The Devoted Church

 

The Church of Jesus Christ began at Pentecost and is the only model today’s Church should follow!

The New Testament Church was started just after Pentecost with the first mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can read about Pentecost and the Apostle Peter’s bold address to the crowd of his very first gospel message in the Book of Acts chapter 2. 

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was established in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was Spirit filled and, unlike today’s Church, without sect or denomination and the preaching man’s doctrines– just preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified!

This is the model Church that today’s Church should be imitating in every way, but sadly does not!

It was the Church that God himself wanted, conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord and Saviour – the King of kings who never changes!

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Let’s examine how the Church was structured (the way today’s Church should be structured) and were ministering in faith and in accordance with the Word of God brought by the Apostles in the power of the Holy Spirit and let’s not forget the below words spoken to the Apostles by Jesus himself:

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The apostles’ teaching was directly from Jesus who is the Word – taught to them by the Holy Spirit!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Fellowship of the Believers
What were these new believers doing? What did their lifestyle look like? How was the Holy Spirit binding them together in unity to bring glory to the name of Jesus? How did they respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading and to the apostles’ teaching?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What does ‘devoted to’ mean?

Verse 42 in Acts 2 starts off like this: “They (the Church) devoted themselves to……….”

Let’s examine what they were devoted to and how they were devoted.

Today’s dictionary meaning of ‘devoted to’ is:

"Being devoted to something means being focused on that particular thing almost exclusively. When you are devoted to a cause, you work to achieve its goals. When you are devoted to a person, you place their needs above your own. Being devoted doesn't have to refer only to personal relationships."

So that’s how today’s modern dictionaries define ‘devoted to’, but in order to have a clearer picture of what the early Church would have understood by this we will need to examine the original Greek meaning of being ‘devoted’ to.

The original Greek meaning of ‘devoted’ in Acts 2:42 is:

Proskartereo (pronounced: pros-kär-te-ray-o) and its expanded meaning:

• To join together with

• To adhere to

• To be ready

• To give attention to

• To be fully committed to

• To spend much time together

• To be faithful

This is what the early church would have understood by the ‘devoted to’ and what today's Church needs to be like as well, so let’s look at each term’s meaning on an individual basis.

To join together with:

• What were they joined together with?

• With each other as the family of Christ.

• The Apostles and their teaching - The Word.

• And through this they were being unified as one Church in the power of the Holy Spirit.

To adhere to:

The early church stuck together and did not deviate from the apostles’ teaching – the Word of God, the Bible.

To be ready:

They were being made ready to put into practice what they were being taught and to walk the Christian path as Jesus intended. A path of love, unity of the Spirit and self-sacrifice.

To give attention to:

They were focused on the Word, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship with each other and with God in the fulness of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

To be fully committed to:

They were fully committed to God, to each other and to the teachings of The Word and in putting them into practice.

To spend much time together:

They spend a lot of time together – devoted to each other in the love of Christ. They didn’t shrink back from fellowshipping together as often as they could. They helped each other and encouraged each other on the path to maturity.

To be faithful:

In all these things they were faithful as Christ is faithful to his Church! The unity of living life in the Spirit as Paul was later to describe in Romans 8!

What was the early Church devoted to – Acts 2:42?

1. The apostles teaching – The Word of God via the Apostles who were led and taught by Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit after the Lord’s ascension:

• Jesus – The Word – God

• Love for all mankind and especially for the family of believers – agapé

• Salvation in Christ Jesus

• The New Covenant by the blood of Jesus (set apart from the Law)

• Freedom in Christ

• The Holy Spirit

2. Fellowship – from the Greek word Koinónia, meaning:

• In partnership with.

• Being a contributory help.

• Participation in.

• Sharing in.

• Communion with.

• Spiritual fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with each other.

3. The breaking of bread

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“

1 Cor 11:26

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In the verse above, Paul tells us exactly what we are doing, apart from remembering the work of Jesus on the cross, when we break bread together. We are proclaiming his death until he returns.

Now here it will be good for us to have a look at the meaning of the word ‘proclaim’ from the original Greek translation. It comes from the Greek word ‘kataggello’.

Proclaim – Kataggello

• To proclaim.

• To declare openly.

• To preach.

• To laud (praise).

• To celebrate.

• To announce a message in a definite way.

So, here we see that when we break bread together, at least two significant things happen that only the Church, the true born-again believer, can do.

• We remember the significance of the pain and suffering the Lord suffered on our behalf that we may become born-again and thus reconciled to the Father.

• We announce to each other and to the world in an evangelical way that there is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ His son and that we are committed to Him and to each other.

4. Prayer

Personal and corporate, relationship building prayer with God in the name of Jesus.

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Corporate prayer by the Church in unity, ushers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and brings revival both individually and corporately!

Pentecost is our prime example!

When the Church is devoted to God and to each other in prayer, love, action and devotion, supernatural things happen:

• People get saved, people get healed, people are delivered from demons!

Acts 2:47

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• We receive favour with the people.

• Miracles signs and wonders follow us.

Are you a devoted Christian and is your Church a devoted Church?

Today’s Church should look like the Acts Church, for Jesus is the same yesterday, today and always! Amen!

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I ask that you continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to become a devoted servant that I may bring glory to Jesus and be a blessing to others in Christ. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us All Things

Without the Holy Spirit we will not be overcomers in Christ Jesus!

In John chapter 14 we find Jesus talking to his disciples and telling them that he would soon be leaving them. Now reading between the lines of this chapter I sort of detect that the news of Jesus leaving them has made them more than a little bit nervous and has scared them somewhat, as he says to them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

The Lord tells the disciples that he is going back to the Father but that he would come back to fetch them – although He gives them no indication of the timing of when His return will be. And he goes on to tell them not to worry about his departure from the world because he is going to ask the Father to send them the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit who will teach them all things and lead them in all truth.

Now the Greek word for comforter used in verse 16 is ‘parakletos’ (pronounced paraklaytos) and its full meaning besides comforter is: advocate, helper, the one who draws alongside us, consoler, and intercessor. So here we see that the Holy Spirit is everything one could ask for and more. He is our advocate and advisor, he helps us to complete our God-given purpose, he is there to console us and see us through difficult times, and he is our intercessor and continually prays to the Father for us just as Jesus does.

From verses 15 to 31 in the table below I will attempt to explain, verse by verse, just how much we need the Holy Spirit as believers and just how, like Jesus, it is absolutely necessary for us to allow the Holy Spirit to permeate every aspect of our beings and in all that we do in our daily lives. But please remember that my words are fallible – the Word of God is not!

John 14:15-31 (NIV)

15. “If you love me, keep my commands.

In this verse love here is the agapé love of God that expects nothing in return. We can only appropriate this kind of love in its full measure through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. We have a direct connection to God through the Holy Spirit alive within us. It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates our spirit and as such we are to follow the commands of Jesus. This means living according to His Word – the Bible. Every born-again Christian’s life-manual. Know the Word = know Jesus = know the Holy Spirit = know God = a changed me, a good and faithful servant of the Lord! If we don’t keep his commands, we move ourselves out of His perfect will for our lives.

16. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

Here Jesus is saying to his disciples (and to us today) that when he is gone, he will ask the Father to give us another Comforter and He shall give us the Holy Spirit who will live within us for ever. It is also interesting to note here that Jesus says that the Father will send another Comforter – Jesus being the first, somebody just like him with all His characteristics who will live within us for ever. The Holy Spirit in us is how Jesus lives in each one of us.

17. the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Here Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. The Greek word here for truth is ‘aletheia’ (a-lay-thi-a) and its full definition is: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness (ref: Strong’s 225). This is the truth that is God’s and that He wants us to have, and we will only have if we have the Holy Spirit living and working in us and through us. Jesus says that the world does not know the Holy Spirit only those that truly belong to Him will know the Holy Spirit.

18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Here Jesus again reassures us that he will not leave us alone, but he will be with us always through his Holy Spirit until he comes again! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. A Holy Spirit filled Christian is never alone!

19. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Jesus assures all believers that even though he is no longer with us in the flesh we can still see him in the spirit. Our spirits are alive and connected to him by the Holy Spirit. And when we remain in Him, not deviating from His commands, our reward is eternal life!

20. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Here the Lord gives us a word picture of how it is the Holy Spirit that connects him to the Father and us to him and through him we are connected to the Father which enables us to enter the Holy of Holies into the direct presence of God! And through the Holy Spirit all believers are connected to each other, the same spirit is in all of us – God’s Holy Spirit! We, as born-again Christians, are God’s children and family, therefore we are brothers and sisters to each other through Christ Jesus!

21. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Jesus states here that those that keep his commands (the teachings of the Bible) are the ones who truly love him and as a result of this we will be loved by the Father. 

The Lord tells us quite clearly that it is the ones that know the Bible and keep His commands are the ones that love Him. This suggests that if we don’t know His word and keep His commands then we don’t truly love Him! This is a warning to the Church! Do you still wilfully use bad language, get drunk, lie, cheat and steal, etc?? 

It is through this cycle of God’s agape love that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the believers. Those that love Jesus truly from the heart are those that keep his commands – the Bible – Jesus is the Word! The Word is the sword of the Spirit!

22. Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

The answer to Judas’ question in verse 22 is of course that through the Holy Spirit being alive within us, Jesus will be revealed to others. Through the Father’s agape love emanating from the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to us and us loving Jesus in the same way, provides a channel by which Jesus will live within our hearts. The conduit and connection is through the Holy Spirit – spirit speaks to spirit.

24. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

If we do not love Jesus, we will not obey his teachings in the Bible. Our disobedience to the truth of the Word is sin! When we are disobedient and unrepentant we have to face the consequences for God disciplines the ones He loves!

25. “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In these two verses the Lord tells us that even though He is not with us physically, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he will come in the name of Jesus and will teach us all things and he will also remind us of what Jesus has already said, that is he will remind us of what is in the Word – remembering of course that Jesus is the Word in flesh. The Holy Spirit will also reveal to us the Father’s will for our lives in what lies ahead – this will enable us to bring glory to Jesus, the Name above all names.

27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus is saying here that because he has sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to us and we follow His guidance, we will have peace of mind and we need not be afraid of anything.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 

 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

28. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Here I believe that Jesus is telling us as modern-day believers that although he is not with us in the flesh we can still rejoice because he is with us in spirit once we are born-again and have the infilling of the Holy Spirit – we should be joyful that he is with the Father because the Father is greater than Jesus in the flesh and everything that the Father has belongs to Jesus and He gives it to us through the Holy Spirit!

John 16:12-16 (NIV) 

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 .29. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

Jesus is telling the disciples that what is about to happen, his betrayal and crucifixion, so that when it does happen, they will believe it!

30. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31. but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Jesus is telling us that the Devil, the prince of the world, is coming in the guise of Judas’ kiss of betrayal. Jesus is also telling us that the Devil has no hold over him and that He loves the Father completely and is completely obedient to the Father. It was the Father’s command that Jesus should suffer and die for our sins, and because of His great love (agapé) he is going to the cross willingly so that we might live! Amen! Thank you, Jesus!

When we, His Church, love Jesus as He loves the Father and when we are completely obedient to Him and The Word, the devil has no hold over us! Yes and Amen! 

When we are disobedient to Jesus and The Word we allow the devil to get a foot in the door of our lives where he will sow evil into our lives through lies and deception! If we are unrepentant in anything, things will not go well! Do not try and hide your sin, God sees you always!

James (talking to the Church) 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and keep on filling me. Lead me in all truth, Holy Spirit, and teach me all things, that my lifestyle would be such that in all I do, I will bring glory to the name of Jesus my Saviour. Lead me on the path of righteousness and let me not go astray. Lead me on the path that the Father has willed for my life. Lead me on the path of obedience to your Word, Father. Bless me, Lord, so that I may be a blessing to others. Protect me from the evil one, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Are You Plugged in to God's Power Grid?

In the above picture we see the power grid of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, three persons. The Church, as born-again Christians both as individual people and as a corporate entity, are able to join God’s power grid by plugging in to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, when asked by one of the teacher’s of the law what the greatest commandment was, responded in this way:

Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[Dt 6:4-5]

And just before He ascended into heaven, He left us with these encouraging and comforting words that shows us that He will live within us and empower us to do greater things than He if we love Him and keep His commands!

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:15-17 (NIV)

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

How do we plug in to God’s Power Grid?

First and foremost, ask Jesus to become Lord of your life and turn away (repent) from your sinful life, confess before Him that you are a sinner in a simple prayer just as I have said it in this sentence.

Once we become born again (repent and give our lives to Jesus) and are baptised, there is a ‘power’ that God makes available to us in order for us to become effective ministers within His Kingdom and to fulfil His purpose in our lives and to help us be conformed to His image.

Acts 2:38 (AMP)

And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We have all been predestined to do the works that God has prepared for us to do, but we need to be moving in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil them. In Romans 8, Paul calls this ‘Life in the Spirit.’

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Dear Reader, I would encourage you to read and study Romans 8 for yourself. It will change your life!

Let’s have a look at what happened with Jesus just before he began his ministry amongst us.

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, here Jesus is baptised in order to fulfil all righteousness (verse 15) and we see that he was filled with the Holy Spirit (the descending dove) and this was pleasing to God.

Directly after his baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil and by the Word of God the ‘tempter’ was defeated – this was Jesus moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

It was directly after this battle with Satan that Jesus began his Spirit filled ministry to the people!

Luke 4:14 (NIV)

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Here we see that Jesus was connected into the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil his predestined ministry on earth. This is the example that the Church needs to embrace both individually and corporately to be effective ministers in the world and to be overcomers of the world.

Just as a country is connected into a power grid in order to run effectively so the Church needs to be connected into God’s power grid to be effective ministers in Jesus’ name.

Luke 24:49 tells us to wait, before we do anything, to be clothed with power from on high. This is what happens when we wait and get plugged in to His power!

Pentecost was only the beginning of the power that God has for His Church moving in the Holy Spirit. When we do this Church, we bring glory to the name of Jesus!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Look what happens when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit!

We receive power from on high, we speak the Word, boldly, miracles, signs and wonders follow us wherever we go, and the Lord adds to the number of those being saved!

The Holy Spirit empowers us to bring glory to Jesus!

John 16:14-15 (AMP)

14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.

How do we plug in to the Holy Spirit both as individuals and corporately as an entire congregation?

With loving (agape) devotion and obedience to:

• God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• and to His Word

• and to each other

Matt 22:37-39

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 Cor 13:1 (NIV)

If I don’t have love: I am a clanging cymbal; I am nothing; I gain nothing!

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:12-14

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Luke 11:28 (AMP)

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Is your congregation plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Do you live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?

Do you need to make changes in your life to be conformed to the image of Christ?

Do you live and walk in full obedience to the teachings and commands of the Bible in Christ Jesus?

If you and/or your congregation are not, then you will never reach your full potential in Christ Jesus!

Jesus has so much he wants to reveal to us and this he does through the Holy Spirit. As his disciples we are only able to glorify the name of Jesus when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit and walking in full obedience to His Word – NOT PARTIAL OBEDIENCE OR OBEDIENCE WHEN IT SUITS YOU!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

“The Christian’s obedience to the Word (Jesus) opens the channel through which the Holy Spirit will move in, upon and through you! The true Baptism in the Holy Spirit”

When we, as Christian’s, are not in full obedience to the Word – walking in the flesh - we are in willful sin which hampers our Christian walk to maturity!

Ephesians 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled (continually) with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may live my life in the Spirit and not according to my flesh. Help me, I pray, in all I do to bring glory to Jesus! Amen

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

The Purpose of the Five Gifts Jesus Himself Gave The Church

 

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, much like his letters to the other Churches of the day, deals with how Christians should conduct themselves in their day to day living. At the time, especially in Ephesus which was the centre in the region for the worship of the Roman goddess Diana, the people that worshipped Diana were involved in sexual immorality on a large scale.

Accompanying this they were facing false teachings and general Christian persecution much like today’s Church faces but we have it on a much larger and worldwide scale.

In order to counteract these threats to the Church Paul, in Ephesians, sets out and explains how a Christian can overcome these threats from the world by right living in Christ Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit and he explains explicitly how the Church can do this.

And this letter like most of Paul’s other letters to the Church in different areas, was a letter to be circulated to the other Churches in the region of Asia Minor. This shows that the Lord wanted the different congregations of believers to be governed and structure in the same way. The Lord still wants His Church to be structured in the same way.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

OK, now that’s a brief background of the letter to the Ephesians. In this article I’m going to chat with you about how Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, tells the Church, of yesteryear and for today, how the Church needs to be structured in order to attain unity of the Spirit. In other words, how the Church should be structured in order for us to always be on the same page!

Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV)

How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,

running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron’s beard,

down on the collar of his robe.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon

were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,

even life forevermore.

In the above verses from Psalm 133 the writer, King David, tells us just how pleasing it is to God when the Church lives together in the unity of the Spirit and when we do this how God’s blessing will be upon us forevermore! Now, just how cool is that!

This Psalm is called a Song of Ascents, its about how we can spiritually ascend to greater heights when we live together in the unity of the Spirit in Christ Jesus – TO JESUS BE THE GLORY!

Now, getting back to our topic, let’s examine the scriptures of Ephesians 4 that show us how today’s Church should be structured in order for us to reach unity of the Spirit and receive God’s full blessing forevermore and in so doing become a Church that is spiritually powerful and a Church that will make the devil tremble! Paul tells us in this chapter how the local body should be structured by the gifts that Jesus gives us.

The Gifts Jesus himself gives to the Church

Now, what are these gifts?

Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

And why did Jesus give them to the Church?

Ephesians 4:12-13 (NLT)

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

That’s right, to build up His Church to become unified in the Holy Spirit and for each believer to reach individual maturity and to be more and more conformed to His image!

When we look at verse 13 above, we see that the function of the five-fold ministry is not to stop until the Church reaches full maturity and unity as a body which, in all likelihood, will only be when our Lord returns and we are clothed in our imperishable bodies!

It is important for us to realise that these gifts are different to the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. These gifts are offices or positions given by Jesus to various people in the local body and should be held by men who lead and govern the local body.

The gifts of the Spirit, however, are given by the Holy Spirit to the Church in general to be used by the members of the local body to build up, edify and encourage each other to walk to individual maturity in Christ Jesus.

Christianity cannot be manifest in lone isolation, it is a team effort! The body of Christ believing as one in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Only in this way can the Church bring glory to Jesus, both as individuals and as a corporate entity!

1 Corinthians 12:7 (AMP)

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good.

Let’s now have a closer look at the way these offices in the local body of Christ should function:

The Apostle
The word ‘apostle’ is described as “one chosen and sent with a message” and is derived from the Greek word ‘Apostolos’ used in the New Testament translation and means ‘one sent forth’.

They are to “lay a wise foundation (rooted in Christ Jesus) upon which the local Church is to be built upon” (1 Corinthians 3:10).

The original 12 apostles chosen by Jesus were witnesses of the resurrection (Acts 1:15; Acts 4: 33) but there were also many other true apostles, including Paul, after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 14:3-4; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 15:5-7; Galatians 1:1,19).

According to scripture their New Testament function is:

1. Pioneers of new Churches. (1 Corinthians 9:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:6).

2. They ground the Church in the fulness of truth (Colossians 1:25).

3. They bring correction in erroneous ministry and actions in order preserve unity and integrity in the Body (1 Corinthians 3:3-5).

4. Lay spiritual foundations in the Church – the foundation of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10).

5. To be a Father in the body of Christ and to impart spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands. (Romans 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Corinthians 4:15).

6. Manifest and encourage the ministry of miracles, signs and wonders (2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 2:43).

7. Manifest and encourage the ministry of prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).

8. The laying on of hands for the impartation of ministry (Acts 6:6).

The Prophet
The word prophet is derived from the Greek word ‘prophêtês’ and means ‘one who speaks forth or openly’.

The ministry of the office of prophet is one of being moved in the power of the Holy Spirit in prophetic utterance to declare the will of God regarding situations (individually or corporately) to build up and edify the Church, which can be:

1. Predictive – foretell a future event (Acts 21:10-11; Acts 11:27-28).

2. Directive – gives direction (Acts 13:1-3).

3. Corrective – brings Godly discipline in areas of error (Acts 15:22-32).

But the Church leadership needs to beware of false prophets (1 John 4:1). A prophetic utterance should never contradict the Word of God.

God sets clear guidelines; prophecies should be tested.

1. The words of a prophet are judged by church leadership (1 Corinthians14:29).

2. Any prophecy should line up with Scripture (2 Peter 1: 19-21).

The Evangelist
The word evangelist is derived from the Greek word ‘Euangelistes’ and means ‘a messenger of good, one who proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ and him crucified for the salvation of mankind (the gospel) – Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 2:2.

Their primary function is to:

1. Extend the frontiers of God’s Kingdom by going out to spread the Word in the community for the local Church and further afield as led by the Holy Spirit.

2. They are co-workers with and extensions of apostolic ministry (2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 3: 2).

3. They also equip the local body of Christ with the evangelistic spirit of outreach.

The Pastor
The word pastor as used in Ephesians 4:11 is derived from the Greek word ’poimen’ and means ‘a shepherd (Jesus referred to himself as ‘the good shepherd'), one who herds (guides) and tends (including feeding the Word) the flock – the local body of believers’.

The pastor today:

1. Tends and guides the local flock (congregation) including feeding them the Word.

2. Ensures that the needs of the flock are taken care of in accordance with Biblical instruction and guidance.


The Teacher
The word teacher in Ephesians 4:11, John 3:2, Matt 23:8, Acts 13:1 and many others, is derived from the Greek word ‘didaskalos’ and means ‘a teacher of the truth’.

1. A teacher is an instructor in the Word of God and Biblical subject-master.

2. The teacher tells or shows the fundamentals or skills of biblical teachings, causing others to know the facts and consequences of Biblical instruction in order for the Church to be built up and edified.

3. He or she imparts biblical knowledge to others (sometimes through special revelation and inspiration of the Holy Spirit).

4. A teacher does not necessarily tend the flock in the manner that a pastor does.

Order of the five-fold ministry
Denoting the order of ministry is not to be understood as order of importance, just order of proper operation. The order that these ministries operate in is very specific:

Apostles are leaders and visionaries. They bring direction to the church. They have the courage and ability to keep the Church moving forward, growing and building in new directions. Apostles are also fathers, able to nurture and disciple the other ministry areas.

Prophets have a strong sense of right and wrong, but even more than that: they have a strong sense of the Spirit’s leading. Their spiritual antennae start quivering when things are going off balance or in wrong directions. Their voice is important for keeping the Church on track in what the Lord wants to do. Prophets also understand justice and are defenders of what is fair and right as shown by the zeal of the Old Testament prophets.

Evangelists are the warriors, the foot soldiers who take the gospel from the local Church to the community at large and further afield as led by the Holy Spirit. They advance the gospel and in so doing they battle directly with the hindrances of the gospel as well. There are many more warriors in an army than there are generals and so there should be many evangelists in the church. The Lord’s Great Commission is to all – Matthew 28:19.

Pastors nurture the flock and comfort them. They build up the sheep in the most holy faith. They tend to the wounded and the sick. They lead the healthy sheep into good pastures so that they will eat on the purity and truth of God’s word to remain well and be strong in their faith. And they look for the sheep that have wandered away so that none will be lost.

Teachers build the foundations of the local church in Christ Jesus. They minister in the Word of God and remind us of the priorities and foundations that will keep us stable in our lives. They teach the church how to be wise in the ways of God through preaching the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. They impart knowledge in specialist areas of the Word to build up and equip the body to fulfil their God-given purpose in life as individuals (bricks) within the body of Christ.

Unity is implicit among these five offices. They should move as one yet operate individually to the full measure of the grace given to each one. This is the master plan for every Church and the Church needs to operate in this exact way to receive the blessings of the Lord. If we look at Ephesians 4:11-16, we see the enormous blessing for the Saints if the church operates as it is supposed to, s Jesus intends it to.

The result of the Lord’s work using the five-fold ministry is to raise up a bride (the Church) that is a direct reflection of Christ Himself, having the identical nature, character and attributes. Being conformed to Christ’s image – life in the Spirit! Jesus is coming back for a Church without spot or blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Very often there can be a certain amount of cross-over amongst the holders of these offices within the Church but the holder’s primary calling and anointing with remain clearly evident within the body.

The work of the Church through the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Jesus!

The function of the ‘Five-fold Ministry’ working in unison and in the power of the Holy Spirit is to equip the body of Christ to do the work that each believer has been predestined to do and to build up the Church and lead it into maturity in Christ Jesus. This is done in an attitude of servanthood in the love of God – serving the body in God’s love, grace and mercy, in the power of the Holy Spirit - just as the ministry of Jesus is.

When expressed correctly, all spiritual gifts will always point to Jesus and give him glory.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (AMP)

10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. 11 Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The difference between the gifts Jesus gave directly and the gifts of the Spirit

One of the most common questions regarding this topic is, “What is the difference between the gifts described in Ephesians 4 and those found in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12?”

In Ephesians 4 there are two key factors that are unique to them that the Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 gifts do not have.

1. The source is Jesus (Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,), whereas the gifts in Romans 12 come from the Father through Jesus (Romans 12: 3-8 by God’s grace and the faith He has given us), and the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 come from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them).

It is fascinating how this highlights the Father, Son and Spirit (The Holy Trinity) working together in perfect harmony and unity to generate and distribute all these gifts! And it is these gifts operating and functioning in the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit that will ensure that the body of Christ works together in perfect harmony and unity of the Spirit to reach full maturity and be conformed more and more to Christ’s image! Working in unity the Church receives God's full blessings forever more!

2. The second factor is that the Ephesians gifts are nouns (naming words) and are thus actual people who hold this office in the local Church congregation because they carry that particular anointing from Jesus, rather than showing an activity or manifestation through any member of the congregation as are the other gifts.

For example, an evangelist or a pastor is a person who holds that office in the local body; in contrast, a person showing the gift of mercy as an activity or someone sharing a word of wisdom are manifestations of the gift through a person speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit or a person prophesying under the power of the Holy Spirit for a certain time or event for encouraging an individual or a group of people.

Moreover, the Ephesians gifts result in a singular and unified effect with the other gifts of the five-fold ministry (rather than showing diverse effects as the other gifts do): specifically, equipping and building the saints to perform the works of service in the ministry, which builds up the body of Christ towards the goal of unity, and displaying the full measure of Christ Jesus in the Church both as individual believers and as a corporate body.

The gifts Paul describes in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 are all transitive verbs and are thus doing or action words – they require an action to be done to or for someone or something, for example giving a word of knowledge to someone; showing mercy to someone or giving an act of service to someone. They are the gifts that the children of God use under the power of the Holy Spirit for a specific event and/or time. These gifts can also be used by the person holding an office in the five-fold ministry.
  
The importance of the fivefold ministry in the local congregation 

The Church, including every local body, needs every part of the five-fold ministry that Jesus has given to us. One or two are not enough; we need all of the five-fold ministries working together in unity to build up a vibrant and Spirit-filled body!

Sadly, in recent times, the five-fold ministry has not been operating to its fullness in many local Churches, one or more of them are missing. But as God restores these ministries to the Church, as He is about to do, we must correctly respond to them.

God’s purposes will not be fulfilled outside of His divinely appointed leadership structure. When the Church embraces the fullness of the ‘Five-fold’ ministry, then the more the Church in every local congregation will flow in God’s gifts under the power of the Holy Spirit and the more we live life in the Spirit, so the more we will become like rivers of living water – more like Jesus, glorifying His name and bringing life to the local community in general!

A local congregation that is not built on and governed by the five-fold ministry will be unable to function to its true potential in the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be like a bicycle wheel that is missing a number of spokes – it will wobble and misfire and be led astray and will only be able to progress so far and then buckle or just stagnate, injuring many people in its wobbly path!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in Jesus name that you would restore the five-fold ministry to your Church, to each and every local congregation across the world so that the Church can be empowered by your Holy Spirit to be the Church that you intended it to be - working in the unity of the Spirit to bring glory to Jesus. Amen.

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Why Is Today’s Church Afraid To Discipline?

 

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but over the last 15 – 20 years I have noticed that the Church has displayed an ever increasing reluctance to discipline wayward Church members! When I talk about wayward, I don’t mean the 'slip ups' we make as  born-again Christians in our spiritual walk to maturity but those that willfully, and continually flaunt their sin on a daily basis with scant regard for God and their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! Those that show no desire whatsoever to change their sinful attitudes and ways!

And what’s even more disturbing is that they are not being challenged by Church leadership and shown the road to correction and the consequences they face if they are unrepentant.

Why is today’s Church leadership so reticent about applying discipline to wayward congregants?

In my opinion:

1. Their fear of man is greater than their fear of God.

2. Lack of Biblical knowledge.

3. Fear of losing congregants.

4. The Church has become a people pleaser and not a God pleaser.

5. They are not fully committed to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

6. They are set in their erroneous ways and have a fear of rocking the boat.

7. Nepotism within the leadership group.

8. They are not focused on preaching the full truth of the Gospel – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Let’s have a look at what the Bible says about the discipline that the Church should be applying.

Hebrews 12:5-11 (NIV)

5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[Prov 3:11-12]

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

So, here we have it, God disciplines his children (we the Church) and his motivation in disciplining us, is love. Discipline is in God’s character He corrects us when we go astray so that we can get back on to His path for our lives – not our will but the father’s will be done!

As God’s children we are told to look after each other, to correct each other when we sin and to restore the one who is at fault. As the Church of Jesus our Lord and Saviour, we are charged with the responsibility of bringing and enforcing Biblical discipline in the Church especially those who are in authority in the local congregation.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

The above verses are the words of Jesus himself. If we know a brother or sister in Christ is in sin, we should go to them and show them their fault. If they refuse to listen take two or three others along and again try to restore them. If they still don’t listen expose them to the Church and if they still don’t listen treat them as unbelievers, have nothing to do with them.

From the above verses and from the other scriptures we will be reading in this article, we will see that God is very serious about maintaining Biblical discipline within His Church without compromise and without interference from man’s personal emotions and feelings!

The Church, when bringing God’s discipline in the Body must be obedient to His Word without compromise. With love, yes, but without compromising the Word! God disciplines the ones He loves as we are told in Proverbs 3:11-12 above.

Dealing with specific sin in the Church.

In 1 Corinthians 5 the Apostle Paul deals with specific sin in the Church.

From verses 1 – 5 in this chapter Paul deals with sexual immorality of the worst kind – incest. In verse 5 Paul states emphatically that this person should be handed over to Satan and tells us why!

1 Corinthians 5:5 (NIV)

hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

(Note: In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.)

Now the Bible tells us that sexual sin in any form is particularly abhorrent to God for this reason:

1 Corinthians 6: 18-20 (AMP)

18 Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? 20 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

Sexual sin (in any form) is a sin against our bodies! When we become born-again, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and thus our bodies become a temple of the Holy Spirit and our bodies become the property of God – they are no longer ours and as such we are to honour and glorify God with our bodies. Sexual immorality of any form, shape or size dishonours God and does not bring glory to Jesus who bought us out of sin at the cost of His life!

The Bible reinforces God’s particular abhorrence of sexual immorality in the Church with a number of other scriptures as well. Let’s examine some of them!

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (AMP)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

In the above two verses Paul gets more specific about sin and includes other forms of sin besides sexual immorality. The perpetrators of such sin will have no part in the kingdom of God:

• The unrighteous – unbelievers.

• The sexually immoral – perpetrators of any form of sexual sin.

• Idolaters – those that value the things of the world before God – money, possessions, sport, self-pride, family including children.

• Adulterers.

• Homosexuality – male and female – men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women.

• Thieves – ‘thou shalt not steal.’

• The greedy – those who want more and more and are never satisfied.

• Drunkards.

• Revilers – explained in the verse.

• Swindlers – those that defraud others in any way.

In the Book of Colossians Paul expands upon specific types of sin and tells us to put them to death and deprive them of their power over us.

Colossians 3:5-10 (AMP)

5 So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. 6 Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], 7 and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ]. 8 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—

In the above verses we are instructed to cast off all these evil things as we are now born-again, Christ has made us new, spiritual creations, our old selves have gone! As such we are told that we are being continually renewed in true knowledge through the Holy Spirit to be conformed in the image of Christ himself.

Now, let’s have a look at what Jesus himself tells us in the Book of Revelation. This is what he told the Apostle John through His angel!

Revelation 21:8 (NIV)

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Let’s examine the first three words above the Lord uses, cowardly, unbelieving and vile from their Greek meaning to get a better understanding of what He is saying. The remaining words are more self-explanatory.

“The cowardly” – from the Greek word “deilos” – full meaning is: cowardly, fearful, timid – it is an adjective and it describes a person who has lost their moral fortitude as their fear of man (or the world) is greater than their fear of God – they no longer have faith in Christ Jesus! (Strong’s 1169).

“The unbelieving” – from the Greek word “apistos” – meaning: incredulous, unbelieving (of the things of God) and unchristian. It not only refers to someone who never believed in God, but also to one who once believed but has now lost their faith in God by continuing in acts of deliberate disobedience (sin). (Strong’s 571).

“The vile” – from the Greek word “bdelussomai” – vile, to detest, loathe abhor, abominable. This refers to idolatry as well – those things that people put before God such as money, self, sport, work etc. (Strong’s 948).

Now, having read and examined these verses, what happens if we continue to ignore them and carry on sinning even though we are born-again and, what will happen if the leadership of the local Body of believers do not discipline those in sin? Well, one thing that is for sure, we definitely won’t be more and more conformed to the image of Christ.

What happens when a Christian continues to deliberately and willfully sin?

Hebrews 10:26-29 (AMP)

26 For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], 27 but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries [those who put themselves in opposition to God]. 28 Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favour and blessing of God]?

Now, much has been written, debated, and expounded on Hebrews 10 and the above verses in particular. The main bone of contention being, ‘once saved, always saved.’

Let’s have a look at the spiritual and political environment in which the Book of Hebrews was written. This is just a “nutshell” view.

As the title states it was written to the Hebrews, the Jews of the time, and mostly likely specifically to the Jews in Rome, sometime between 40 and 60 AD. These were Jews who had renounced Judaism and were now following or converted to “The Way” as Christianity at the time was often called, they had accepted that Jesus was the Messiah and were thus born-again in today’s terms.

The political arena at the time was extremely harsh towards Christians both to Jewish converts and to Gentiles alike. Nero was the emperor, and he persecuted the Christians to extreme measures, and they became fair game to murder, thievery and destruction of their property and entire families were being wiped out in one horrible way or another.

The author was writing to these Jews as, because of the harshness of the persecution, many of them were renouncing Christianity and publicly returning to Judaism and all its religious laws and ceremonies. The author implores them in different ways not to go back to their old selves in Judaism but to stay as the new creations they are in Christ Jesus.

In Hebrews 10 the Jews were told that once they have publicly renounced and rejected Jesus and moved back to their old sinful lives it will be impossible for them to come back again.

Dear reader I would encourage to read and study Hebrews 10 for yourselves.

Now coming back to our verses in Hebrews 10:26-29 and in the knowledge that all scripture is God-breathed and applies to all believers at all times and no matter what nationality you are, if you continue to willfully sin and disobey the teachings and commands of the Bible, I am of the opinion that you will lose your salvation! Do you not willfully reject Jesus when you continue to willfully sin against Him? Let’s read Hebrews 10:29 again.

Hebrews 10:29 (AMP)

How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favour and blessing of God]?

And just something, dear reader, for you to ponder on, even if my opinion is wrong, why on earth would a born-again Christian who loves the Lord want to continue to deliberately reject Jesus and continue to wilfully sin? We are supposed to allow the Holy Spirit to conform us more and more into His image, are we not?

How should sin in the Church be dealt with?

The Bible gives us four simple points for dealing with sin in the Church and also shows us as individuals that we all play a part in the disciplinary procedure.

1. In a private meeting between two brothers and sisters in Christ.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

If they don’t listen and repent take the step 2.

2. Meet with the person with two or three trusted witnesses.

Matthew 18:16 (NIV)

But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

If they still don’t listen take step 3.

3. The leadership of the Church should make a public announcement to the congregation. At this announcement the congregation should be instructed to not longer have fellowship with the person/s.

Matthew 18:17 (NIV)

If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

If they still remain unrepentant:-

4. Expel them from the congregation.

The Lord says that the final step is, “Let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer” (Matt. 18:17). Paul says, “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor. 5:13; also, 5:2). It seems to me that Paul combines steps 3 & 4, mentioning the man’s sin before the church and excluding him from the fellowship at the same time. If someone’s sin is damaging the reputation of the church and damaging the faith of other congregants, he needs to be removed from the fellowship quickly.

The goal in all four steps is to lead them to genuine, heartfelt repentance in love so that they can be fully restored to God and fellowship.

If the person expresses genuine repentance, then the church should be informed, and the person should be forgiven and accepted back into the fellowship (2 Cor 2:8). Of course, there should be a time of proving before a repentant person is put into positions of ministry or leadership. Also, the restoration process should include some training or discipling to help the person grow and avoid the sin in the future.

What happens when Church leadership does not address and correct those in their congregation that continue in sin?

What does the Bible say?

1. Sin within the congregation will eventually corrupt others in the congregation and could end up corrupting the whole congregation, especially those that have a weaker faith. One bad apple will spoil the whole barrel! The congregation will collapse or at the very least, stagnate!

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (AMP)

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.

2. Not disciplining the congregation when required is contrary to the Word and thus an act of disobedience to God. This is a sin in itself and will filter down from the leadership to the congregation and instil a ‘lukewarm’ attitude throughout the congregation! Discipline forms part of a leader’s role in caring for the Church – God takes this very seriously!

Church leadership should be ever ready to act quickly to prevent sin permeating the whole congregation!

Acts 20:28 (AMP)

Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.

Matthew 18:5-7 (ESV)

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

Failure to ensure Biblical discipline in the Church, both by its leadership and by individual congregant members, leads to an ill-disciplined congregation that lacks the reverent fear of God and commitment to Him! Such a congregation moves out of the perfect will of God and into the realm of ‘lukewarm’. The flesh will begin to dominate in all it does and attempts to do. Such a Church cannot receive the full blessings of God! Such a Church will never move into full unity and maturity of the Spirit that Christ intends for it!

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT)

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

In verse 11 above the Apostle Paul lays out the structure for church leadership, commonly known as the five-fold ministry, if a Church (a local congregation) does not have all these in place, it will not be firing on all cylinders and will just stutter and stumble along – one step forward and three steps back!

Please read my blog ‘The Five-Fold Ministry in a Nutshell’ published on 1 May 2021. https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-five-fold-ministry-in-nutshell.html

All glory, honour and praise belongs to Jesus!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!