All the Biblical examples about the church meeting center on and rest upon the Headship of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the focal point of God's eternal purpose.
Colossians says in 1:16-18; "Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see, King's, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through Him and for Him. He existed before everything else began and He holds all creation together. Christ is the head of the church, which is His body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so He is first in EVERYTHING".
Christ was fully preeminent in the early church gatherings. He was its CENTER and He set the agenda. He directed what took place. Although His leading was invisible to the naked eye, He was clearly the Guiding Agent. But to those who have been trained and hungry for spiritual things, He was very visible.
CHRIST THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
The first-century gathering, neither the "sermon" nor "the preacher" were the center. Instead, congregational participation was the normal practice. Everything came out of the life of Christ. Everything was looking to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Have we forgotten in the Western church how to host the Holy Spirit? Have we forgotten who is the Lord of our gatherings.
The N. T. gatherings reflected a flexible spontaneity where the Spirit of God was in control not the Clergy. The Holy Spirit was free to move through any member of His Body as He willed. And since He was leading the meeting, everything was done in an orderly fashion. Many leaders are scared to to open a meeting for people to share testimony, prophetic words or pictures spontaneously. "I did that once and someone said weird, out of line stuff". Do we through out the baby with the bath water? No! We learn how to grace and instruct. It's OK that something not perfect happens in our gatherings. Not many perfect people are in the church anyway, who are we trying to save? Have we become seeker friendly or God friendly? God is the most friendly one I have ever met.
Never do we find a N.T. gathering that is rooted in a personality or in a pulpit centrality focused upon one man. It is no wonder that the N.T. uses the phrase ONE ANOTHER nearly sixty times.
We grow when we function. When we come out of the bleachers and on to the field we grow spiritually. All Christians are functioning members of the Body of Christ. Ministers of the Gospel. So C' mon, you are an important part of the body of Christ. Are you functioning? Are you doing your part?
No comments:
Post a Comment