WHAT CAN WE DO? Part 3
Numbers 4:4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.”
1 Peter 4:17 “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
In this spiritual warfare we need to realize that the church is the holder of truth and because of this we must proclaim the truth with vigor, faithfulness and purity. We must learn to speak the truth with boldness and love. It is the truth that will set us free.
Secondly, we must put our own house in order since God is a God of order. What do I mean? God has given us all work to do. Paul said that he would not go outside the sphere that God gave him: “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,” (2 Corinthians 10:13-15)
In the Body of Christ we all have been given a sphere, a work to do and it is imperative that we know what it is and stay within the sphere that God has called us to. And when we step outside of it we move into someone else’s sphere which then brings in confusion, chaos and moving in the flesh.
Reading through Scripture we see how God is a God of order. For example, Nehemiah was building the wall with each one doing his part, and the Levites were working with order on the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
What speaks to me is the unity in the work, with no duplicating, each one knowing what needs to be done and eagerly doing their working. What is the result? In fifty some days – the wall is built.
We see the order of God in the universe where everything is moving like clockwork. I read a book by Richard Swenson called: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: FASCINATING GLIMPSE OF GOD’S POWER AND DESIGN.
Describing the human body, when we see the different functions of the human body and the working together of each part, we must agree with the Psalmist that we too are wonderfully made. What comes out though is if one part begins to work outside of its sphere – sickness and death follow. This is true in the Body of Christ as well.
What order has God put into the Body of Christ? We see the spiritual body and physical body having the same order for strength and power. Paul tells us: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
My question is: Are all these offices operating in the church today? If they are not, then we will find chaos and confusion, not having the strength of unity that is necessary to get the job done.
In John 17 we read that Jesus operated in the sphere that God gave Him: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (vs. 4)
Jesus said in John 4:34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” At the end He went to the cross and His last words were: “It is finished.”
In John 17 Jesus was not praying for the world, but for His people that they might be sanctified. This is a problem we have today; we get saved, but we do not move on into sanctification and discipleship for the unity of the body. “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (vs. 21)
The two things that Jesus prayed for was sanctification (purity) and unity (power). What are two main things in the church hurting the Body of Christ today? Immorality and disunity. What do we find in the Corinthian church which seems to be so prevalent in the church today? “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” 2 Corinthians 12:20-21
We are living in exciting times and many doors are being opened to us. Might we, the Body of Christ, be ready!