks of God’s standard for life. It says that worshipping Him wholeheartedly implies the bringing of the daily sacrifice of our lives to Him.
The apostle Paul picks up the figurative sense of this Greek verb ‘to worship’. He uses it in his letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome and applies it to their daily lives. Because of God’s great love for them, Paul beseeches the Roman Christians, saying: “... I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Paul actually says, that their priestly ministry of worship implies the sacrifice of their bodies. But how could they bring their bodies as a sacrifice to please God? Would they need to be willing to die for the Lord? That might be needed in times of persecution. However, I think that Paul first of all wants to make the link to the ‘ministry of worship’ of which Moses speaks in Deuteronomy 10:12-13.
Yet, how could I worship the Lord wholeheartedly if my heart by nature is filled with prideful sin and disobedience to God and His Word?
Using the same Greek verb, the apostle Paul answers that question in his letter to the church in Philippi: “... we who worship God in the Spirit...” (Philippians 3:3)
As we saw, Moses spoke figuratively about “the priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”, when he said: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the LORD's commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Paul shows in Romans 12:1 and Philippians 3:3 that such priestly ministry of worship, as Moses described, is only holy and pleasing to God when we are reborn and guided by the God’s Holy Spirit.
In Romans 12:2 the apostle adds a practical application:
“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
In Acts 13:1-2 the evangelist Luke describes a practice in the early church of Antioch in Syria: “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.’” (Acts 13:1-2)
The original Greek verb, of which ‘worshipping’ in Acts 13:2 is a translation, comes from the same language group that speaks of “the priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”.
These leaders of the church in Antioch did not have a short prayer time with many requests at the beginning of their church council meeting. On the contrary, they met with God for the ministry of worship! They brought to God the sacrifice of their wholehearted love and the sacrifice of their time. They even fasted for that occasion to set themselves apart for fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit as mediator! From the text one does not get the idea that this was a one-off occasion. It seems rather that this was part of their normal church life.
Not only the leaders of the church regularly took time for the ministry of worship. Of the entire early church in Jerusalem it was said: “They devoted themselves to ... prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
In Meditation 66, we wrote about the church’s unconditional and persistent devotion to prayer as an indication of its wholehearted love for God.
We need to close this meditation with some questions for reflection:
-- Is my church devoted to the the priestly ministry of worship by which it brings the sacrifice of its time and its wholehearted love to our triune God?
-- Does my church know what the place of God’s Spirit is during its priestly ministry of worship?
-- Does my church have regular prayer meetings? How do they proceed? How much time is there for worship? How much time for prayer requests? How much time for the exchange of prayer issues and for discussion?
-- Do the leaders of my church set times aside for the priestly ministry of worship as described in God’s Word? How does God’s Spirit speak during those meetings?
-- After this and earlier meditations, do I feel that a change in my church’s prayer ministry would be necessary to grow closer to the Lord?
(to be continued)
Joshua 22:27, Romans 12:1, Acts 2:42 are quotes of the New International Version. Deuteronomy 10,8 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Does God’s Word use other expressions for ‘worship’ which speak of our love for God the Father and for His Son, Jesus Messiah?
Yes indeed, there are several words for ‘worshipping God’ in the Greek version of the Old Testament (i.e., the Septuagint) and in the Greek New Testament, which portray “the priestly ministry of worship by which the bringing of a sacrifice is implied.”
Our English bibles often offer a rather meagre translation for these rich and meaningful words:
• either with verbs like ‘to serve (God)’, ‘to minister (to God) ‘to worship (God)’;
• or with nouns like ‘(priestly) service’, ‘(priestly) ministry’, ‘(priestly) worship’ or ‘(religious) ceremony’.
We find an early example of this when God sends Moses back to Egypt to deliver His people from bondage: “Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." (Exodus 3:12). This verb ‘to worship’ implies in the Septuagint not only prayers of adoration, but also the priestly ministry of bringing sacrifices.
Another classic example is in Joshua 22:27: “... we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.”
At the background of its meaning as “priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”, Moses is able to use this verb (‘to worship’) figuratively when he says: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the LORD's commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.”
(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
This text speaks of God’s standard for life. It says that worshipping Him wholeheartedly implies the bringing of the daily sacrifice of our lives to Him.
The apostle Paul picks up the figurative sense of this Greek verb ‘to worship’. He uses it in his letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome and applies it to their daily lives. Because of God’s great love for them, Paul beseeches the Roman Christians, saying: “... I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Paul actually says, that their priestly ministry of worship implies the sacrifice of their bodies. But how could they bring their bodies as a sacrifice to please God? Would they need to be willing to die for the Lord? That might be needed in times of persecution. However, I think that Paul first of all wants to make the link to the ‘ministry of worship’ of which Moses speaks in Deuteronomy 10:12-13.
Yet, how could I worship the Lord wholeheartedly if my heart by nature is filled with prideful sin and disobedience to God and His Word?
Using the same Greek verb, the apostle Paul answers that question in his letter to the church in Philippi: “... we who worship God in the Spirit...” (Philippians 3:3)
As we saw, Moses spoke figuratively about “the priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”, when he said: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the LORD's commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Paul shows in Romans 12:1 and Philippians 3:3 that such priestly ministry of worship, as Moses described, is only holy and pleasing to God when we are reborn and guided by the God’s Holy Spirit.
In Romans 12:2 the apostle adds a practical application:
“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
In Acts 13:1-2 the evangelist Luke describes a practice in the early church of Antioch in Syria: “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.’” (Acts 13:1-2)
The original Greek verb, of which ‘worshipping’ in Acts 13:2 is a translation, comes from the same language group that speaks of “the priestly ministry of worship which implies the bringing of a sacrifice”.
These leaders of the church in Antioch did not have a short prayer time with many requests at the beginning of their church council meeting. On the contrary, they met with God for the ministry of worship! They brought to God the sacrifice of their wholehearted love and the sacrifice of their time. They even fasted for that occasion to set themselves apart for fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit as mediator! From the text one does not get the idea that this was a one-off occasion. It seems rather that this was part of their normal church life.
Not only the leaders of the church regularly took time for the ministry of worship. Of the entire early church in Jerusalem it was said: “They devoted themselves to ... prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
In Meditation 66, we wrote about the church’s unconditional and persistent devotion to prayer as an indication of its wholehearted love for God.
We need to close this meditation with some questions for reflection:
-- Is my church devoted to the the priestly ministry of worship by which it brings the sacrifice of its time and its wholehearted love to our triune God?
-- Does my church know what the place of God’s Spirit is during its priestly ministry of worship?
-- Does my church have regular prayer meetings? How do they proceed? How much time is there for worship? How much time for prayer requests? How much time for the exchange of prayer issues and for discussion?
-- Do the leaders of my church set times aside for the priestly ministry of worship as described in God’s Word? How does God’s Spirit speak during those meetings?
-- After this and earlier meditations, do I feel that a change in my church’s prayer ministry would be necessary to grow closer to the Lord?
(to be continued)
Joshua 22:27, Romans 12:1, Acts 2:42 are quotes of the New International Version. Deuteronomy 10,8 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, October 28, 2011
67. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( e ) : true worship from the heart
(continuation of meditation 66)
Here is a further indication of Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to have fellowship with them in true worship.
The Lord Jesus discloses to the Samaritan woman at the well that Christlike love for God is first of all expressed in true worship. He then explains what true worship is: “... true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:23)
Jesus makes it clear to her what true worship actually indicates: the time of worshipping God on mountains and in temples is over. Under the new, Messianic covenant, the followers of Jesus will worship God through His Spirit:
“Jesus declared: Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth...”
(John 4:21 and 23a)
Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus had already shown to Nicodemus that the gift of God’s Spirit is imperative for knowing God and for serving Him in the new, Messianic age: “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”
(John 3:5)
In His talk with the woman at the well, Jesus continues by underlining the fact that “... the Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way [i.e., in Spirit and in Truth].”
(John 4:23b)
Finally, Jesus states that “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:24)
It is wonderful that so early in His earthly ministry Jesus discloses the core of the new, Messianic covenant: God gives us His Spirit so that we are able to truly worship Him.
True worship is a declaration of Christlike love and devotion to God, welling up from the heart! And it is by the gift of God’s Spirit that we are able to worship God in that new way. True worship adores God for who He is and for what He does, has done and will do.
Indeed, we are reborn by God’s Spirit to worship the Father and His Son! And it is by that same Spirit that we are able to come to God. The apostle Paul writes: “Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:18)
How does the New Testament actually describe ‘worship’?
In John 4, the apostle John uses a Greek word that originally meant “to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.” In the Gospels this word is more often used.
We can find the first story in the Gospels of those who worship the Son of God, the Ruler of the world, in Matthew 2, 11: “They [the wise men from the east] entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him.” (Matthew 2:11)
When Jesus is tested, before He starts His earthly ministry, He confronts Satan with the declaration: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
The Gospels close with two stories about the disciples worshipping the risen Messiah:
- - First, the women on Easter morning, after returning from the empty tomb: “As they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9)
-- Then, the disciples before Jesus returned to heaven: “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.” (Luke 24:51 and 52)
Interestingly, this Greek word for worship, with the emphasis on prostrating oneself, is not generally used in the Epistles for the church on earth, worshipping God.
We find it again used extensively in the book of Revelation. Here we receive a glimpse of the church in heaven:
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:9-11)
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever! The four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshipped.” (Revelation 5:13-14)
“All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:11-12)
“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great--and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:16-18)
“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: Amen, Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:4)
We read earlier in Jesus’ declaration to the Samaritan woman that God seeks true worshippers. And although this Greek word with its emphasis on prostrating oneself is used here, it is clear from Jesus’ proclamation that God seeks first of all our worship through the Holy Spirit and in Truth.
Here, Jesus does not forbid specific places and specific gestures, but He shows that God actually seeks worshippers who worship Him from the heart, through His Spirit and in accordance with His Word.
So, if this particular Greek word for ‘worship’ is not used for the worship of the church on earth, what kind of word is used by God’s Word for Christian worship in the first century?
(to be continued)
John 4:21 and 23a, Matthew 4:10, Revelation 4:9-11, Revelation 5:13-14, Revelation 7:11-12, Revelation 11:16-18 and Revelation 19:4 are quotes of the New International Version. Matthew 28:9 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Here is a further indication of Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to have fellowship with them in true worship.
The Lord Jesus discloses to the Samaritan woman at the well that Christlike love for God is first of all expressed in true worship. He then explains what true worship is: “... true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:23)
Jesus makes it clear to her what true worship actually indicates: the time of worshipping God on mountains and in temples is over. Under the new, Messianic covenant, the followers of Jesus will worship God through His Spirit:
“Jesus declared: Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth...”
(John 4:21 and 23a)
Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus had already shown to Nicodemus that the gift of God’s Spirit is imperative for knowing God and for serving Him in the new, Messianic age: “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”
(John 3:5)
In His talk with the woman at the well, Jesus continues by underlining the fact that “... the Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way [i.e., in Spirit and in Truth].”
(John 4:23b)
Finally, Jesus states that “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:24)
It is wonderful that so early in His earthly ministry Jesus discloses the core of the new, Messianic covenant: God gives us His Spirit so that we are able to truly worship Him.
True worship is a declaration of Christlike love and devotion to God, welling up from the heart! And it is by the gift of God’s Spirit that we are able to worship God in that new way. True worship adores God for who He is and for what He does, has done and will do.
Indeed, we are reborn by God’s Spirit to worship the Father and His Son! And it is by that same Spirit that we are able to come to God. The apostle Paul writes: “Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:18)
How does the New Testament actually describe ‘worship’?
In John 4, the apostle John uses a Greek word that originally meant “to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.” In the Gospels this word is more often used.
We can find the first story in the Gospels of those who worship the Son of God, the Ruler of the world, in Matthew 2, 11: “They [the wise men from the east] entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him.” (Matthew 2:11)
When Jesus is tested, before He starts His earthly ministry, He confronts Satan with the declaration: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
The Gospels close with two stories about the disciples worshipping the risen Messiah:
- - First, the women on Easter morning, after returning from the empty tomb: “As they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9)
-- Then, the disciples before Jesus returned to heaven: “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.” (Luke 24:51 and 52)
Interestingly, this Greek word for worship, with the emphasis on prostrating oneself, is not generally used in the Epistles for the church on earth, worshipping God.
We find it again used extensively in the book of Revelation. Here we receive a glimpse of the church in heaven:
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:9-11)
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever! The four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshipped.” (Revelation 5:13-14)
“All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:11-12)
“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great--and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:16-18)
“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: Amen, Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:4)
We read earlier in Jesus’ declaration to the Samaritan woman that God seeks true worshippers. And although this Greek word with its emphasis on prostrating oneself is used here, it is clear from Jesus’ proclamation that God seeks first of all our worship through the Holy Spirit and in Truth.
Here, Jesus does not forbid specific places and specific gestures, but He shows that God actually seeks worshippers who worship Him from the heart, through His Spirit and in accordance with His Word.
So, if this particular Greek word for ‘worship’ is not used for the worship of the church on earth, what kind of word is used by God’s Word for Christian worship in the first century?
(to be continued)
John 4:21 and 23a, Matthew 4:10, Revelation 4:9-11, Revelation 5:13-14, Revelation 7:11-12, Revelation 11:16-18 and Revelation 19:4 are quotes of the New International Version. Matthew 28:9 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
66. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( d ) : unconditional and persistent devotion to prayer
(continuation of meditation 65)
It is great when a local church has received from God’s Spirit a vision of Christlike love for our triune God. And what a privilege if that church also has leaders, enabled by God’s Spirit, to lead the church into such communal transformation! (see meditations 64 and 65)
Yet, there are many factors which can hinder the Holy Spirit to produce such a transformation. We mentioned some major factors in earlier meditations:
• Our western culture. (see meditations 48 and 51)
• The lack of sound Bible teaching regarding the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. (see meditations 49 and 51)
• The lack of Christlike leaders in the church.
(see meditation 51)
• Spiritual pride. (see meditations 49 and 51)
• The lack of mutual love and genuine care amongst the church members. (see meditation 52)
• The lack of guidance and control by God’s Spirit.
(see meditation 52)
• When manifestations of God’s Spirit are ‘extinguished’ in the local church. (see meditation 53)
• When the local church has some resemblance to the churches in the book of Revelation. (see meditations 54 and 55)
Now that we have highlighted some possible obstructions for our churches to grow into Christlike love for God, we need to return to our starting point and ask ourselves the questions with which we began(see meditations 63 and 64):
--- How does God’s Spirit develop my local church as the ‘Body of Christ’ to grow into mature Christlike love for God?
--- How does He accomplish that in such a way that my church 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)
First of all we need to repeat that every reborn church member is at a different stage of transformation in mature Christlike love for God. That is a major factor in the process of communal transfor-
mation. (see meditations 56 to 62)
Yet, we also realised that in God’s eyes the role and significance of my local church is so different from that of me as an individual Christian. In God’s view my church is ‘a corporate personality’ with its own life, its own function and its own dynamics.
(see meditation 63)
Even so, many expressions of one’s personal sacrificial love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ will be ‘magnified’ in the communal expressions of Christlike love for our triune God.
Here we need to remind ourselves again that the following aspects of Christlike love is only a characterisation! It is not a series of commands to obey. My local church could never do so by itself. Only God’s Spirit is able to empower my church to such love which resembles the way Jesus lived on earth.
Remember that the apostle John states in his first letter: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.”
(1 John 2:6). That is meant for individual followers of Jesus as well as for every local church.
So, how could we describe that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment?
Here are some possible indications:
a.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to them in prayer.
The evangelist Luke writes in the book of Acts about the first followers of Jesus. He tells us that “they devoted themselves to ..... prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
The Greek word, that Luke uses here indicates a single-minded, firm determination of the will. Luke shows us that Jesus’ first followers gave a constant and unabated attention to prayer.
That was a powerful work of God’s Spirit in their community.
Obviously, the early church followed the example of its Master. We read of Him: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12)
Through the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, Jesus taught His first disciples already about the importance of persistent prayer: “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.” (Luke 18:1)
Likewise, the apostle Paul encourages the church in Colosse to give constant and sacrificial attention to prayer: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2)
And Paul urges the church in Rome to be “... faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Why is it that Jesus and the apostles put such an emphasis on prayer? It is Jesus Himself who answers this question. He stresses the fact that He is personally present wherever His followers turn to Him in prayer: “I also tell you this: ... where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
In earlier meditations we saw that the risen Lord returned to His Father in heaven. Yet, He lives within His disciples and dwells in their midst through His Spirit. (See meditations 6, 8, 27-34, 37,
44-45, 47-55)
That’s why the apostle Paul stimulates the church in Ephesus: “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:18). The New International Version translates: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions...”
Surely, Paul does not urge the church to indulge in mystical exercises. Neither does the apostle promote formal and ceremonial prayer rituals.
On the contrary, the apostle Paul declares joyfully when he writes to the church in Ephesus: “Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles [non-Jews], may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:18)
The early church saw the importance of meeting regularly with God: “They worshiped together at the Temple each day.” (Acts 2:46). It might not have meant that every member of the church was always present at those worship meetings. Yet, those who were present, represented the entire church.
Jude writes in his short letter about the importance of being guided by God’s Spirit as the local church meets persistently with their Lord in prayer: “But you, dear friends ... continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:20)
The evangelist Luke gives in the book of Acts two examples of ‘executive meetings’ between the Lord Jesus and the leaders of His church, through the intermediate presence of God’s Spirit:
In Acts 6:4 the twelve apostles tell the church in Jerusalem that they will persistently commit themselves to prayer in order to seek the Lord’s direction for His church: “... we will give ourselves continually to prayer...” (Acts 6:4)
In Acts 13:1-2 we read about another ‘executive meeting’ between the Lord and the leaders of His church in Antioch.
Luke writes: “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.” (Acts 13:1-2)
This persistent and sacrificial devotion to the Lord Jesus in prayer under the direction of the Holy Spirit is characteristic for a healthy, local church.
Such a personal encounter with the risen Lord through the intermediate presence of God’s Spirit is distinctive for prayer meetings of the entire church as well as for ‘executive meetings’ of the church leadership.
Is my church and its leadership persistently devoted to personal meetings with the risen Lord?
(to be continued)
Matthew 22:37, Acts 2:42, Luke 6:12and Romans 12:12 are quotes of the New International Version. Acts 6:4 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
It is great when a local church has received from God’s Spirit a vision of Christlike love for our triune God. And what a privilege if that church also has leaders, enabled by God’s Spirit, to lead the church into such communal transformation! (see meditations 64 and 65)
Yet, there are many factors which can hinder the Holy Spirit to produce such a transformation. We mentioned some major factors in earlier meditations:
• Our western culture. (see meditations 48 and 51)
• The lack of sound Bible teaching regarding the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. (see meditations 49 and 51)
• The lack of Christlike leaders in the church.
(see meditation 51)
• Spiritual pride. (see meditations 49 and 51)
• The lack of mutual love and genuine care amongst the church members. (see meditation 52)
• The lack of guidance and control by God’s Spirit.
(see meditation 52)
• When manifestations of God’s Spirit are ‘extinguished’ in the local church. (see meditation 53)
• When the local church has some resemblance to the churches in the book of Revelation. (see meditations 54 and 55)
Now that we have highlighted some possible obstructions for our churches to grow into Christlike love for God, we need to return to our starting point and ask ourselves the questions with which we began(see meditations 63 and 64):
--- How does God’s Spirit develop my local church as the ‘Body of Christ’ to grow into mature Christlike love for God?
--- How does He accomplish that in such a way that my church 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)
First of all we need to repeat that every reborn church member is at a different stage of transformation in mature Christlike love for God. That is a major factor in the process of communal transfor-
mation. (see meditations 56 to 62)
Yet, we also realised that in God’s eyes the role and significance of my local church is so different from that of me as an individual Christian. In God’s view my church is ‘a corporate personality’ with its own life, its own function and its own dynamics.
(see meditation 63)
Even so, many expressions of one’s personal sacrificial love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ will be ‘magnified’ in the communal expressions of Christlike love for our triune God.
Here we need to remind ourselves again that the following aspects of Christlike love is only a characterisation! It is not a series of commands to obey. My local church could never do so by itself. Only God’s Spirit is able to empower my church to such love which resembles the way Jesus lived on earth.
Remember that the apostle John states in his first letter: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.”
(1 John 2:6). That is meant for individual followers of Jesus as well as for every local church.
So, how could we describe that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment?
Here are some possible indications:
a.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to them in prayer.
The evangelist Luke writes in the book of Acts about the first followers of Jesus. He tells us that “they devoted themselves to ..... prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
The Greek word, that Luke uses here indicates a single-minded, firm determination of the will. Luke shows us that Jesus’ first followers gave a constant and unabated attention to prayer.
That was a powerful work of God’s Spirit in their community.
Obviously, the early church followed the example of its Master. We read of Him: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12)
Through the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, Jesus taught His first disciples already about the importance of persistent prayer: “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.” (Luke 18:1)
Likewise, the apostle Paul encourages the church in Colosse to give constant and sacrificial attention to prayer: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2)
And Paul urges the church in Rome to be “... faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Why is it that Jesus and the apostles put such an emphasis on prayer? It is Jesus Himself who answers this question. He stresses the fact that He is personally present wherever His followers turn to Him in prayer: “I also tell you this: ... where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
In earlier meditations we saw that the risen Lord returned to His Father in heaven. Yet, He lives within His disciples and dwells in their midst through His Spirit. (See meditations 6, 8, 27-34, 37,
44-45, 47-55)
That’s why the apostle Paul stimulates the church in Ephesus: “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:18). The New International Version translates: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions...”
Surely, Paul does not urge the church to indulge in mystical exercises. Neither does the apostle promote formal and ceremonial prayer rituals.
On the contrary, the apostle Paul declares joyfully when he writes to the church in Ephesus: “Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles [non-Jews], may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:18)
The early church saw the importance of meeting regularly with God: “They worshiped together at the Temple each day.” (Acts 2:46). It might not have meant that every member of the church was always present at those worship meetings. Yet, those who were present, represented the entire church.
Jude writes in his short letter about the importance of being guided by God’s Spirit as the local church meets persistently with their Lord in prayer: “But you, dear friends ... continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:20)
The evangelist Luke gives in the book of Acts two examples of ‘executive meetings’ between the Lord Jesus and the leaders of His church, through the intermediate presence of God’s Spirit:
In Acts 6:4 the twelve apostles tell the church in Jerusalem that they will persistently commit themselves to prayer in order to seek the Lord’s direction for His church: “... we will give ourselves continually to prayer...” (Acts 6:4)
In Acts 13:1-2 we read about another ‘executive meeting’ between the Lord and the leaders of His church in Antioch.
Luke writes: “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.” (Acts 13:1-2)
This persistent and sacrificial devotion to the Lord Jesus in prayer under the direction of the Holy Spirit is characteristic for a healthy, local church.
Such a personal encounter with the risen Lord through the intermediate presence of God’s Spirit is distinctive for prayer meetings of the entire church as well as for ‘executive meetings’ of the church leadership.
Is my church and its leadership persistently devoted to personal meetings with the risen Lord?
(to be continued)
Matthew 22:37, Acts 2:42, Luke 6:12and Romans 12:12 are quotes of the New International Version. Acts 6:4 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, September 23, 2011
65. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( c ) : Spirit-guided people as bearers of God's vision
(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.
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.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
64. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( b ) : a common Spirit-given vision
We concluded last week’s meditation with the question: how does God’s Spirit empower my church to grow into mature, Christlike love for God. How does He accomplish that in such a way that my church 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."
We also saw that God longs for the love of His church and addresses her as ‘His bride’. In that connection we mentioned Jeremiah 2:2 and Revelation 2:4!
In his last book, the apostle John writes about the global church (which includes my local church!) and calls her the ‘Bride of the Lamb’:
“Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him [God]. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb [the Messiah], and his bride has prepared herself.”(Revelation 19:7)
If my local church is meant to love our triune God – Father, Son and Spirit - in a mature, Christlike way, how does God’s Spirit carry out such a miraculous project?
I think there is no easy answer to that important question. My church is an amalgamation of Christians from different cultures, different denominations, different milieus, different upbringings and education, different ages, different walks of life, different ‘pre-Christian histories’, different theological views and convictions, etc.
Looking at my church from another angle, it comprises Christians at all stages of faith from young converts to Christlike, mature men and women. Besides, it is ‘encompassed’ by people who are interested in ‘the faith’, but have not yet made a commitment to Christ.
How does such a multifarious community ever grow into mature, Christlike love for God?
a.) I think that one of the first things a church needs is
a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for Christlike love for God.
Again and again God’s Word [the Bible] presses home the paramount requirement for His people to have a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for knowing His will.
In the 10th century B.C., wise king Solomon warns that “where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law (of God), happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18).
The New Living Translation translates this text as follows: “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the Law (of God) is happy.”
The author of 1 Samuel describes the traumatic situation of God’s people in the days of young Samuel: “The Word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”
(1 Samuel 3:1)
In the 8th century B.C. God spoke to His wayward, prosperous and complacent people by the mouth of His servant Hosea: “Hear the Word of the LORD, O people of Israel! The LORD has filed a lawsuit against you, saying: "There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.” (Hosea 4:1)
God then continues to stress the point of lacking knowledge of Him by saying: “My people are destroyed for lack of (God-given) knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
The prophet Amos ministered alongside Hosea. God used him to warn His people for a time of complete absence of divine knowledge: “"The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine on the land-- not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the Words of the LORD. People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the Word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)
The evangelist Mark describes how Jesus responded when He saw the mystified crowd:
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34)
Without a Spirit-given vision on a certain matter, based on the knowledge of God’s Word and shared by the whole the church, there is no Spirit-given unity on that matter, even if there are plenty of Bibles around.
And without Spirit-given unity, the church will lack the precon-
dition for divine guidance on that specific matter and ‘run wild’ as Salomon says. Then will happen wat also took place in the time of the Judges: "...the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." (Judges 17:6)
The apostle Paul explains to the Christians in Ephesus (modern Turkey) why a shared Spirit-given vision based on the knowledge of God’s Word is of the highest importance for any local church:
“... 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.
Under his [Christ’s] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:13-16)
Does my church have a common Spirit-given vision for mature, Christlike love for God?
(to be continued)
The Bible verse KJV Proverbs 29:18 is a quote from the King James Version, NKJ 1 Samuel 3:1 is quoted from the New King James Version, NIB Mark 6:34 is a quote from the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
We also saw that God longs for the love of His church and addresses her as ‘His bride’. In that connection we mentioned Jeremiah 2:2 and Revelation 2:4!
In his last book, the apostle John writes about the global church (which includes my local church!) and calls her the ‘Bride of the Lamb’:
“Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him [God]. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb [the Messiah], and his bride has prepared herself.”(Revelation 19:7)
If my local church is meant to love our triune God – Father, Son and Spirit - in a mature, Christlike way, how does God’s Spirit carry out such a miraculous project?
I think there is no easy answer to that important question. My church is an amalgamation of Christians from different cultures, different denominations, different milieus, different upbringings and education, different ages, different walks of life, different ‘pre-Christian histories’, different theological views and convictions, etc.
Looking at my church from another angle, it comprises Christians at all stages of faith from young converts to Christlike, mature men and women. Besides, it is ‘encompassed’ by people who are interested in ‘the faith’, but have not yet made a commitment to Christ.
How does such a multifarious community ever grow into mature, Christlike love for God?
a.) I think that one of the first things a church needs is
a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for Christlike love for God.
Again and again God’s Word [the Bible] presses home the paramount requirement for His people to have a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for knowing His will.
In the 10th century B.C., wise king Solomon warns that “where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law (of God), happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18).
The New Living Translation translates this text as follows: “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the Law (of God) is happy.”
The author of 1 Samuel describes the traumatic situation of God’s people in the days of young Samuel: “The Word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”
(1 Samuel 3:1)
In the 8th century B.C. God spoke to His wayward, prosperous and complacent people by the mouth of His servant Hosea: “Hear the Word of the LORD, O people of Israel! The LORD has filed a lawsuit against you, saying: "There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.” (Hosea 4:1)
God then continues to stress the point of lacking knowledge of Him by saying: “My people are destroyed for lack of (God-given) knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
The prophet Amos ministered alongside Hosea. God used him to warn His people for a time of complete absence of divine knowledge: “"The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine on the land-- not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the Words of the LORD. People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the Word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)
The evangelist Mark describes how Jesus responded when He saw the mystified crowd:
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34)
Without a Spirit-given vision on a certain matter, based on the knowledge of God’s Word and shared by the whole the church, there is no Spirit-given unity on that matter, even if there are plenty of Bibles around.
And without Spirit-given unity, the church will lack the precon-
dition for divine guidance on that specific matter and ‘run wild’ as Salomon says. Then will happen wat also took place in the time of the Judges: "...the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." (Judges 17:6)
The apostle Paul explains to the Christians in Ephesus (modern Turkey) why a shared Spirit-given vision based on the knowledge of God’s Word is of the highest importance for any local church:
“... 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.
Under his [Christ’s] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:13-16)
Does my church have a common Spirit-given vision for mature, Christlike love for God?
(to be continued)
The Bible verse KJV Proverbs 29:18 is a quote from the King James Version, NKJ 1 Samuel 3:1 is quoted from the New King James Version, NIB Mark 6:34 is a quote from the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, September 9, 2011
63. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( a ) : the church as 'corporate personality'
In meditations 56 to 62, we saw that God’s Spirit wants to empower us individually to achieve mature, Christlike love for God. We realised that the Holy Spirit wants to do that in such a way that we fulfill 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)
But what about the earlier mentioned 'second track'?
(see meditation 47). How does God’s Spirit develop my church, as the local Body of Christ, into a mature loving community that fulfils God’s first and greatest commandment?
The first question to ask ourselves is, if there is a difference between my personal love for God and my church’s corporate love for Him. Does the local church not only exist of individual believers? I think that God’s Word [the Bible] makes a difference here.
The entire temple and its single stones
The apostle Peter reminds his fellow Christians in what is now Turkey: “...God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple...” (1 Peter 2:5)
The significance of the entire temple stands for so much more than one single stone. Yet, a temple consists of many single stones!
The one body and its many parts
The apostle Paul lectures the followers of Jesus in Rome, explaining: “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)
Again, we understand that a human body stands for so much more than its individual parts. Yet, it consists of many individual parts together!
The entire people and its individual citizens, the entire family and its respective members
Here are two other examples in one verse. The apostle Paul addresses non-Jewish followers of Jesus Messiah as belonging to God, saying: “... now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.” (Ephesians 2:19)
Without doubt, the importance of an entire nation stands for so much more than its individual citizens, and an entire family for so much more than its respective members. However, in our individualistic, Western society this biblical concept might well be challenged.
My local church and its individual members
It is the same with the local church. The apostle Paul depicts all individual reborn members of the local church together as the
« Temple of God’s Spirit ». He writes to the local church in Corinth: “Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
And again, Paul defines all individual, reborn members of that same church together as the « Body of Christ » : “... we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
Once more, the apostle Peter calls all individual reborn members of the church together as « People of God » : “... you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Finally, in the first letter to his co-worker Timothy, the apostle Paul describes all the individual members of the local church together as « God’s Family » : “... so that if I can't come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God...”
(1 Timothy 3:15)
Reflecting on these Bible verses, we realize that God looks at my local church as the ‘Temple of His Spirit’, as the ‘Body of Christ’, and as the ‘People and Family of God’.
In God’s eyes the role and significance of my local church is so different from that of me as an individual Christian. In God’s view my church is ‘a corporate personality’ with its own life, its own function and its own dynamics.
I think that the most beautiful picture of the church as ‘corporate personality’ we find in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Christians: “I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 11:2)
Of course, this is not the first and only time in the Bible that God’s people are depicted as a ‘corporate personality’. The Old and the New Testament pictures God’s people often as ‘servant of God’, ‘son of God’, ‘wife of God’, ‘Daughter of Zion’, 'Virgin Israel’, ‘bride of the Messiah’, etc.
Two Bible verses might specially illustrate God’s longing for the love of His people. In both verses God’s people are addressed as a ‘young bride’.
In the seventh century B.C., God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah and cries out to His unfaithful people, saying: “Go and shout in Jerusalem's streets: This what the LORD says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.” (Jeremiah 2:2)
In the same way, the risen Messiah reproves His people in Ephesus (modern Turkey). Through the apostle John, the Lord speaks to them in the 2nd person singular (!), declaring: “... I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)
All these Bible verses require serious consideration:
Indeed, God does loves me personally, but He loves my church as well! God desires my personal love for Him, but He longs also for the corporate love of my church, as it is ‘the Bride of Christ’!
So, how does God’s Spirit empower my church (as ‘the Bride of Christ’) to grow into mature Christlike love for God. How does He accomplish that in such a way that my church 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."
That will be the theme of the next meditation. So, hold on!
(to be continued)
The Bible verses Matthew 22:37, 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 2:4 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
But what about the earlier mentioned 'second track'?
(see meditation 47). How does God’s Spirit develop my church, as the local Body of Christ, into a mature loving community that fulfils God’s first and greatest commandment?
The first question to ask ourselves is, if there is a difference between my personal love for God and my church’s corporate love for Him. Does the local church not only exist of individual believers? I think that God’s Word [the Bible] makes a difference here.
The entire temple and its single stones
The apostle Peter reminds his fellow Christians in what is now Turkey: “...God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple...” (1 Peter 2:5)
The significance of the entire temple stands for so much more than one single stone. Yet, a temple consists of many single stones!
The one body and its many parts
The apostle Paul lectures the followers of Jesus in Rome, explaining: “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)
Again, we understand that a human body stands for so much more than its individual parts. Yet, it consists of many individual parts together!
The entire people and its individual citizens, the entire family and its respective members
Here are two other examples in one verse. The apostle Paul addresses non-Jewish followers of Jesus Messiah as belonging to God, saying: “... now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.” (Ephesians 2:19)
Without doubt, the importance of an entire nation stands for so much more than its individual citizens, and an entire family for so much more than its respective members. However, in our individualistic, Western society this biblical concept might well be challenged.
My local church and its individual members
It is the same with the local church. The apostle Paul depicts all individual reborn members of the local church together as the
« Temple of God’s Spirit ». He writes to the local church in Corinth: “Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
And again, Paul defines all individual, reborn members of that same church together as the « Body of Christ » : “... we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
Once more, the apostle Peter calls all individual reborn members of the church together as « People of God » : “... you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Finally, in the first letter to his co-worker Timothy, the apostle Paul describes all the individual members of the local church together as « God’s Family » : “... so that if I can't come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God...”
(1 Timothy 3:15)
Reflecting on these Bible verses, we realize that God looks at my local church as the ‘Temple of His Spirit’, as the ‘Body of Christ’, and as the ‘People and Family of God’.
In God’s eyes the role and significance of my local church is so different from that of me as an individual Christian. In God’s view my church is ‘a corporate personality’ with its own life, its own function and its own dynamics.
I think that the most beautiful picture of the church as ‘corporate personality’ we find in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Christians: “I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 11:2)
Of course, this is not the first and only time in the Bible that God’s people are depicted as a ‘corporate personality’. The Old and the New Testament pictures God’s people often as ‘servant of God’, ‘son of God’, ‘wife of God’, ‘Daughter of Zion’, 'Virgin Israel’, ‘bride of the Messiah’, etc.
Two Bible verses might specially illustrate God’s longing for the love of His people. In both verses God’s people are addressed as a ‘young bride’.
In the seventh century B.C., God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah and cries out to His unfaithful people, saying: “Go and shout in Jerusalem's streets: This what the LORD says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.” (Jeremiah 2:2)
In the same way, the risen Messiah reproves His people in Ephesus (modern Turkey). Through the apostle John, the Lord speaks to them in the 2nd person singular (!), declaring: “... I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)
All these Bible verses require serious consideration:
Indeed, God does loves me personally, but He loves my church as well! God desires my personal love for Him, but He longs also for the corporate love of my church, as it is ‘the Bride of Christ’!
So, how does God’s Spirit empower my church (as ‘the Bride of Christ’) to grow into mature Christlike love for God. How does He accomplish that in such a way that my church 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."
That will be the theme of the next meditation. So, hold on!
(to be continued)
The Bible verses Matthew 22:37, 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 2:4 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
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